Environment
in
Twenty Pages
 
 
 
 
 
 
Author
Varunkumar Baranwal
IAS

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Copyright © 2017 Varunkumar Baranwal
All rights reserved.
ISBN: 9781520968063

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Dedicated to
 My mother, for inspiring me and making me what I am

CONTENTS
 
Acknowledgementsi
Chapter 1: Basic Definitions1
Chapter 2: Ecosystem3
Chapter 3: Biodiversity6
Chapter 4: Mangroves and Wetlands8
Chapter 5: Wildlife Conservation9
Chapter 6: Protected Areas11
Chapter 7: Conservation of water Bodies13
Chapter 8: Coral Reefs14
Chapter 9: Relevant International Conventions16
Chapter 10: Sustainable Development Goals19

CHAPTER 1: BASIC DEFINITIONS

Environment and related topics have found increasing relevance in UPSC
Civil Services Prelims as well as Mains exams. The purpose of this essay is
to make the readers aware about some basic concepts in environmental
studies. To begin with, let us first define some basic terms used:
 
1. Species: It is set of organisms having common gene pool and
capacity of interbreeding uniformly.

2. Population: It is group of organisms of same species.

3. Community: It is group of populations of different species

living in the same geographical area.

4. Factor: It is any external force or physical quantity that

influences organisms.

5. Environment: It is the sum of all the factors influencing

organisms.
 6. Habitat: It is a set of environmental conditions necessary for
the growth of organism.

7. Ecad: It is a population having certain features specifically

induced by the environment which distinguishes it from the
similar population living in a different environment.

8. Ecotone: It is a zone of transition between two communities.

9. Succession: It is a natural process by which different groups or

communities colonize the same area over a period of time in a
definite sequence. If succession starts with primitive
substratum without any previous living matter it is called
primary succession. But if it starts from existing living matter
it is called secondary succession. If an existing community gets
replaced on its own due to its interaction with the environment
it is called autogenic succession. However, if such replacement
takes place due to external factors, it is called allogenic
succession. In natural process of succession, one community
gets replaced by another until a stage comes when a type of
community cannot be displaced by existing environmental
conditions. Such a community is known as climax community
and the stage is known as Climax.

10. Biome: It is a complex of several types of communities, some at

climax stage and others at various stages of succession.

11. Ecosystem: It is collection of all the biotic and abiotic

components of environment which is capable of existence
independent of any external factor.

12. Standing State: It is amount of inorganic substances present in

biotic as well as abiotic components of an ecosystem at any
given time.

Chapter 2: ECOSYSTEM
Having discussed the basic elements, let us discuss some features of
ecosystem in detail.
Ecosystem comprises of following components:
 
1. Components having life which collectively are called biotic
components.

2. Components which are non-living which collectively are called

abiotic components.

3. Various conditions of existence like temperature, light, humidity

etc.

In an ecosystem, the biotic components can be further classified into

following categories:
 
1. Producers: It is the group of living organism that are capable of
producing their own food.

2. Consumers: It is group of organisms that are dependent on

producers or other consumers for their food. Those dependent on
producers are known as primary consumers while those dependent
on Primary consumers are called secondary consumers and so on.

3. Decomposers: These are microscopic organisms that act on dead

and decaying matter to decompose them and derive energy in the
process.

In an ecosystem, the various biotic components can accordingly be arranged

in trophic levels. Each trophic level is arranged according to food levels with
producers at the bottom and higher level consumers as we move up.
 
The amount of living materials in each trophic level is known as standing
crop of that trophic level. Standing crop of a trophic level can be expressed
in terms of number of organisms or in terms of the biomass. The joint
representation of standing crops of these trophic levels is called Trophic
Structure.
Trophic Structure also indicates the relationship between various biotic
components of ecosystem as upper trophic level is dependent on the lower
trophic levels for its survival. It can be represented by Ecological Pyramids.
Trophic structure also indicates the transfer of energy from lower trophic
level to the upper trophic level in form of food.
Ecological Pyramids can of three types:
 

1. Based on number of organisms in each trophic level.

2. Based on biomass of components of each trophic level.

3. Based on energy content of each trophic level.

Pyramids based on numbers or on biomass may or may not be upright (i.e.

they can be inverted depending on the nature of ecosystem to which the
pyramid belongs to). However, pyramid based on energy is always upright.
This indicates that while number and mass of organisms may increase or
decrease while moving from bottom towards apex in an ecological pyramid,
the energy content always reduces from base to apex.
Ecological efficiency is ratio of energy output from a trophic level to energy
input into that trophic level. Thus, it is efficiency with which organisms
exploit their food and convert them into food for next trophic level.
Assimilation efficiency is efficiency with which the organisms at any
trophic level utilize the input energy into that trophic level.
Very often the chemicals like pesticides enter into food chain via producers.
Many of these are neither digested nor excreted and they keep on
accumulating in the body of consumers such that their concentration is
higher in higher trophic levels as compared to lower trophic levels. This is
called biological magnification. Large scale deaths of vultures feeding on
dead cattle occurred as large quantities of diclofenac that was present in
cattle was poisonous for vultures.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

CHAPTER 3: BIODIVERSITY
Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) defines Biodiversity as "The
variability among living organisms from all sources including inter alia
terrestrial, marine and other aquatic ecosystems and ecological complexes
they are part of; this includes variability within species, between species and
of ecosystem."
Greater species diversity ensures natural sustainability for all life forms as
healthy ecosystems better withstand and recover from a variety of disasters.
Biodiversity can be at three distinct levels:
 
 1. Genetic Diversity: It refers to inter and intra species variability of
genetic makeup. Genetic diversity has a great impact on
adaptability and survival of species. A species that has large
genetic diversity among its individuals will have more variations
from which suitable gene can be selected. Different variations of
genes present in different organisms at same position in
chromosome are called alleles.

2. Species Diversity: It is number of different species found in given

geographical area.

3. Ecosystem Diversity: It is broad difference between different types

of ecosystems including diversity of habitats and ecological
processes occurring within each ecosystem type.

Besides human population growth, there are six human actions called
"sinister sextet" which threatens biodiversity:
 

1. Over-hunting: Hunting of elephants for ivory, rhinoceros for its

horn, tiger for its skin and number of other animals for variety of
purposes like food, fashion and profit on a large scale.

2. Habitat Loss/Fragmentation/Degradation.

3. Invasion of non-native species introduced by humans for variety of

purposes.

4. Pollution by chemical contaminants.

5. Climate Change (which has been proven to be anthropogenic in

nature).

6. Deforestation

CONVENTION ON BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY:

CBD has three goals:
 
1. Conservation of biological diversity.

2. Sustainable use of biological resources.

3. Equitable sharing of benefits accruing from such use.

It recommends in-situ conservation as fundamental mechanism and ex-situ

conservation as a complementary mechanism. In-situ conservation is the
conservation of biological resources in their natural habitat. Ex-situ
conservation involves removal of that organism from its natural habitat for
the purpose of its conservation. While zoo is an example of ex-situ
conservation, biosphere reserve is for in-situ conservation.
Agenda 21 was adopted at Rio Earth summit of 1992 and it contains
strategies for preventing environmental degradation and establishing basis
for geo-sustainable way of life.
Cartagena Protocol on Bio-safety aims at ensuring an adequate level of
protection in field of safe transfer, handling and use of Living Modified
Organisms (LMOs) resulting from modern biotechnology. It is signed under
CBD.
Plant Genetic Treaty aims to conserve and sustainably use plant genetic
resources and ensure fair distribution of benefits derived.
Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit Sharing is Protocol signed under
CBD to ensure fair sharing of benefits accruing from use of genetic
resources.
 
BIODIVERSITY HOTSPOTS:
It is a concept developed by Norman Myers in 1988 to identify priority areas
for in-situ conservation.
Key criteria for determining a hot spot are
 

1. Number of endemic species i.e. species which are found only in

that area and nowhere else in the world.

2. Degree of threat to the area in terms of habitat loss.

International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) is the world's largest
and oldest environmental organization. It publishes Red List regularly
detailing list of species facing extinction.
IUCN has classified species into 8 categories: Extinct, Extinct in Wild,
Critically Endangered, Endangered, Vulnerable, Low Risk, Data Deficient,
Not Evaluated.
Officially Vulnerable, Endangered and Critically Endangered categories are
grouped into "threatened" category.

CHAPTER 4: MANGROVES AND WETLANDS

Mangroves are salt tolerant plants of tropical and sub-tropical intertidal
regions of the world. They are highly productive, extremely sensitive and
fragile. It is generally a term used to describe vegetation that grows in
muddy, loose and wet soils in tropical tidal waters. They grow between high
water mark of spring tides and Mean Sea Level (MSL).
Typical features of mangroves are as follows:
 

1. Well developed network of roots.

2. Roots, instead of growing downwards, tend to come upwards as

shoots. They loop to breathe air when flooded by water and also
for support.

3. Sprouting shoots take firm root in muddy soil before the seed is
detached from parent plant. This prevents the seeds from getting
washed away.

4. They are breeding grounds for many marine organisms and are
used for captive and culture fisheries.

5. The roots of mangroves help silt to settle and also holds it fast. The
land level rises as more and more silt settles down. Thus, what was
shallow, underwater or tidal area becomes solid ground. Greater
Southern Bengal (South West Bengal and major part of
Bangladesh) is formed in this fashion.

WETLANDS:
Wetlands are the areas where water covers the soil or is present at or near the
surface all year or for varying periods of time during a year including during
the growing season. It supports aquatic as well as terrestrial life. They are
found from tundra to tropics in every continent except Antartica.
The wetlands can be coastal or inland. Paddy fields that are water-logged for
substantial period of time ore example of inland wetlands.

CHAPTER 5: WILDLIFE CONSERVATION

 

1. National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) chaired by the Prime

Minister provides the policy framework for protection of wildlife.
At state level there are corresponding State Boards for Wildlife.
Since forest and wildlife are mentioned in Concurrent list of the
Seventh Schedule, both Union and the States can make provisions
for their protection. National Wildlife Action Plan was adopted in
2002. It emphasises people’s participation and their support for
wildlife conservation.

2. Three main Centrally Sponsored Schemes for wildlife

conservation are

1. Integrated development of Wildlife Habitat

2. Project Tiger

3. Project Elephant

 
Project Tiger (National Tiger Conservation Authority)
 

1. It was launched in April, 1973 with the objective to ensure

maintenance of viable population of tigers in India as a national
heritage for the benefit, education and enjoyment of the people.
Under this project, funding is being provided to 39 tiger reserves
in 17 states of India.
 2. Under this project, e-Eye, which is a tool of electronic surveillance
is being deployed at Corbett Tiger Reserve as a pilot project.
NTCA publishes a bimonthly outreach journal ‘Stripes’ as a
communication strategy. A system named ‘M-STRIPES’
(Monitoring System for Tigers’ Intensive Protection and
Ecological Status) for more effective field patrolling and
monitoring.

3. India has signed a joint resolution with Nepal in 2010 for trans-
border biodiversity and tiger conservation.

 
Project Elephant
 

1. It was launched in 1991-92 with the objective of protecting

elephants, their habitats and corridors and to address the issues of
man-animal conflict and welfare of domesticated elephants.

2. A Task Force on Project Elephant under the chairmanship of Prof.

Mahesh Rangarajan was formed in April 2010 and it submitted its
report in August 2010. Pursuant to some of its recommendations,
elephant was declared “National Heritage Animal”. Also, action
was initiated to constitute National Elephant Conservation
Authority.

 
Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB)
 

1. WCCB was created under Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 on 6th

June, 2007. It is a central agency that assists state level agencies,
by giving input of intelligence, analysis of information and
provides expertise. WCCB performs its duties under Convention
on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES).

CHAPTER 6: PROTECTED AREAS

National Park denotes an area
 
1. Which is set aside for the protection and conservation of
outstanding natural fauna, flora and geological formations;

2. in which hunting, killing or capturing of fauna, or deprivation of

any wild animal of its habitat, or destruction and collection of
flora, and weapons are all prohibited except for the improvement
and a better management of wildlife therein, and on condition that
these issues are handled by, or are under the control of, the park
authorities;

3. Where also, grazing [of any live-stock] shall not be permitted.

No alteration of the boundaries of a National Park shall be made except on

the resolution passed by the legislature of the State
The term ‘Sanctuary' should denote an area:
 
1. which is, set aside for the conservation, protection and
management of wildlife and its habitat;

2. within which, destruction or damage, exploitation, weapons,

hunting and grazing, are all prohibited except by, or under the
direction or control of, the reserve authorities;

3. Where human settlement and other human activities are restricted

and prohibited.

No alteration of the boundaries of a sanctuary shall be made except on a

resolution passed by the Legislature of the State
The term ‘Biosphere Reserve' should denote an area:
 
1. which is, set aside for the conservation of the resources of the
biosphere and for the improvement of the relationship between
man and the environment;
 2. meant to serve as sites for long term scientific research as well as
education all over the world.

3. The program of Biosphere Reserve was initiated under the 'Man &
Biosphere' (MAB) program by UNESCO in 1971. Biosphere
Reserves are areas of terrestrial and coastal ecosystems promoting
solutions to reconcile the conservation of biodiversity with its
sustainable use. They are internationally recognized, nominated by
National Governments and remain under sovereign jurisdiction of
the states where they are located. Biosphere Reserves serve in
some ways as 'living laboratories' for testing out and
demonstrating integrated management of land, water and
biodiversity

The term ‘Community Reserve' should denote an area:

 
1. which is an area declared to be so by the State government in any
privately owned or community land which is not part of any other
type of “Protected Areas”.

2. In this type, individual or the community volunteer for

conservation efforts.

3. Rights of the people living inside these reserves are not affected.

CHAPTER 7: CONSERVATION OF WATER BODIES:

 
1. The new government has made cleaning of Ganga River as one of
its priorities. It has expressed its willingness to do so by
appointing a Cabinet Minister for Water Resources and Ganga
Rejuvenation.

2. However, efforts to clean river Ganga were initiated in 1985 as

Ganga Action Plan. Later, in 1996, National River Conservation
Programme was launched and it covers 38 rivers at present.
 3. Later, National Lake Conservation Programme was launched in
May 2001 to restore and conserve polluted and degraded lakes in
urban and semi-urban areas.

4. National Ganga River Basin Authority (NGRBA) was

constituted in 2009 under the Chairmanship of the Prime Minister
as an empowered planning, financing, monitoring and coordinating
authority for the Ganga River, in exercise of powers conferred
under Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.

5. Under Mission Clean Ganga, NGRBA has decided to ensure that

by 2020 no untreated municipal sewage and industrial effluents
flow into Ganga and the investment required to create
infrastructure will be shared between Centre and the States. An
Action Plan was approved by the Authority which provides for the
following among several other provisions:

1. Preparation of Basin Management Plan for Ganga River.

This task has been entrusted to experts from 7 IITs.

2. A Standing Committee of NGRBA has been created

under the chairmanship of Union Finance minister to
take necessary decisions and assess the progress of
implementation.

CHAPTER 8: CORAL REEFS:

 

1. Coral reefs are the most diverse of all the marine ecosystems. Even
though they occupy less than 1% f the total area on earth, they are
home to 25% of all the oceanic species. It is due to this enormous
biodiversity, that coral reefs are known as “rainforests of the
sea”.

2. Corals are made up of living organisms called polyps which have a

calcareous shell to protect their body. These polyps live in
colonies. Therefore, though a single polyp is of a very small size,
 their colonies can be significantly bigger. When a number of such
colonies get bound together coral reefs are formed.

3. Coral reefs grow very slowly, the fastest rate being 6 inches per
year. Calcareous shell of polyp continues to exist even after death
of a polyp. This forms a solid steady mass on which other polyps
can grow. It is in this manner that the size of reefs goes on
increasing. Age of coral reef can be determined by number of rings
on it (just as in case of trees).

4. Some polyps are dependent for their food on a variety of algae

called zooxanthellae. These algae produces its own food by the
process of photosynthesis which is shared with polyps. The
nutrients required for making food is provided by polyps. Thus,
algae and polyps live in a symbiotic relationship in corals. The
various colours which corals acquire are because of presence of
these algae.

5. Corals are found in shallow as well as deep ocean water. However,

reefs are formed only in shallow water.  

6. Zooxanthellae algae can grow only in shallow water where the

temperature is between 22-29 degrees celsius. They also need
plenty of light for photosynthesis. Hence, most of the corals are
concentrated in tropical and subtropical regions.

 
Coral Bleaching:
 

1. Coral bleaching occurs when algae living in symbiotic relationship

with corals dies. As the algae is responsible for color of corals
their death results into discoloration. Hence it is called bleaching.

2. Coral bleaching may occur due to rising level of temperatures or

due to reduction in salinity of oceans due to addition of excess
fresh water. Global warming and melting of polar ice are therefore
two major threats for corals and for the rich biodiversity they
support.
 3. Bleached corals do not die immediately. They may however die of
starvation if the rise in temperature causing coral bleaching
sustains for a longer period of time.

 
El Nino and Coral Bleaching:
 
1. El Nino is accompanied with rise in level of temperatures of the
oceans and seas at various locations. In 1996-97, when there was a
strong El Nino, large amounts of corals got bleached due to rise in
level of sea temperatures.

 
Ocean Acidification and Corals:
 
1. Ocean Acidification is reduction in pH level of seawater due to
dissolution of atmospheric carbon dioxide. As the atmospheric
levels of CO2 continue to rise, more and more CO2 is absorbed
into the oceans.

2. When it dissolves in water, CO2 produces Carbonic Acid. Presence

of this acid makes formation of CaCo3 difficult. Hence, the growth
of corals is further attenuated.

 
Coral Spawning:
 
1. It is external fertilisation process by which corals reproduce.
Corals deliver their eggs and sperms into the sea water during the
breeding season. Fertilisation takes place outside the body and new
polyps are born.

CHAPTER 9: RELEVANT INTERNATIONAL CONVENTIONS

 Cartagena Protocol:
 
1. The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety is an international
treaty governing the movements of living modified
organisms (LMOs) resulting from modern biotechnology
from one country to another.

2. It was adopted on 29 January 2000 as a supplementary

agreement to the Convention on Biological Diversity and
entered into force on 11 September 2003.

3. It is adopted under Convention on Biological Diversity.

Nagoya Protocol
 

1. The Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and

the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from
their Utilization (ABS) to the Convention on Biological
Diversity is a supplementary agreement to the Convention
on Biological Diversity.

2. It provides a transparent legal framework for the effective

implementation of one of the three objectives of the CBD:
the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising out of the
utilization of genetic resources.

3. The Nagoya Protocol on ABS was adopted on 29 October

2010 in Nagoya, Japan and will enter into force 90 days
after the fiftieth instrument of ratification (it is yet to
come into force). Its objective is the fair and equitable
sharing of benefits arising from the utilization of genetic
resources, thereby contributing to the conservation and
sustainable use of biodiversity.
 4. India has ratified Nagoya Protocol in October 2012 before
it hosted CoP-11 of CBD at Hyderabad.

Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES)

 

1. CITES (the Convention on International Trade in

Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) is an
international agreement between governments. Its aim is
to ensure that international trade in specimens of wild
animals and plants does not threaten their survival.

2. CITES works by subjecting international trade in

specimens of selected species to certain controls. All
import, export, re-export and introduction from the sea of
species covered by the Convention has to be authorized
through a licensing system.

3. Each Party to the Convention must designate one or more

Management Authorities in charge of administering that
licensing system and one or more Scientific Authorities to
advise them on the effects of trade on the status of the
species. In India, this task is performed by Wildlife Crime
Control Bureau.

Convention on Conservation of Migratory Species

 
1. As an environmental treaty under the aegis of the United
Nations Environment Programme, CMS provides a global
platform for the conservation and sustainable use of
migratory animals and their habitats. CMS brings
together the States through which migratory animals
pass, the Range States, and lays the legal foundation for
 internationally coordinated conservation measures
throughout a migratory range.

2. It is the only global convention specializing in the

conservation of migratory species, their habitats and
migration routes

International Whaling Commission:

 
1. The International Whaling Commission is an Inter-
Governmental Organisation tasked with the conservation
of whales and the management of whaling.   It is set up
under the International Convention for the Regulation of
Whaling signed in 1946.   The Commission has a current
membership of 89 Governments from countries around
the World.

Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem

Services
 
1. IPBES was established in April 2012, as an independent
intergovernmental body open to all member countries of
the United Nations. The members are committed to
building IPBES as the leading intergovernmental body for
assessing the state of the planet's biodiversity, its
ecosystems and the essential services they provide to
society.

2. IPBES provides a mechanism recognized by both the

scientific and policy communities to synthesize, review,
assess and critically evaluate relevant information and
knowledge generated worldwide by governments,
 academia, scientific organizations, non-governmental
organizations and indigenous communities

3. This involves a credible group of experts in conducting

assessments of such information and knowledge in a
transparent way. IPBES is unique in that it will aim to
strengthen capacity for the effective use of science in
decision-making at all levels.

4. IPBES will also aim to address the needs of Multilateral

Environmental Agreements that are related to
biodiversity and ecosystem services, and build on existing
processes ensuring synergy and complementarities in each
other's work.

Ramsar Convention
 
1. The Convention on Wetlands (Ramsar, Iran, 1971) --
called the "Ramsar Convention" -- is an
intergovernmental treaty that embodies the commitments
of its member countries to maintain the ecological
character of their Wetlands of International Importance
and to plan for the "wise use", or sustainable use, of all of
the wetlands in their territories.

2. Unlike the other global environmental conventions,

Ramsar is not affiliated with the United Nations system of
Multilateral Environmental Agreements, but it works
very closely with the other MEAs and is a full partner
among the "biodiversity-related cluster" of treaties and
agreements.

CHAPTER 10: SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

GOALS
 

1. The 193-member United Nations in its 70th General Assembly

adopted “2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development”, which
consists of 17 goals and 169 targets to wipe out poverty, fight
inequality and tackle climate change over the next 15 years. These
goals are also known as Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
SDGs are successors of Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)
which were adopted in 1990 and expired this year. While MDGs,
which had 8 goals and 18 targets only, were mainly focused on
Human Development, SDGs have a wider spectrum. Before
discussing features of SDGs let us understand what Sustainable
Development means.

Sustainable Development

Sustainable development is development

that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of
future generations to meet their own needs. It consists of three
dimensions
 
1. Social

2. Economic

3. Environmental
 The illustration in figure 1 summarizes role of these three dimensions.
As it can be seen, balanced social, economic and environmental
development is known as sustainable development. United Nations
while adopting SDGs committed itself to achieve sustainable
development in its three dimensions — economic, social and
environmental — in a balanced and integrated manner.

Sustainable development contains within it two key concepts:

 
1. The concept of needs, in particular the essential needs of the
world's poor, to which overriding priority should be given;
and

2. The idea of limitations imposed by the state of technology

and social organization on the environment's ability to meet
present and future needs.

It is with objective off balancing all these dimensions that SDGs w ere
formulated and adopted by UNGA.

Millennium Development Goals – Achievements

 
1. The United Nations says the MDGs led to achievements that
include

1. The number of people living in extreme poverty has

been m ore than halved to 836 million in 2015 from 1.9
billion in 1990

2. Gender parity in primary schools in the majority of

countries

3. Reducing the rate of children dying before their fifth

birthdaay to 43 deaths per 1,000 live births from 90
 4. A fall of 45 percent in the maternal mortality ratio
worldwide

5. Some 37 million lives saved by tuberculosis prevention

and treatment

6. Over 6.2 million malaria deaths averted

7. New HIV infection rates down by around 40 percent

8. Access to improved sanitation for 2.1 billion people

9. Official Development Assistance from developed

countries up 66 percent in real terms to $135.2 billion

2.                                         These achievements while commendable were

insufficient to ensure balanced sustainable development of the
world. Hence, new set of goals were required to succeed them.
These new goals were shaped to form SDGs.

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and targets

 
1. The document adopted by UN “Transforming our world: the
20130 Agenda for Sustainable Development lists 17 Sustainable
Development Goals (SDGs) that will replace Millennium
Development Goals (MDGs). These 17 goals together contain 169
targets and will come into effect on 1 Jan, 2016. They are very
comprehensive and can be classified into social, economic,
environmental and one “others” category (refer Table 1).

Sustainable Development Goals

Social Economic Environmental Others
No Poverty Affordable and Sustainable cities Peace, justice and
Zero Hunger clean energy and communities strong institutions
Good health Decent work and Responsible Partnership for
and well economic growth consumption and goals
being Industry, production
Quality innovation and Climate change
education infrastructure Life below water
Gender Reduced Life on land
equality inequalities
Clean water
and sanitation

 
 
2. These goals seek to address needs of 5Ps

1. Person: Determination to end poverty and hunger, in all

their forms and dimensions, and to ensure that all human
beings can fulfil their potential in dignity and equality
and in a healthy environment.

2. Planet: determination to protect the planet from

degradation so that it can support the needs of the
present and future generations.

3. Prosperity: determination to ensure that all human

beings can enjoy prosperous and fulfilling lives and that
economic, social and technological progress occurs in
harmony with nature.

4. Peace: determination to foster peaceful, just and

inclusive societies which are free from fear and violence.
There can be no sustainable development without peace
and no peace without sustainable development.

5. Partnership: determination to mobilize the means

required to implement this Agenda through a revitalized
Global Partnership for Sustainable Development.
 All the 17 goals under SDGs are listed in figure 2. (For detailed
description of targets under each goal, visit
https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/topics).

The document reaffirms the

principles of Rio Declaration on Environment and Development including
Common but Differentiated Responsibilities (CBDR) principle for achieving
these goals and targets.
MDGs vs. SDGs

SDGs are more collaborative than MDGs

 

1. While MDGs became popular in public realm in most of the

countries towards end of its 15 year period (2000-2015),
 SDGs have been in public discussion right from inception.

2. This is because while MDGs were largely determined by the

OECD countries and international donor agencies SDGs have
been produced after detailed international negotiations which
also included middle and low income countries.

SDGs are more holistic

 

1. 6 out of 8 goals in MDGs were related to health. There was

one related to environment and another to foster international
partnership. In comparison SDGs have much wider scope.

2. They are holistic in sense that they cover poverty reduction

and inequality, sustainability and economic growth with job
creation. For the first time we have goals which have specific
economic indicators as targets.

3. UN says that SDGs go much further than previous goals as

they address the root causes of poverty and pledge to leave no
one behind, including the vulnerable groups.

SDGs are universal

 
1. SDGs are universal in sense that they are applicable for all
countries – developed as well as developing. It is first such
agenda of UN since Universal Declaration of Human Rights
was adopted in 1948. Against this, MDGs were most part
applicable only to the developing countries or least developed
countries.
 Resource mobilization
 
1. Resource mobilization for achievement of SDGs is based on
nation’s capacities. It acknowledges that current north-south
divide may change over next 15 years and hence the
traditional categorization of developing and developed
countries for the purpose of resource mobilization has been
done away with,

Involvement of private sector

 
1. Scope for involvement of private sector and other non-state
bodies is much larger in SDGs as compared to MDGs.

2. Private Sector has started getting involved in SDGs through

their mechanisms like Impact2030 or through UN led
initiatives like UN Global Compact.

SDGs are more firmly rooted in Human Rights

 

1. List of goals under SDGs indicate that all socio-economic

dimensions necessary for good quality life have been
included besides environmental concerns to make them
sustainable.

2. Thus, fulfillment of basic human rights of people is sought to

be achieved through SDGs. MDGs, due to its focus on health
alone, was ill-equipped on this aspect.

SDGs are more inclusive

 
1. Seven SDG targets explicitly refer to persons with
disabilities; an additional six targets refer to people in
vulnerable situations, while seven targets are universal and
two refer to non-discrimination.

2. Thus, SDGs provide attention to the vulnerable and

marginalized sections of the society so that they too are not
left behind in growth and development.

Balancing economic growth with labor rights

 
1. While SDGs agree that industrialization is a way forward and
hence facilitation of smooth functioning must be done, there
are also targets to insure that labor is not exploited by the
industries.

SDGs supports domestic and international migration of population

 
1. The agenda acknowledges the positive contribution of
migrants for inclusive growth and sustainable development
accepting that such migration is essential for development of
countries of origin.

2. Agenda determines to enable international cooperation to

ensure safe, orderly and regular migration involving full
respect for human rights and the humane treatment of
migrants regardless of migration status, of refugees and of
displaced persons.

3. Such cooperation would also strengthen the resilience of

communities hosting refugees, particularly in developing
 countries.

UNFCCC has been affirmed as the primary international,

intergovernmental forum for negotiating the global response to climate
change.

Pitch made for peace and security

 
1. Sustainable development cannot be realized without peace
and security; and peace and security will be at risk without
sustainable development.

2. The new Agenda recognizes the need to build peaceful, just

and inclusive societies that provide equal access to justice and
that are based on respect for human rights (including the right
to development), on effective rule of law and good
governance at all levels and on transparent, effective and
accountable institutions.

3. Factors which give rise to violence, insecurity and injustice,

such as inequality, corruption, poor governance and illicit
financial and arms flows, are addressed in the Agenda.

SDGs are more democratic than MDGs

 
1. The agenda acknowledges that it is “We the peoples”, as
mentioned in UN Charter, who are embarking on this journey
towards 2030 with unprecedented goals and targets.

2. 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.

3. It is an Agenda of the people, by the people, and for the

people — and this, UN believes, will ensure its success.

SDGs Agenda document includes part for “Means of Implementation”

 
1. One of the most controversial points in SDGs negotiation was
inclusion of this part in the Agenda document with developed
countries opposing the inclusion.

2. MoI includes transfer of financial resources, technology,

capacity building etc. between countries for attainment of
SDGs.

3. There are MoI targets under each goal besides their being
overall Goal 17 for partnership between nations.

4. The Agenda document recognises need of a Global

Partnership for Sustainable Development that brings together
governments, the private sector, civil society, the United
Nations system and other actors and mobilizing all available
resources.

5. For providing international finance, the countries that give

Official Development Assistance (ODA) have reaffirmed
their commitment of providing 0.7% of their GNI as ODA to
developing countries and 0.15-0.2% of GNI as ODA to least
developed countries. International financial institutions will
have further important role to play in this matter. National
governments will further raise domestic resources to this end.

6. Indicators are being developed to facilitate monitoring of

SDGs at regional, national and global levels.
 7. For technology transfer, UN has established a global
Technology Facilitation Mechanism under Addis Ababa
Action Agenda to enhance North-South, South-South and
triangular regional and international cooperation through
existing mechanisms, in particular at the UN level.

8. The technology bank and science, technology and innovation

capacity-building mechanism for least developed countries
will be operationalized by 2017.

SDGs will be more difficult to monitor

 
1. Consisting of 17 goals and 169 targets, monitoring of SDGs
will be much difficult than monitoring of MDGs which
consisted of 8 goals and 18 targets only.

2. This is especially challenging in context of developing and

least developed countries where the quality of data is not
good and in many cases, there is no data at all. Hence, if this
vacuum is not filled, it will be impossible to implement
SDGs.

Conclusion:
 
1. No doubt that the targets that we have set for ourselves through
SDGs are aspirational. If the success that we have had in
implementing MDGs is anything to go by then the task at hand is
not easy.

2. However, since SDGs have wider support base and more

awareness is present today in governments that 15 years ago, the
result may indeed turn out to be different. World will be better
place if we succeed in achieving these targets by 2030.
 3. It remains to be seen how national governments incorporate
these goals into their national plans and programmes.

 
 Table of Contents
index