{"id":1795,"date":"2020-12-08T10:00:16","date_gmt":"2020-12-08T10:00:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/escp.eu\/thechoice\/?p=1795"},"modified":"2020-12-07T17:50:03","modified_gmt":"2020-12-07T17:50:03","slug":"sustainability-is-unavoidable-but-we-are-missing-our-chance-to-take-action","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/escp.eu\/thechoice\/tomorrow-choices\/sustainability-is-unavoidable-but-we-are-missing-our-chance-to-take-action\/","title":{"rendered":"Sustainability is unavoidable, but \u201cwe are missing our chance to take action\u201d"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Being part of the transition, in terms of ecology and solidarity, should be a focus for all governments and companies, at least in theory. On World Climate Day, <\/em>Thomas Friang<\/em><\/a>, founder of <\/em>L\u2019Institut Open Diplomacy<\/em><\/a>, a think tank that studies public policies that have an international dimension, reviews current policies for sustainability.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

What role has sustainability had in public policy at an international and European Union level?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In terms of the United Nations, sustainability has had a central role since the UN unanimously adopted the 17 Sustainable Development Goals<\/a> five years ago. The goals are a kind of compass for guiding international organisations in their actions, from the World Bank to UNESCO, and from UNCTAD to the OECD.<\/mark> At an international level, this compass is less often used. As for the European Union, sustainability has become ever more prominent since the Juncker Commission announced the Green Deal<\/a>, which was fully supported by the Von der Leyen Commission. However, the EU\u2019s approach is very focused on the environment, as social issues, healthcare, education and employment are not within its scope.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to the annual Sustainable Development Goals Report for 2019<\/a>, \u201cno country is currently on a trajectory to achieve the 17 SDGs. Even the States with the highest scores are facing severe difficulties.\u201d Are we still in a period of awareness-raising, or is it time to finally take action?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The SDGs cover more than 160 targets, which make up the 17 goals. It\u2019s an agenda that has to be achieved by 2030, which leaves us another 10 years. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The workload was already very heavy, but it has become even greater as a result of the current crisis and its social and economic consequences, which have led to major delays.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As the Goal Keepers report<\/a> shows, we have even fallen behind with the objectives set for the number of people living in poverty, for violence against women \u2013 which has grown exponentially \u2013 and for international tension, which has significantly increased during the crisis, particularly between China and the United States. The 2030 Agenda<\/a> was already difficult to achieve because it was very ambitious, but the crisis triggered by the pandemic has added a further hurdle.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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\"Thomas
Thomas Friang, founder of L\u2019Institut Open Diplomacy<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Some actors seem to be taking the transition very seriously, others much less so\u2026<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Yes, the general public should be aware that the transition movement doesn’t only attract supporters. I would say there are three types of actor:<\/p>\n\n\n\n