2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development

What Countries in the Region are Doing

 
 

SINGAPORE


The Singapore government has unveiled the Singapore Green Plan 2030, a "whole-of-nation movement" to advance the national agenda on sustainable development.

The plan, spearheaded by the Ministry of Education (MOE), the Ministry of National Development (MND), the Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment (MSE), the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) and the Ministry of Transport (MOT), charts Singapore’s green targets over the next 10 years.

Singapore has announced its plans to halve its 2030 peak greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, with the aim of achieving net-zero emissions as soon as viable in the second half of the century.

Initiatives under the plan include increasing cleaner-energy car models from 2030, reducing waste sent to landfill by 30%, having at least 20% of schools be carbon neutral, and others.

In laying out a visions for a sustainable economy, Singapore will ensure new carbon-intensive investments brought into the country are best-in-class in terms of carbon and/ or energy efficiency. Singapore will also review its carbon tax in 2023.

INDONESIA


The SDGs are institutionalized from the highest national level to subnational entities and integrated in national and subnational development planning. This is a massive and collaborative endeavour between government and non-state actors designed to serve 264 million people – a third of which are children – comprising 1,300 ethnic groups across 17,000 islands.

Innovative Development Financing

  • Innovative instruments, including Green Sukuk, blended finance, Islamic charity, social impact investments have leveraged resource flows from both public and private sources for SDG financing.
  • SDGs Financing Hub has been established to reduce financing gaps and implement innovative financing sources through multi-stakeholder collaboration.

Broad, inclusive National Process and Strategic Partnership Building

  • Parliament is involved since early stages of SDGs conceptualization, whereas the Supreme Audit Board is involved in auditing SDGs preparation and implementation.
  • 9 SDGs Centres have been established in prominent national universities.
  • South-South and Triangular Cooperation have been strengthened with more partner countries and the nexus between peace, humanitarian assistance, and development.

Overcoming Challenges

  • On good governance: corruption, lack of access to and quality of public information, and lack of inclusive data in policy making and implementation.
  • On disaster risks and climate change: disaster preparedness, energy diversification, and efficient use of natural resources.

MALAYSIA


Malaysia has in place the implementing mechanism for the SDGs with sustainable development initiative aligned with the 11MP. The National SDG Roadmap sets out the priorities and plan of action for implementation. The current 5-year Malaysia plan i.e. the 11th Malaysia Plan (2016-2020) is premised on the three pillars of National Economic Model (NEM.) The theme of 11th Malaysia plan is “Anchoring Growth on People” where people will be the centerpiece of all development efforts and to ensure that no section of society is left behind in participating and benefiting from the nation’s development.

To embrace and implement the 17 SDGs in a systematic and measurable manner, Malaysia has taken the following initiatives:

  • Established a multi-stakeholder, participatory governance structure.
  • Held two national SDG symposiums to promote participation of stakeholders.
  • Conducted studies on data readiness and gap analysis.
  • Undertaken a mapping exercise involving non-government and civil society organisations and the private sector to align SDGs with the 11th Malaysia Plan initiatives.
  • And established a National SDG Roadmap to guide implementation of Agenda 2030 and the SDGs.

Next steps to be taken include:

  • Localising SDGs at sub-national levels by replicating the national multi-stakeholder governance structure at state levels;
  • Mobilising resources and funding through partnerships i.e. crowd sourcing, social entrepreneurship, CSR programmes, support and funding from international sources;
  • Strengthening data readiness and filling data gaps to develop a comprehensive dataset for SDG implementation

PHILIPPINES


Sustainability and inclusivity are both goals and principles the Philippines development strategies. Engaging stakeholders is necessary for an initiative to gain traction and be owned by a broad section of society who are driven to make it work and succeed. The country adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and subsequently crafted the Philippine Development Plan (PDP) 2017-2022. 

The Philippines has employed a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach to SDG implementation. National actions are grounded in laws to ensure robustness. Cross-sectoral coordination and orchestration of actions are done through existing institutional mechanisms. Stakeholders are informed and engaged in discussions. Recently launched SDG website provides a platform for broader engagement, including with the youth and the Filipino diaspora. Nationally determined 2030 numerical targets were identified, which set the required pace of progress of the SDGs. These targets are reflected in the Results Matrices, a companion document of the PDP. The Philippine Statistics Authority monitors the Tier 1 indicators through their SDG Watch. While government is both catalyst and mobilizer of the policy framework for the SDGs, even non-government stakeholders have taken on the responsibility for the agenda and delivering the services to the rights-holders.

To allow for a just transition to a greener economy, the Philippines’ Green Jobs Act incentivizes enterprises to offer jobs using green production practices. Meanwhile, the Securities and Exchange Commission will require Sustainability Reports for Publicly Listed Companies, beginning 2020. A ban on single-use plastics is already implemented in a number of cities and municipalities. A Sustainable Consumption and Production Action Plan is now being formulated to provide a coherent framework for climate action.

To ensure effectiveness of partnerships - the Philippines has been conducting the Official Development Assistance Portfolio Review. Pursuing the SDGs requires an ambitious approach that gets everyone behind the goal of leaving no one behind. Involving the different stakeholders today in a very concrete way will determine the attainment of the SDGs in the remaining 11 years, and on to 2040.

INDIA


India, home to one-sixth of all humanity, holds the key to the success of the 2030 Agenda. India in its second VNR has made a paradigm shift to a “whole-of-society” approach with Government of India engaging sub-national and local governments, civil society organizations, local communities, people in vulnerable situations and the private sector.

India’s climate action strategies call for clean and efficient energy systems, disaster resilient infrastructure, and planned eco-restoration. Acting on its nationally-determined contributions, India has electrified 100% of its villages, reduced 38 million tonnes of CO2 emissions annually through energy efficient appliances, provided clean cooking fuel to 80 million poor households, and set a target to install 450GW of renewable energy and restore 26 million hectares of degraded land by 2030. Globally, India stands third in renewable power, fourth in wind power, and fifth in solar power. India launched the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure and the International Solar Alliance to leverage global partnerships for climate action and disaster resilience.

India is one of the fastest growing emerging market economies with a young population and burgeoning innovation and business ecosystem. With a GDP of USD 2.72 trillion in 2018-19, India strives to become a USD 5 trillion economy by 2025, and pursue an inclusive and sustainable growth trajectory by stimulating manufacturing, building infrastructure, spurring investments, fostering technological innovation, and boosting entrepreneurship.

THAILAND


The country has been guided by the Sufficiency Economy Philosophy (SEP), conceived by His Majesty the Late King Bhumibol Adulyadej. SEP has been adopted as the core principle of National Economic and Social Development Plan since 2002. The current constitution has integrated SEP and sustainable development as integral parts. The development approach based on SEP is in conformity with the core principle of the 2030 Agenda and can serve as an approach to support the realization of the SDGs. SEP promotes sustainability mindset and provides guidelines for inclusive, balanced, and sustainable development. The cabinet has decided on 25 October 2016 to promote the application of SEP for SDGs in all areas and at all levels. SEP and SDGs have been integrated in the 20 – Year National Strategy Framework and the 12th National Economic and Social Development Plan (2017 – 2021). As a result, plans and budgeting of all government agencies will be in line with SEP and SDGs.

The National Committee for Sustainable Development (CSD), chaired by the Prime Minister, is Thailand’s main and highest mechanism responsible for the country’s sustainable development. It has 37 members from public, private academia and civil society, with the Secretary-General of National Economic and Social Development Board (NESDB) as the secretariat.

The main task of CSD is formulating polices and strategies on national sustainable development and oversight their implementation, including the SDGs. It has established three sub-committees to advance the three inter - connected processes namely mobilizing the SDGs, raising awareness on sustainable development and the application of SEP, and compiling data and statistics to support the implementation and monitoring of the 2030 Agenda.

Three taskforces were established and respectively tasked with:

  1. Reviewing and recommending legal, economics and social measures necessary for achieving the SDGs
  2. Coordinating works by numerous agencies, and priority setting
  3. Preparing report on Thailand’s progress, challenges, and recommendation in implementing the 2030 Agenda including the VNR.

The 20 – Year Integrated Energy Plan (2015-2036)

The road map for the country’s energy security. Thailand is trying to diversify the source of energy focusing on domestic source, improve energy efficiency and promote community participation in energy management. Thailand seeks to increase the proportion of alternative energy from 13.83 per cent to 30 per cent by 2036. Currently Thailand has the highest solar power capacity among ASEAN members.

Thailand has been actively promoting connectivity within and beyond borders for years. The draft 20 –Year Transportation Development Strategy (2017- 2036) aligns with the SDGs in providing effective, green, and safe, inclusive and innovative transport for all. At the same time the Thailand 4.0 policy will boost value added in manufacturing sector through promoting greater utilization of creativity, technology and innovation while ensuring environmentally friendly practices. The development of STI capacity will have a central role in this endeavour.

The concept Sustainable Consumption and Production is closely related with SEP which advocates a balanced lifestyle that promotes growth and conserves the environment at the same time. In this regard, Thailand has developed the “SCP roadmap 2017- 2036” to further promote the SCP concept in different sectors, and implemented various medium and long term plans and strategies on green industry, chemical and waste management, environmental management, green procurement, as well as various green labelling schemes to ensure the achievement of SDGs.

Thailand’s Climate Change Master Plan (2015-2036)

Aims to enhance adaptation and mitigation capacity of various sectors. 17 provinces and 32 municipalities have been trained and developed climate action plan for their respective constituencies, complementing their provincial disaster risk reduction plans.

VIETNAM


The 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are in line with the long-term development strategy of Vietnam. In endeavor to achieve this agenda, the Government of Vietnam is committed to mobilizing all resources and the participation of government ministries and agencies at all levels, organizations, communities and the people.

Seventeen global SDGs have been nationalized into 115 Viet Nam SDG (VSDG) targets in “National Action Plan for Implementation of Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development”, based on Viet Nam’s development context and priorities, and building on the successful implementation of the Millennium Development Goals. Moreover, sustainable development principles have been thoroughly mainstreamed into the 2011-2020 Social and Economic Development Strategy (SEDS) and the 2016-2020 Social and Economic Development Plan (SEDP). In the coming years, the SDGs will be fully and further integrated into Vietnam’s 2021-2030 SEDS and 2021-2025 SEDP. The Government of Vietnam has created an enabling legal environment and encouraged foreign and domestic private sectors to invest and do business in line with sustainable development principles. Accordingly, the Vietnam Business Council for Sustainable Development is an initiative aimed at enhancing connections within the business community to enable them to share and spread good practices, as well as to play an important role in realizing the SDGs.

Going forward, Vietnam will therefore need to: improve society’s awareness of and mobilize all stakeholders’ participation in sustainable development efforts; enhance institutional set-up and policy frameworks for sustainable development; foster cooperation between the Government and the business sector, domestic organizations, and the international community in SDG implementation; issue national SDG indicators and strengthen national statistical capacity; mainstream SDGs into development policies and strategies; and strengthen the mobilization of resources, particularly from the private sector for SDG implementation. The preparation of the VNR thus provides an opportunity to raise SDG awareness and mobilize the participation of different stakeholders including the National Assembly, the Government, the United Nations in Vietnam, Political, Social, Professional and Mass Organizations, international and local NGOs, the business community, and other development partners.