Global Overview
Sustainable development, specifically concern for the environment and the eradication of poverty, has been debated for a long time. Proof of this is the fact that in 1972, the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment took place in Stockholm, Sweden, marking the beginning of international discussions on environmental, social, and governance issues.
Fifteen years later, in 1987, the UN World Commission on Environment and Development published the report "Our Common Future" (also known as the Brundtland Report), which popularized the concept of sustainable development.
In 1992, the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (Rio-92) took place in Rio de Janeiro, resulting in Agenda 21, which was a comprehensive plan to promote sustainability.
In 1997, the concern to reduce greenhouse gas emissions was put on the agenda and gave rise to the Kyoto Protocol, establishing targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions for Annex I countries, those considered to be the main contributors to emissions.
In 2000, the UN established global targets for the eradication of poverty, education, health, and sustainability, which became known as the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
Both the Kyoto Protocol and the MDGs were replaced.
The Kyoto Protocol was replaced by the Paris Agreement on climate change, whose central provision is the commitment to limit the increase in global temperature to 1.5°C.
Also in 2015, a new global agenda was set at the UN level, replacing the MDGs with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Known as the "2030 Agenda" or "Decade of Action", in September 2015 the UN adopted, through the member states of the United Nations, the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) interconnected with 169 specific targets:
Poverty Eradication
Zero Hunger and Sustainable Agriculture
Health and well-being
Quality Education
Gender Equality
Clean Water and Sanitation
Affordable and Clean Energy
Decent Work and Economic Growth
Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
Reducing Inequalities
Sustainable Cities and Communities
Responsible Consumption and Production
Action Against Global Climate Change
Water Life
Life on Land
Peace, Justice, and Effective Institutions
Partnerships and Means of Implementation
The creation of the 17 SDGs aimed to address the main global challenges, such as poverty eradication, social inclusion, environmental protection, and economic development in a sustainable and integrated way by the year 2030.
Despite the legitimate interests of society, the public sphere and governments are coming under increasing pressure on social and environmental issues and the management of resources transparently and effectively. On the other hand, in the private sphere, global markets have already understood how a sustainable production chain generates greater engagement with society, attracts "new conscious consumers", retains talent, and provides greater value for their products and services in the long term.
But with the recent pandemic, we are faced with new global challenges, social conflicts, wars, and various environmental catastrophes, which are part of an increasingly alarming global panorama, pushing different social actors and governments to move in the same direction - sustainability - through the interconnections between social, economic and environmental systems, highlighting the fragility of these systems and warning of the need for a balance between human relations and nature so that we can live in a more prosperous world.
The COVID-19 pandemic, the most recent health and humanitarian crisis that has killed millions of people around the world, highlights the interdependence between human health, ecosystems, and sustainability, leading to greater awareness of the importance of sustainable approaches to tackling global challenges. As we face problems such as climate change, loss of biodiversity, scarcity of natural resources, and social inequalities, the search for sustainable solutions is becoming a priority in all sectors of society - governments, non-governmental organizations, companies, and individuals around the world who are mobilizing to address emergency issues.
We must therefore consider the extent to which the role of technology and the media is raising awareness of a post-pandemic world. We can say that the determining factor is access to information, which is widely disseminated, especially if we consider that we are in the midst of a technological revolution (Industry 4.0), which implies an information avalanche.
Specifically about the Fourth Industrial Revolution, it is interesting to highlight the collaborative potential of technology so that we can accelerate our steps towards sustainability.
It is largely due to the influence of technology that sustainability has become a central concern in various spheres of global society, influencing and driving decisions. Emerging trends in sectors such as economics and technology, particularly Artificial Intelligence, reflect a response to environmental and social challenges, just think of the bioeconomy, the circular economy, renewable energies, precision agriculture, high-capacity batteries, impact assessments, environmental monitoring, and energy efficiency - these are fronts based on a new impact economy and investment and development in technology and, as sustainability becomes a global priority, we are likely to see an even greater integration of these trends in various sectors.
In general, commitments made by governments, increased investment in sustainable initiatives, the energy transition, awareness and adoption of a new way of doing business, and greater demand from society for sustainable practices demonstrate the advancement of the agenda and the use of technology as a consequence of the opportunities generated by the new conscious capitalism and the urgency of the transition from a highly polluting economy to a low-carbon, more conscious and responsible one.
The world needs to act cooperatively. More than developing policies and commitments, we need to share knowledge, and good practices and mobilize resources to implement sustainable projects around the world to make it possible to materialize and achieve the UN's SDGs.
The collaborative economy is one of the trends resulting from the growing wave of global awareness about sustainability, others relate to acting in favor of the materiality of sustainable practices, such as the change in consumer behavior, the increase in practices aimed at circularity and proper product management is also a global trend that will gain strength; the energy transition is already happening in a more perceptible way, including in Brazil; climate urgency tends to remain at the top of the most debated issues when it comes to sustainability, given its emergency nature and business opportunity; last but not least, technology will continue to revolutionize the way we see the world and will force us to adapt to its advances and, certainly, governments and companies engaged in the sustainable agenda will invest in technology and innovation to solve socio-environmental problems and reduce management costs, such as energy transition, water efficiency, precision agriculture, waste management and conservation of natural resources and sustainable mobility.
In summary, when we think about the global panorama, we can see that as environmental challenges intensify, the world, in general, is adopting measures to deal with this issue more broadly and comprehensively. There is, in fact, growing recognition of the need to protect and preserve the planet's natural resources to guarantee a sustainable future for generations to come.
One of the main strategies adopted is the transition to clean and renewable energy sources. Countries around the world are investing in renewable energies such as solar, wind, hydroelectric, biomass, hydrogen, and geothermal, reducing their dependence on fossil fuels and cutting greenhouse gas emissions.
When it comes to biodiversity conservation, there is a growing awareness of the importance of protecting threatened ecosystems and species. Many countries are establishing protected areas and implementing conservation policies to preserve the planet's natural wealth. In addition, sustainable agriculture and responsible forest management are being promoted as ways of reconciling food production and environmental conservation.
In terms of the bioeconomy, Brazil, with its vast biodiversity and extensive areas of natural biomes, has unparalleled potential to become a protagonist in this scenario. We are a giant by nature!
The Amazon, for example, with its immeasurable biological wealth, is a veritable natural laboratory, holding potential for research and development of biotechnological products, medicines, and sustainable solutions. On the other hand, the Pantanal, the world's largest floodplain, is a unique example of biodiversity and ecosystem services, which can be used sustainably to boost sectors such as ecotourism and responsible fishing.
As for waste generation, reducing waste and stimulating the circular economy are also fundamental aspects of global sustainability, and initiatives are being developed worldwide to improve waste management, promote recycling, and rethink the way we produce and consume goods.
At this point, it is important to highlight the evolution of the concept of the 'Rs', until a while ago, with the growth of environmental awareness and in an attempt to promote sustainable practices, the concept of the 3 Rs (reduce, reuse and recycle) was developed.
As awareness of environmental problems grew, it became clear that a deeper and more comprehensive understanding of sustainable practices was needed, at which point the concept was expanded to 5 Rs.
Adding "Rethink" and "Refuse" to the beginning of the list reflects the idea that prevention is the best strategy; in other words, it's better to avoid unnecessary consumption from the start; which suggests a fundamental change in our attitudes and behaviors towards consumption.
Despite the progress made, there is still much to be done to achieve global sustainability. International collaboration is key, and global agreements and commitments, such as the Paris Agreement on climate change and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, provide an important framework to guide actions and joint efforts.
Some of the data below demonstrates progress and ongoing efforts towards global sustainability, but also highlights the need for additional measures and continued collaborative action to tackle environmental challenges:
A) Transition to renewable energy sources:
The world added 295 GW of renewable capacity in 2022, up 9.6% on the previous year, according to the International Renewable Energy Agency's (Irena) Renewable Capacity Statistics 2023, released in March 2023. This represents 83% of all new energy inaugurated last year.
Global renewable capacity additions are expected to exceed 440 gigawatts (GW) in 2023, following a trend of improvement in the competitiveness of wind and solar photovoltaic energy since last year, according to the International Energy Agency.
In 2022, the world added 295 GW, 9.6% more than in 2021, and ended the year with 3.3 terawatts (TW) installed.
In summary, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA) and news reports in media outlets such as Reuters and Forbes, the renewables market is facing unprecedented growth in the sector, driven by incentive policies, concerns about energy security, and improved competitiveness about fossil fuel alternatives.
Investments in energy efficiency can generate significant benefits, such as reduced CO2 emissions and cost savings. According to the 2020 International Energy Agency (IEA) report, investing in energy efficiency could increase global GDP by up to 3.9% by 2050.
B) Biodiversity conservation:
Around one million species are threatened with extinction, according to a new report by the Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES), an independent science and policy body supported by the UN. Giraffes, parrots, and even oak trees are included in the list, as well as cacti and seaweed.
To preserve biodiversity, many countries are establishing protected areas. According to the World Bank, currently around 15% of the earth's surface and 7% of the oceans are under protection, although even greater efforts are needed to meet conservation targets.
After years of negotiation, the UN has reached a historic agreement to protect the oceans - the Treaty sets out guidelines to put 30% of the seas under protection by 2030. The agreement is vital for saving the marine ecosystem, reversing the loss of biodiversity in the seas, and ensuring sustainable development.
C) Circular economy and waste reduction:
According to a study by the International Solid Waste Association (ISWA), a non-profit organization that brings together professionals from the solid waste sector, it predicts that global waste generation will reach 3.4 billion tons per year by 2050, highlighting the urgent need for better waste management, from disposal to selective collection, as well as circular economy solutions and awareness campaigns.
The United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) estimates that adopting circular economy practices could reduce CO2 emissions by 39% by 2050 and generate significant economic benefits.
D) Partnerships and Means of Implementation
Finally, it is important to highlight and reiterate that sustainability has become a keyword when we talk about global challenges such as hunger, unemployment, deforestation, climate change, and inequality. Although much progress has been made, it is clear that no country or company can solve these problems in isolation. In this context, the UN's 17th Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) highlights the importance of "Partnerships and Means of Implementation" as essential pillars for tackling emerging issues.
Larry Fink, CEO of BlackRock, the world's leading asset management company, made it clear in one of his messages to shareholders: "Sustainability is not only ethical but also an economic imperative". However, the emergence of the anti-ESG movement in the United States, which questions the effectiveness and transparency of sustainability metrics, shows that there is still an important debate about the awareness and strengthening of transparency, compliance, and anti-corruption policies by many companies.
COP 27, in its search for global consensus on climate action, highlighted the importance of transnational and multisectoral collaboration. However, UN Secretary-General António Guterres' alarming statement that "global warming is over, the planet is entering the era of global boiling" underscores the urgency of concrete and effective action, which can only be achieved through solid partnerships and well-structured means of implementation.
COP28, held in Dubai in 2023, marked significant progress in the fight against climate change. The final agreement focused on the just and orderly transition away from fossil fuels and emphasized the need for reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, in line with limiting global warming to 1.5°C, as per the Paris Agreement. The conference also highlighted the importance of expanding renewable energies and improving energy efficiency.
On the other hand, the agreement was criticized for not presenting clear means for implementing the proposed measures.
In other words, COP28 brought progress on the targets for reducing emissions and renewable energy, but faces challenges in the practical implementation and financing of these initiatives.
Therefore, the solution to today's global challenges lies not only in technological advances or isolated policies but in the ability to form robust and inclusive partnerships. These collaborations are essential for translating sustainable intentions into practical and effective actions capable of bringing about transformative change on a global scale.
Marcel Guariglia
SDG 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17
Commentaires