International Development: Challenges and Sustainable Goals

This article discusses the challenges faced by humanity in achieving sustainable development, and the importance of sustainable development in promoting economic growth, environmental protection, and social security. The article also explores the six sustainable development goals set by the UN, and the strategies adopted by governments and international organizations to eradicate poverty and promote sustainable development. The limitations of the study are also discussed.

International development

International Development
1
Contents
Introduction and statement of the problem............................................................................................2
Limitation of the study..........................................................................................................................2
Methodology.........................................................................................................................................2
Literature review...................................................................................................................................3
Main body/Argument............................................................................................................................5
Conclusion.............................................................................................................................................8
References...........................................................................................................................................10

International Development
2
Introduction and statement of the problem
Sustainable development is an innovative term but has a long history. Sustainable
development is the mode to endorse economic growth, rational exploitation of the resources
and environmental defence. The sustainable development is real not just a topic and theory. It
gratifies the need of the present without negotiating the proficiency of future generations. It
confirms the equilibrium between economic growth, care for the atmosphere and social
security. There are various challenges which are confronted by humanity like climate change,
inequality, water scarcity, and hunger. Such challenges can only be resolute at a worldwide
level by endorsing sustainable development (Carley and Christie, 2017). The sustainable
development is a obligation to social progress, environmental balance, and economic
development.
Limitation of the study
The limitation of this study is that sustainable development is undertaken more as a topic and
theory. It is required to be undertaken as real in daily life. Sustainable development should be
considered as the most urgent priority.
Methodology
One type of tool is used for gathering the authentic data towards the research study which is
secondary data collection tool. The secondary data has been gathered by several agencies. It
has a great role in supporting the completion of the research’s aims and objectives. The
secondary data is defined as the earlier published data or the prevailing information which
can be accessed by using various sources like books, journals, articles, government reports,
authentic websites, and magazines.
The secondary data is exercised by the research scholar in conducting the research in an
efficient way. This way, secondary data collection is profitable for attaining comprehensive
knowledge regarding theoretical information concerning research dilemma. As secondary
data can be united by using several sources like journals, website, books and academic
publication. Therefore this tool of gathering information is important for improving the
authenticity and appositeness of the research outcomes.

International Development
3
Literature review
The outcome of the UN conference entitled sustainable development as the future wanted.
The sustainable development goals are set for the appropriate actions to be taken. According
to Broman, and Robèrt, 2017, the greatest challenge to be faced on the global level is the
eradication of the poverty and defence of the globe’s life-support system. These should be
given priority as sustainable developmental goals. The extension of the millennium
developmental goals is not sufficient as humans are transmuting the planet in such a way that
it could destabilize the development gains. The poverty eradication is the essential
requirement for sustainable development. It is the objective of the sustainable development to
manage the natural resources, change unjustifiable and manage the sustainable outlines of the
ingestion and production and eradicate poverty. The planet earth and ecologies are reaffirmed
as the home and mother earth is considered as a common appearance in the several regions
and nations (Nilsson, Griggs, and Visbeck, 2016). Here are some countries which
comprehend the privileges of nature in the framework of the elevation of sustainable
development. It is obligatory to attain an equilibrium between the economic, social and
environmental requirements of the contemporary and future generations. The sustainable
development works on 3 pillars, economic, social and environmental. It is required to
promote harmony with nature. The natural and cultural diversity contributes to sustainable
development. The sustainable development goals are to end poverty, hunger and attain food
security, improved nutrition along with promoting sustainable culture. The sustainable
development confirms healthy lives and promotes the security of all the ages. The equal
quality education is also ensured and lifelong opportunities are ensured for all (Hopwood,
Mellor and O'Brien, 2005).
The constant functioning of the earth comprises the oceans, forests, atmosphere,
watercourses, forests, biodiversity and biological cycles. All these are essential for the
prosperous worldwide society. As the human's population fixed to advance to nine billion by
2050 so the definition of sustainable development should be reviewed in order to comprise
the safety of the people and planet. According to Rodríguez, et al. 2016, it is challenging to
set sustainable development aims especially when there can be a conflict between the distinct
groups like energy provision and climate change deterrence. An incorporated framework is
the set of 6 sustainable development goals from uniting the epoch development goals with
circumstances essential to the permanency of the earth systems (Hopkins, 2017).

International Development
4
The combination of the millennium developmental goals (MDGs) with the global
environmental objects is drained from science and prevalent universal agreement. Six
sustainable development goals (SDGs) are projected with conditional targets for 2030.
The MDGs are concentrated on dropping great poverty in emerging countries since 2000. A
post outline of 2015 concentrated mainly on the poverty mitigation to demoralize the
program’s purpose. The mounting signal and real-world alters persuasively represent that
humankind is driving worldwide conservation changed. It has even busy into the innovative
geological epoch- Anthropocene (Söderbaum, 2017). On the other side, human force risks are
instigating extensive, unexpected and probably irrevocably changes to the basic earth system
processes. The dangers like risky weather, water shortages, deteriorating circumstances for
food production, ocean acidification, ecology loss, and sea level upsurge are the menaces and
can impend the expansion and prompt humanitarian screams across the nations. The
evolution of sustaining lifestyles causes people of all nations to grow prosperity and right to
develop among the globe’s poor demand. SDGs can address such risks by synchronizing the

International Development
5
actions globally. MDGs has re-presented the goal-setting approach raising both civic and
policy assistance for urgent global problems (Gupta and Vegelin, 2016). The aims for the
SDGs are required to be measurably centred on the newest research and should be applied to
the emerged and emerging countries. The 3 pillars of the sustainable development are
required to be reframed of the UN paradigm, economic, social and environmental. The
description of sustainable development should be redescribed to development which
encounters the requirements of the present along with protecting the life system support of
the earth. The environment conditions are required to be identified in order to custom the
proper goals and targets. It enables affluent human development and fixes acceptable choices
for the biosphere to endure in the region (Griggs, et al. 2013).
The 6 sustainable development goals targets to the coming years with the aim of improving
conditions. The first goals are to end the poverty and enhance the wellbeing by access to the
education, reduced inequality, better health, housing along with stirring towards the
sustainable ingestion and production (Watts, and Peet, 2004). The second goal focuses on
sustainable food safety, end deprivation and attains long term food sanctuary. It comprises
improved nourishment through the sustainable systems of invention, supply, and
consumption. The 3rd goal of the sustainable development concentrates on ecological water
security. It goals to attain worldwide right to use the clean water and basic hygiene and
certifies effective distribution by the combined water resource management. The fourth goal
is for universal clean energy. This aim focuses on improving worldwide, inexpensive access
to clean energy which lessens the confined pollution and health influences (Chambers and
Conway, 1992). It will even relieve the impacts of global warming. The fifth goal is all about
fit and productive ecologies. This goal sustains biodiversity and bionetwork services by better
administration, estimation, dimension, discussion, and renovation. Finally, the 6th goal aims
to supremacy for sustainable societies. The goal will transform governance and institutions at
all the levels to address above 5 sustainable development aims (Charles Jr, Schmidheiny and
Watts, 2017).
Main body/Argument
The goal of ending poverty and enhancing wellbeing covers several objects of the MDGs on
health, poverty and urban atmospheres. It is also applied to emerged countries. It should
comprise targets on the clear air which are built on the guidelines of the world health
organization. It follows the guideline for the pollutants like black carbon, reducing emissions

International Development
6
and depletion of the ozone layer. To keep in focus second goal of sustainable development,
MDG has widened the target in order to edge the nitrogen and phosphorus in farming. It has
decided to improve nutrient efficiency by 20% by the year 2020. The nitrogen should be
extracted no more than 35 million tonnes annually (Hák, Janoušková, and Moldan, 2016).
The aim of maintainable water security will contribute to MDG health targets. It is going to
confine global water runoff to fewer than 4000 cubic km annually. It is going to restrict the
volumes from river sinks to not more than 50-80% of mean yearly flow. The goal of
sustainable water security is going to donate to MDG health targets and will confine
worldwide water runoff to fewer than 4000 cubic km annually. It will restrict the universal
water runoff from river basins. The aim of universal clean energy backs to the UN pledge to
sustainable energy (Carley and Christie, 2017). It will even address the MDG targets on
gender equity, education, and health. This aim is going to confirm at slightest 50%
profitability of continuing within 2 degree Celsius warming. The sustainability targets goal
for global greenhouse releases to peak in the coming five years. Global warming will drop by
3-5% by 2030. The fifth goal combines the target of MDG environmental aims with 2030
forecasts of the Aichi targets (Pakseresht, and Mark-Herbert, 2016). The extinctions should
not be more than the ten times of the usual background rate. It has been decided that at least
70% of the classes in the ecosystem and 70% of the woodlands should be reserved. The
ecosystems like sea and maritime should be succeeded in order to defence the areas critical
for the biodiversity and fisheries. The aim of the supremacy for the sustainable societies will
form on the MDG partnerships. It will even integrate ecological and communal targets into
worldwide profession and finance (Barbier, 2011). The subsidies regarding relic fuel and
policies assist to the unjustifiable farming and fisheries observes to be eradicated by 2020.
The product prices are required to be incorporated through the social and environmental
impacts. Access to the evidence and decision-making process is required to be protected at
every level (Assembly, 2015).
The importance of sustainable development has been comprehended and it requires
concentrated efforts. Alike several things in life, sustainable development has also challenged
itself. It is to be noticed that sustainable development is not similarly effective in developed
and developing countries. It is allocating with the conflicting edges of the range. The
developed countries can be advanced but not certainly they are sustainable (Nilsson, Griggs,
and Visbeck, 2016). The main goal of the developed countries can be getting rid of the social

International Development
7
issues like waste management, social inequalities, and environmental accountability. The
main challenges to be faced are
 The absence of monetary resources in order to convey out and propose sustainable
development.
 It is not probable to be sustainably developed in the war-ravaged nations as there are
some other urgencies on the hand.
 Some usual incidences like tremors and tsunamis can stance menace to sustainable
development as it can move the flow of water. It can even terminate specific features
of the substructure.
 The government struggle between the revenue and speculation towards sustainable
technologies.
 The prevalence of corruption in both emerged and emerging nations stops sustainable
development.
 The challenges are also faced due to the lack of efforts at the civic level (Welford,
2016).
The failure of the government is applied to the developed and developing countries are
reacting against sustainable development. The drain of the past and current disappointments
universally is looking for transparent leadership which is required to be committed and
capable of attaining commonly maintainable and comprehensive development. The leaders
now days functioning are fluctuating vastly towards the collaboration models (Rockström, et
al. 2009). The technology has a role in regularly altering humankind into one world order. On
the other side, here are also several social, economic, inequalities and ethnic differences
across regions and countries. The rise of the inequalities is a major concern universally. The
income disparities in the UK and US have been growing in the last 30 years. As per the
human development index, there is the highest inequality in countries like Africa and South
Asia. Each government is obligatory to agreed national targets as per directed by the
worldwide level of drive. It is required to undertake national circumstances with the
deliberation of ambitious and worldwide targets to incorporate into national planning,
policies, and strategies (Aras and Crowther, 2016).
The international development approach for sustainable development comprises a
coordinated set of the required processes and outcomes. It is participating and constantly
improving the process of the analysis. It assimilates the social, economic and environmental

International Development
8
objectives of the society. The international development approaches are national conversation
strategies and poverty reduction strategies. The national conversation strategies have active
participation in shaping the world wanted (Vasseur, et al. 2017). An agenda is established and
the consultation is made with the evidence and outlooks to the government on the challenges
faced in improving the lives of the families and communities. It contributes to improving
physical and mental health. This strategy promotes reforms so that young people can meet
their needs. It also gives voices to the people by offering opportunities to contribute to
shaping the delivery. The poverty reduction strategies eradicate poverty and promote
employment (Assembly, 2015). This strategy is even assisted by the IMF and the World
Bank. The eradication of poverty is the greatest challenge. The actions taken for the
eradication of poverty comprises enhancing access to sustainable livelihoods. Entrepreneurial
opportunities and productive resources are also improved through the policy. The policy even
provides access to basic social services. The social protection is developed due to the poverty
eradication policy and supports to the people who cannot support themselves (Wuelser and
Pohl, 2016). The misappropriate impact of poverty on women are addressed as a part of the
strategy. The international cooperation is also strengthened as part of the international
cooperation for the poverty abolition. The poverty eradication strategy describes the nation’s
structural, macro-economic and social policies of a country. These are practiced by the
government through the participatory process comprising civil society and development
partners such as IMF. Poverty is a complex problem at both national and international
regions. There is no uniform application which can be realized for the global application. On
the other side, country-specific programs are given importance to tackling poverty. It also
assists in international efforts and national efforts for creating a supportive environment. The
poverty issue could threaten economic development and political stability in several countries
(Abrahams, 2018). Extreme poverty is a global challenge but meeting human development
goals aiming to reduce poverty can surely lead to sustainable development.
Conclusion
Sustainable development is real and is a way to endorse economic growth, rational use of
resources and environmental defence. There are several challenges faced by humanity such as
climate change, inequality, water scarcity, and starvation. These challenges can only be
determined at a worldwide level by endorsing sustainable development. The sustainable
development goals are set by the UN conference for the appropriate actions to be undertaken.

International Development
9
The greatest challenges faced on the global level are the abolition of the poverty and defence
of the globe’s life-support system. Poverty suppression is the basic requirement for
sustainable development. The sustainable development is having objective to manage the
natural resources, change unjustifiable and manage the sustainable patterns of the ingesting
and production and eradicate poverty. The six sustainable development goals aim to attain
sustainable development. The goals target to the coming years with the objective of
improving conditions. There are some challenges which are faced in attaining sustainable
development but these can be managed by the goals. The sustainable development aims are
ending poverty and enhancing wellbeing, sustainable food security, sustainable water
security, universal clean energy, healthy and productive ecosystems and governance for
sustainable people. The sustainable development goals are enabled to be attained by the
international development approaches and theories. But the approaches work differently in
the emerged and the emerging countries. So the approaches should be used more
appropriately in the emerging countries. As there is more need to be improved and make
changes for sustainable development. Finally, it can be concluded that sustainable
development is an issue which is require to be treated very seriously as it puts impact on
everyone. If the world is going to operate as it is operating currently then the stable future is
not anticipated. Every person in this environment is required to reconsider their lifestyle
choices in order to safeguard a secure environment for the coming generation. The awareness
should be spread regarding issues which plague the planet. It can assist in the enforcement of
the actual changes.

International Development
10
References
Abrahams, D., 2018. Local economic development in South Africa: A useful tool for
sustainable development. In Local Economic Development in the Changing World (pp. 131-
145). Routledge.
Aras, G. and Crowther, D., 2016. The durable corporation: Strategies for sustainable
development. Routledge.
Assembly, G., 2015. Sustainable development goals. SDGs), Transforming our world:
the, 2030.
Barbier, E., 2011, August. The policy challenges for green economy and sustainable
economic development. In Natural resources forum (Vol. 35, No. 3, pp. 233-245). Oxford,
UK: Blackwell Publishing Ltd.
Broman, G.I. and Robèrt, K.H., 2017. A framework for strategic sustainable
development. Journal of Cleaner Production, 140, pp.17-31.
Carley, M. and Christie, I., 2017. Managing sustainable development. Routledge.
Carley, M. and Christie, I., 2017. Managing sustainable development. Routledge.
Chambers, R. and Conway, G., 1992. Sustainable rural livelihoods: practical concepts for
the 21st century. Institute of Development Studies (UK).
Charles Jr, O.H., Schmidheiny, S. and Watts, P., 2017. Walking the talk: The business case
for sustainable development. Routledge.
Griggs, D., Stafford-Smith, M., Gaffney, O., Rockström, J., Öhman, M.C., Shyamsundar, P.,
Steffen, W., Glaser, G., Kanie, N. and Noble, I., 2013. Policy: Sustainable development goals
for people and planet. Nature, 495(7441), p.305.
Gupta, J. and Vegelin, C., 2016. Sustainable development goals and inclusive
development. International environmental agreements: Politics, law and economics, 16(3),
pp.433-448.
Hák, T., Janoušková, S. and Moldan, B., 2016. Sustainable Development Goals: A need for
relevant indicators. Ecological Indicators, 60, pp.565-573.

International Development
11
Hopkins, M., 2017. CSR and international development. In CSR and Sustainability (pp. 88-
108). Routledge.
Hopwood, B., Mellor, M. and O'Brien, G., 2005. Sustainable development: mapping different
approaches. Sustainable development, 13(1), pp.38-52.
Nilsson, M., Griggs, D. and Visbeck, M., 2016. Policy: map the interactions between
Sustainable Development Goals. Nature News, 534(7607), p.320.
Nilsson, M., Griggs, D. and Visbeck, M., 2016. Policy: map the interactions between
Sustainable Development Goals. Nature News, 534(7607), p.320.
Pakseresht, A. and Mark-Herbert, C., 2016. Thought Piece A review of sustainable
development in brand value assessments. Social Business, 6(3), pp.219-247.
Rockström, J., Steffen, W.L., Noone, K., Persson, Å., Chapin III, F.S., Lambin, E., Lenton,
T.M., Scheffer, M., Folke, C., Schellnhuber, H.J. and Nykvist, B., 2009. Planetary
boundaries: exploring the safe operating space for humanity. Ecology and society.
Rodríguez, J.A., Giménez Thomsen, C., Arenas, D. and Pagell, M., 2016. NGOs’ initiatives
to enhance social sustainability in the supply chain: poverty alleviation through supplier
development programs. Journal of Supply Chain Management, 52(3), pp.83-108.
Söderbaum, P., 2017. Do we need a new economics for sustainable development. Real-world
economics review, 80.
Vasseur, L., Horning, D., Thornbush, M., Cohen-Shacham, E., Andrade, A., Barrow, E.,
Edwards, S.R., Wit, P. and Jones, M., 2017. Complex problems and unchallenged solutions:
Bringing ecosystem governance to the forefront of the UN sustainable development
goals. Ambio, 46(7), pp.731-742.
Watts, M. and Peet, R., 2004. Liberating political ecology. Liberation ecologies:
Environment, development, social movements, 2, pp.3-43.
Welford, R., 2016. Corporate environmental management 3: Towards sustainable
development. Routledge.

International Development
12
Wuelser, G. and Pohl, C., 2016. How researchers frame scientific contributions to sustainable
development: A typology based on grounded theory. Sustainability science, 11(5), pp.789-
800.