Global Sustainable Development Summit 2016 towards United Nations Sustainable Development Goals launched

5 December 2016 :

Prof Dinabandhu Sahoo welcoming the delegates at the Global Sustainable Development Summit

A 2 days Global Sustainable Development Summit 2016 towards United Nations Sustainable Development Goals was launched today at NEDFi Convention Centre, Guwahati that has been organized by Institute of Bioresources and Sustainable Development (IBSD), a National Institute of Department of Biotechnology, Government of India in association with North East Development Foundation (NEDF). A large number of scientists, academicians, researchers, media, members of the civil society, students and people from all walks of life are participating in the two days summit, which got underway this morning.

While addressing the inaugural function, Prof. Dinabandhu Sahoo, Director IBSD and Chairman of the Global Sustainable Development Summit 2016, urged the people to work towards fulfilling the 17 Sustainable Development Goals with 169 targets, which are fixed by United Nations. Prof. Sahoo urged the participants to join hands to cover the three dimension of Sustainable Development for economic growth, social inclusion and environment protection. He further emphasized that IBSD has taken several initiatives for the environmental protection and socioeconomic development of the region.

IBSD has chosen 5 Sustainable Development goals, namely, No Poverty, Climate Action, Life On Land, Peace Justice & Strong Institutions, and Partnership For The Goals, from grass root levels to global level, which are in tune with the mandate of the institute. While addressing the gathering, Mr. K.V Eapen, Additional Chief Secretary, Govt. of Assam appreciated the initiative taken by IBSD in this direction. He agreed to extend all possible help from the State Government to join hands towards the implementation of this initiative.

Dr. Syed Kazi, Hony. President, NEDF, Prof. S.K Srivastava, Vice Chancellor Noreth Eastern Hill University (NEHU), Dr Anil P Joshi, Director, HESCO, Dehradun, Prof. S.K. Barik, Director, National Botanical Research institute (NBRI), Lucknow, Dr. Ajay Parida, MS Swaminathan Foundation, Chennai, Dr. Pratibha Jolly, Principal, Miranda House, Delhi University, Dr. Anula Maurya, Principal, Kalindi College, Delhi University, Mr. Biswajit Roy Chowdhury, Nature Environment and Wildlife Society (NEWS) Kolkata and Government officials as well as stakeholders from all the eight North Eastern States are participating in the summit.

Prof. Sahoo invited the people to join hands to develop partnership programs so that the benefit can be reached to the people. He further said we have to help ourselves and be the change rather than waiting for the change to happen. The two days technical session are open to the people who are interested in contributing towards implementation of United Nations Sustainable Development Goals

A brief note about UN Sustainable Development Goals…

Sustainable development has been defined as development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

In September 2015, at a historic United Nations Summit, world leaders adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development – the transformative plan of action based on 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) with 169 targets. The SDGs were built on the success of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), which were intended for action in developing countries only. The SDGs are broader in scope and go further than the MDGs and covers the three dimensions of sustainable development: economic growth, social inclusion and environment protection. The SDGs call for action by all countries, poor, rich and middle-income to promote prosperity while protecting the planet. They recognize that ending poverty must go hand-in-hand with strategies that build economic growth and addresses a range of social needs including education, health, social protection, and job opportunities, while tackling climate change and environmental protection.

The 17 Sustainable Development Goals are:

Goal 1 – No Poverty: End poverty in all its forms everywhere
Goal 2 – Zero Hunger: End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture
Goal 3 – Good Health & Well-Being: Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages
Goal 4 – Quality Education: Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all
Goal 5 – Gender Equality: Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls
Goal 6 – Clean Water & Sanitation: Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all
Goal 7 – Affordable & Clean Energy: Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all
Goal 8 – Decent Work & Economic Growth: Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all
Goal 9 – Industry, Innovation & Infrastructure: Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation
Goal 10 – Reduced Inequality: Reduce inequality within and among countries
Goal 11 – Sustainable Cities & Communities: Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable
Goal 12 – Responsible Consumption & Production: Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns
Goal 13 – Climate Action: Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts
Goal 14 – Life Below Water: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development
Goal 15 – Life On Land: protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and hold biodiversity lost
Goal 16 – Peace, Justice & Strong Institutions: Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels
Goal 17 – Partnership for The Goals: Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development.

On 1 January 2016, the world officially began implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The new agenda is a promise by leaders to all people everywhere, which is a universal, integrated and transformative vision for a better world. It is an agenda for people, to end poverty in all its forms. An agenda for the planet, our common home. An agenda for shared prosperity, peace and partnership. It conveys the urgency of climate action.

It is rooted in gender equality and respect for the rights of all. Above all, it pledges to leave no one behind. Therefore, all nations will need to build the SDGs into their national policies and plans if we are to achieve them. Implementation and success of the SDGs will rely on countries’ own sustainable development policies, plans and programmes. The SDGs will be a compass for aligning countries’ plans with their global commitments. All stakeholders: governments, civil society, the private sector, and others, are expected to contribute to the realization of the new agenda. At the global level, the 17 SDGs and 169 targets of the new agenda will be monitored and reviewed using a set of global indicators.

For details on UNSDG, visit http://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/sustainable-development-goals/

Institute of Bioresources and Sustainable Development (IBSD), a National Institute of Department of Biotechnology, Government of India working in NE region has taken initiatives to work towards fulfilling five SDGs viz. No Poverty, Climate Action, Life On Land, Peace Justice & Strong Institutions, and Partnership For The Goals, from grass root levels to global level, which are in tune with the mandate of the institute. This would promote peaceful and inclusive societies for Sustainable Development leading to revitalization of the global partnerships. As the goals are in line with IBSD's mission and vision, the partnerships would fathom a sustainable and healthy society in future.

More than 200 people which include scientists, academicians, researchers, media, members of the civil societies, students from various walks of life have consented to participate in the two days summit. On behalf of IBSD, I welcome you all to this important summit and invite the global community to join us in building the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.