DAYANANDA SAGAR COLLEGE OF

ENGINEERING
(An Autonomous Institute affiliated to Visvesvaraya Technological University (VTU), Approved by AICTE
and UGC, Accredited by NAAC with an “A” grade)

DEPARTMENT OF ELECTRICAL & ELECTRONICS ENGINEERING

(Accredited by NBA Tier-1: 2022-2025)

Unit 1: Sustainable Development Goals

Introduction: Sustainability is a long-term goal for our society to meet the needs of economic

growth at its current speed with the least amount of impact on the environment. The concept of
sustainability is built on the notion that natural resources on Earth are finite, so supporting

sustainable practices helps maintain a balance between environment, economy, and equity. It’s
the movement and energy behind ensuring that Earth can continue to be liveable, all the while
controlling and reducing resource depletion.

Importance of sustainability: Sustainability is important for preserving our planet and natural
resources like water and air. Building a sustainable future and cultivating sustainable ways of

living will reduce pollution and protect habitats of plants and animals. A key part of
sustainability involves sustainable business practices and economic development, including
green technology, eco-friendly supply chains, and more. When businesses and government
follow sustainable practices, it creates a ripple effect on individuals and communities to decrease
greenhouse gas emissions and fossil fuels. All of this contributes to a better quality of life.

Pillars of Sustainability: The three pillars of sustainability (environmental, economic, and

social) can help us to pave a path toward a sustainable future.

Environmental sustainability: The principle of maintaining ecological integrity and ensuring

that Earth’s environmental systems remain balanced as natural resources such as air, water, soil,
forests, and animals are being consumed by humans.

Economic sustainability: The goal for humans on Earth to maintain independence and be able
to get a job or acquire other resources to meet their needs. Economic systems must be in place
and accessible to all.
Social sustainability: The principle of ensuring that basic human needs are attainable by all and
that there are enough resources available to all within a community. Strong social systems can
ensure healthy, happy communities whose human rights such as labor, health care, and equality
are respected.

Introduction to SDG:

Introduction to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a collection of 17 interlinked global goals that
were adopted by the United Nations (UN) in 2015 as part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable
Development. These goals are designed to be a "blueprint to achieve a better and more
sustainable future for all." They address a broad range of global challenges, including poverty,
inequality, climate change, environmental degradation, peace, and justice.

The Origin of the SDGs

The SDGs build on the success of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), which were
eight international development goals that UN member states committed to achieving by 2015.
While the MDGs focused primarily on reducing poverty and improving health and education in
developing countries, the SDGs take a more holistic and universal approach, addressing the root
causes of poverty and the need for sustainable economic, social, and environmental
development.
The Importance of the SDGs

The SDGs are critical because they represent a comprehensive and ambitious plan to address the
most pressing challenges facing the world today. They aim to create a world where:

• Extreme poverty is eradicated, and everyone has access to basic needs such as food, clean
water, and healthcare.

• Economic growth is inclusive and benefits everyone, reducing inequalities within and
among countries.

• Environmental sustainability is prioritized, ensuring that natural resources are preserved

for future generations and that climate change is addressed.

• Peace, justice, and strong institutions are promoted, creating a safer, fairer, and more
inclusive world.

The 17 SDGs :

Each of the 17 goals has specific targets and indicators to measure progress.

The goals are:

1. No Poverty: End poverty in all its forms everywhere.

2. Zero Hunger: End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition, and promote
sustainable agriculture.

3. Good Health and Well-Being: Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all
ages.

4. Quality Education: Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote
lifelong learning opportunities for all.

5. Gender Equality: Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls.
 6. Clean Water and Sanitation: Ensure availability and sustainable management of water
and sanitation for all.

7. Affordable and Clean Energy: Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and
modern energy for all.

8. Decent Work and Economic Growth: Promote sustained, inclusive, and sustainable
economic growth, full and productive employment, and decent work for all

9. Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure: Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive

and sustainable industrialization, and foster innovation.

10. Reduced Inequality: Reduce inequality within and among countries.

11. Sustainable Cities and Communities: Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe,
resilient, and sustainable

12. Responsible Consumption and Production: Ensure sustainable consumption and

production patterns.

13. Climate Action: Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts.

14. Life Below Water: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas, and marine resources for
sustainable development.

15. Life on Land: Protect, restore, and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems,
manage forests sustainably, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and
halt biodiversity loss.

16. Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions: Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for
sustainable development, provide access to justice for all, and build effective, accountable, and
inclusive institutions at all levels.

17. Partnerships for the Goals: Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the
global partnership for sustainable development.
Achieving the SDGs

• Achieving the SDGs requires the concerted effort of all sectors of society, including
governments, businesses, civil society, and individuals.

• It also requires significant financial resources, innovative solutions, and strong

partnerships at local, national, and global levels.

• The SDGs emphasize that progress in one area often depends on progress in others,
highlighting the interconnectedness of sustainable development challenges.

•
SDG -1 : No Poverty:

Goal: To end poverty in all its forms everywhere by 2030.

Poverty is one of the most pressing global issues, affecting billions of people worldwide. The
first Sustainable Development Goal (SDG 1) aims to eradicate poverty, recognizing it as a
fundamental barrier to sustainable development and human well-being. Poverty is not just about
lacking money; it also encompasses a lack of access to basic services like healthcare, education,
clean water, and sanitation. SDG 1 is about creating the conditions that allow everyone to live
with dignity and opportunities.

Key Components of SDG 1

1. Eradicate Extreme Poverty (Target 1.1):

• Objective: By 2030, eliminate extreme poverty, defined as living on less than $1.90 a
day.

• Importance: Extreme poverty deprives individuals of basic human needs. Eliminating it

is crucial for ensuring that everyone has the chance to live a life with dignity and
opportunities.

2. Reduce Poverty in All Forms (Target 1.2):

• Objective: By 2030, reduce by at least half the proportion of men, women, and children
living in poverty, as defined by national standards.

• Importance: Poverty exists in various forms beyond income, including lack of access to
services, education, and adequate housing. This target focuses on reducing all dimensions
of poverty.

3. Implement Social Protection Systems (Target 1.3):

• Objective: Establish and expand social protection systems for all, especially the poor and
vulnerable, by 2030.

• Importance: Social protection systems, such as pensions, unemployment benefits, and

child support, are essential for safeguarding people against poverty and helping them
recover from economic or personal crises.

4. Equal Access to Resources (Target 1.4):

 • Objective: Ensure that all people, especially the poor and vulnerable, have equal access
to economic resources, services, ownership, and control over land and other forms of
property, technology, and financial services.

• Importance: Access to resources is key to breaking the cycle of poverty. When people
have control over resources and opportunities, they can build better lives for themselves
and their families.

5. Mobilize Resources (Target 1.A):

• Objective: Mobilize resources from various sources, including international aid, to

provide adequate means for developing countries to implement programs to end poverty.

• Importance: Ending poverty requires significant financial resources. Mobilizing these

resources ensures that programs aimed at reducing poverty can be effectively
implemented.

6. Pro-Poor Policies (Target 1.B):

• Objective: Create and implement sound policies that promote investment in poverty
eradication actions.

• Importance: Policies that prioritize poverty reduction are crucial for creating an
environment where economic growth benefits everyone, especially the poor.

Challenges in Achieving SDG 1:

• Economic Inequality: Even in growing economies, the benefits are not always equally
distributed. Economic inequality can slow down poverty reduction efforts.

• Climate Change and Disasters: Natural disasters and climate change disproportionately
affect the poor, making them more vulnerable and pushing them further into poverty.

• Conflict and Political Instability: Wars, conflicts, and political instability disrupt
livelihoods and displace people, leading to increased poverty.
 • Global Health Crises: Pandemics like COVID-19 have shown how vulnerable the poor
are to global health crises, often losing livelihoods and falling deeper into poverty.

Therefore,

Achieving this goal is not only about raising income levels but also about addressing the
multidimensional nature of poverty, ensuring that everyone has access to resources,
opportunities, and a better quality of life. Ending poverty in all its forms is a crucial step toward
creating a more equitable and sustainable world for all.

SDG 2: Zero Hunger

Goal: To end hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition, and promote sustainable
agriculture by 2030.

• Hunger is one of the most devastating and widespread challenges globally, affecting
millions of people, particularly in developing regions.

• The second Sustainable Development Goal (SDG 2) aims to eliminate hunger and all
forms of malnutrition, ensuring that all people have access to sufficient and nutritious
food.

• This goal also emphasizes the importance of sustainable agriculture to meet the growing
demand for food without depleting natural resources or harming the environment.

Key Components of SDG 2 :

End Hunger (Target 2.1):

• Objective: By 2030, ensure access to safe, nutritious, and sufficient food for all people,
particularly the poor and vulnerable, including infants, all year round.

• Importance: Ending hunger is essential for human survival and well-being. Ensuring
access to food means that everyone can live a healthy and productive life, free from the
debilitating effects of hunger.
Double Agricultural Productivity and Incomes (Target 2.2):

• Objective: By 2030, double the agricultural productivity and incomes of small-scale food
producers, particularly women, indigenous peoples, family farmers, and fishers, through
secure access to land, inputs, knowledge, financial services, markets, and opportunities
for value addition.

• Importance: Small-scale farmers play a crucial role in food production. By increasing

their productivity and incomes, we can boost food security and reduce poverty in rural
areas, where hunger is often most severe.

Ensure Proper Functioning of Food Commodity Markets (Target 2.C):

• Objective: Adopt measures to ensure the proper functioning of food commodity markets
and their derivatives and facilitate timely access to market information, including on food
reserves, to help limit extreme food price volatility.

• Importance: Stable and transparent food markets are essential for preventing food crises
and ensuring that food is available and affordable for everyone, particularly in times of
scarcity or emergency.

Challenges to Achieving SDG 2:

• Climate Change: Adverse weather patterns, such as droughts and floods, disrupt food
production and exacerbate food insecurity.

• Conflict: Armed conflicts and political instability can disrupt food production and
distribution, leading to hunger crises.

• Economic Inequality: Poverty and lack of access to resources prevent many people from
securing adequate food.

• Population Growth: Increasing global population places greater demand on food

production systems.
Therefore

Achieving SDG 2 requires global cooperation and commitment to ensuring that everyone has
access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food, while also promoting practices that sustain the
planet’s resources for future generations.

SDG 3 : Good Health

Sustainable Development Goal 3 (SDG 3): Good Health and Well-being is one of the 17
goals established by the United Nations as part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable
Development. The goal aims to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all people at all
ages.

Key Components of SDG 3:

1. Reducing Maternal Mortality:

• Objective: Reduce the global maternal mortality ratio to less than 70 per 100,000 live
births by 2030

• Focus: Improving access to quality maternal health services, including antenatal care,
skilled birth attendance, and emergency obstetric care.

2. Ending Preventable Deaths of Newborns and Children:

• Objective: End preventable deaths of newborns and children under 5 years of age,
aiming to reduce neonatal mortality to at least as low as 12 per 1,000 live births and
under-5 mortality to at least as low as 25 per 1,000 live births by 2030.

• Focus: Strengthening health care for mothers, newborns, and children, and addressing the
leading causes of child mortality, such as pneumonia, diarrhea, and malnutrition.

3. Reducing Non-communicable Diseases (NCDs):

• Objective: Reduce by one-third premature mortality from non-communicable diseases

through prevention, treatment, and promoting mental health and well-being by 2030.
 • Focus: Addressing lifestyle-related risk factors such as smoking, unhealthy diet, physical
inactivity, and harmful use of alcohol, as well as improving mental health care services.

Universal Health Coverage (UHC):

• Objective: Achieve universal health coverage, including financial risk protection, access
to quality essential health-care services, and access to safe, effective, quality, and
affordable essential medicines and vaccines for all.

• Focus: Ensuring that everyone, regardless of their financial situation, has access to the
health services they need without suffering financial hardship.

4. Reducing Road Traffic Accidents:

• Objective: Halve the number of global deaths and injuries from road traffic accidents by
2020.

• Focus: Improving road safety measures, including better road infrastructure, vehicle
standards, and road safety education.

5. Reducing Environmental Health Risks:

• Objective: Substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous
chemicals and air, water, and soil pollution and contamination by 2030.

• Focus: Implementing measures to address environmental health risks, such as reducing

pollution and ensuring access to clean water and sanitation.

Challenges to Achieving SDG 3:

• Health Inequities: Inequalities in access to health services between different

populations, particularly in low-income and rural areas.

• Funding Gaps: Insufficient funding for health services, especially in low- and middle-
income countries.
 • Global Health Threats: Emerging health threats, such as pandemics and antimicrobial
resistance, pose significant challenges to achieving SDG 3.

Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG 4): Quality Education

• The goal aims to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong
learning opportunities for all.

Key Components of SDG 4:

1. Universal Primary and Secondary Education:

• Objective: Ensure that all girls and boys complete free, equitable, and quality primary
and secondary education leading to relevant and effective learning outcomes.

• Focus: Making sure that every child, regardless of gender, background, or circumstance,
has access to quality education from early childhood through secondary school.

2. Early Childhood Development and Pre-primary Education:

• Objective: Ensure that all girls and boys have access to quality early childhood
development, care, and pre-primary education so that they are ready for primary
education.

• Focus: Promoting early learning opportunities and improving the quality of early
childhood education to lay a strong foundation for lifelong learning.

3. Equal Access to Technical, Vocational, and Higher Education:

• Objective: Ensure equal access for all women and men to affordable and quality
technical, vocational, and tertiary education, including university.

• Focus: Expanding access to higher education and vocational training, particularly for
marginalized groups, to equip people with the skills they need for employment and
entrepreneurship.

4. Eliminating Gender Disparities in Education:

 • Objective: Eliminate gender disparities in education and ensure equal access to all levels
of education and vocational training for the vulnerable, including persons with
disabilities, indigenous peoples, and children in vulnerable situations.

• Focus: Addressing barriers that prevent girls and other disadvantaged groups from
accessing education, such as cultural norms, poverty, and lack of infrastructure.

5. Build and Upgrade Education Facilities:

• Objective: Build and upgrade education facilities that are child, disability, and gender-
sensitive, and provide safe, non-violent, inclusive, and effective learning environments
for all.

• Focus: Improving the physical conditions of schools, ensuring that they are safe,
accessible, and conducive to learning for all students.

Challenges to Achieving SDG 4:

• Access and Equity: Despite progress, millions of children and adults, especially in low-
income countries and rural areas, still lack access to quality education.

• Quality of Education: Even when children are in school, the quality of education they
receive is often inadequate, leading to poor learning outcomes.

• Teacher Shortages: Many countries face a shortage of trained and qualified teachers,
which affects the quality of education.

• Infrastructure: Inadequate school facilities, such as lack of classrooms, learning

materials, and sanitation, hinder effective learning.

Sustainable Development Goal 5 (SDG 5): Gender Equality

• It aims to achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls. Gender equality is
not only a fundamental human right but also a necessary foundation for a peaceful,
prosperous, and sustainable world.
Key Components of SDG 5:

1. End Discrimination Against Women and Girls:

1. Objective: Eliminate all forms of discrimination against women and girls

everywhere.

2. Focus: Implementing and enforcing laws and policies that promote gender
equality and challenge societal norms and practices that perpetuate gender-based
discrimination.

2. Eliminate Violence Against Women and Girls:

• Objective: Eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls in public and private
spheres, including trafficking and sexual and other types of exploitation.

• Focus: Strengthening prevention and response measures, such as providing support

services for survivors, promoting awareness, and ensuring justice for perpetrators.

3. Eliminate Harmful Practices:

• Objective: Eliminate harmful practices such as child, early, and forced marriage and
female genital mutilation (FGM).

• Focus: Promoting education and awareness, empowering girls, and enforcing laws that
protect them from these practices.

4. Ensure Full Participation in Leadership and Decision-Making:

• Objective: Ensure women’s full and effective participation and equal opportunities for
leadership at all levels of decision-making in political, economic, and public life.

• Focus: Increasing women's representation in leadership roles and decision-making bodies

in both public and private sectors.

5. Ensure Access to Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights:

 • Objective: Ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive
rights.

Focus: Providing comprehensive sexual education, access to contraceptive services, and safe and
legal abortion were permitted by law, and promoting reproductive rights.

6. Undertake Reforms to Give Women Equal Rights:

• Objective: Undertake reforms to give women equal rights to economic resources, as well
as access to ownership and control over land and other forms of property, financial
services, inheritance, and natural resources.

• Focus: Legal and policy reforms that ensure women’s equal rights to assets, inheritance,
and resources.

7. Adopt and Strengthen Policies for Gender Equality:

• Objective: Adopt and strengthen sound policies and enforceable legislation for the
promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls at all levels.

• Focus: Governments and organizations should establish and enforce policies that
promote gender equality and protect the rights of women and girls.

Challenges to Achieving SDG 5:

• Cultural Norms and Stereotypes: Deep-rooted cultural norms and gender stereotypes
continue to perpetuate gender inequality.

• Lack of Political Will: In some regions, there is insufficient political will to implement
and enforce gender equality laws and policies.

• Economic Barriers: Economic inequalities and poverty disproportionately affect women

and girls, limiting their access to education, employment, and healthcare.

• Gender-Based Violence: Violence against women and girls remains a pervasive issue,
hindering progress towards gender equality.
Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG 6): Clean Water and Sanitation

• Aims to ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.
Access to clean water and adequate sanitation is fundamental for human health, economic
development, and environmental sustainability.

Key Components of SDG 6:

1. Universal Access to Safe and Affordable Drinking Water:

• Objective: By 2030, achieve universal and equitable access to safe and

affordable drinking water for all.

• Focus: Ensuring that everyone, including vulnerable and marginalized groups,

has access to water that is safe, clean, and affordable for drinking and other
personal uses.

2. Access to Adequate and Equitable Sanitation and Hygiene:

• Objective: By 2030, achieve access to adequate and equitable sanitation and hygiene for
all and end open defecation, paying special attention to the needs of women and girls and
those in vulnerable situations.

• Focus: Providing safe, accessible, and affordable sanitation facilities, promoting hygiene
education, and addressing the specific needs of women, girls, and other vulnerable
populations.

3. Improving Water Quality:

• Objective: By 2030, improve water quality by reducing pollution, eliminating dumping,

and minimizing the release of hazardous chemicals and materials, halving the proportion
of untreated wastewater, and substantially increasing recycling and safe reuse globally.

• Focus: Reducing pollutants in water sources, treating wastewater before it is released

into the environment, and promoting water recycling and safe reuse practices.
4. Increase Water-use Efficiency and Ensure Sustainable Withdrawals:

• Objective: By 2030, substantially increase water-use efficiency across all sectors and
ensure sustainable withdrawals and supply of freshwater to address water scarcity and
substantially reduce the number of people suffering from water scarcity.

• Focus: Improving the efficiency of water use in agriculture, industry, and households,
and managing water resources in a way that ensures their long-term sustainability.

5. Protect and Restore Water-related Ecosystems:

Objective: By 2020, protect and restore water-related ecosystems, including mountains, forests,
wetlands, rivers, aquifers, and lakes.

Focus: Preserving and restoring ecosystems that play a crucial role in maintaining the water
cycle, providing clean water, and supporting biodiversity.

6. Support and Strengthen Local Communities in Water and Sanitation Management:

• Objective: Support and strengthen the participation of local communities in improving

water and sanitation management.

• Focus: Empowering local communities to take part in the decision-making processes

related to water and sanitation management, ensuring that solutions are tailored to local
needs and conditions.

Challenges to Achieving SDG 6:

• Water Scarcity: Many regions face severe water scarcity due to over-extraction, climate
change, and population growth, making it difficult to meet the needs of all users.

• Pollution: Industrial, agricultural, and household waste continues to contaminate water

sources, posing significant risks to human health and ecosystems.
 • Infrastructure: In many areas, particularly in developing countries, water and sanitation
infrastructure is inadequate or non-existent, leading to poor water quality and sanitation
services.

• Inequality: Disparities in access to clean water and sanitation services persist,

particularly among poor, rural, and marginalized communities.

Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG 7): Affordable and Clean Energy

• Aims to ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all.
Energy is central to nearly every major challenge and opportunity the world faces today,
including jobs, security, climate change, food production, and increasing incomes.

Key Components of SDG 7:

1. Universal Access to Modern Energy Services:

• Objective: By 2030, ensure universal access to affordable, reliable, and modern energy
services.

• Focus: Expanding energy infrastructure and upgrading technology to provide energy

access in all regions, especially in the least developed countries, small island developing
states, and landlocked developing countries.

2. Increase the Share of Renewable Energy:

Objective: By 2030, increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy
mix.

Focus: Promoting the use of renewable energy sources, such as solar, wind, hydro, and
geothermal energy, to reduce reliance on fossil fuels and mitigate climate change.

3. Improve Energy Efficiency:

• Objective: By 2030, double the global rate of improvement in energy efficiency.

 • Focus: Enhancing energy efficiency in various sectors, including buildings, industry, and
transportation, through technology upgrades, policy measures, and financial incentives.

4. Expand Infrastructure and Upgrade Technology for Clean Energy:

• Objective: By 2030, expand infrastructure and upgrade technology for supplying modern
and sustainable energy services for all in developing countries, particularly least
developed countries, small island developing states, and landlocked developing countries,
in accordance with their respective programs of support.

• Focus: Investing in the infrastructure and technologies needed to provide reliable and
sustainable energy, especially in regions that currently lack adequate energy access.

Challenges to Achieving SDG 7:

• Energy Access: As of now, millions of people still lack access to electricity, particularly
in rural areas of developing countries.

• Reliance on Fossil Fuels: The global energy system is still heavily dependent on fossil
fuels, which contribute to climate change and environmental degradation.

• Investment Gaps: There is a significant gap in the investment needed to transition to

clean and sustainable energy systems, particularly in developing countries.

• Technological Barriers: The adoption of clean energy technologies can be hindered by

high costs, lack of infrastructure, and limited access to financing and expertise.

Sustainable Development Goal 9 (SDG 9): Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure aims to
build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization, and foster
innovation. This goal recognizes that growth in these areas is essential for achieving sustainable
development and improving the quality of life for people around the world.

Key Components of SDG 9:

1. Develop Quality, Reliable, Sustainable, and Resilient Infrastructure:

 • Objective: 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.

• Focus: Building infrastructure that can withstand environmental challenges, supports

economic activity, and is accessible to everyone, including those in remote or
underdeveloped regions.

2. Promote Inclusive and Sustainable Industrialization:

• Objective: 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.

• Focus: Encouraging industrial growth that is environmentally sustainable and socially

inclusive, ensuring that the benefits of industrialization reach all segments of society.

3. Increase Access to Financial Services and Markets:

• Objective: Increase the access of small-scale industrial and other enterprises, particularly
in developing countries, to financial services, including affordable credit, and their
integration into value chains and markets.

• Focus: Supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) by improving their

access to credit and markets, helping them grow and contribute to economic
development.

4. Upgrade Infrastructure and Retrofit Industries:

• Objective: 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.
 • Focus: Modernizing industries and infrastructure to reduce environmental impact,
improve efficiency, and integrate clean technologies into production processes.

5. Enhance Scientific Research, Upgrade Technological Capabilities:

• Objective: Enhance scientific research, upgrade the technological capabilities of

industrial sectors in all countries, particularly 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.

• Focus: Promoting research and innovation, especially in developing countries, to drive

technological advancement and create new economic opportunities.

6. Facilitate Sustainable and Resilient Infrastructure Development:

Objective: 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.

Focus: Providing support to developing nations to build infrastructure that is sustainable and
resilient to economic, environmental, and social challenges.

7. Support Domestic Technology Development and Innovation:

• Objective: Support domestic technology development, research, and innovation in

developing countries, including by ensuring a conducive policy environment for
industrial diversification and value addition to commodities.

• Focus: Encouraging the development of local technologies and innovations that can drive
industrial growth and economic diversification.

Challenges to Achieving SDG 9:

• Infrastructure Gaps: Many regions, particularly in developing countries, lack the

necessary infrastructure to support economic growth and social development.
 • Environmental Impact: Industrialization can lead to environmental degradation if not
managed sustainably, contributing to pollution, resource depletion, and climate change.

• Access to Finance and Technology: Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) often
struggle to access the financial resources and technology they need to grow and innovate.

• Research and Development: Developing countries face challenges in fostering research

and innovation due to limited resources, expertise, and investment in R&D.

Sustainable Development Goal 10 (SDG 10): Reduced Inequalities

• To aims to reduce inequality within and among countries. Inequality can take many
forms, including economic disparity, social exclusion, and unequal access to
opportunities. Addressing these inequalities is crucial for creating a fairer and more just
world.

Key Components of SDG 10:

1. Reduce Income Inequality:

• Objective: By 2030, progressively achieve and sustain income growth of the bottom
40% of the population at a rate higher than the national average.

• Focus: Ensuring that the poorest segments of society see their incomes grow at a faster
rate than the average, helping to reduce the gap between the rich and the poor.

2. Promote Social, Economic, and Political Inclusion:

• Objective: By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic, and political inclusion
of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion, economic, or
other status.

• Focus: Creating inclusive societies where everyone has the opportunity to participate
fully in economic, social, and political life, regardless of their background or
circumstances.
3. Ensure Equal Opportunity and Reduce Inequality of Outcome:

• Objective: Ensure equal opportunity and reduce inequalities of outcome, including

through eliminating discriminatory laws, policies, and practices and promoting
appropriate legislation, policies, and action in this regard.

• Focus: Addressing systemic discrimination and ensuring that everyone has access to the
same opportunities and outcomes, regardless of their identity or background.

4. Improve the Regulation and Monitoring of Global Financial Markets and Institutions:

• Objective: Improve the regulation and monitoring of global financial markets and
institutions and strengthen the implementation of such regulations.

• Focus: Ensuring that global financial systems are fair and stable, reducing the risks that
can lead to financial crises, which often disproportionately affect the poor and
marginalized.

5. Facilitate Safe, Regular, and Responsible Migration and Mobility:

• Objective: Facilitate orderly, safe, regular, and responsible migration and mobility of
people, including through the implementation of planned and well-managed migration
policies.

• Focus: Protecting the rights of migrants and ensuring that migration is safe, legal, and
beneficial for both sending and receiving countries.

6. Reduce the Transaction Costs of Migrant Remittances:

• Objective: By 2030, reduce to less than 3% the transaction costs of migrant remittances
and eliminate remittance corridors with costs higher than 5%.

• Focus: Lowering the cost of sending money across borders, which is particularly
important for migrants who send remittances to their families in their home countries.

Challenges to Achieving SDG 10:

 • Economic Disparities: There is a significant gap between the rich and the poor, both
within and between countries, and reducing this gap requires major policy changes.

• Discrimination and Social Exclusion: Many people face discrimination based on factors
such as race, gender, disability, or nationality, which limits their opportunities and
contributes to inequality.

• Global Financial Systems: The current global financial system often exacerbates
inequality, with wealth concentrated in the hands of a few.

• Migration Issues: Migrants often face exploitation, discrimination, and difficulties in

accessing services, and their contributions to economies are not always recognized or
valued.

Sustainable Development Goal 13 (SDG 13): Climate Action

• Is one of the 17 global goals established by the United Nations in 2015 as part of the
2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The primary aim of SDG 13 is to take urgent
action to combat climate change and its impacts, recognizing that climate change is one
of the biggest challenges facing humanity today.

Key Objectives of SDG 13:

1. Strengthening Resilience and Adaptive Capacity:

• Enhance the ability of countries, especially vulnerable ones, to adapt to climate-related

hazards and natural disasters.

• This includes improving infrastructure, developing early warning systems, and promoting
sustainable land management practices.

2. Integrating Climate Change Measures into National Policies:

• Encourage all countries to include climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies
in their national
 development plans.

• This involves mainstreaming climate change considerations into various sectors such as
energy, agriculture, transportation, and urban planning.

3. Improving Education and Awareness:

• Promote education, awareness, and human and institutional capacity on climate change
mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction, and early warning.

• This aims to ensure that all people are informed about the challenges and opportunities
associated with climate action.

4. Mobilizing Resources:

• Ensure the availability of adequate financial resources to address climate change,

particularly for developing countries.

• This includes fulfilling commitments under the Paris Agreement, such as the $100 billion
a year promised by developed countries to support climate action in developing nations.

5. Enhancing Technology Transfer:

• Promote the transfer of environmentally sound technologies to developing countries,

enabling them to implement effective climate action.

• This is crucial for building the capacity of these countries to transition to low-carbon and
climate-resilient economies.

Challenges:

• Global Coordination: Achieving SDG 13 requires unprecedented global cooperation, as

climate change is a global problem that transcends national borders.

• Financing: There is a significant gap between the financial resources needed and those
currently available for climate action, especially in the most vulnerable countries.
 • Political Will: Success in climate action depends heavily on political commitment at all
levels, from local to international.

Case Study on Poverty: Poverty remains one of India's most significant challenges, with over
16% of its population living below the poverty line as of recent estimates. This case study
examines poverty's impact on sustainability in India, with a focus on the intersection of
economic growth, resource usage, and environmental sustainability.

Example: The Sundarbans – Poverty, Climate Change, and Sustainability

The Sundarbans, a unique mangrove region in West Bengal, India, is home to over 4.5 million
people, many of whom live in extreme poverty. This area faces intense environmental challenges
due to rising sea levels, climate change, and deforestation. The local population is heavily reliant
on natural resources such as fish, honey, and forest products for their livelihoods, which
exacerbates the region’s environmental degradation.

Most people in the Sundarbans depend on subsistence farming or resource extraction (fishing,
logging, etc.). Their economic vulnerability is heightened due to lack of education, healthcare,
and employment opportunities. With increasing climate threats, floods, and rising sea levels,
farmlands are becoming infertile due to salinization, exacerbating the poverty cycle.

The Sundarbans is highly vulnerable to climate-induced changes like sea-level rise, storms, and
cyclones. Poor communities have fewer resources to adapt or migrate, leaving them trapped in an
endless cycle of poverty. In the aftermath of cyclones like Amphan (2020), the already fragile
livelihoods of the people were further devastated, leading to food insecurity, loss of homes, and
an increased rate of migration to nearby urban slums in Kolkata.

Lack of access to affordable clean energy (solar power, for instance) means that people rely on
wood for fuel, increasing deforestation and emissions. The absence of basic infrastructure such
as reliable electricity further limits opportunities for education and small-scale businesses, which
could lift people out of poverty.

Policy Interventions for Sustainable Development:

1. Climate-Resilient Infrastructure:

o The Indian government, alongside international NGOs, has worked on building

cyclone shelters and embankments to protect against flooding and cyclones.
Expanding these efforts will help safeguard communities and infrastructure from
climate-induced disasters.

2. Mangrove Restoration Programs:

o Programs aimed at restoring mangrove forests are critical for both environmental
sustainability and poverty alleviation. Healthy mangroves act as natural barriers
against storms and provide critical ecosystem services.

3. Sustainable Livelihood Programs:

o Introducing alternative livelihoods such as eco-tourism, sustainable fishing

practices, and renewable energy-based businesses can help reduce dependency on
resource extraction.

o Training programs in skill development and micro-finance opportunities can

empower locals to break the poverty cycle.

4. Renewable Energy Initiatives:

o Providing access to solar energy or other renewable energy sources can reduce
deforestation and pollution while also enhancing the quality of life for
impoverished communities.

5. Education and Health Programs:

o Sustainable poverty reduction requires long-term investment in education and

healthcare. By improving access to these, future generations can access better
employment opportunities and escape the cycle of poverty.
Zero hunger: India, with a population exceeding 1.4 billion, faces significant challenges in
terms of food security and hunger, despite being one of the world's largest food producers.
Several innovative and impactful programs have been launched in India to address hunger while
ensuring sustainability.

The Public Distribution System (PDS) – Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu’s Public Distribution System (PDS) is one of the most efficient food security
programs in India. It provides subsidized food grains, such as rice, wheat, and kerosene, to low-
income households. The state government ensures an uninterrupted supply of food at affordable
prices to the marginalized.

The Midday Meal Scheme – Nationwide

Overview: The Midday Meal Scheme, one of the largest school feeding programs in the world,
provides free lunches to children in government and government-aided schools. Launched in
1995, the scheme aims to address classroom hunger, improve nutrition, and enhance enrollment
and attendance rates in schools.

The Zero Hunger Programme – Aspirational Districts

Overview: Launched in 2017, the Zero Hunger Programme is a collaborative effort by the
Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), the Ministry of Agriculture, and the World
Food Programme (WFP). It focuses on the most backward and malnourished districts, known as
"Aspirational Districts," to implement measures to combat hunger and improve nutrition.

The Akshaya Patra Foundation

Overview: The Akshaya Patra Foundation is an NGO that runs the world’s largest school
lunch program, providing nutritious meals to over 1.8 million children across India. Their aim is
to eliminate classroom hunger and promote education through nutrition.

Poshan Abhiyaan (National Nutrition Mission)

Overview: Launched in 2018, Poshan Abhiyaan is India’s flagship program to reduce
malnutrition and ensure nutrition security, especially among children, pregnant women, and
lactating mothers. The mission integrates food security, health, and hygiene.

Good health and well being:

1. Ayushman Bharat – Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY):

Launched in 2018, Ayushman Bharat is one of the world's largest government-funded

healthcare programs. It aims to provide health coverage of up to ₹5 lakh per family per year
for secondary and tertiary care hospitalization.

Key Features:

 Health Insurance Coverage: Provides free healthcare to over 100 million families or
around 500 million individuals, focusing on poor and vulnerable sections of society.

 Empanelled Hospitals: Beneficiaries can access treatment at empanelled public and

private hospitals across India.

 Cashless Treatment: Ensures that beneficiaries do not have to pay out-of-pocket expenses
for treatments covered under the scheme.

Impact on Health and Well-Being:

 Reduction in Out-of-Pocket Expenditure: Ayushman Bharat has significantly reduced

financial barriers to healthcare, leading to increased access to critical care for
economically disadvantaged communities.

 Health Outcomes: It has improved access to treatments for non-communicable diseases

(e.g., cancer, heart diseases) and surgeries that would have been unaffordable for many.

 Universal Health Coverage: The program is a key step toward achieving universal health
coverage (UHC), ensuring that every citizen, irrespective of income, can access quality
healthcare.
Challenges and Solutions:

 Awareness: A challenge has been raising awareness about the scheme in rural areas.
Initiatives like health camps and digital campaigns are addressing this.

 Quality of Care: Ensuring quality care across both public and private hospitals remains a
priority, with accreditation systems in place to monitor hospital performance.

2. Swachh Bharat Mission – Health Impacts:

Launched in 2014, the Swachh Bharat Mission (Clean India Mission) aimed to eliminate
open defecation and improve sanitation across India, especially in rural areas. Over 110
million toilets were constructed, drastically improving sanitation in both rural and urban
regions. While toilet construction has been successful, there is an ongoing focus on
improving solid and liquid waste management systems.

3. Mission Indradhanush – Immunization Program

Launched in 2014, Mission Indradhanush aims to increase the immunization coverage in

India. The program focuses on vaccinating children under two years of age and pregnant
women against seven life-threatening diseases.

Quality of Education:

1. Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) – Universalizing Elementary Education:

Launched in 2001, Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) is one of India’s flagship
programs aimed at achieving universal elementary education for children aged 6
to 14 years. The program’s main objectives are to reduce the number of out-of-
school children, improve the quality of education, and enhance infrastructure in
schools.
2. Operation Digital Board – Bringing Technology into Classrooms: Launched in
2019, Operation Digital Board aims to introduce digital technologies in
classrooms to improve the quality of teaching and learning. The program focuses
 on installing interactive digital boards and smart classrooms across schools and
higher education institutions.
3. Midday Meal Scheme – Impact on Learning and Health: The Midday Meal
Scheme, launched in 1995, provides free lunches to children in government and
government-aided schools. The scheme addresses both classroom hunger and
malnutrition while encouraging attendance and retention in schools.