v Rejuvenating Humanity in the Anthropocene Era
highly likely that the system will not be able to respond and stay in the equilibrium state (Rockstrom et al., 2009).
Recently, the world came together to design “Sustainable Development Goals”, which consists of 17 main goals with over 100 targets. It is in this context that we should be reminded of the words said by President John F. Kennedy - "Our problems are man-made, and therefore they may be solved by man.
And man can be as big as he wants. No problem of human destiny is beyond human beings.’’
When it is necessary to come together to tackle worldwide problems in order to safeguard our lives on the planet, it is required that we all take responsibility. Until now, we have been looking at the 17 SDGs as individual and isolated goals. However, the time is upon us to change our perception, and begin thinking of ways to integrate them all. Recently, the Stockholm Resilience Center proposed a new model for looking at the SDGs, which resembled a wedding cake. It proposes biosphere as the base, society on the top, and the highest is the economy sector. It is noteworthy to consider with regards to implementation in that the all sectors are shown to have direct and/or indirect linkages with other sectors, and that the model can be looked at from a top-to-bottom or bottom-to-top approach.
There have been huge challenges in the harmonious implementation of goals. It is important to understand that the actions required at ground level by different organizations tend to overlap, and therefore require extra financial assistance from international bodies. For instance, if a work is proposed to focus on forestry and the enhancement of ground water and complete hydrological cycles, then sustainable forest management practices are essential. And for the implementation of sustainable forest management practices, it is of high relevance to consider various safeguards related to forest governance, and social, environmental and climate contexts, in order to ensure effective participation of local communities while designing and implementing national strategies (which is in reference to Cancun Agreement adopted in COP 16.)
Pattberg et al., (2012), analyzed 348 partnerships in the database of Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD) and reported that 37 percent of these MSPs failed to produce any output in reference to the terms and conditions. Above that, the paper reported that output generated by 43 percent could not be attributed directly to the stated goals. This calls for a need for both a far more transparency in the processes of projects, and a far more explicit method of assigning of roles to all involved actors and organizations involved.
It is the time to use some of the non-standard and engaging ways to mobilize and involve many in one, harmonized action. For example, Environment Online (ENO) is a global virtual school and connects more than 10,000 schools across 157 countries. The school has a vision to plant 100 million trees by 2017, and the progress is tremendous, as within 12 years they have planted 20 million. So, it is critically important to involve and mobilize everyone to join and make a difference.
In order to achieve our goal of saving the planet, collaboration and cooperation between different stakeholders is paramount. Though policy makers and economists have pivotal roles in the success of various agreements, laws and policies, the role of a scientist is also very important to ensure that policies will continue to remain relevant in the future. All political discussions should have grounds in the comprehension of earth system dynamics. And all international meetings should include the scientific community, but still stress the need for discussions to be held in a common language, with vocabulary understandable to all.
The time calls for revitalizing the current situation across the globe through partnership - particularly through trade of technology, capacity building, and trade. Most importantly, developed countries should assist less developed countries in such a way that all processes and potential for technological advancement and capacity building are viable and sustainable in the long-term.
highly likely that the system will not be able to respond and stay in the equilibrium state (Rockstrom et al., 2009).
Recently, the world came together to design “Sustainable Development Goals”, which consists of 17 main goals with over 100 targets. It is in this context that we should be reminded of the words said by President John F. Kennedy - "Our problems are man-made, and therefore they may be solved by man.
And man can be as big as he wants. No problem of human destiny is beyond human beings.’’
When it is necessary to come together to tackle worldwide problems in order to safeguard our lives on the planet, it is required that we all take responsibility. Until now, we have been looking at the 17 SDGs as individual and isolated goals. However, the time is upon us to change our perception, and begin thinking of ways to integrate them all. Recently, the Stockholm Resilience Center proposed a new model for looking at the SDGs, which resembled a wedding cake. It proposes biosphere as the base, society on the top, and the highest is the economy sector. It is noteworthy to consider with regards to implementation in that the all sectors are shown to have direct and/or indirect linkages with other sectors, and that the model can be looked at from a top-to-bottom or bottom-to-top approach.
There have been huge challenges in the harmonious implementation of goals. It is important to understand that the actions required at ground level by different organizations tend to overlap, and therefore require extra financial assistance from international bodies. For instance, if a work is proposed to focus on forestry and the enhancement of ground water and complete hydrological cycles, then sustainable forest management practices are essential. And for the implementation of sustainable forest management practices, it is of high relevance to consider various safeguards related to forest governance, and social, environmental and climate contexts, in order to ensure effective participation of local communities while designing and implementing national strategies (which is in reference to Cancun Agreement adopted in COP 16.)
Pattberg et al., (2012), analyzed 348 partnerships in the database of Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD) and reported that 37 percent of these MSPs failed to produce any output in reference to the terms and conditions. Above that, the paper reported that output generated by 43 percent could not be attributed directly to the stated goals. This calls for a need for both a far more transparency in the processes of projects, and a far more explicit method of assigning of roles to all involved actors and organizations involved.
It is the time to use some of the non-standard and engaging ways to mobilize and involve many in one, harmonized action. For example, Environment Online (ENO) is a global virtual school and connects more than 10,000 schools across 157 countries. The school has a vision to plant 100 million trees by 2017, and the progress is tremendous, as within 12 years they have planted 20 million. So, it is critically important to involve and mobilize everyone to join and make a difference.
In order to achieve our goal of saving the planet, collaboration and cooperation between different stakeholders is paramount. Though policy makers and economists have pivotal roles in the success of various agreements, laws and policies, the role of a scientist is also very important to ensure that policies will continue to remain relevant in the future. All political discussions should have grounds in the comprehension of earth system dynamics. And all international meetings should include the scientific community, but still stress the need for discussions to be held in a common language, with vocabulary understandable to all.
The time calls for revitalizing the current situation across the globe through partnership - particularly through trade of technology, capacity building, and trade. Most importantly, developed countries should assist less developed countries in such a way that all processes and potential for technological advancement and capacity building are viable and sustainable in the long-term.
At a smaller scale, the success of the Sustainable Development Goals depends on good governance at a national level. Effective partnership and coordination between different government departments, NGOs, and academia should ensure successful implementation and revitalization of the world around us.
Recommendations:
● Change in perspective of looking at the 17 Sustainable Development Goals from “isolated” to
“integrated and interwoven.”
● Critical review of various thematic projects from a same country to prevent redundancy.
● Mobilize all individuals to be responsible for climate change action using conventional and non- conventional methods.
● Increase transparency and access to information for all the stakeholders involved.
The whole idea of sustainable development has roots in the need to preserve our planet for future generations. The time calls for every citizen of this planet, to be responsible for our own lives and make a difference. All of the 17 SDGs require calling our consciousness and limiting our desires. The time calls for something beyond learning, but rather involving ourselves in practical activities, such as meditation and yoga, which certainly helps to connect the mind/body/soul to outside energy. Such a process, if repeated everyday, helps a person to attain self-satisfaction and limit their desires, and give up on this race for gaining more materialistic things. The problem right now is that our ever increasing human population has dreams and desires that can only come at the cost of natural resources, which are highly limited. If we are able to curtail our desires, we will be able to understand what is really essential for a happy life.
There are multiple benefits of doing meditation, which ranges from; strengthening of immune system, to improving outlook towards life. In this race of life, human beings tend to overlook their health, and push themselves beyond their individual limits. The race to excel in this world has a cost, namely the loss of personal relationships and inner peace. Upon meditating, we may be able to find a sense of responsibility and purpose. Above that, meditation helps to cut down feelings of anxiety and depression, which is a huge problem in this generation.
In a nutshell, it is important for all the citizens of this planet to take responsibility, and to be good leaders by meditating and engaging themselves in activities that are in line with achieving the 17 Sustainable Development Goals.
Reference
Pattberg, P., F. Biermann, S. Chan, and A. Mert. 2012. Public-private partnerships for sustainable development: Emergence, influence and legitimacy. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar.
Rockström, Johan, et al. "Planetary boundaries: exploring the safe operating space for humanity." (2009).
Steffen, Will, et al. "The trajectory of the Anthropocene: the great acceleration." The Anthropocene Review 2.1 (2015): 81-98.
THE IPCC´s FIFTH ASSESSMENT REPORT (AR5). Retrieved from
https://www.ipcc.ch/pdf/press/ipcc_leaflets_2010/ipcc_ar5_leaflet.pdf
At a smaller scale, the success of the Sustainable Development Goals depends on good governance at a national level. Effective partnership and coordination between different government departments, NGOs, and academia should ensure successful implementation and revitalization of the world around us.
Recommendations:
● Change in perspective of looking at the 17 Sustainable Development Goals from “isolated” to
“integrated and interwoven.”
● Critical review of various thematic projects from a same country to prevent redundancy.
● Mobilize all individuals to be responsible for climate change action using conventional and non- conventional methods.
● Increase transparency and access to information for all the stakeholders involved.
The whole idea of sustainable development has roots in the need to preserve our planet for future generations. The time calls for every citizen of this planet, to be responsible for our own lives and make a difference. All of the 17 SDGs require calling our consciousness and limiting our desires. The time calls for something beyond learning, but rather involving ourselves in practical activities, such as meditation and yoga, which certainly helps to connect the mind/body/soul to outside energy. Such a process, if repeated everyday, helps a person to attain self-satisfaction and limit their desires, and give up on this race for gaining more materialistic things. The problem right now is that our ever increasing human population has dreams and desires that can only come at the cost of natural resources, which are highly limited. If we are able to curtail our desires, we will be able to understand what is really essential for a happy life.
There are multiple benefits of doing meditation, which ranges from; strengthening of immune system, to improving outlook towards life. In this race of life, human beings tend to overlook their health, and push themselves beyond their individual limits. The race to excel in this world has a cost, namely the loss of personal relationships and inner peace. Upon meditating, we may be able to find a sense of responsibility and purpose. Above that, meditation helps to cut down feelings of anxiety and depression, which is a huge problem in this generation.
In a nutshell, it is important for all the citizens of this planet to take responsibility, and to be good leaders by meditating and engaging themselves in activities that are in line with achieving the 17 Sustainable Development Goals.
Reference
Pattberg, P., F. Biermann, S. Chan, and A. Mert. 2012. Public-private partnerships for sustainable development: Emergence, influence and legitimacy
influence and legitimacy. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar.. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar.
Rockström, Johan, et al. "Planetary boundaries: exploring the safe operating space for humanity." (2009).
Steffen, Will, et al. "The trajectory of the Anthropocene: the great acceleration." The Anthropocene Review 2.1 (2015): 81-98.
THE IPCC´s FIFTH ASSESSMENT REPORT (AR5). Retrieved from
https://www.ipcc.ch/pdf/press/ipcc_leaflets_2010/ipcc_ar5_leaflet.pdf