Q. Consider the following statements:
- The Sustainable Development Goals were first proposed in 1972 by a global think tank called the 'Club of Rome'.
- The Sustainable Development Goals have to be achieved by 2030.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct? (UPSC Prelims 2016)
Answer:
2 only
Notes: The correct answer is
[B] 2 only. While the concept of sustainability has evolved over decades, the specific set of "Sustainable Development Goals" (SDGs) is a relatively recent framework.
- Origin of SDGs (Statement 1 – Incorrect): The Sustainable Development Goals were not proposed in 1972 by the Club of Rome. They were actually born at the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20) in Rio de Janeiro in 2012. The Club of Rome is famous for its 1972 report titled The Limits to Growth, which warned about exponential economic and population growth with finite resource supplies, but it did not outline the 17 SDGs.
- Deadline for SDGs (Statement 2 – Correct): The SDGs, also known as Global Goals, were adopted by all United Nations Member States in 2015 as a universal call to action to end poverty and protect the planet. The target year for achieving all 17 goals is 2030, which is why the framework is often referred to as "Agenda 2030."
- Successor to MDGs: The SDGs replaced the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), which spanned from 2000 to 2015. Unlike the MDGs, which primarily focused on developing countries, the SDGs are universal and apply to all nations—developed and developing alike.
Key Pillars of SDGs: The 17 goals are interconnected and are often grouped into the "5 Ps":
- People: Ending poverty and hunger in all forms.
- Planet: Protecting the planet from degradation.
- Prosperity: Ensuring all human beings can enjoy prosperous lives.
- Peace: Fostering peaceful, just, and inclusive societies.
- Partnership: Mobilizing the means required to implement this agenda.