2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development
READING TIME: 14 MINUTES
This note is meant to give the technical details concerning the 2030 Agenda along with some commentary because there may be a few people who are unaware of this plan. Bible believers will recognize the implications of this Agenda for the one world order.
DESCRIPTION AND HISTORY
The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, adopted by all United Nations Member States in 2015, provides a shared blueprint for peace and prosperity for people and the planet, now and into the future. At its heart are the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which are an urgent call for action by all countries - developed and developing - in a global partnership. They recognize that ending poverty and other deprivations must go hand-in-hand with strategies that improve health and education, reduce inequality, and spur economic growth – all while tackling climate change and working to preserve our oceans and forests.
The SDGs build on decades of work by countries and the UN, including the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs
In June 1992, at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, more than 178 countries adopted Agenda 21, a comprehensive plan of action to build a global partnership for sustainable development to improve human lives and protect the environment.
Member States unanimously adopted the Millennium Declaration at the Millennium Summit in September 2000 at UN Headquarters in New York. The Summit led to the elaboration of eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) to reduce extreme poverty by 2015.
The Johannesburg Declaration on Sustainable Development and the Plan of Implementation, adopted at the World Summit on Sustainable Development in South Africa in 2002, reaffirmed the global community's commitments to poverty eradication and the environment, and built on Agenda 21 and the Millennium Declaration by including more emphasis on multilateral partnerships.
At the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in June 2012, Member States adopted the outcome document "The Future We Want" in which they decided, inter alia, to launch a process to develop a set of SDGs to build upon the MDGs and to establish the UN High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development. The Rio +20 outcome also contained other measures for implementing sustainable development, including mandates for future programmes of work in development financing, small island developing states and more.
In 2013, the General Assembly set up a 30-member Open Working Group to develop a proposal on the SDGs.
In January 2015, the General Assembly began the negotiation process on the post-2015 development agenda. The process culminated in the subsequent adoption of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, with 17 SDGs at its core, at the UN Sustainable Development Summit in September 2015.
2015 was a landmark year for multilateralism and international policy shaping, with the adoption of several major agreements:
Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (March 2015)
Addis Ababa Action Agenda on Financing for Development (July 2015)
Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development with its 17 SDGs was adopted at the UN Sustainable Development Summit in New York in September 2015.
Paris Agreement on Climate Change (December 2015)
Now, the annual High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development serves as the central UN platform for the follow-up and review of the SDGs.
Today, the Division for Sustainable Development Goals (DSDG) in the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA) provides substantive support and capacity-building for the SDGs and their related thematic issues, including water, energy, climate, oceans, urbanization, transport, science and technology, the Global Sustainable Development Report (GSDR), partnerships and Small Island Developing States. DSDG plays a key role in the evaluation of UN systemwide implementation of the 2030 Agenda and on advocacy and outreach activities relating to the SDGs. In order to make the 2030 Agenda a reality, broad ownership of the SDGs must translate into a strong commitment by all stakeholders to implement the Global Goals. DSDG aims to help facilitate this engagement.
WHAT ARE THE 17 GOALS?
READING TIME: 14 MINUTES
This note is meant to give the technical details concerning the 2030 Agenda along with some commentary because there may be a few people who are unaware of this plan. Bible believers will recognize the implications of this Agenda for the one world order.
DESCRIPTION AND HISTORY
The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, adopted by all United Nations Member States in 2015, provides a shared blueprint for peace and prosperity for people and the planet, now and into the future. At its heart are the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which are an urgent call for action by all countries - developed and developing - in a global partnership. They recognize that ending poverty and other deprivations must go hand-in-hand with strategies that improve health and education, reduce inequality, and spur economic growth – all while tackling climate change and working to preserve our oceans and forests.
The SDGs build on decades of work by countries and the UN, including the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs
In June 1992, at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, more than 178 countries adopted Agenda 21, a comprehensive plan of action to build a global partnership for sustainable development to improve human lives and protect the environment.
Member States unanimously adopted the Millennium Declaration at the Millennium Summit in September 2000 at UN Headquarters in New York. The Summit led to the elaboration of eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) to reduce extreme poverty by 2015.
The Johannesburg Declaration on Sustainable Development and the Plan of Implementation, adopted at the World Summit on Sustainable Development in South Africa in 2002, reaffirmed the global community's commitments to poverty eradication and the environment, and built on Agenda 21 and the Millennium Declaration by including more emphasis on multilateral partnerships.
At the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in June 2012, Member States adopted the outcome document "The Future We Want" in which they decided, inter alia, to launch a process to develop a set of SDGs to build upon the MDGs and to establish the UN High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development. The Rio +20 outcome also contained other measures for implementing sustainable development, including mandates for future programmes of work in development financing, small island developing states and more.
In 2013, the General Assembly set up a 30-member Open Working Group to develop a proposal on the SDGs.
In January 2015, the General Assembly began the negotiation process on the post-2015 development agenda. The process culminated in the subsequent adoption of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, with 17 SDGs at its core, at the UN Sustainable Development Summit in September 2015.
2015 was a landmark year for multilateralism and international policy shaping, with the adoption of several major agreements:
Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (March 2015)
Addis Ababa Action Agenda on Financing for Development (July 2015)
Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development with its 17 SDGs was adopted at the UN Sustainable Development Summit in New York in September 2015.
Paris Agreement on Climate Change (December 2015)
Now, the annual High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development serves as the central UN platform for the follow-up and review of the SDGs.
Today, the Division for Sustainable Development Goals (DSDG) in the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA) provides substantive support and capacity-building for the SDGs and their related thematic issues, including water, energy, climate, oceans, urbanization, transport, science and technology, the Global Sustainable Development Report (GSDR), partnerships and Small Island Developing States. DSDG plays a key role in the evaluation of UN systemwide implementation of the 2030 Agenda and on advocacy and outreach activities relating to the SDGs. In order to make the 2030 Agenda a reality, broad ownership of the SDGs must translate into a strong commitment by all stakeholders to implement the Global Goals. DSDG aims to help facilitate this engagement.
WHAT ARE THE 17 GOALS?
However, believers know that man, apart from God, has always thought he could create a utopian world and that is what we see presented here. Since all the nations who belong to the United Nations organization have signed on to this, these people must assume it is possible to achieve these goals. And, someone might be thinking, well, these seem like wonderful goals and how can anyone be against eliminating poverty, etc.? But, it is not a matter of being for or against all the goals themselves; it’s about being against the concept of uniting with whomever to work on these problems. This is all just feeding into the one world order where unity will be absolute necessary. One of the most obvious problems which true believers should notice right away is that man is hoping to accomplish only that which Jesus will accomplish when He returns to rule and reign!
Man thinks he will somehow bring about these goals which cannot possibly happen without a complete loss of personal freedom in which every aspect of every single person’s life will be controlled and regulated. Revelation 13:16-18 says: “And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.” These scriptures show the control that will be exercised during the reign of the antichrist and the 2030 Agenda is just heading all nations of the world down the path towards the antichrist’s rule. We need to be aware of the groundwork that is being laid for the one world order. It is possible for someone to shift their faith from Jesus Christ to man as many are doing who have joined up with ecumenist/dominionist activities that focus on man being able to solve this world’s problems. The Bible speaks of holding fast (Rev. 3:11) watching (Rev. 3:2-3, among other scriptures) watching and being sober (1 Thes. 5:6), and Jesus asks if He will find faith on the earth (Luke 18:8) when He returns. And, that faith must obviously be in Jesus Christ.
And, concerning the Global Goals feeding into the one world order, this video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FIdmr04qk50&feature=youtu.be&fbclid=IwAR2D0HByhjtw30xZhSSDZHYsJee8uHK3W8Zy7SZkZtKPZikqK6S0lweCDJs) presents a clear case for such a concept.
Interestingly enough, at the Global Goals website (www.globalgoals.org) under the 17 goals link, one finds the sub-heading “Coming Up in 2020” and this concerning statement: “It’s crunch time. Progress has been made but nowhere near enough to achieve the Global Goals. We need everyone to come together and make this (a) Super Year of action for people and for (the) planet.” One cannot help but wonder if the current coronavirus pandemic has anything to do with speeding these goals along. It is obvious that people are being conditioned to accept many types of controls in exchange for a semblance of safety.
At this link (https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/post2015/transformingourworld) one will find the detailed plan for this mammoth endeavor: “Transforming Our World: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.”
There is far too much information to discuss at this site, but hopefully anyone unfamiliar with this plan will take the time to read through it to gain a complete understanding of the goals. Here is the PREAMBLE to the document:
This Agenda is a plan of action for people, planet and prosperity. It also seeks to strengthen universal peace in larger freedom. We recognize that eradicating poverty in all its forms and dimensions, including extreme poverty, is the greatest global challenge and an indispensable requirement for sustainable development. All countries and all stakeholders, acting in collaborative partnership, will implement this plan. We are resolved to free the human race from the tyranny of poverty and want and to heal and secure our planet. We are determined to take the bold and transformative steps which are urgently needed to shift the world onto a sustainable and resilient path. As we embark on this collective journey, we pledge that no one will be left behind. The 17 Sustainable Development Goals and 169 targets which we are announcing today demonstrate the scale and ambition of this new universal Agenda. They seek to build on the Millennium Development Goals and complete what these did not achieve. They seek to realize the human rights of all and to achieve gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls. They are integrated and indivisible and balance the three dimensions of sustainable development: the economic, social and environmental.
So, as one sees the phrases - universal peace - global challenge - all countries and all stakeholders - acting in collaborative partnership - as we embark on this collective journey - we pledge that no one will be left behind - and new universal Agenda - it should be overly obvious that a great amount of cooperation, i.e., one world order, will be required from all nations.
For such a colossal undertaking to get underway it is obvious that people first had to become aware of the plan’s existence. Here are a few examples of the videos that were created to introduce Agenda 2030:
This video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7V3eSHgMEFM) is the first ever cinema ad for the Global Goals.
Then, here is the link (https://vimeo.com/137728737) to a video called “The World’s Largest Lesson” introduced by tennis player Serena Williams. This video is directed to children as the following information explains: “World’s Largest Lesson brings the Global Goals to children all over the world and unites them in taking action. Since our launch in September 2015, we have reached over 130 countries and impacted over 8 million children each year. We believe all children everywhere should have the opportunity to learn about the Global Goals and feel inspired to take action for them. That’s why all our resources are free, open source and translated into over 10 languages. We believe in the power of creativity and that all children can find their own individual way of taking action for the Global Goals” (https://worldslargestlesson.globalgoals.org/who-we-are/).
At the 3:05 mark of the video the narrator states, “The thing is, we’re causing these problems so we can fix them, too.”
However, this statement is so far from reality as to be utterly ridiculous. The root of all problems is sin. Man has no solution to sin, in and of, himself. Christ, and Christ alone, is mankind's answer because He alone provides the solution for sin.
And, then, this video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RpqVmvMCmp0) has many famous Hollywood celebrities and others describing the 17 Global Goals and urging everyone to get to work to make this happen.
RELIGION AND THE AGENDA
Turning to the religious component at this time, as those who are familiar with the one world order know, an accompanying one world religion will be in operation. Interestingly, when the 2030 Agenda was first presented “a worldwide week of prayer and action for the Global Goals” was held from Sept. 24 to Oct. 1, 2015.
In a pdf file entitled “Prayer for Everyone: Faith in Action to Share the Global Goals” guidance for faith leaders and faith communities to participate in a worldwide week of prayer and action for the Global Goals was provided.
Faith communities were encouraged to engage in ongoing activities in which participants would reflect, study, witness, communicate and act. Here are some ideas proposed under the “Act” section:
--People of faith, faith leaders, and faith-based organizations can organize or support local worship services to draw attention to the goals and engage others within their community about the importance of the goals.
--Campaign materials can be used to develop special worship services that bring to life the Global Goals in engaging and thoughtful ways, such as through music, theater, art, and other relevant forms of creative and spiritual expression.
--Youth groups can organize social media campaigns, rallies, flash mobs or music festivals to share how their faith informs their commitment to achieving the Global Goals.
--As the Global Goals are an expression of common, shared ground between faith communities, the launch week affords a great opportunity to mobilize inter-faith/religious actions and events to forge alliances that can work towards the achievement of the goals through 2030.
Here is an example for sharing the message concerning the Global Goals. This one concerns Christianity, but toolkits were provided for all the major religions:
“Social media is an important component in telling friends and fellow Christians about the Global Goals; it makes communication personal but quick, and is an easy way to share your message with a wide community. We’ve provided this toolkit with sample tweets and posts for your ease of use, but we encourage you to personalize your involvement in any way that speaks to you.”
They suggested using the following quotes:
“All humanity is dependent upon recognizing the humanity in others” – Archbishop Desmond Tutu #PrayerforEveryone
“Among our tasks as witnesses to the love of Christ is that of giving a voice to the cry of the poor” – Pope Francis #PrayerforEveryone
“If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other” – Mother Teresa #PrayerforEveryone
MOVING FROM 2015 TO 2019 -
In March of 2019, members of the world religions tasked themselves with elaborating “a road map or lines of action that can connect religious contributions to the implementation of the SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals).”
“The idea is to work together on this joint ‘journey’ in order to raise ambition and forge a new global solidarity,” said Cardinal Peter K. Turkson, a Ghanaian cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church, who heads the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development.
The Dicastery and the Catholic Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue organized a three-day International Conference on Religions and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): “Listening to the cry of the earth and the poor.”
Here are Pope Francis’ statements at the event:
“If we are truly concerned about developing an ecology capable of repairing the damage we have done, no branch of science or form of wisdom should be overlooked, and this includes religions and the languages particular to them… Religions can help us along the path of authentic integral development, which is the new name of peace …”
The reason, Pope Francis explained, is that the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals, approved by more than 190 nations in September 2015, were a great step forward for global dialogue, marking a vitally ‘new and universal solidarity’…
“Different religious traditions, including the Catholic tradition, have embraced the objectives of sustainable development because they are the result of global participatory processes that, on the one hand, reflect the values of people and, on the other, are sustained by an integral vision of development,” he added.
Asked what religions have to do with development, Cardinal Turkson said: “Sustainable development, as the UN World Commission on Environment and Development (UNWCED) defines it, is ‘development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs’. What social institution best pursues this than religion?”
Besides, with about 80 per cent of the world’s population professing a belief in God, religion is “an inescapable reality in international development.” Religions, Cardinal Turkson added, are key players in the development of humankind. Religions have invested greatly in education and the healthcare needs of peoples all over the world.
This link (https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/sdgsummit) provides information about the most recent updates concerning the Agenda:
“On 24 and 25 September 2019, Heads of State and Government gathered at the United Nations Headquarters in New York to follow up and comprehensively review progress in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The event was the first UN summit on the SDGs since the adoption of the 2030 Agenda in September 2015.
The SDG Summit resulted in the adoption of the Political Declaration, “Gearing up for a decade of action and delivery for sustainable development”. World leaders called for a decade of action to deliver the SDGs by 2030 and announced actions they are taking to advance the agenda. The General Assembly endorsed the Political Declaration on 15 October 2019. More than 100 acceleration actions have been announced.
At the same time, we are concerned that progress is slow in many areas. Vulnerabilities are high and deprivations are becoming more entrenched. Assessments show that we are at risk of missing the poverty eradication target. Hunger is on the rise. Progress towards gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls is too slow. Inequalities in wealth, incomes and opportunities are increasing in and between countries. Biodiversity loss, environmental degradation, discharge of plastic litter into the oceans, climate change and increasing disaster risk continue at rates that bring potentially disastrous consequences for humanity.
We recognize that international migration is a multidimensional reality of major relevance for the development of countries of origin, transit and destination.
Violent extremism, terrorism, organized crime, corruption, illicit financial flows, global health threats, humanitarian crises and forced displacement of people threaten to reverse much of the development progress made in recent decades.
In many parts of the world conflicts and instability have endured or intensified and natural disasters have become more frequent and intense, causing untold human suffering and undermining the realization of the Sustainable Development Goals. Our ability to prevent and resolve conflicts and build resilient, peaceful, just and inclusive societies has often been fragmented and insufficient.”
In closing, this note is not meant to cause fear of any kind, but rather mainly to present the facts concerning this Agenda. True believers understand our lives are in God’s hands and we trust Him always. Believers need to be aware that the promoters of these goals are committed to ecumenical and interfaith cooperation. Religion will play a large role in the Agenda as has been shown and believers know to remain separate from any endeavors that are laying the groundwork for the one world order.
Sources not referenced above:
https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/?menu=1300
https://www.one.org/us/press/prayer-for-everyone-to-engage-worlds-faithful-on-new-global-goals-for-sustainable-development/
https://www.eurasiareview.com/11032019-world-religions-prepare-for-global-development-summit-analysis/?fbclid=IwAR2NXEbFKVctnDtJqz3q1Un7V6AH4K3tb4n87cGAvMUCu3ClrCwkDM9jX9Q
https://zenit.org/articles/pope-francis-affirms-importance-of-meeting-sustainable-development-goals/
“If we are truly concerned about developing an ecology capable of repairing the damage we have done, no branch of science or form of wisdom should be overlooked, and this includes religions and the languages particular to them… Religions can help us along the path of authentic integral development, which is the new name of peace …”
The reason, Pope Francis explained, is that the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals, approved by more than 190 nations in September 2015, were a great step forward for global dialogue, marking a vitally ‘new and universal solidarity’…
“Different religious traditions, including the Catholic tradition, have embraced the objectives of sustainable development because they are the result of global participatory processes that, on the one hand, reflect the values of people and, on the other, are sustained by an integral vision of development,” he added.
Asked what religions have to do with development, Cardinal Turkson said: “Sustainable development, as the UN World Commission on Environment and Development (UNWCED) defines it, is ‘development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs’. What social institution best pursues this than religion?”
Besides, with about 80 per cent of the world’s population professing a belief in God, religion is “an inescapable reality in international development.” Religions, Cardinal Turkson added, are key players in the development of humankind. Religions have invested greatly in education and the healthcare needs of peoples all over the world.
This link (https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/sdgsummit) provides information about the most recent updates concerning the Agenda:
“On 24 and 25 September 2019, Heads of State and Government gathered at the United Nations Headquarters in New York to follow up and comprehensively review progress in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The event was the first UN summit on the SDGs since the adoption of the 2030 Agenda in September 2015.
The SDG Summit resulted in the adoption of the Political Declaration, “Gearing up for a decade of action and delivery for sustainable development”. World leaders called for a decade of action to deliver the SDGs by 2030 and announced actions they are taking to advance the agenda. The General Assembly endorsed the Political Declaration on 15 October 2019. More than 100 acceleration actions have been announced.
At the same time, we are concerned that progress is slow in many areas. Vulnerabilities are high and deprivations are becoming more entrenched. Assessments show that we are at risk of missing the poverty eradication target. Hunger is on the rise. Progress towards gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls is too slow. Inequalities in wealth, incomes and opportunities are increasing in and between countries. Biodiversity loss, environmental degradation, discharge of plastic litter into the oceans, climate change and increasing disaster risk continue at rates that bring potentially disastrous consequences for humanity.
We recognize that international migration is a multidimensional reality of major relevance for the development of countries of origin, transit and destination.
Violent extremism, terrorism, organized crime, corruption, illicit financial flows, global health threats, humanitarian crises and forced displacement of people threaten to reverse much of the development progress made in recent decades.
In many parts of the world conflicts and instability have endured or intensified and natural disasters have become more frequent and intense, causing untold human suffering and undermining the realization of the Sustainable Development Goals. Our ability to prevent and resolve conflicts and build resilient, peaceful, just and inclusive societies has often been fragmented and insufficient.”
In closing, this note is not meant to cause fear of any kind, but rather mainly to present the facts concerning this Agenda. True believers understand our lives are in God’s hands and we trust Him always. Believers need to be aware that the promoters of these goals are committed to ecumenical and interfaith cooperation. Religion will play a large role in the Agenda as has been shown and believers know to remain separate from any endeavors that are laying the groundwork for the one world order.
Sources not referenced above:
https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/?menu=1300
https://www.one.org/us/press/prayer-for-everyone-to-engage-worlds-faithful-on-new-global-goals-for-sustainable-development/
https://www.eurasiareview.com/11032019-world-religions-prepare-for-global-development-summit-analysis/?fbclid=IwAR2NXEbFKVctnDtJqz3q1Un7V6AH4K3tb4n87cGAvMUCu3ClrCwkDM9jX9Q
https://zenit.org/articles/pope-francis-affirms-importance-of-meeting-sustainable-development-goals/