Every country is on test: Javadekar on Sustainable Development Goals

Stating that it would require at least $565 billion per annum for the country over the next 15 years to achieve the '2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)', India has said that both the developed and developing world will be 'tested' on how they 'cut emissions' and 'eradicate poverty'.

"The developed world will be tested to adopt sustainable consumption in their countries and provide means of implementation to the developing world. Developing world will be tested for planning comprehensively for achieving SDGs and utilise properly the funds provided by the developed world," Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar said here at the thematic debate on SDGs on Thursday.

"Both groupings will be tested on how they walk the talk and eradicate poverty," he added. Javadekar is here to sign the landmark Global Climate Agreement.

He said that the processes for follow-up and review of SDGs implementation must remain voluntary, country-led, positive in nature, and should reinforce mutual learning and exchange of best practices.

SDGs are 17 individual goals, which were adopted on September 25, 2015 by the UN and target eradication of poverty and hunger, protecting the planet, ensuring prosperity and justice to all. The targets are set to be achieved in the next 15 years. These 17 SDGs and another 169 targets, under '2030 Agenda' are interlinked with the historic Paris climate deal.

Javadekar reiterated that $5-7 trillion per annum is required to meet the SDGs globally.

"Total investment needed in developing countries alone could be about USD3.9 trillion per annum, mainly for basic infrastructure, food security, climate change mitigation and adaptation, health and education," he said.

"For India, as per preliminary estimates, the average financial requirement is USD 565 billion per annum for next 15 years to achieve SDGs," he said.

"Bringing development to all the people of India can only be done by providing access to affordable energy, housing, healthcare, basic services, education and decent employment, and an enabling environment that bridges infrastructure gaps and leads to economic growth and sustainable development pathways."

In India, the NITI Aayog has been assigned the role of overseeing implementation of Sustainable Development Goals by various ministries.

India along with over 135 countries is to sign the landmark Paris deal at the high-level signature ceremony convened by the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.

The United Nations Climate Change Conference, COP-21 was held in December 2015 in Paris, where 195 countries adopted the first-ever universal, legally binding global climate deal.

The agreement sets out a global action plan to put the world on track to avoid dangerous climate change by limiting global warming to well below 2 degree Celsius. The agreement is due to come into force in 2020.

--IANS

kd/rn/bg