Sustainable Developement

Sustainable development is a multifaceted concept. It can be defined in many ways, but the definition given by the Brundtland Report is most suitable. According to it, “ Sustainable development is the development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of the future generations to meet their own.” This concept of development tries to strike a balance between economic development, environmental preservation, and social well-being. Sustainability is the end goal, but sustainable development provides the pathways to achieve it. The concept of sustainable development emerged in the 1970s. In 2015, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that can serve as a guide to achieving sustainable development at the global level. The SDG framework enables policymakers to align their development priorities with these global goals and address global challenges in a sustainable manner. India has fully adopted this framework and redefined development policies and metrics for monitoring development progress.

In 1972, there was the first major conference on environmental issues organised by the UN in Stockholm, Sweden, known as the Stockholm Conference. In this conference, the theme of sustainable development was brought into focus. This marked a major shift in global environmental politics. Following this, in 1987, the UN released ‘Our Common Future’, popularly known as the Brundtland Report, which defined sustainable development. It proposed that the issues of development and environment must be discussed as one single issue. 13 years later, at the Millennium Conference in the year 2000, world leaders ratified the ‘Millennium Declaration’ and committed to helping achieve the ‘Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)’ by 2015. Although there was a concerted effort to achieve the MDGs before the 2015 deadline, it is largely agreed that the progress made was uneven and inadequate. Therefore, the SDGs were proposed for the post-MDG era as they were more comprehensive in their approach to sustainable development.

Three dimensions of sustainable development are economic development, environmental protection and social well-being. All three must be balanced.

Following the Brundtland Report, the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), also known as the Rio Earth Summit, was held in Rio de Janeiro in 1992. Among other major developments, a major framework for sustainable development was charted out, which was called Agenda 21. It was a call for action to achieve sustainable development in the 21st century. It advocated for a comprehensive action plan to be drawn up at the global, national, sub-national, and local levels. It was non-binding for the member nations, but it provided a roadmap for future discourse on the concept of sustainable development.

• 8 goals, 21 targets, and 60 indicators to be achieved by 2015.
• However these goals were not achieved as the main stakeholders, the developing countries were not consulted during drawing them up. This led to lack of ownership for them at the national level. The goals were also not harmonised, some like gender equity and environmental sustainability were just left behind. And the biggest issue was inadequate funding.

• In the Rio+20 UN Conference on Sustainable Development 2012, the world leaders decided to build upon the MDGs and a new post MDG framework was developed. The UN approved the Agenda 2030 or SDGs which were an improvement on the MDGs.
• Seventeen Goals: The SDG framework contains 17 goals, 169 targets and 232 indicators. They are not legally binding.
• Five Pillars: 17 SDGs can be categorised under five pillars namely people, prosperity, planet, peace and partnership.
• The SDGs are more inclusive and provide for participation of all including governments, civil society, corporations, etc.

• Intragenerational equity refers to an approach where there is fairness and justice in the distribution and access to resources. It ensures that there is inclusive development and that no one is left behind in the development process. This concept is also enshrined in our Constitution. Governments, both state and central, aim for intragenerational equity through various social justice schemes and targeted service delivery.
• Intergenerational equity, on the other hand, advocates for the fair use of resources by one generation so that they are also available for the next generations. It is the same concept that was enumerated in the Brundtland Commission that there must be restricted and mindful use of resources without compromising current and future developmental needs.

Benefits	End hunger and poverty. Climate change mitigation and adaptation. Inclusive development and reducing inequality. Gender equality Clean energy and water. Responsible consumption and production. Participation by all countries (developed, developing or under developed). Comprehensive coverage of goals.
Challenges	Threats to international peace due new and emerging conflicts in the West Asia and Russia-Ukraine war. Lack of proper means of data collection and processing. Paucity of funds. Lack of coordination between various levels of government. Inadequate steps in climate change mitigation and adaptation.

Efforts are being undertaken by NITI Aayog to nationally incorporate and localise the SDGs at all levels of government. Sabka Sath Sabka Vikas with Sabka Vishwas: (Collective Effort for Inclusive Growth) is a key motto of India and it closely matches the core principle of SDGs i.e. leave no one behind. NITI Aayog’s role for SDG implementation includes data collection, monitoring, planning, and implementation.

• SDG India Index was also set up and a Second Voluntary National Review (VNR) to present progress of different goals.
• National Indicator Framework (NIF), developed by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) in consultation with NITI Aayog. It provides an assessment framework for various SDGs at all levels. MoSPI also publishes progress reports on NIF for SDGs based on the latest data provided by the ministries which helps in monitoring progress on SDGs.
• State Level Monitoring: States/UTs also monitor the progress of SDGs at the state and sub-state level.
• Government of India-United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSCDF) 2023-2027: NITI Aayog and the UN in India signed UNSCDF 2023-2027. It will focus on four interlinked pillars of the SDGs: people, prosperity, planet, and participation. For the first time, GoI-UNSCDF will focus on SDG localisation and South-South cooperation, and India’s model of development will be showcased on the world stage.

Conserve and sustainably use the oceans seas and marine resources for sustainable development

Sustainable Development Goals	India’s Policy and Government Schemes addressing SDGs	Progress According to VNR 2020
SDG 1 NO HUNGER End poverty in its all forms	MGNREGA PMAY (Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojna). PMJDY (Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojna) PMJAY (Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojna) part of Ayushman Bharat	12% growth in person days of employment generated: from 2.36 billion (2016-17) to 2.64 billion (2019-2020). Rural houses completed grew four times. (1.2 million in 2014-15 to 4.7 million in 2018-19) Inclusive development and reducing inequality. 381 million bank accounts (203 million women bank accounts) opened between 2014 and 2020. 100 million families are provided with health cover of INR 5 lacs per year. Women participation in wage/salaried jobs increased to 21% in 2017-18 (from 13% in 2011-12)
SDG 2 ZERO HUNGER End hunger, achieve food security, improve nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture	NFSA 2013 Poshan Abhiyan Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojna Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojna Pradhan Mantri krishi Sinchayee Yojna	97.6 % NFSA beneficiaries covered in 2018-19. Aadhar seeding of ration cards. One Nation One Ration Card for ration card portability to benefit 130 million migrant population. MSP increased by 150% for all rabi and kharif crops. 224 million Soil Health Card distributed GVA in Agriculture per worker increased to INR 68,531 (from INR 57,087 in 2011-12).
SDG 3 GOOD H0EALTH AND WELL-BEING Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages	Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Aushadhi Yojna Swachh Bharat Mission	1,50,000 Health and Wellness centres. INR 5 lacs health cover to a family. Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR) reduced to 122 in 2015-17 (from 130 in 2014-16). Under-5 Mortality Rate improved to 37 in 2017.
SDG 4 QUALITY EDUCATION Ensure inclusive education and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all	National Education Policy 2020 Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojna Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojna	More than 80% teachers are formally trained. Gender Parity Index: 1.06 at Elementary level 1.04 at Secondary level Minimum Proficiency Level in Language and Mathematics achieved: 90% at Class 3 83% at Class 5 72% at Class 8 8.7 million candidates trained under PMKVY.
SDG 5 GENDER EQUALITY Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls	Deen Dayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Livelihood Mission PMJDY Access to credit to SHGs National Social Assistance Program	75% beneficiaries under Mudra Yojna are women 35% of directors in startups are women. Sex Ratio at birth is at 896 (2015-17). 10 million bank-linked SHGs (87.6% being women) with an annual credit uptake of INR 583 billion.
SDG 6 CLEAN WATER AND SANITATION Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all	Jal Jeevan Mission Jal Shakti Abhiyan Namami Gange Swachh Bharat Mission	96% of the population has an improved source of drinking water. 100% individual household toilets in rural areas in 2019 (from 38.7% in 2014-15). 97.4% of school girls have separate toilets.
SDG 7 AFFORDABLE AND CLEAN ENERGY Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all	Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojna- Saubhagya (Accessible to all) Target of 450 GW renewable energy by 2030 under NDCs (Sustainable and modern) Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojna (Affordable to all) National Mission for Enhanced Energy Efficiency Establishment of International Solar Alliance in partnership with France	Nearly all households in rural India are electrified. In 2018-19, 96.2% of households used clean cooking fuel. 36% of electricity generated from renewable sources in 2020. 75% solar power tariff reduced by using plug and play model.
SDG 8 DECENT WORK AND ECONOMIC GROWTH Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all	Make in India Micro Units Development and Refinance Agency (MUDRA) Scheme Atal Innovation Mission Major reforms to promote ease of doing business such as the GST regime, IBC, FDI liberalisation etc. Startup India, Standup India Atmanibhar Bharat	Third largest Startup Ecosystem in the world. Third highest number of Unicorns. 32,577 recognised startups in 2020. More than INR 11.8 trillion was disbursed under the MUDRA scheme.
SDG 9 INDUSTRY, INNOVATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialisation and foster innovation	Simplification of IPR filing Ease of doing business Fostering innovation and industry academia collaboration Bharatmala Project Sagarmala Project National Infrastructure Pipeline (NIP)	10,885 KM of construction of National Highways and 29.7 KM per day of road construction in 2018-19. 1514 million tonnes of Cargo handling capacity of major ports in 2019. Turnaround Time of the ship improved to 2.48 days in 2018-19. Internet user base increased to 665 million in 2019.
SDG 10 REDUCED INEQUALITIES Reduce inequality within among countries	Right to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2002 and Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan Support to Training and Employment Programme for Women (STEP) and Deen Dayal Rehabilitation Scheme (DDRS) Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY), Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY) and Atal Pension Yojana (APY)	2.96% of the Union Budget allocated for SCs and STs welfare schemes in 2017-18. 64% Transgender LFPR of that of Male LFPR. 44.4% seats in PRIs held by women. 48% of the MUDRA loans belong to SC, ST and OBC communities in 2018-19. 28.3% of seats in state legislative assemblies are occupied by persons belonging to SC/ST communities.
SDG 11 SUSTAINABLE CITIES AND COMMUNITIES Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable	Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) Smart Cities Mission (SCM) PMAY-U National Urban Transport Policy (NUTP) National Mission on Transformative Mobility and Battery Storage Energy Conservation Building Code (ECBC)	5,151 projects worth more than INR 2 trillion (USD 26.7 billion) are at various stages of implementation. 791 KM metro rail lines under construction in 27 cities. 3.2 million urban houses completed.
SDG 12 RESPONSIBLE CONSUMPTION AND PRODUCTION Ensure sustainable consumption and production pattern	National Mission on Sustainable Agriculture Soil Health Card Energy Conservation Building Code (ECBC) Environment Protection Act, 1986 (EPA)	India ranks 9th in the world in land under organic agriculture. 100% segregation of waste in 75% of the municipal wards. 224 million Soil Health Cards distributed .
SDG 13 CLIMATE ACTION Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts	National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) State Action Plan on Climate Change (SAPCC) National Policy on Disaster Management (2009) and the National Disaster Management Plan (2016) India launched ISA and CDRI	ISA:86 countries signed and 66 countries ratified ISA Framework Agreement. 36% of the Total Electricity Generated is from renewable sources. 21% reduction in emission intensity of GDP. 11 million smart LED street lights installed.
SDG 14 LIFE BELOW WATER SDG 2 ZERO HUNGER	Mangrove Initiative for Shoreline Habitats & Tangible Incomes (MISHTI) Marine Observation System Along the Indian Coast (MOSAIC) Marine Protected Areas National Marine Fisheries Policy 2017 Coastal Regulation Zones Integrated Coastal and Marine Area Management	4975 sq. km area under mangroves cover in 2019. Medium pH of coastal waters in the shore zone. Coral reefs cover 5790 sq.km. area. Maximum sustainable yield in fishing increased by 43% in 2017-18.
SDG 15 LIFE ON LAND Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forest, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss	National Afforestation Programme Recognition of Forest Rights Act, 2006 and Joint Forest Management Wetland (Conservation and Management) Rules 2017 National River Conservation Plan (NRCP) and National Plan for Conservation of Aquatic Ecosystems (NPCA) Integrated Watershed Management Programme, the National Afforestation Programme and the National Mission for Green India	7,12,249 sq.km under forest cover (one fifth of India’s geographical area). 1.69 million ha area covered under different afforestation schemes in 2017-18. 26 million ha of land to be restored by 2030 and achieve land degradation neutrality. No. of tigers increased to 2969 in 2018.
No. of tigers increased to 2969 in 2018. Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all the levels	Ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) Prevention of Corruption Act, the Lok Pal and Lokayukta Act, the Whistleblowers Protection Act, and Prevention of Money Laundering Act RTI Act 2005 Aadhar based identity	Overall Crime Rate has fallen from 388.6 in 2017 to 383.5 in 2018 - per lakh population During 2014-20, total direct benefit transfers amounted to over INR 11 trillion (USD 149 billion) and accounted for cumulative savings of INR 1.7 trillion (USD 23 billion). Government services provided through digital platforms in 2018-19 increased to 3246 from 3114 in 2017-18. 38 billion digital payment transactions in 2019-20.
SDG 17 PARTNERSHIP FOR THE GOALS Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalise the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development	India’s active participation in ISA, CDRI, BRICS, NDB etc Public Finance Management System (PFMS) Government Integrated Financial Management System (GIFMIS) Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT)	Improved its tax-to-GDP ratio in the last six years, to 17-17.5%. Eliminating leakages worth INR 1.7 trillion (USD 23 billion) by using DBT. India has extended more than 300 Lines of Credit (LoC) totalling USD 30.66 billion to 64 countries. India has committed a total of USD 150 million over a decade to the India-UN Development Partnership Fund.

The world is at a critical juncture. Issues such as climate change, global hunger, poverty and global armed conflicts pose a credible threat to humanity. The SDGs showcase a viable pathway to navigate through these challenging times. India, being the most populous country and home to one-sixth of all the people in the world, has the special responsibility of not only performing well but also acquiring a leading role as the voice of the global south. Key challenges that need to be addressed are:

• Quality of the data collected.
• Roadblocks in capacity development.
• SDG financing.
• Frequent data collection, etc