Are the SDGs Sufficient?

Abstract

The aim of the SDGs is to provide guidance to countries in attaining key economic, environmental, and social benchmarks that are considered essential to sustainable development. In this chapter, we address an important question: is progress towards the SDGs sufficient to ensure sustainability? Addressing the continuing environmental costs of global development will require greater climate action, biodiversity conservation, and other policies to counter the rising threats of global environmental risks. Policies should also focus on the specific sustainability challenges faced by poor economies, and on encouraging good governance and institutional effectiveness. Finally, specific policies should be targeted at closing the growing wealth gap between rich and poor, and what type of steps could be taken to make development more sustainable and inclusive.