Countdown to human extinction? Expert: Out of 8 key land protection measures, 7 failed. Earth is home of mankind and cradle of life. However, with population growth, resource depletion, increasing pollution and climate change, earth is in an unprecedented crisis. If effective measures are not taken in time, people may lose this beautiful planet in near future.
In response to these challenges, in 2015 United Nations adopted 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which proposes 17 sustainable development goals to end poverty, protect planet and improve the lives and futures of all of people. These goals cover economic, social and environmental aspects that are interrelated and inseparable.
However, according to United Nations report on 2020 Sustainable Development Goals, global progress towards these goals is far from enough. The report says that living standards are deteriorating in many regions and groups due to effects of inequality and climate change, and impact of COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated these problems. The report calls for accelerated action in 2020-2030 decade to achieve Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.
So what are 8 key steps you need to take to protect planet? Why are 7 of them already failing? How can this end change?
8 Key Actions to Protect PlanetGoal 6. Clean water and sanitation. Access to and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all. Water is source of life and the basis for economic development and social well-being. However, 2 billion people worldwide still lack access to safe drinking water, 4.5 billion people lack access to safe sanitation, and 3 billion people lack basic handwashing facilities.
Water resources are also under threat from overexploitation, pollution and climate change. Therefore, measures are urgently needed to protect water resources, improve water use efficiency, reduce water pollution, expand water service coverage and strengthen transboundary water cooperation.
Goal 7. Affordable and clean energy. Ensure access to affordable, reliable and sustainable modern energy for all. Energy is an important driver of economic growth and social progress, as well as a key factor in reducing poverty and improving people's quality of life.
However, 789 million people worldwide still lack access to electricity, and 2.8 billion people rely on traditional biomass fuels as their primary cooking fuel. Energy consumption is also one of main causes of greenhouse gas emissions and climate change. Therefore, improving energy efficiency, increasing share of clean energy, promoting energy innovation and technology transfer, and popularizing energy services are important measures.
Goal 11: Sustainable cities and communities. Building inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable cities and communities. Cities are centers of civilization and innovation, engines of economic growth and social development. However, urbanization also brings many problems such as congestion, pollution, poverty, inequality, crime, violence, etc.
Cities are also more vulnerable to natural disasters and climate change. Therefore, improving urban planning and management capabilities, improving urban infrastructure and services, promoting green and low-carbon urban development, and improving ability of cities to respond to risks and natural disasters are all urgent actions.
Goal 12. Responsible consumption and production. Achieve sustainable management and use of natural resources, and reduce negative impacts of waste generation and disposal on environment and health. Consumption and production patterns are important determinants of resource efficiency and environmental quality.
However, current patterns of global consumption and production are not sustainable, leading to problems such as resource overexploitation, environmental damage and greenhouse gas emissions. Therefore, it is necessary to increase environmental awareness and responsibility on part of consumers, promote clean technologies and circular economy on part of producers, and develop effective rules and policy incentives.
Goal 13: Combat climate change. Strengthen all aspects of capacity needed to address climate change and its impacts and integrate them into national policies. Climate change is a global problem that transcends national borders and poses a huge threat to all countries and regions.
Climate change has resulted in frequent extreme weather events, rising sea levels, melting glaciers and degradation of ecosystems, and has severely impacted agriculture, health and safety. Thus, strengthening cooperation and coordination at international level, developing and implementing emission reduction and adaptation plans at national level, and raising public awareness and participation at societal level are all urgent actions that need to be taken.
Goal 14: Underwater life. Protect underwater biodiversity and prevent marine pollution and overfishing that threaten ocean health and degrade sustainable resource use. Covering approximately 70 percent of Earth's surface, oceans provide habitat for millions of species and provide food and income for billions of people. The ocean also plays an important role in climate regulation and carbon dioxide absorption.
However, ocean is threatened by land and sea activities such as pollution and dumping, overfishing and illegal fishing, as well as rising sea temperatures and acidification caused by climate change. Therefore, it is necessary to create effective governance mechanisms at global level and strengthen them at regional level.
Problem 15: Terrestrial life. Sustainable forest management, combating desertification, halting and reversing land degradation and halting biodiversity loss. Forests cover 30 percent of earth's land surface, provide habitat for 80 percent of life on earth, and provide livelihoods for 1.3 billion people. Forests are also important carbon sinks, absorbing nearly one-third of carbon dioxide emitted annually by people around world.
However, forests are being destroyed by human activities and 13 million hectares of forests are destroyed every year, resulting in land degradation, reduced water sources and reduced biodiversity. Thus, strengthening forest management and cooperation at global level, developing and implementing policies for protection and restoration of forests at national level, and raising awareness of values and functions of forests at community level are important measures.
Goal 16: Peace, justice and strong institutions. Ensure access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels. Peace, justice and strong institutions are fundamental to sustainable development and essential to protecting planet. Without peace there can be no safe environment, without justice there can be no fair distribution, without strong institutions there can be no effective governance.
However, billions of people around world still live in conflict, violence, corruption, discrimination, etc. and cannot enjoy basic human rights and freedoms. Therefore, strengthening dialogue and cooperation at international level, promoting rule of law and democracy at national level, and encouraging tolerance and participation at social level are necessary measures.
Goal 17. Partnership to achieve goals. Revival of Global Partnership for Sustainable Development. Protecting Earth is a shared responsibility and interest of all mankind and requires close and effective partnerships between countries, organizations and social forces to coordinate actions, share resources, share risks and share results.
However, current global partnership is facing many challenges such as trade protectionism, aid cuts, technology gap, etc. Therefore, strengthening multilateralism and multilateral mechanisms at global level, strengthening regional integration and regional cooperation at regional level, and strengthening communication and cooperation between government and civil society at national level are necessary measures.
7 failedIt can be seen from above 8 key actions that protection of Earth includes many areas and levels and requires joint efforts and coordination of all parties. However, according to United Nations report on 2020 Sustainable Development Goals, among these measures, only Goal 17: Partnership to Achieve Goals has made some progress, while remaining seven measures have not reached expected goals and even experienced regression or stagnation. State.
Goal 6. Clean water and sanitation. In 2017, 2.1 billion people still lacked access to safe drinking water, 4.5 billion people lacked safe sanitation and hygiene, and 3 billion people lacked basic handwashing facilities, according to report. These numbers are likely to get worse as COVID-19 pandemic and other diseases cause severe damage to aquatic environment.
Goal 7. Affordable and clean energy. According to report, 789 million people were still without electricity in 2018, and 2.8 billion people relied on traditional biomass fuels as their main cooking fuel. While share of renewables in electricity industry has increased, it remains low in the heating, cooling and transport sectors.
Goal 11: Sustainable cities and communities. According to report, 1.02 billion urban residents lived in slums in 2018, up 150 million from 2015. Urban air pollution is also worsening: in 2016, 90 percent of city dwellers breathed poor-quality air.
Goal 12. Responsible consumption and production. The report shows that in 2017, for every $10,000 of GDP, there was 1.1 tons of solid waste worldwide, and only 19% of it was recycled or composted. In 2019, total amount of e-waste in world reached 5.38 million tons, and only 17.4% was recycled.
Goal 13: Combat climate change. The report shows that global greenhouse gas emissions in 2019 reached 59 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent, up 1.5% from 2010. If current emission reduction commitments are met, global temperatures will still rise by more than 3°C above pre-industrial levels by 2030.
Goal 14: Underwater life. According to report, acidity of world's oceans in 2018 was 26% higher than pre-industrial levels, which poses a serious threat to coral reefs and marine life. In 2019, 34.2 percent of global marine catch exceeded sustainable levels, and coverage of marine protected areas remains below 10 percent.
Problem 15: Terrestrial life. According to report, between 2015 and 2020, about 10 million hectares of forests were destroyed annually, and coverage of reserves is still less than 17%. The terrestrial biodiversity index in 2019 was 9% lower than in 2000 and is projected to decrease by 18% by 2030.
How we changeFrom above analysis, it can be seen that there are many difficulties and challenges in protecting the Earth, and it is necessary to establish close and effective partnerships between countries, organizations and social forces to coordinate actions, share resources, and share risks, share results.
At global level, it is necessary to strengthen multilateralism and multilateral mechanisms, formulate and implement universal, inclusive and effective international rules and standards within United Nations, and fully take into account differences in levels of development and responsibility of different countries. in ability.
At regional level, it is necessary to strengthen regional integration and regional cooperation, establish mechanisms of mutual trust and mutual assistance between neighboring or similar countries, and formulate and implement regional strategies for protecting Earth in response to common problems and challenges. and action plans, and to strengthen interregional exchange of experience and technical cooperation.
At national level, communication and cooperation between government and civil society needs to be strengthened. When developing and implementing policies and regulations for protection of Earth, fully listen to and reflect opinions and requirements of various stakeholders, and encourage and support various public organizations, enterprises, media, etc. participate in actions to protect Earth.
At community level, there is a need to strengthen advocacy and education on value and meaning of land protection, to increase sense of responsibility and public participation in protecting land, and to protect and promote low-carbon, green and sustainable lifestyles and consumption patterns.
Summary of this articleProtection of Earth is a common responsibility and interest of all mankind, and a necessary condition for realization of sustainable development. In current situation, when world is facing multiple crises and challenges, people around world must coordinate action, share resources, share risks and share results in order to achieve sustainable development goals by 2030 and leave a beautiful and rich world for future generations of the Earth.
Our beautiful Earth is currently only known planet in universe to support life and civilization. If we destroy earth and earth becomes uninhabitable, then people will also lose this only home. Maybe countdown to destruction has already begun, how can we end it? #What you see is very scientific#
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