About: SDGs
Soil is the underrated issue of food waste challenge, says World Biogas Association boss
Food waste processed via anaerobic digestion can significantly improve nutrient recovery in the soil, and the process may have significant use in sustainable agriculture and in fighting climate change, David Newmann, president of the World Biogas Association, told EURACTIV.com in an interview
European Parliament sounds the alarm over developing world debt crisis
The number of poor countries facing major debt crises has doubled since 2013, and only 1 in 5 are now considered to be at low risk of crisis. With some countries in the midst of crisis and others on the brink, meeting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) remains a pipe dream, writes Mark Perera.
Another environmental catastrophe is looming in Central Asia
The EU as a soft power should convince other donors to make the funds available to decontaminate old uranium mines in Central Asia, writes Adrian De Meer.
‘We stand no chance of ending hunger’ without peace, UN says
Conflict is worsening global starvation, the United Nations said on Tuesday (30 January), as it called for greater peacebuilding efforts to end hunger for almost 500 million people living in war zones.
EU lighting up Africa with solar
Nearly €340 billion of investment will be needed to achieve universal access to electricity across Africa by 2030, the World Energy Network forecasts. That is a tall order. The combined grid capacity of the 48 sub-Saharan African countries is around...
Africa’s young people need inspirational leaders, not old autocrats
Investing in youth is essential for Africa’s future, but what's even more essential is to let inspirational and transformational leaders to come forth, writes Shada Islam.
Eurostat gauges EU progress on SDG implementation
Eurostat, the European Union statistical office, published on Monday (20 November) a monitoring report on how the EU as a whole implements the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), showing “significant” progress in five of them and “moderate” progress for eight others.
Belgium highlights pioneering role in linking private sector to aid policy
Alexander De Croo, Belgium's Minister for Development Cooperation, made a passionate plea yesterday (15 November) for closer synergies between private and public funding for development, using his country's pioneering experience as an example.
Macron’s missing billions to fulfill development aid promises
The French budget dedicated to international solidarity is expected to increase by €500 million over the next three years. But the government estimates that €6.4 billion will be needed by 2022. EURACTIV France reports.
Circular economy success needs more than ambitious policies
Voluntary agreements are hardly a new concept but industry action on this front can drive real progress, particularly when it comes to the circular economy, writes MEP Martina Dlabajová.
WFP official: Humanitarian aid, development and peace have to come together
Conflict resolution should be followed by recovery-type investments, development-type investments and investments in the future, Arif Husain, chief economist of the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), told EURACTIV on Tuesday (10 October).
All fish sold in the EU must be of high standard
The European Commission needs to work out more effective rules to ensure that only fish meeting high social and environmental standards can enter the EU market, as well as a better implementation of the EU control regime in general, argue Linnéa Engström and Javier Garat.
SDGs can be a test for European public-private partnerships
Sustainable Development Goals pose a considerable test for governments and EU institutions. Yet in a world in which the corporate sector is likely to enjoy greater agency, there is a concomitant opportunity to use the SDG process as a trial for European diplomacy, argue Jan Melissen and Ries Kamphof.
Member states seek to water down food waste proposal
Member states have been trying to water down the proposals for food waste reduction, according to leaked documents from the EU waste directive discussions in the Council of the European Union, seen by EURACTIV.com.
EU auditors to assess anti-pollution efforts by testing Brussels air
The European Court of Auditors is to embark on a comprehensive review of the European Union’s efforts to curb air pollution, the main environmental cause of premature deaths in the EU.
Taking stock of 2030 Agenda: Are we making progress with integrated implementation?
There is no planet B. Humanity needs to acknowledge this and work together to implement the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), adopted in 2015, in a relatively short space of time, write Hannah Janetschek and Imme Scholz.
EXPO 2017 in Astana will contribute to global sustainable development
Staging such an important exhibition as EXPO 2017 in Kazakhstan will accelerate our transition to a modern and sustainable economy, writes Kairat Abdrakhamanov. EXPO 2017 taking place from 10 June to 10 September 2017 in Astana, Kazakhstan. Its theme is "Future Energy".
EU, Brazil propose farm subsidies overhaul to help developing countries
The European Union and Brazil yesterday (17 July) proposed to the World Trade Organization a reform of farm subsidies in order to "level the playing field" for emerging economies, an EU statement said.
SDG advocate: ‘Development projects cannot be designed in Brussels’
Development is not a one-way street, rather it is a dialogue, according to SDG advocate Dr Alaa Murabit. She told EURACTIV Germany that she supports the EU’s Consensus on Development but warned against making investment conditional.
After Brexit, Europe must take the lead on development aid
The loss of the United Kingdom, one of Europe’s biggest aid donors, will force the EU to strengthen its development action. In France, the election of Emmanuel Macron could give development policy a much-needed boost, Rémy Rioux said in an interview with EURACTIV France.
Mimica: Private sector has a key role in reaching the SDGs
The massive need for investment in projects of public interest in developing countries cannot be met by the public sector alone, this is why the involvement of the private sector in reaching the SDGs is key, the European Commissioner for International Cooperation and Development told EURACTIV.com in an exclusive interview.
EU takes the helm in a year of ocean mobilisation
2017 will be remembered as the turning point in how the international community works together to protect the ocean, write Karmenu Vella and Isabella Lövin.
The EU must forge a European strategy for sustainable development
The UN's 2030 Agenda is absent from the White Paper on the Future of Europe. The Commission should lead by example and mainstream sustainable development across all EU programmes, policies and financial instruments, writes Luca Jahier.