Question

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)Post: Systems Thinking and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Systems thinking identifies the interactions between different parts of a system – a city, a society, a sector – and ensures they deliver more than the sum of the parts. In today’s world, we’re pretty good at setting goals and then slavishly working to achieve them. But if the SDGs are really going to shift our whole system onto a sustainable path, we need serious amounts of joined-up thinking that goes deeper to address underlying causes. Successfully delivering the SDGs requires a really strong systems approach. There is a good saying ' If you want to fast, go alone; if you want to go further, go together.'

Considering the fact that SDGs are all interconnected, how systems thinking can better help us to achieve the 17 SDGs of the United Nations? Give some specific examples related to some SDGs.

Answer 1

ANSWER: In 2015 UNGA summit, Sustainable Development Goals were adopted by 193 UN members which contains 17 Goals with 169 target ,that World community has to fulfill till 2030.

Idea of sustainable development is based on the idea of "No One to be left behind " and this 17 goal covers each and every aspect and area of mother Earth from eliminating poverty to universal health and education to safeguard forest and wild life to sustainable economic development etc.

All these areas are interconnected to each other hence to achieve one goal we have to work religiously while taking care of other 16 goals also only then we'll be able to achieve one.

As mentioned above system thinking focuses on interaction among various parts of system like starting from a very basic unit we have to target larger one.

There is a saying that "If we want bring a change in the world first bring change in yourself given by Mahatma Gandhi".

This fits perfectly while giving importance to idea of systemic thinking to achieve SDG 2030.As it integrate all the parts hence inclusive in nature.

Example: SDG 6: related to clean water and sanitation

to achieve this first you have to start working on ground level so start from a small village(persons need to change their casual behaviour regarding wastage of water,so need of behavioural change),then city,then state,then at national level. Only when all the players will cooperation then we'll be able to achieve this goal.

Here I would like to give example of A national Program of Indian government named Swachh bharat abhiyan which has recognised by WHO,UN,WB for its effectiveness in progressing SDG 6 by eliminating ODF(open defecation free) to achieve sanitation goal. This goal became a reality only person at the bottom cooperated in the same manner as that of hierarchy.

Hence working with systemic approach ODF became a reality.

This doesn't end here SDG 6, connected with SDG 3,4 other goals also hence progress in one goal made equally others goals possible.

There can be many more examples of system thinking for achieving SDGs can be presented.Here I have presented one specific Example.

Hence this saying that "If you want to go further,then go togther" is indeed true.