UN adopts new Global Goals, UNWTO commits to work for SDGs
TBNews Desk —
New York / Madrid -The 193-member United Nations General Assembly formally adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, along with a set of bold new Global Goals for a better world.
“The new agenda is a promise by leaders to all people everywhere. It is an agenda for people, to end poverty in all its forms – an agenda for the planet, our common home,” declared UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon as he opened the UN Sustainable Development Summit on Sept. 25, 2015.
According to UN, ‘Transforming Our World: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development’ is composed of 17 goals and 169 targets to wipe out poverty, fight inequality and tackle climate change over the next 15 years.
Meanwhile, United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) has welcomed the adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and reiterated its commitment to work towards the implementation of the Goals.
Tourism is one of the most dynamic economic sectors, with significant global reach, and can make an important contribution to the achievement of the SDGs, particularly in the areas of job creation, sustainable consumption and production and the preservation of natural resources.’
“Issues such as climate change, effective resource management, poverty reduction and inclusive growth need to be at the center of tourism development. Now that the Goals have been approved, it is time to step up our action, time to advance policies and business strategies that monitor and minimize the negative effects of tourism development and maximize its positive impacts, namely through the distribution of its benefits among host communities” said UNWTO Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai.
According to UNWTO statement, tourism is included in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as a target in Goal 8, Goal 12 and Goal 14:
– Goal 8, on the promotion of “sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all includes as Target 8.9 “By 2030, devise and implement policies to promote sustainable tourism that creates jobs and promotes local culture and products”.
– Goal 12 aimed to “ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns” includes as Target 12.b to “Develop and implement tools to monitor sustainable development impacts for sustainable tourism which creates jobs, promotes local culture and products”.
– Goal 14 set to “Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development” includes as target 14.7 “by 2030 increase the economic benefits of SIDS and LDCs from the sustainable use of marine resources, including through sustainable management of fisheries, aquaculture and tourism”.
The Goals aim to build on the work of the historic Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), which in September 2000 rallied the world around a common 15-year agenda to tackle the indignity of poverty.-Inputs from UNIC/UNWTO Sept. 2015
