Can we save the Global Goals?
By Ahmad Alhendawi, Secretary General of the WOSM
Can we save the Global Goals?
Yes, but…
The climate crisis. Conflicts and war. Increasing financial uncertainty. A post-pandemic education and health crisis that disproportionally impacts women, girls and children. The highest number of refugees displaced in a year since records began. 735 million people worldwide faced chronic hunger just last year. Untold and continued suffering in many countries recovering from recent disasters. This is just a snapshot of what is facing the SDGs seven years after their historic adoption by 193 countries.
Leave no one behind. That was the rallying cry that I took from that inspiring moment in 2015 when world leaders from governments and different sectors stood together to set bold, ambitious and sustainable targets for the future by 2030. Securing the rights and well-being of everyone on this precious planet was the noble aim. Multilateralism, that over-used jargon which boiled down simply represents an essential spirit of togetherness, an attitude of rolling up our sleeves and getting stuff done, recognising our differences, but acting as one team – was still, just about, holding.
So, seven years on – halftime, as the UN Global Goals team is dubbing it. Where are we? You know already. On every metric, we are failing our planet and people, especially the most marginalized. These failures will transcend generations. Failures, not from a lack of trying, but by a lack of sustained follow-through by those with the power to create lasting, meaningful change.
It doesn’t have to be like this. The UN Secretary-General and the UN system continue to rally and put pressure on leaders and corporations to stick to commitments and deliver on actions promised, and yet, all too often, unfulfilled. To invest in education and tackle the health crisis. To end conflict and war. To reduce greenhouse emissions. To radically transform the financial system to relieve debt and stimulate economies. To build a just and peaceful world.
In my world, a world shaped by the diversity, inclusivity, strength and courage of 57 million Scouts in 174 countries around the world, they might just be part of the answer. There are millions, perhaps billions of people who want to create change, but who haven’t been given the right resources or conditions to get there.
The UN system has been a home for me personally since I joined as a junior officer working with the UN team in Iraq. Today I am proud to team up with incredibly inspiring leaders across the World Scout Movement who made a commitment to roll up our sleeves (and yes, our scarves) and put the planet on a path towards sustainability by building a youth-led, community-focused mobilisation for a better world. Today, through Scouts for SDGs, we are proud to represent one of the largest youth and volunteer-led contributions to the Goals through nearly 3 billion hours of community service and actions in every corner of the world.
I have seen first-hand that when you involve young people in identifying the issues, finding local solutions and providing the much-needed resources to implement them, we can make a real and tangible difference. That by working in partnership with others – whether it’s government, inter-government agencies or other youth-led and youth-serving across the sector – collectively we can have a remarkable impact.
That by investing in young people and instilling a commitment to sustainability through educational programmes and activities – and continuing to recognise that not all learning happens in the classroom – we can empower future generations with the knowledge and skills they need to be champions for our planet.
This is our contribution to creating an impact which lasts well beyond 2030.
So, can we save the Global Goals at the midpoint? This might not be the right question to ask. The question should be, can we afford to fail? Scouts alongside many other actors are joining the SDG Summit to keep leaders honest and deliver on their commitments. Not only by talking but by truly showing the power of how they contribute to getting the job done by 2030. Our best bet is on putting young people in the lead today to guarantee justice and sustainability for future generations. Support and invest in them to enable this to happen.
