Ingenieur July-Sept 2016 Ingenieur July-Sept 2016 | Page 54

INGENIEUR ACHIEVEMENTS The final MDG Report found that the 15-year effort has produced the most successful anti-poverty movement in history: ●● Since 1990, the number of people living in extreme poverty has declined by more than half. ●● The proportion of undernourished people in developing regions has fallen by almost half. ●●  Primary school enrolment rate in developing regions has reached 91%, and many more girls are now in school compared with 15 years ago. ●● Remarkable gains have also been made in the fight against HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis. ●● The under-five mortality rate has declined by more than half, and maternal mortality is down by 45% worldwide. ●● The target of halving the proportion of people who lack access to  improved sources of water was also met. ●● The concer ted ef for ts of national Governments, the international community, civil society and the private sector have helped expand hope and opportunity for people around the world. ●● Deforestation has slowed, but global greenhouse gas emissions continue their upward trend. ●● In recent years, the net loss of forest area has slowed, due to both a slight decrease in deforestation and an increase in afforestation. Deforestation, forest degradation and poor forest management release carbon into the atmosphere, contributing to climate change. ●● A continual rise in greenhouse gas emissions is projected to further warm the planet and cause long-lasting changes in the climate system threatening severe and irreversible consequences for people and ecosystems. ●● Ozone-depleting substances have been virtually eliminated, and the ozone layer is expected to recover by the middle of this century. ●● Global emissions of carbon dioxide have increased by over 50% since 1990. 6 52 VOL VOL67 55JULY-SEPTEMBER JUNE 2013 2016 ●● ●● ●● In 2015, 91% of the global population used improved drinking water sources, up from 76% in 1990. Since 1990, 2.1 billion people have gained access to improved sanitation, and the proportion of people practising open defecation globally has fallen almost by half. The proportion of the urban population living in slums in developing regions fell from 39.4% to 29.7% between 2000 and 2014. TRANSFORMING OUR WORLD Heads of State, Heads of Government, and High Representatives, meeting at the United Nations Headquarters in New York from September 2527, 2015 as the Organisation celebrated its 70th anniversary, decided on new global Sustainable Development Goals. They adopted a historic decision on a comprehensive, far-reaching and people-centred set of universal and transformative Goals and targets. NEW AGENDA They announced the 17 Sustainable Development Goals with 169 associated targets which are integrated and indivisible. Never before have world leaders pledged common action and endeavours across such a broad and universal policy agenda. The new Goals and targets came into effect on January 1, 2016 and will guide the decisions we take over the next 15 years. All of them will work to implement the Agenda within their own countries and at the regional and global levels, taking into account different national realities, capacities and levels of development and respecting national policies and priorities. They will respect national policy space for sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, in particular for developing states, while remaining consistent with relevant international rules and commitments. They acknowledge also the importance of the regional and sub-regional dimensions, regional economic integration and interconnectivity in