Sustainable Development Goals: Importance, Relation with Business, Society and Environment

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Sustainable Development Goals

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Introduction
In today’s ever-changing environment, the importance of sustainable development has
increased substantially which focuses on using resources in a responsible manner to ensure
that current and future generations have the ability to fulfil their needs from these resources.
In order to adopt sustainable development policies, the United Nations Conference conducted
in Rio de Janeiro issued the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in 2012 (UNDP, 2019).
The UN issued 17 SDGs and 169 targets which were included in the new universal agenda
that are applicable to all countries relating to all stages of development. The SDGs were built
upon the Millennium Development Goals that were focused on identifying human rights to
establish equal policies for all women. All these goals are integrated together in order to
achieve sustainable development in three main areas which include economic, social and
environmental (UN, 2019). These goals were more effective than the goals established in
2000 because they engage local governments, private and national stakeholders, civil society
and businesses towards their achievement (Slack, 2015). In order to the achievement of these
goals, businesses, societies and governments play a major role because their achievement is
based on their partnership to create a better planet for future generations (Scheyvens et al.,
2016). The government plays an active role in spreading awareness for recognition of the
importance of achievement of these goals to ensure that they are achieved with the set
timeframe (Slack, 2015). In this essay, arguments will be made regarding the important role
of the government and different stakeholders towards implementation, monitoring and
evaluation of SDGs through the world.
Need and Importance of Sustainable Development
On earth, natural resources such as rivers, minerals and forests are limited in number, and
they are vital to life on the planet. It is the responsibility of every generation to ensure that
they use these resources responsibility without making them scares which eliminates the
ability of future generations to fulfil their needs. The SDGs are defined as the blueprint
implemented by the United Nations to achieve better and sustainable future by addressing
challenges such as environmental degradation, inequality, climate, poverty and establishing
prosperity, peace and justice (UN, 2019). All these goals are connected so that none of these
issues is left unchecked.

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Over thirty years have passed since the sustainable development summits; however, the
actions towards the achievement of social, equality, planetary environment and economic
sustainability are not effective due to a range of factors such as inadequate information on
progress, lack of public involvement and slow implementation (Janoušková et al., 2018).
Scheyvens et al. (2016) argued that SDGs had implemented time-bound, universal goals
which resulted in engaging a wide range of stakeholders towards their achievement by
working together. Due to these initiatives, achievements have made in sectors such as
healthcare where child mortality has reduced, and the universal access to healthcare has
increased. These goals promote joint actions by countries by promoting a long-term approach
to global challenges (Scheyvens et al., 2016).
Sustainable development is crucial to achieve a balance in fulfilment of social, economic and
environmental needs that achieve prosperity for current and future generations which
highlights its need and importance. Scheyvens et al. (2016) provided that SDGs have set a
common aim for the world to achieve by 2030 while tackling major issues through the
elimination of poverty, social injustice, inequality while protecting natural resources.
Kulkarni (2013) provided that sustainable development policies encourage organisations to
change their methods and technologies to become more resource base. These policies focus
on long term development while achieving the goal of a healthy community through
addressing issues relating to economic, social and environmental factors by the protection of
environmental resources (Kulkarni, 2013).
Sustainable development requires a global collaboration for tackling environmental
challenges such as global warming and climate change from countries so that they work on
their individual level through integrated practices. The private sector that has a significant
contribution to the growth of the national economy which also plays a major role in adopting
policies which are focused on responsible environmental care by the protection of natural
resources. From a religious perspective, protection of natural resources such as water, land
and forest is a duty of individuals, and they should respect them to preserve them for a long
period of time. Therefore, civil societies also a major role in creating a pressure on the
government to build proper coordination between different factors such as resources,
environment, development and population to ensure that sustainable development policies are
implemented effectively.