Making Wishful Thinking a Reality - From SDGS to Cop21

Abstract

The drive to economic growth has persisted in contemporary societies, despite its effects on the very foundations of the global economy, whereas the discourse of sustainability has not surpassed the level of "wishful thinking". The evolution of the global ecological footprint, which underlines climate change impact, points to a narrow path in the reconciliation of social and environmental imperatives for present and future generations and to a redoubled need for social and environmental equity. Within an approach that postulates a stronger connection between discourse and practice, both Sustainable Development Goals and COP21 Paris Agreement strengthen the strategy of universal involvement and commitment, recognizing the meagre nature of results obtained so far, and demanding alternative action for effective change regarding a new and strategic global agenda. This article reflects on this universal desideratum which requires redoubled attention to the decline - and also recovery - of environmental and social conditions.

The 2030 Agenda: trends of transition toward sustainability

“…Worth mentioning is the also meaningful relationship between the sdgi and the income of countries. After all, the poorest would have the least capacity to promote necessary change, although they are the most susceptible to the effects of environmental degradation such as climate change (see, for example, Guerra and Schmidt 2016). This is clear by looking at either the income level of countries or at the most extreme points of the interception line: sub-Saharan Africa in the lower left, Scandinavian countries in the upper right corner, corresponding to the lowest and highest performances, respectively.…”

“…The question is thus how to reconcile long-term environmental goals with shortterm economic logic, often shot through with national egotisms that seem to be even more difficult to overcome? (Guerra and Schmidt 2016). Climate risk is the outcome of the interaction between the risks associated with climate conditions and the various degrees of vulnerability and exposure to natural and human systems (ipcc 2015, 13).…”

“…Given the current ecological scarcity and the overall scope of the environmental, economic, political, and social crisis, no one seriously denies the need for sustainable economic practices. Nevertheless, the partial and short-term corrections, which have been implemented all over the world, do not seem sufficient (Guerra and Schmidt 2016). Since the overall environmental quality continues to fall, a coherent notion of prosperity is needed in a global and transversal effort.…”

“…Global governance bodies, national and local governments, civil society, and people from different social segments yearn for logical references to guide individual behaviours and essential decision-making in the absence of a steady, broad, inclusive, and longtermed path of fostering environmental and social quality. The deployment of framing, measurement, and monitoring tools is thus crucial to overcoming the "wishful thinking" in which sd has become (Guerra and Schmidt 2016), and "Sustainable Development Goals" (henceforth sdgs), are well positioned for it.…”