SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT: AN ASSESSMENT OF POLICIES AND GOALS

Abstract

This paper assesses Sustainable Development Policies and goals. The information on Sustainable Development policies and goals were obtained from secondary sources, mostly from United Nation Development programme reports. The paper revealed that conflict, climate disruption, economic instability and rising geopolitical tension characterized many countries, thereby invalidating investment in SDGs by countries over the years. Equally, that over 800 million people still live in extreme poverty and hunger. Also, that debt service for low and middle-income countries hit 1.4 trillion dollars, draining resources for critical development. Moreover, that only 35 percent of the Sustainable Development Goal targets are on track or making modest progress while 18 percent are actually regressing .In view of these findings, the study recommends that countries should shift from fossil fuel to renewable energy to combat climate change and improve health outcome of citizens. As well, government should adopt sustained Macroeconomic policies for economic well-being of citizens and prioritize gender sensitive budgeting to accelerate development as women are critical to achieving micro income, food security, health and education. Furthermore, that investment in national statistical system for high quality and timely data gathering to monitor progress and identify gaps should be prioritized.