2020 marked the beginning of the Decade of Action to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030. The 17 goals, adopted by all countries in 2015, are our shared vision to end poverty, safeguard the environment and build a peaceful world. With less than 10 years left to achieve the Goals, there is an urgent need to step up action.
Remarkable progress has been made - extreme poverty and child mortality rates are falling, and access to energy, education and to decent work is improving. However, hunger is still on the rise, greenhouse gas emissions continue to climb, and the world’s most vulnerable continue to be disproportionately affected by conflict, inequality, injustice and climate change. The COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on all 17 SDGs has shown that what began as a health crisis has quickly become a human and socio-economic crisis. While the crisis imperils progress towards the SDGs, it also makes their achievement more urgent and necessary. The remaining 9 years is a chance to transform our world.
Test your knowledge on the Decade of Action!
Correct! More than one billion people have lifted themselves out of poverty, defined as living on less than USD $1.90, as a result of the efforts made in the past 25 years. Much of the progress was made in Eastern Asia, where the poverty rate fell from 52 per cent in 1990 to 10 per cent in 2010 to less than 1 per cent in 2015, and more recently in Southern Asia, whose impressive inroads against extreme poverty helped further reduce the global rate. However, the COVID-19 crisis risks reversing decades of progress in the fight against poverty. New research published by the UNU World Institute for Development Economics Research warns that the economic fallout from the global pandemic could increase global poverty by as much as half a billion people, or 8 per cent of the total human population. This would be the first time that poverty has increased globally in thirty years.
Incorrect. The correct answer is A. More than one billion people have lifted themselves out of poverty, defined as living on less than USD $1.90, as a result of the efforts made in the past 25 years. Much of the progress was made in Eastern Asia, where the poverty rate fell from 52 per cent in 1990 to 10 per cent in 2010 to less than 1 per cent in 2015, and more recently in Southern Asia, whose impressive inroads against extreme poverty helped further reduce the global rate. However, the COVID-19 crisis risks reversing decades of progress in the fight against poverty. New research published by the UNU World Institute for Development Economics Research warns that the economic fallout from the global pandemic could increase global poverty by as much as half a billion people, or 8 per cent of the total human population. This would be the first time that poverty has increased globally in thirty years.
Correct! As we enter 2021, the most urgent area for action remains combating climate change. The effects of climate change will render many parts of the globe uninhabitable, disproportionately impacting the poor. It will also put food production at risk, leading to widespread food shortages and hunger, and potentially displace up to 140 million people by 2050. Despite setbacks from COVID-19, preliminary data from the State of the Global Climate report is showing that 2020 is on track to be one of the three warmest years on record and 2011-2020 will be the warmest decade on record. The relentless rise of carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere, a phenomenon that has continued despite a travel lull during the pandemic, will fuel temperature rise for decades to come.
Incorrect. The correct answer is B. As we enter 2021, the most urgent area for action remains combating climate change. The effects of climate change will render many parts of the globe uninhabitable, disproportionately impacting the poor. It will also put food production at risk, leading to widespread food shortages and hunger, and potentially displace up to 140 million people by 2050. Despite setbacks from COVID-19, preliminary data from the State of the Global Climate report is showing that 2020 is on track to be one of the three warmest years on record and 2011-2020 will be the warmest decade on record. The relentless rise of carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere, a phenomenon that has continued despite a travel lull during the pandemic, will fuel temperature rise for decades to come.
Correct! COVID-19 has shown us that leveraging this moment of crisis, when usual policies and social norms have been disrupted, by taking bold steps can steer the world back on track towards the Sustainable Development Goals. This is the time for change, for a profound systemic shift to a more sustainable economy that works for both people and the planet. A transformative recovery from COVID- 19 should be pursued, one that addresses the crisis, reduces risks from future potential crises and relaunches the implementation efforts to achieve the 2030 Agenda during the Decade of Action.
Incorrect. The correct answer is A. COVID-19 has shown us that leveraging this moment of crisis, when usual policies and social norms have been disrupted, by taking bold steps can steer the world back on track towards the Sustainable Development Goals. This is the time for change, for a profound systemic shift to a more sustainable economy that works for both people and the planet. A transformative recovery from COVID- 19 should be pursued, one that addresses the crisis, reduces risks from future potential crises and relaunches the implementation efforts to achieve the 2030 Agenda during the Decade of Action.
Correct! ActNow, which recently logged more than a million actions, is the United Nations campaign for individual action on climate change and sustainability. Through their easy-to-use app, you can track your habits and learn ways to make the shift to a more sustainable lifestyle. The mobile app by A World, because there is no planet B, allows you to choose and track a set of sustainable habits, and see the impact you are making in terms of CO2, water and electricity saved. You can also take educational journeys, engage in group challenges, get tips and take quizzes, all geared toward living more sustainably. The ActNow chat bot recommends daily actions to reduce our carbon footprints including traveling more sustainably, saving energy or eating more plant-based meals. By logging your personal actions on the bot, you contribute to the global count, adding to the power of collective action. The more people act, the bigger the impact.
Incorrect. The correct answer is B. ActNow, which recently logged more than a million actions, is the United Nations campaign for individual action on climate change and sustainability. Through their easy-to-use app, you can track your habits and learn ways to make the shift to a more sustainable lifestyle. The mobile app by A World, because there is no planet B, allows you to choose and track a set of sustainable habits, and see the impact you are making in terms of CO2, water and electricity saved. You can also take educational journeys, engage in group challenges, get tips and take quizzes, all geared toward living more sustainably. The ActNow chat bot recommends daily actions to reduce our carbon footprints including traveling more sustainably, saving energy or eating more plant-based meals. By logging your personal actions on the bot, you contribute to the global count, adding to the power of collective action. The more people act, the bigger the impact.
Correct! While the COVID-19 pandemic has taken a social and economic toll, the silver lining is that it forced everyone to think and live differently, with a greater focus on their personal health and lifestyles. As we work from home, there are still plenty of ways for us to live healthily and sustainably and be part of the Decade for Action. For example, a healthy diet with plant-based food has much less environmental impact compared to a meat-rich diet eaten in excess. Our shopping choices, such as buying from local stores, choosing minimally packaged goods, and bringing our own reusable bags, not only support neighborhood businesses but also significantly reduce our environmental footprint. More ideas about making an impact with things we can do at home can be found in the Lazy Person’s Guide to Saving the World.
Incorrect. The correct answer is D. While the COVID-19 pandemic has taken a social and economic toll, the silver lining is that it forced everyone to think and live differently, with a greater focus on their personal health and lifestyles. As we work from home, there are still plenty of ways for us to live healthily and sustainably and be part of the Decade for Action. For example, a healthy diet with plant-based food has much less environmental impact compared to a meat-rich diet eaten in excess. Our shopping choices, such as buying from local stores, choosing minimally packaged goods, and bringing our own reusable bags, not only support neighborhood businesses but also significantly reduce our environmental footprint. More ideas about making an impact with things we can do at home can be found in the Lazy Person’s Guide to Saving the World.
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