All the SDGs goals are impossible to reach, not just difficult. By 2030? Surely impossible
Some even conflict with each others: how do you create more clean energy without using more land? How do you cut emissions while trying to achieve economic growth and industry innovation? How do you expand agriculture for more food without deforestation? How you think restricting fishing is going to improve the resolution of hunger?
Only 17% are on track to be achieved and we are at the doors of 2030. This is an undeniable failure
And what made possible those achievements, made other things worst
Major factor causing this is that first of all countries are NOT after these goals, but after short term growth, GDP and cheap energy. Second of all the current global economic structure can’t fit a model where everyone has decent work, no inequalities and good pay
Even countries that have a good looking average (we take for example Italy since I live here) actually hide flaws. Yes there is no extreme poverty, yes basic water and sanitation is near 100 %, yes education is strong, yes life expectancy and health are rated high BUT co2 emissions are still important, renewable energy is still low, air pollution is strong, responsible consumption is soo far away from the SDGs achievement
Even if we take the best in the ranking which is Finland, we will find yes near zero extreme poverty, yes high life expectancy, yes gender gender and equality institution, yes innovation and infrastructure BUT challenges exists in health related fields, pollution, climate action etc..
The pattern repeats itself
So what makes a goal easier or harder? Does it align with the political mission? If yes then it’s definitely easy. Since the results will reward who is in charge, then they are more incentivized to do them.
The easier ones are: n3 health, n4 education, n6 basic water and sanitization, n7 affordable and clean energy and n9 industry innovation and infrastructure
The hardest ones are n13 climate action, n 14 and 15 life on water and land, n 12 responsible consumption and production, n16 peace and justice (especially with recent events.. )
Achieving all 17 goals by 2030 is a fantasy yes BUT some things that don’t shine are still gold: we can’t deny some achievements that everyone knows, such as the malaria and HIV case that saved millions of lives, the improved child and maternal survival and education and improved education access
If we move from a macro to a micro prospective then the achievements become real, even more real if we prioritize some of the goals instead of trying to catch all the rabbits running in opposite directions