The Impact of Post-2015 Development Agenda on Developed Countries
Original, , 01-28-2016
Whether the 1992 environment-sustainable goals, or the 2000 MDGs, or 2015 SDGs, undoubtedly became or will become reference or even guidelines for the formulation of domestic development policies, influencing the modes of international development cooperation at the same time. Because of the big differences of development levels, development demands, national conditions and so on in different countries, the impacts of post-2015 development agenda on the domestic and foreign policies will vary in different countries.
Overall, poverty reduction is not the major development issue in developed countries. Although their economic development is less prosperous in recent years, the economic levels are still much higher than in developing countries. Therefore, the targets of poverty reduction and economic development in SDGs have little binding effect for developed countries. In contrast, the challenges that developed countries face in sustainable development are mainly in the fields of environmental and social development, especially in the social aspect of sustainable development. Specifically, in the aspect of environmental sustainability, developed countries are facing a shortage of resources, wasteful and extravagant patterns of consumption, investment surge of environmental pollution control and other issues. In order to achieve environmentally sustainable development, developed countries need to "green" the existing production technology and facilities, adopt sustainable consumption patterns, and achieve economic and social development under the premise of maintaining the sustainable use of resources and environment. In the social aspect of sustainable development, social unrest seems to have become the norm in developed countries. The unrests like violence, terrorism and ethnic conflict have been further exacerbated by the global financial and economic crisis. The social unrest has brought great distress to the developed countries. If not controlled, it will become a big barrier for their sustainable development. Two main reasons causing social unrest in developed countries are serious inequality and racial discrimination, which needs more attention of developed countries. Moreover, population aging is becoming more and more serious in developed countries. As a result of this, labor shortages and heavier social burden are also the social problems developed countries have to face.
All in all, the development issues of environmental and social sustainability will be highlighted in the future development goals of developed countries. Because the developed countries have accumulated rich experience in environmental governance, social sustainability issues will become the core of their national development objectives. However, it should be noted that the formulation and implementation of post-2015 agenda is relatively consistent with the development process in developed countries. The goals of environmental and social sustainability in the new agenda are compatible to the national development planning of developed countries. Therefore, the influence of post-2015 agenda on the development goals of developed countries will be quite limited.
Original, , 01-28-2016
Whether the 1992 environment-sustainable goals, or the 2000 MDGs, or 2015 SDGs, undoubtedly became or will become reference or even guidelines for the formulation of domestic development policies, influencing the modes of international development cooperation at the same time. Because of the big differences of development levels, development demands, national conditions and so on in different countries, the impacts of post-2015 development agenda on the domestic and foreign policies will vary in different countries.
Overall, poverty reduction is not the major development issue in developed countries. Although their economic development is less prosperous in recent years, the economic levels are still much higher than in developing countries. Therefore, the targets of poverty reduction and economic development in SDGs have little binding effect for developed countries. In contrast, the challenges that developed countries face in sustainable development are mainly in the fields of environmental and social development, especially in the social aspect of sustainable development. Specifically, in the aspect of environmental sustainability, developed countries are facing a shortage of resources, wasteful and extravagant patterns of consumption, investment surge of environmental pollution control and other issues. In order to achieve environmentally sustainable development, developed countries need to "green" the existing production technology and facilities, adopt sustainable consumption patterns, and achieve economic and social development under the premise of maintaining the sustainable use of resources and environment. In the social aspect of sustainable development, social unrest seems to have become the norm in developed countries. The unrests like violence, terrorism and ethnic conflict have been further exacerbated by the global financial and economic crisis. The social unrest has brought great distress to the developed countries. If not controlled, it will become a big barrier for their sustainable development. Two main reasons causing social unrest in developed countries are serious inequality and racial discrimination, which needs more attention of developed countries. Moreover, population aging is becoming more and more serious in developed countries. As a result of this, labor shortages and heavier social burden are also the social problems developed countries have to face.
All in all, the development issues of environmental and social sustainability will be highlighted in the future development goals of developed countries. Because the developed countries have accumulated rich experience in environmental governance, social sustainability issues will become the core of their national development objectives. However, it should be noted that the formulation and implementation of post-2015 agenda is relatively consistent with the development process in developed countries. The goals of environmental and social sustainability in the new agenda are compatible to the national development planning of developed countries. Therefore, the influence of post-2015 agenda on the development goals of developed countries will be quite limited.
