More than hope needed to build a sustainable future

2019 was the year that sustainability went mainstream. From the global climate strike and the rise of Greta Thunberg on the world stage to high-profile reports from the UN, sustainability has been recognised as the most pressing imperative facing humanity and the planet. In 2020, the question is no longer whether or even when we need to embrace sustainability, but how.

If the status quo continues, the impact on Singapore and across Southeast Asia is projected to be particularly acute. Left unaddressed, climate change could reduce South-east Asia's gross domestic product by 11 per cent by the end of the century, according to projections from the Asian Development Bank.

As these figures show, putting sustainable policies into practice is essential to mitigate the impacts of a changing climate. However, sustainability efforts must go beyond the environment to balance the interconnected environmental, social and economic dimensions of sustainable development.

Truly sustainable development will need to provide a joined-up response to these issues to ensure that both living standards and economic conditions across the region can continue to improve sustainably, securing the future for the next generation without compromising on the needs of the present.

A roadmap to 2030

The UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) provide an ambitious macro-level plan to alleviate global problems related to poverty, inequality, climate, environmental degradation, prosperity, peace and justice by 2030. What sets them apart from previous multilateral efforts is that the SDGs recognise the interconnected nature of environment and socio-economic issues, which cannot be addressed in isolation.

Each of the 17 SDGs are broken down into specific targets to give stakeholders a clearer path to achieving these ambitious goals. In order to realise them, we need concerted efforts by the government, private sector and citizens to address these complex, connected issues.

Collective effort needed to create change

Already, governments and businesses across the globe have pledged their commitment to sustainability and ramped up their efforts to take on more sustainable practices.

Governments play a critical role in shaping the sustainability strategy and creating policies that respond to the particular needs and goals of a nation. In the 2018 budget, Singapore set aside S$250 million for sustainability projects aimed at enhancing energy grid infrastructure, improving waste management and driving innovation in urban development through new research and development.

Seeing the importance consumers place on sustainability - more than half of the Singaporeans surveyed in a YouGov poll stated that businesses had a responsibility not to harm the environment - companies too have recognised that sustainable practices make good business sense.

Intention must be matched by action

Many businesses have taken steps embrace sustainability, but despite good intentions, studies have shown that many organisations are lacking concrete plans to bring about change.

A recent report from Refinitiv shows "a clear gap between intention and action" for Singapore companies. While many organisations have policies on emissions, waste management and water efficiency, few have set actual targets for improvement. To put things in perspective, 80 per cent of Singaporean companies have adopted waste reduction policies, but only 28 per cent have backed these up with clear targets for change.

Whilst these objectives show that organisations are moving in the right direction, achieving substantial change will require both the foresight and the expertise to both set and to achieve measurable goals across a range of sustainability markers.

Education essential to build sustainable future

To close the intention-action gap and bring about tangible change will require a workforce capable of taking action to address these challenges. In addition to upskilling the existing workforce, it is imperative to train the next generation to implement systems and policies that address the interconnected issues raised by the sustainable development goals.

The wave of climate strikes that has swept the globe since 2018 has shown that younger people are vitally aware of the importance of creating positive change. Education can, and must, harness this desire for change and help convert it to action.

For example, Massey University's Master of Sustainable Development Goals degree programme offers a route for students to put their values into action, giving them work-ready skills that allow them to identify, design and measure the effectiveness of sustainability policies. Through a practical component where students identify an agency, corporation or institution and work towards installing practices guided by the SDG framework in a specific subject area, we aim to empower these students to help their future employers make a positive, measurable change.

In 2019, we heard resounding calls for a sustainable future. We saw governments, businesses and organisations pledge their commitment to sustainable development. We have a clear vision of where we need to go and the urgency to act on it.

As we move into the next decade, we need to put clear plans in place to attain this vision. That begins with nurturing future leaders who are equipped with the knowledge and skills to make sustainable development a reality.