#EconomicGrowth

Goal 8 – Sustainable Economic Growth

Half the world’s population lives on about $2 a day. For the “working poor”, a job does not provide an escape from poverty. Societies will be required to rethink and retool economics and social policies to create conditions for people to have decent jobs in quality working conditions. Sustainable economic growth is a global issue. Please join the awareness initiative and visit http://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/economic-growth/ to learn more about promoting inclusive and sustainable economic growth, employment and decent work. Join the community. Make sustainable economic growth your resolve.

Progress

“The UN continues to promote development for those still on the margins through the Millennium Development Goals. Member States have met many of these goals and will continue to work to achieve more of them by the target date of 2015. After 2015, the focus of the Organization’s development work will shift to Sustainable Development Goals.” “Economic development requires sound foundations. Universal access to education and health services, access to financial services, new technologies and affordable bank loans, gender equality and more equal distribution of resources can all support economic development. A stable and predictable operating environment is a prerequisite for private sector investments. Good governance should be promoted and corruption tackled at all levels in both private and public sectors.”

Challenges

The UN panel on climate indicates that the poorest and most vulnerable have contributed the least to the climate change problem. Sustainable development is integral to the fight against climate change which if left unchecked will cause severe and irreversible changes to our planet Earth’s ecosystems.

United Nations facts regarding Inclusive and Sustainable Economic Growth:

Global unemployment increased from 170 million in 2007 to nearly 202 million in 2012, of which about 75 million are young women and men.
Nearly 2.2 billion people live below the US$2 poverty line and that poverty eradication is only possible through stable and well-paid jobs.
470 million jobs are needed globally for new entrants to the labour market between 2016 and 2030.