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“ The Sustainable Development Goals ( SDGs ) are disappearing in the rear-view mirror – and with them the hope and rights of current and future generations ”
— Progress Towards the Sustainable Development Goals : Report of the Secretary-General ( Special Edition ), July 2023
Shane Gross
The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development , adopted by all United Nations Member States in 2015 , provides a shared blueprint for peace and prosperity for people and the planet . At its heart are the 17 Sustainable Development Goals ( SDGs ), an urgent call for action on everything from ending poverty o ensuring sustainable consumption , conserving marine resources to combatting climate change .
In 2023 , at the mid-way point towards 2030 , those goals are in deep , deep trouble . Encouraging trends after the adoption of the SDGs saw extreme poverty reducing , electricity access in poor countries on the rise , and the expansion of marine protected areas . But many of these advancements have proven to be fragile and sluggish , and progress is stagnating or reversing . Developing countries and the world ’ s poorest people – many of which are in Asia – are bearing the brunt of our collective failure .
Nevertheless , while the outlook is bleak , there is hope . Around the world , people are working hard to put sustainability into practice . In this “ Sustainability Edition ” of ASIAN Geographic , we take a careful look at the work of just some of the organisations active in the Asian region . We learn how one group is coming up with “ spicy ” solutions to solve human – elephant conflict in Thailand . We investigate the technologies that promise to clean up the vast expanse of plastic garbage floating in the Pacific Ocean . And our cover stories , focused on Myanmar , expose the shocking exploitation of the sea that is occurring in the Mergui Archipelago , and how NGOs are involving the community in managing their marine resources more effectively .
If you ’ re horrified by some of the stories – and the images – in this issue , you should be . The damage we are doing to the planet is truly shocking . But we need to move past any feelings of outrage or despair . In ways large and small , we can all take action : donate , volunteer , recycle , use less water , turn down the air-conditioner . Let ’ s all do something .
Ian Bongso-Seldrup