SDG 1, No Poverty. Meaning Explained

SDG 1 was established by the United Nations in 2015 and aims to mitigate poverty in all its forms, including extreme poverty, by 2030. To achieve this goal, the UN has outlined targets to mitigate extreme poverty for all people everywhere, reducing poverty in all its dimensions, and creating social protection systems for those who are most vulnerable.

The Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) for “No Poverty” focuses on supporting people living in extreme poverty, by providing access to basic services, food security, and improved living standards. It also aims to create economic opportunities, reduce inequality, and ensure social protection and access to public services. 

To achieve this, SDG #1, No Poverty calls for the implementation of policies and strategies that increase income and productive employment, and reduce vulnerabilities. The goal is to ensure that everyone, everywhere has the resources and opportunities to live a life of dignity.

What are the goals of SDG 1?

The goals of SDG 1, No Poverty are:

  • reduce inequalities within and among countries; 
  • create equal opportunities for all; 
  • build inclusive, resilient and sustainable societies.

To achieve this, SDG 1 calls for ensuring social protection for the poor and vulnerable; improving access to public services; and promoting the rights of all people. 

Additionally, SDG 1 calls for implementation of policies that ensure equal rights to economic resources, such as access to land, technology and financial services, as well as greater participation in decision-making. 

Finally, it calls for investment in infrastructure and industrialization, particularly in developing countries, in order to create productive jobs and promote inclusive and sustainable economic growth.

What are the goals of SDG 1

worapu

Why is No Poverty important for sustainability?

Poverty is the main barrier to sustainability as it can limit access to essential resources and services needed for a healthy environment. 

Poverty can lead to people lacking access to clean water, proper nutrition, and healthcare, which can lead to further environmental degradation. 

When people are unable to access the resources they need to survive, they are more likely to deplete natural resources in order to make ends meet. 

Poverty can limit the ability of individuals to invest in renewable energy and other forms of clean energy, which is essential for achieving sustainability. 

By working to eliminate poverty, we can ensure that everyone has access to the resources they need to live a healthy and sustainable life.

Why is it important to reduce poverty?

Reducing poverty is essential for achieving a healthy and prosperous society. 

Poverty can lead to a number of negative outcomes such as:

  • poor health, 
  • lack of education, 
  • lack of access to basic necessities, 
  • increased crime. 

By reducing poverty, individuals and communities are able to gain access to better education, healthcare, and other resources that can help them become productive members of society. 

Reducing poverty can also help reduce economic inequality, allowing people to have access to the same opportunities. 

Reducing poverty can lead to more stability and prosperity for everyone.

SDG 1 aims to ensure that all men and women, particularly the most vulnerable, are able to benefit from economic growth and social protection, and to enjoy equal rights and opportunities. 

Why is it important to reduce poverty

DistinctiveImages, Canva.com

What are the key features of SDG 1?

SDG 1 (Sustainable Development Goal 1) focuses on mitigating poverty in all its forms everywhere. The key features of this goal include:

  • Ensuring social protection for the poor and vulnerable
  • Creating equal access to opportunities, resources, and services
  • Addressing inequalities of income, wealth, and power
  • Promoting peaceful and inclusive societies
  • Investing in infrastructure and basic services
  • Strengthening resilience to economic, social, and environmental shocks
  • Empowering and promoting the social, economic, and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion, or economic or other status.

What are the targets and indicators of SDG Goal 1?

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a global effort to end extreme poverty and ensure everyone has access to basic needs and services. 

Goal 1 of the SDGs is to “End poverty”. To achieve this, several targets and indicators have been identified.

The primary target is to reduce the proportion of people living in extreme poverty (less than $1.90/day) to no more than 3% of the global population.

SDG 1 targets include: 

  • reducing the proportion of people living below the national poverty line by half;
  • ensuring equal rights to ownership, basic services, technology and economic resources; 
  • building resilience to environmental, economic, and social disasters.

These targets are to be assessed by a variety of indicators, such as:

  • the poverty headcount ratio; 
  • the poverty gap index; 
  • the poverty severity index; 
  • the share of income or consumption held by the poorest 40%; 
  • the share of jobs in vulnerable employment; 
  • the capacity of countries to respond to economic, environmental and social shocks.

By working together to achieve these targets, we can ensure a future, where poverty does not exist.

What are the targets and indicators of SDG Goal 1

KasunChamara, Canva.com

How can I improve my SDG 1?

Improving SDG 1 (No Poverty) can be achieved by taking a few different steps. Firstly, start by researching the current poverty issues in your community. 

Take note of the poverty-related statistics such as the poverty rate, and the number of people living in poverty. This will help you identify the areas in which you can have the most impact. 

Also, you can take a look into the various programs and initiatives that exist in your area, and are aimed to address poverty in your community. Take note of the successes and failures of these programs and use this information to decide on your own initiatives. 

You can create a plan of action for how to reduce poverty in your community. This plan should include a list of goals, strategies for achieving them, and an outline for how you will measure success. 

Reach out to local organizations and individuals that are already involved in anti-poverty initiatives and find out ways to collaborate with them. 

Remember that by taking these steps, you can make a meaningful difference in the lives of those living in poverty.

How can we control poverty?

Controlling poverty is a complex issue, but there are steps we can take to help people in need. 

One way is to provide access to education and job training. This will help to create a stronger and more educated workforce, which will give people skills they need to find better paid jobs. 

Additionally, providing access to healthcare and nutritious food can help people living in poverty stay healthy and improve their quality of life. 

Providing access to financial services and support can help people become more financially stable as they will learn how to manage their money and create a budget. 

How can we control poverty

ziprashantzi, Canva.com

Conclusion

Poverty can and should be ended in all its forms. We can achieve this goal by investing in social protection, expanding access to basic services, and strengthening resilience to natural disasters. 

These measures will help us to build a future of greater equality and prosperity.

You are invited to join the Community of Sustainable Citizens and make your contribution to the implementation of the global goals. Try the WCYDo App and find out more details about SDG 1 and others. You will be able to choose sustainable actions and track down your progress, share this information with friends and invite them to contribute to building a better future!

SDG 17 partnerships for the Goals – an Update

Dear  Mankind and most favoured of my children 

You will recall my earliest blogs ( Mother Earth blogs ) welcomed the Global initiative to develop the Sustainable Development Goals ( SDGs)  to help create a safer and fairer world and I was happy that Mankind had at last understood the need to live more sustainably and harmoniously with other living things on this, our only, home. Some good progress was starting to be being made in some areas but sadly most of this encouraging activity was brought to an abrupt halt  or in some cases, even reversed by the COVID 19 Pandemic. 

This blog on SDG 17 – Partnerships for the Goals is the next in  a series of updates to review the effects of the COVID 19 Pandemic  on the aspirations and targets of each of the  original 17 SDGS and to look ahead to the prospects in each sector. 

The Covid pandemic has severely tested multilateral and global partnerships that were already shaky. Although Global Official Development Assistance  ( ODA) and Remittance Flows declined less than expected in 2020, Foreign Direct Investment ( FDI) to low-income countries dropped by 40%. This has caused severe economic  distress in many countries and limited their ability to make investments in recovery,  vaccines,  climate action and sustainability. Apart from renewable energy investment , investment activity fell sharply across all SDG sectors with the fall most pronounced in poorer countries. 

Exports from developing countries and least developed countries were supposed to be given preferential treatment and low tariffs so that their exports could be doubled  by 2020  from the 2011 levels but this was not achieved.  Agriculture(a particularly important sector  for developing countries ), continued to face the highest  ( protectionist ) tariffs imposed by the developed countries in 2019 despite their earlier promises on preferential treatment. 

In 2019, 86% of the population in Europe and North America were using the Internet so most people were able to work, shop and even learn remotely during the Covid lockdowns but nearly half of the Global population (3.7 billion people) are still not online. Significant efforts should be made to increase access to Internet in the developing world. 

The Pandemic has amplified health and income inequalities.  For example, persons over 65 were only 14% of confirmed cases but 80% of deaths , vaccine distribution in Europe and North America was  68 per hundred people but in  sub-Saharan Africa, fewer than 2 people per hundred got vaccines. For those with disabilities 1 in 3 personally experienced discrimination with higher levels of discrimination occurring to women. There was also  a drastic drop in international tourism and this disproportionately affected small island developing States whose economies were totally dependent on tourism. 

Mother Earth  

Sources : extracted from The Sustainable Development Goals Reports 2019 -2021 , United Nations, New York