Sustainable Development Goal 8
Sustainable Development Goal 8 (SDG 8 or Global Goal 8) is about "decent work and economic growth" and is one of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals which were established by the United Nations General Assembly in 2015. The full title is to "Foster sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all."[1][2] Progress towards targets will be measured, monitored and evaluated by 17 indicators.
Sustainable Development Goal 8
"Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all"
No
Global
2015
SDG 8 has twelve targets in total to be achieved by 2030. Some targets are for 2030; others are for 2020. The first ten are outcome targets. These are; "sustainable economic growth; diversify, innovate and upgrade for economic productivity", "promote policies to support job creation and growing enterprises", "improve resource efficiency in consumption and production", 'full employment and decent work with equal pay', 'promote youth employment, education and training', 'end modern slavery, trafficking, and child labour', 'protect labour rights and promote safe working environments', 'promote beneficial and sustainable tourism', universal access to banking, insurance and financial services. In addition, there are also two targets for means of implementation[3], which are: Increase aid for trade support; develop a global youth employment strategy.
For the least developed countries, the economic target is to attain at least a 7 percent annual growth in Gross Domestic Product (GDP). In 2018, the global growth rate of real GDP per capita was 2 per cent.[4]
Over the past five years, economic growth in least developed countries has been increasing at an average rate of 4.3 per cent.[5] In 2019, 22 per cent of the world's young people were not in employment, education or training.[5]
Monitoring[edit]
High-level progress reports for all the SDGs are published in the form of reports by the United Nations Secretary General; the most recent is from April 2021.[21]
Links with other SDGs[edit]
The attainment of SDG 8 is vested on the success and progress of other SDGs. There cannot be growth in the economy of any country if its citizens are not well educated. Therefore, SDG 8; Decent Work and Economic Growth interlinks with Quality Education (SDG 4),[22] Gender Equality (SDG 5) for equal work opportunities.[23] There are also strong ties with Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure (SDG 9)[24] and Responsible consumption and production (SDG 12).[25]
Criticism[edit]
Several researchers have noted that continued global economic growth of 3 percent (Goal 8.1) may not be reconcilable with the ecological sustainability SDGs (6, 12, 13, 14, and 15), because the required rate of absolute global eco-economic decoupling is far higher than any country has achieved in the past. According to anthropologist Jason Hickel, it may also conflict with other non-environmental goals as well; for example, SDG 1 (no poverty) may become unachievable if economic development leads to most jobs becoming fully automated, which may be easier in the developing countries' crucial manufacturing sector. In light of this, he proposes eliminating Goal 8.1 and modifying other goals, such as SDGs 8.4 and 10 (reduced income inequality) to make them quantitative and explicitly oriented toward sustainability and social welfare.[31]