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Introduction to the SDGs Read chapter Read first chapter

2021 | OriginalPaper | Chapter

9. Are the SDGs Sufficient?

Authors : Edward B. Barbier, Joanne C. Burgess

Published in: Economics of the SDGs

Publisher: Springer International Publishing

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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.

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Footnotes
1
See, for example, Dinerstein et al. (2017); Gerten et al. (2013); Lade et al. (2020); Mace et al. (2014); Newbold et al. (2016); Rockström et al. (2009); Running (2012); Steffen et al. (2015).
 
2
In addition to scientific critiques, Biermann and Kim (2020) note the many equity and development concerns raised about the “global limits” concept underlying the planetary boundary framework.
 
3
Further details for the Verified Carbon Standard can be found at https://​verra.​org/​project/​vcs-program, and for the Climate, Community and Biodiversity Standard at https://​verra.​org/​project/​ccb-program
 
6
The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) member countries that were the focus of the study include: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Chile, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
 
7
See Barbier (2015) and Claessens et al. (2010) for further details on how this strategy could be implemented.
 
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Metadata
Title
Are the SDGs Sufficient?
Authors
Edward B. Barbier
Joanne C. Burgess
Copyright Year
2021
Book
Economics of the SDGs

Print ISBN: 978-3-030-78697-7

Electronic ISBN: 978-3-030-78698-4

Copyright Year: 2021

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-78698-4_9