Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that are based on the successes of the Millennium Development Goals came into effect in January 2016 and are targeted to be achieved by 2030. However, the United Nations and its member countries are aware of the reality that a lot of turbulence and headwinds must be navigated to achieve these ambitious 17 goals.
Understanding the challenges in achieving the goals, The Jeffrey Sachs Centre on Sustainable Development at Sunway University created[ihc-hide-content ihc_mb_type=”show” ihc_mb_who=”2,3,5″ ihc_mb_template=”1″ ] a regional platform for the nations of Southeast Asia to share and improve national strategies, and to formulate a regional mechanism to implement the SDGs.
Ministers from Malaysia, the Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Australia and Lao PDR shared their countries’ experience and implementation strategies.
Countries shared their thoughts on economic development strategies, programmes for inclusive social progress, innovation and research policy, sustainable resource planning and energy management.
Undersecretary Rosemarie Edillon stole the limelight by highlighting two success stories implemented in the Philippines that saw a trash-filled coastal line become an attraction among locals.
The bay area in Dipolog became a sunset viewing point where families spend their time enjoying local food sold there by hawkers who are educated to keep the place clean. Another coastal cleanup programme saw turtles coming back for nesting.
Undersecretary Edillon further said that the Philippines’ development agenda is based on five pillars that aim to build a right-based, equitable and sustainable society.
“These pillars are: poverty reduction and social inclusion; environmental sustainability, climate change and disaster risk management;accountable, responsive and participatory governance; fair and stable order based on international rule of law; and peace and security”.
Minister Vu Quoc Huy from Vietnam made a very realistic remark saying, “Localising and tailoring SDG is important and the local implementation is even more important to achieving the goal”.
Professor Jeffrey Sachs, Chairman of the Jeffrey Sachs Centre on Sustainable Development clearly happy with the outcome of the workshop said, “When you go back to your day-to-day, you should feel more empowered to say, okay, I have more capacity now to promote the shared common objectives of humanity”.
In his closing remark, the Director of Jeffrey Sachs Centre, Sunway University, Professor Woo Wing Thye pledged the centre’s support by saying, “Jeffrey Sachs Centre and Jeffrey Cheah Foundation will certainly double its effort in trying to bring about sustainable development in Malaysia, ASEAN and the world”.
The Jeffrey Sachs Center is hosted in Sunway University Malaysia with the support of the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network, as a regional centre of excellence that advances SDGs achievement in Malaysia and Southeast Asia.
The centre aims to be a hub for research and policy practice, creating world-class programs to train a new generation of students, practitioners and policy leaders and develop linkages with major Malaysian universities and universities around the world in joint problem-solving around SDGs.
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