{"id":270912,"date":"2020-10-06T04:26:05","date_gmt":"2020-10-06T08:26:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/canadianinquirer.net\/v1\/?p=270912"},"modified":"2020-10-06T04:26:05","modified_gmt":"2020-10-06T08:26:05","slug":"canada-is-starting-to-answer-the-call-on-un-sustainable-development-goals","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/canadianinquirer.net\/v1\/2020\/10\/06\/canada-is-starting-to-answer-the-call-on-un-sustainable-development-goals\/","title":{"rendered":"Canada is starting to answer the call on UN Sustainable Development Goals"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Trudeau\u2019s speech to the United Nations was bold in tone and content. He highlighted several of the UN\u2019s Global Goals \u2014 tackling climate change, inequality and health and women\u2019s rights. (File photo:<\/a> Justin Trudeau\/Facebook<\/a>)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau addressed the United Nations General Assembly<\/a> this year by way of pre-recorded video.<\/p>\n

The COVID-19 crisis has shown that \u201cthings have to change,\u201d he declared<\/a> in the international spotlight, months after Canada\u2019s unsuccessful bid for a seat on the UN Security Council<\/a>. \u201cNot just on the world stage, but at home, too.\u201d<\/p>\n

He\u2019s right.<\/p>\n

On the same day, Pakistani activist Malala Yousafzai, an honorary Canadian citizen<\/a> and UN Messenger of Peace, reminded world leaders that the UN\u2019s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)<\/a> are the future.<\/p>\n

Yousafzai, also a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, asked the leaders when they\u2019re planning to do the work<\/a> towards a \u201cnew sustainable, healthy, educated and equitable era.\u201d<\/p>\n

Canada\u2019s global goals<\/h2>\n

Trudeau\u2019s speech to the United Nations was bold in tone and content. He highlighted several of the UN\u2019s Global Goals<\/a> \u2014 tackling climate change, inequality and health and women\u2019s rights.<\/p>\n

In September 2015, Canada and all UN member states adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development<\/a>, a universal call for action made up of 17 goals and 169 targets to be met by 2030. Canada\u2019s commitment to the agenda<\/a>, domestically and internationally, has been a top priority of Trudeau\u2019s government.<\/p>\n

But has it actually been a priority, or is it just \u201cbusiness as usual\u201d in Canada?<\/p>\n

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\nRead more:
\nHow can we prevent the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals from failing?<\/a>
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Progress and actions<\/h2>\n

Progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals has been severely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. In the Sustainable Development Report 2020<\/a> on the impact of COVID-19, Canada falls short, ranking 21st out of 193<\/a> countries in the world on its overall progress towards the UN\u2019s Global Goals.<\/p>\n

The 2020 SDG Index<\/a> tracks countries\u2019 performance on the 17 SDGs. In Canada, only quality education was achieved. Several goals like zero hunger, gender equality, industry, innovation and infrastructure, responsible consumption and production, climate action and life on land are still facing significant challenges.<\/p>\n

Action is needed. Other SDG goals like clean water and sanitation, reduced inequalities and sustainable cities and communities remain daunting. The data is staggering. Canada must take action on all the other goals.<\/p>\n

In 2017, a report<\/a> authored by global economic development experts John W. McArthur<\/a> and Krista Rasmussen<\/a> concluded that Canada \u201cis not yet fully on track for any of the SDGs.\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n

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\nRead more:
\nCanada must use its ‘soft power’ to champion global human rights<\/a>
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The British Columbia Council for International Cooperation (BCCIC) also offers a picture of SDG progress in Canada through its \u201cWhere Canada Stands\u201d series<\/a> that provides a snapshot of Canadian performance. The reports acknowledge that while Trudeau\u2019s government is \u201calready making an effort to integrate the SDG framework into a Canadian agenda in order to achieve the Global Goals,\u201d Canada is still lagging behind in meeting many of the indicators.<\/p>\n

The 2019 report<\/a> states that several groups are still \u201cleft behind,\u201d including Indigenous communities, families living in poverty, people with disabilities, and women and girls.<\/p>\n

But the BCCIC also found that, domestically, Canada adopted its national strategy<\/a> and took several actions to accelerate progress on the SDGs by 2030.<\/p>\n

Internationally, Canada adopted a new policy vision in 2017 for international assistance in support of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. With its Feminist International Assistance Policy<\/a>, Canada is playing a leading role helping the poorest countries make progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals.<\/p>\n

Trudeau\u2019s reaffirmation<\/h2>\n

In December 2019, Trudeau reaffirmed<\/a> Canada\u2019s commitments to deliver international development assistance to reduce global poverty and inequality, provide humanitarian assistance, help the world\u2019s poor adapt to climate change and support displaced people, particularly with access to education. These efforts are aimed at meeting the SDGs by 2030.<\/p>\n

But in 2020, the world is facing the worst public health and economic crisis in a century.<\/p>\n

Because of the impact of COVID-19, UN Secretary-General Ant\u00f3nio Guterres launched a call for action called the SDG Moment 2020<\/a>. In his opening remarks<\/a>, he said:<\/p>\n

\u201cThe 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is designed to address the very fragilities and shortcomings that the pandemic has exposed.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

To celebrate its 75th anniversary, the UN released the video Urgent Solutions for Urgent Times<\/em> that describes the world\u2019s biggest issues, from COVID-19 to poverty, inequality, gender discrimination, climate change, justice and human rights.<\/p>\n