cyberROTH Interactive Solutions

Goal 7: Ensure environmental sustainability

The nations of the world vowed to integrate the principles of sustainable development into country policies and programs and reverse the loss of environmental resources by 2015.

Progress: Scant

Over 96% of all ozone-depleting substances have been eliminated. Through the Kyoto Protocol, many developed countries have agreed to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions by at least 5% by 2012. China and India have each adopted ambitious goals of their own for the years 2006-2010. But much needs to be done. Global carbon dioxide emissions increased by 30% from 1990 to 2005, actually accelerating in the last five years. The effects of climate change have already begun to take effect in the past 20 years:

• The number of heat waves has increased from 29 in 1987-1996 to 76 in 1997-2006.
• The number of people affected by climate-related disasters has grown from 174 million to 250 million a year.

What else is needed

The worst effects of global warming can still be staved off, at a cost of 1% of global GDP by 2050—which sounds like a lot until you compare it with the likely cost of doing nothing: 5-10% loss in global GDP.

How much is 1% of GDP?

• 1/9 of what is spent on health care
• 1/7 of what is spent on oil
• 1/2 of what is spent on defense

Success story: PORTLAND, USA

Portland, Oregon (USA) shows what the developed world can achieve with enough political will, reducing its per capita emissions of greenhouse gases by 13%—achieving pre-1990 levels in just 11 years. Starting in 1993, America’s 30th largest city significantly increased its public transit system and added 750 miles of bicycle paths. It used financial incentives to encourage energy-efficient building, home weatherization, car pooling, and bus use. It even replaced the bulbs in its traffic lights with light-emitting diodes and cut their electricity use by 80%—and saved nearly $500,000 a year. Ten percent more of Portland’s 550,396 residents began walking and/or bicycling to work. Far from costing a fortune, these measures actually saved the city money.

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See the other articles in the MDG Snapshot series:

• Where Are We on Hunger?
• Where Are We on Education?
• Where Are We on Maternal Mortality?
• Where Are We on Health?