THE EFFECTS OF COVID-19 ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS
By Oladosu Adenike
Coronavirus known as COVID-19 is one
of the greatest public health threats of the twenty first (21st
century) century turning our world upside down: countries, societies, families
and individuals are affected in so many ways. This deadly virus has wrecked
havoc on two sectors of our public life: health and wealth. Our world is
dealing with a crisis of monumental proportions. The novel coronavirus is
wrecking havoc across the globe, affecting lives and likelihoods with the
increasing cases of mortality worldwide: bringing about the negative impacts on
the global economy and sustainable development. The International Monetary Fund
(IMF) estimates that our world has entered into a recession while the full
economic impact of the crisis is difficult to predict at an estimate of US
$2trillion.
Furthermore,
the virus has fundamentally exposed the weakness in our global system
especially the economy. Invariably, the crisis has shown the inter-relatedness
of poverty, weak health system and lack of global cooperation exacerbate
crisis. Undoubtly, while it is severely undermining prospects for achieving SDG
3 (good health and well being) by 2030, it is also having far-reaching effects
on all other SDGs. Also, the broader impact of crisis on achieving the
sustainable development goals is evident in its troubling situation. UNESCO
estimates that some 1.25 billion students are affected posing a serious
challenge to the attainment of SDGs Goal 4 (quality education); and the
International Labor Organization (ILO) estimates about 25 million people could
lose their jobs, with those in informal employment suffering most from lack of
social protection.
In
most cases, in many parts of the world, the pandemic and its effects are
exacerbated by the crisis in achieving clean water and sanitation target (SDG6),
weak economic growth and absence of decent work (SDG8), pervasive inequalities
(SDG 10), and above all extreme poverty (SDG1). At the same time, the increase
in sexual violence is extreme affecting the 12 critical areas of progress the Beijing
Women Platform for Action and Declaration aimed for in closing the gender
inequality gap. Sadly, this pandemic happens at a time when the SDGs were
gaining attraction and a significant number of countries are making good
progress--the submission of our Nationally Determined contributions, the
further commitments on climate action postponed for year -COP26, among others.
The COVID-19 pandemic is an unprecedented global shock that magnifies the
impact of inequality, hitting the poor the hardest. In developed countries,
frontline workers in the service economy are among the most exposed to the
virus and least able to absorb its financial impact. Unmistakably, the hardest
hit will be the poor in developing countries where already struggling workers
will not have the benefit of social safety and stimulus package in some cases.
Thus, all the Sustainable Development Goals are interconnected and progress in
one can lead to the progress in another goal.
Green Recovery: A Pathway post COVID-19
To every crisis or pandemic, there
is always a pathway of recovery. Such recoveries must undo the effects of the
virus and building a future, less of fear. Undoubtedly, the coronavirus has
undone the positive impacts of SDG goals. Considerably, a sustainable world is
not achievable without stemming the tides of climate change. It is well known
that a sustainable reduction in global emission is key to fighting climate
change. The present lockdown has brought about drastic reduction in global
emission. In Nigeria, this season is usually dry and hot with increasing
temperature but now we are experiencing strong wind followed by rainfall in
some region which is not sustainable. Global development post COVID-19 needs a
sustainable growth and economic development; hence the need to partner with
private sector and Non-Governmental Organization (NGOs) involved in sustainable
projects. In Nigeria, the present
administration has set-up an economic sustainability committee headed by the
Vice-President, Prof. Yemi Osibanjo to tackle the negative economic impact of
corona virus since Nigeria is reeling from the download trending of the price
of crude oil in the international market.
Green recovery entails investment in green projects such as; clean water
sources, clean environment and renewable sources of energy. According to
International Labour Organization (ILO); ‘green economy can enable million of
people to overcome poverty and deliver improved livelihoods’. Added that Paris climate agreement will creates
24 million jobs by 2030.
Nevertheless,
government all over the world has recognized the needs to set-up sustainable
projects and investment post COVID-19. It is no doubt that post COVID-19 will
change the perception or our way of life. Hence we need to sustain our life and
the world in general.
oladosuadenike32@gmail.com
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