BANFF – Finding a way to achieve the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals will be no easy task, but a cross-section of organizations in the Bow Valley is determined to do just that.
Last week the Banff Canmore Community Foundation held a round-table discussion to discuss the ways local organizations can address global challenges in a local context, including ways to eradicate poverty, inequality, environmental degradation, prosperity, and peace and justice.
In 2015, 193 countries adopted 17 Sustainable Development Goals that they hope to achieve by 2030. The goals build on similar aspirations adopted in the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), however this time the new goals aim to go further to end all forms of poverty.
According to the United Nations, the new goals call for action by all countries to promote prosperity while protecting the planet. The new goals also recognize that ending poverty must go hand-in-hand with strategies that build economic growth while addressing a range of social needs such as education, health and tackling climate change.
“When we got to 2012, we looked back at how far we’ve come and how far we have to go and it was decided the MDGs and the agenda that existed was not really working for everyone,” said Laveza Khan, with the Alberta Council for Global Cooperation.
She said part of the problem was that the MGDs were not universal and focused primarily on eliminating poverty in developing countries. They also were seen as separate from one another rather than interconnected and of equal importance.
“This idea of leaving no one behind is so important to this agenda and it actually makes us reflect on who is being left behind,” said Khan. “There is always going to be someone we’re missing at the table, but what are we doing to ensure those voices are counted the next time we host a round-table?”
She said the key to achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals is by working together across all sectors and finding ways to localize the goals.
“We know that these 17 goals have a lot of potential, but we’re not going to get to 2030 and eradicate all poverty across the world,” said Khan. “It takes a lot more effort, but at the same time it gives us this hope that perhaps we will reach a point where everyone is on board and sees the interconnectedness of all of these goals as a reflection of their work in their community.”
She said the federal government is currently undertaking consultations and round-table discussions across the country to put together a national strategy to try and achieve the goals. The strategy is expected to be published by 2020.
“There is a lot of work that needs to be done and I hope that when you go away today you are able to actually think a little about what your role is in advancing this conversation and how it relates to your work,” said Khan, adding only 12 per cent of Canadians have ever heard of the goals.
The round-table discussion held in Banff was part of 39 other discussions that will be held across Alberta.
Visit sustainabledevelopment.un.org for more information about the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals.
