Path to a Sustainable Future

With the world being at the brink of a massive turn of events with respect to power generation, distribution, and consumption, people often discuss regarding the sustainability of the overall situation. Smart grids are structurally being built in multiple cities around the world, aiming at the idea of distributing clean and environmentally sound energy produced by renewable resources. The abandonment of fossil fuels such as petroleum is quite necessary, considering their alarmingly depletion rate and the amount of pollution they cause. Water, wind, and solar energy is increasingly being harnessed in most of the developing nations to be at par with the ones that have developed already, and this is their way of doing their part towards the SDGs.

The Sustainable Development Goals or Global Goals are a collection of 17 interlinked global goals designed to be a "blueprint to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all". The SDGs were set up in 2015 by the United Nations General Assembly and are intended to be achieved by 2030.There are multiple challenges that pose in the way of this idea, but with each nation performing its essential tasks in a step-by-step procedure, it can be achieved in time. What we know for sure is that GDP as an indicator of development has its limits. What we also know is that alternatives already exist, and now we need to test, adjust, apply and implement them in how we make policies for development.

What are these Goals?

There are in total, 17 SDGs that are discussed and designed carefully with proper nation-wise action plans that are meant to make the world a lot more sustainable by the year 2030, as mentioned above. These goals target all socio-economic and environmental issues, ranging from women empowerment to poverty, to hunger, and GDP related issues.

So, what are these?

• GOAL 1: NO POVERTY-Economic growth must be inclusive to provide sustainable jobs and promote equality.
• GOAL 2: ZERO HUNGER-The food and agriculture sector offer key solutions for development, and is central for hunger and poverty eradication.
• GOAL 3: GOOD HEALTH AND WELL-BEING-Ensuring healthy lives and promoting the well-being for all at all ages is essential to sustainable development.
• GOAL 4: QUALITY EDUCATION -Obtaining a quality education is the foundation to improving people’s lives and sustainable development.
• GOAL 5: GENDER EQUALITY -Gender equality is not only a fundamental human right, but a necessary foundation for a peaceful, prosperous and sustainable world.
• GOAL 6: CLEAN WATER AND SANITATION -Clean, accessible water for all is an essential part of the world we want to live in.
• GOAL 7: AFFORDABLE AND CLEAN ENERGY -Energy is central to nearly every major challenge and opportunity.
• GOAL 8: DECENT WORK AND ECONOMIC GROWTH -Sustainable economic growth will require societies to create the conditions that allow people to have quality jobs.
• GOAL 9: INDUSTRY, INNOVATION, AND INFRASTRUCTURE -Investments in infrastructure are crucial to achieving sustainable development.
• GOAL 10: REDUCED INEQUALITIES -To reduce inequalities, policies should be universal in principle, paying attention to the needs of disadvantaged and marginalized populations.
• GOAL 11: SUSTAINABLE CITIES AND COMMUNITIES -There needs to be a future in which cities provide opportunities for all, with access to basic services, energy, housing, transportation and more.
• GOAL 12: RESPONSIBLE CONSUMPTION AND PRODUCTION -Responsible Production and Consumption
• GOAL 13: CLIMATE ACTION -Climate change is a global challenge that affects everyone, everywhere.
• GOAL 14: LIFE BELOW WATER - Careful management of this essential global resource is a key feature of a sustainable future.
• GOAL 15: LIFE ON LAND -Sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, halt and reverse land degradation, halt biodiversity loss
• GOAL 16: PEACE, JUSTICE AND STRONG INSTITUTIONS -Access to justice for all, and building effective, accountable institutions at all levels.
• GOAL 17: PARTNERSHIPS -Revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development.

To start being more sustainable today itself, even we as normal citizens can play our own roles to save the environment and help the people around us. This is an essential step that shall go a long way towards saving humanity in a distinctive way.