Learning from climate finance
Financing — Global
Progress on implementing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) has been significant but uneven. If we want to accelerate delivery, we need to apply the lessons learned from climate finance
Industry, innovation and infrastructure
Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation
Targets
Indicators
Target
9.1
Develop quality, reliable, sustainable and resilient infrastructure, including regional and transborder infrastructure, to support economic development and human well-being, with a focus on affordable and equitable access for all
Indicators
9.1.1
Proportion of the rural population who live within 2 km of an all-season road
9.1.2
Passenger and freight volumes, by mode of transport
Target
9.2
Promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and, by 2030, significantly raise industry’s share of employment and gross domestic product, in line with national circumstances, and double its share in least developed countries
Indicators
9.2.1
Manufacturing value added as a proportion of GDP and per capita
9.2.2
Manufacturing employment as a proportion of total employment
Target
9.3
Increase the access of small-scale industrial and other enterprises, in particular in developing countries, to financial services, including affordable credit, and their integration into value chains and markets
Indicators
9.3.1
Proportion of small-scale industries in total industry value added
9.3.2
Proportion of small-scale industries with a loan or line of credit
Target
9.4
By 2030, upgrade infrastructure and retrofit industries to make them sustainable, with increased resource-use efficiency and greater adoption of clean and environmentally sound technologies and industrial processes, with all countries taking action in accordance with their respective capabilities
Indicators
9.4.1
CO2 emission per unit of value added
Target
9.5
Enhance scientific research, upgrade the technological capabilities of industrial sectors in all countries, in particular developing countries, including, by 2030, encouraging innovation and substantially increasing the number of research and development workers per 1 million people and public and private research and development spending
Indicators
9.5.1
Research and development expenditure as a proportion of GDP
9.5.2
Researchers (in full-time equivalent) per million inhabitants
Target
9.a
Facilitate sustainable and resilient infrastructure development in developing countries through enhanced financial, technological and technical support to African countries, least developed countries, landlocked developing countries and small island developing States
Indicators
9.a.1
Total official international support (official development assistance plus other official flows) to infrastructure
Target
9.b
Support domestic technology development, research and innovation in developing countries, including by ensuring a conducive policy environment for, inter alia, industrial diversification and value addition to commodities
Indicators
9.b.1
Proportion of medium and high-tech industry value added in total value added
Target
9.c
Significantly increase access to information and communications technology and strive to provide universal and affordable access to the Internet in least developed countries by 2020
Indicators
9.c.1
Proportion of population covered by a mobile network, by technology
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Mobilizing business investment for the SDGs
Financing — Global
With just seven years to go, the SDGs remain severely underfunded, as cash-strapped governments worldwide struggle to resource them. Generating more private-sector investment that seizes the huge business potential of the Goals is therefore critical
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SDG financing needs an urgent global reboot
Financing — Global
At the mid-point on the way to 2030, SDG financing is under pressure. Reforms of the global finance system, and more targeted financing solutions, are needed to get back on track to meet the Global Goals
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Ideas into action
Climate — Global
At this mid-point to the 2030 deadline, it’s clear that action must ramp up massively if the SDGs are to be realized and climate catastrophe averted. Initiatives such as the UN SDSN Global Climate Hub can help get governments back on track
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Walking the path ahead
Climate — Global
Humanity should survive the decades to come, but will it thrive? A lot depends on how many costs our leaders are willing to pay up front, and how many they will wait to have inflicted upon them
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As the IEA warns, most of the reductions in emissions needed to achieve net zero rely on technology that is not yet commercially mature. While tech will provide no magic bullet, its rapid development to scale up decarbonization is essential. What are the technological gaps we must focus on filling now?
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How to curb negative international spillovers?
Climate — Global
Rich countries show no signs of decoupling their economies from the harmful environmental and social impacts they generate abroad. This must urgently change if we’re to achieve the SDGs and limit temperature rise, but requires bold international action
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Building for climate
Climate — Global
The construction industry accounts for more than a third of the world’s carbon emissions. The sector must urgently ramp up new methods to slash CO2 from the construction lifecycle if we’re to achieve net zero
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Zero-carbon, climate-resilient cities
Cities — Global
As the world’s urban population rises dramatically this century, the sustainability of cities will be make or break for our survival. While the scale of the challenge is huge, many cities are showing how zero-carbon, climate-resilient urban centers are possible
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Climate action is about people, not just numbers
Climate — Global
Central to “leaving no one behind” is ensuring that workers in high-carbon sectors have every opportunity to transition to jobs in the new green economy
