Recently, in September 2015, the General Assembly of the United Nations adopted a resolution entitled, ‘Transforming our World: The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development’ which is the post-2015 development agenda for all the countries. The document that runs into 35 pages clearly states that the agenda is ‘of unprecedented scope and significance. It is accepted by all countries and is applicable to all, taking into account different national realities, capacities and levels of development and respecting national policies and priorities’.
The document recognises the present situation, maintaining that there are ‘immense challenges to sustainable development’. It goes on to state that, ‘Natural resource depletion and adverse impacts of environmental degradation, including desertification, drought, land degradation, freshwater scarcity and loss of biodiversity, add to and exacerbate the list of challenges which humanity faces. Climate change is one of the greatest challenges of our time and its adverse impacts undermine the ability of all countries to achieve sustainable development. Increases in global temperature, sea level rise, ocean acidification and other climate change impacts are seriously affecting coastal areas and low-lying coastal countries, including many least developed countries and small-island developing States. The survival of many societies, and of the biological support systems of the planet, is at risk’.
The UN agenda that was proposed is a plan of action for the people, the planet and prosperity that ‘seeks to strengthen universal peace in larger freedom’. The document also states that this ‘journey will involve governments as well as parliaments, the United Nations system and other international institutions, local authorities, indigenous peoples, civil society, business and the private sector, the scientific and academic community – and all people’. Very pertinently the document states, “It is an agenda of the people, by the people and for the people – and this, we believe, will ensure its success.”
Given this background and the fact that Goa is in the midst of finalising the Regional Plan 2021, which is already quite a few years late and we are in the year 2016, it would make sense to take a deeper look at this UN resolution. While the call in Goa has been for ‘people’s participation’ in the Regional Plan process, which is important, it is equally important to adopt measures towards ‘sustainable development’ during the planning process. There have been suggestions that the UN agenda, particularly the 17 goals, that apply to the State can be adopted, and this can serve as the framework on which to finalise the Regional Plan, with the ultimate aim being sustainable development.
The preamble to the resolution and agenda lists eradicating poverty as the greatest challenge and says, “All countries and all stakeholders, acting in collaborative partnership, will implement this plan. We are resolved to free the human race from the tyranny of poverty and want and to heal and secure our planet. We are determined to take the bold and transformative steps which are urgently needed to shift the world on to a sustainable and resilient path.” But while it focuses on eradicating poverty, it also lists 17 sustainable development goals and 169 targets that seek to build on the Millennium Development Goals and complete what they did not achieve. The goals are integrated and indivisible and balance the three dimensions of sustainable development: the economic, social and environmental and will ‘stimulate action over the next 15 years in areas of critical importance for humanity and the planet’.
The Regional Plan that is being finalised will be planning for the future for Goa and is poised to come at the beginning of the 15 years period that the UN agenda is planning for. Of the 17 goals that the United Nations has listed in this document, it is the one numbered 15 that is relevant to the Regional Plan. Goal 15 is entitled: “Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss.” All these are points that should be considered as priorities by the planners who will be sifting through the thousands of suggestions and requests for change in zoning that have come from the people.
The UN is quite clear that it alone cannot bring about the change that the General Assembly has planned for. The UN expects and asks every country to contribute towards meeting the goals. “We reiterate that each country has primary responsibility for its own economic and social development and that the role of national policies and development strategies cannot be overemphasised. We will respect each country’s policy space and leadership to implement policies for poverty eradication and sustainable development, while remaining consistent with relevant international rules and commitments,” the document states.
The finalisation of the Regional Plan is at point in the process where it can begin to meet the goals set out by the United Nations. The UN document states that it is “we the peoples” who are embarking today on the road to 2030. The road to 2030 can be built only by the people and where Goa is concerned, the time to begin this is now with the Regional Plan that still remains an unfinished document. It is especially important as one of the points speaks of halting deforestation, restoring degraded forests and substantially increasing afforestation and reforestation.
The UN also calls for urgent and significant action to reduce the degradation of natural habitats, halt the loss of biodiversity. While this of course is on a global level, it has to start locally, and there cannot be any argument that Goa has more than enough area under forest coverage and increasing it will hamper development. The goal for Goa should be sustainable development as envisaged by the UN.
(The writer is Executive Editor, Herald.)
