Global Goals Week is currently running until September 24th in an attempt to meet the Sustainable Development Goals before the six-year deadline. Over 150 partners have come together from a mixture of businesses, academia, the UN and civil society to accelerate the 17 goals, which aim to eradicate poverty, protect the planet and ensure peace and prosperity by 2030. The UK has achieved a ‘score’ of 81.7% and is ranked 11th in the world for overall progress, but a closer look at specific details reveals that there are still significant challenges to overcome.
Largely due to the widespread availability of the NHS, the UK is performing quite well on many health-related targets within the Sustainable Development Goals. However, the maternal and neonatal mortality rates, as well as the number of children under 12 months old who had two World Health Organization-recommended vaccines, are currently on course to miss their targets. The goal is also hindered by gender, ethnic and socio-economic inequalities in health, highlighting a need for urgent action to correct this. Businesses can contribute to this through ambitious environmental, social and governance strategies.
Almost half of the UK’s energy needs in the first quarter of this year were met by renewable sources, showing significant progress towards achieving the ‘Affordable and clean energy’ goal. However, the Climate Change Committee has questioned whether the country can meet its net zero emissions commitments, highlighting past delays on renewable projects, energy efficiency measures and carbon-neutral heating. The recently pushed back ban on new petrol and diesel cars has complicated matters further, and the offshore wind energy goal is also in doubt after a disastrous auction for new projects. Switching to a green energy supplier or investing in on-site generation can be beneficial for businesses in meeting this goal.
The UK has a shortfall of 245,000 affordable homes, revealing a deficit in the ‘Housing’ goal. This is accompanied by a lack of funding for social housing and an increase in homelessness. The country must adopt forward-thinking housing policies to meet the 2030 target, and businesses can offer support through diversity and inclusion schemes, as well as responsible investment practices. Focusing on global supply chains is also integral to the achievement of this goal.
In terms of the ‘Sustainable cities and communities’ goal, the UK is on track to meet the majority of targets related to air quality, public transport and green spaces. However, the country is lagging behind on other targets that aim to reduce inequalities and provide affordable and sustainable housing. There is scope for businesses to get involved in initiatives that enhance local sustainability and reduce social inequality
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