Opinion | The high-income vs low-income climate change dilemma
The idea that we might actually realise all the UN’s goals by 2030 is fanciful, not least because we’ve made virtually no progress in climate changeSchool children hold placards and shout slogans as they participate in a protest against a lack of climate awareness, outside the Scottish parliament on March 15 2019 in Edinburgh, Scotland. Picture: GETTY IMAGES/JEFF MITCHELL
Even so, the idea that we might actually realise all the goals by 2030 is clearly fanciful, not least because we’ve made virtually no progress in addressing climate change, as carbon dioxide emissions continue to soar. There’s a deeper problem, too — progress on one goal may hamper action or even cause regress on others. Fortunately, as a new study shows, pursuit of some goals appears to stir up far fewer conflicts than pursuing others, so our choice of priorities could make a big difference.
Synergies aren’t always obvious, either; reducing inequality, for example, seems to have a beneficial effect on overall public health. Even small reductions in inequality in high-income nations give millions of people more flexibility to lead different lives and reach their potential as they see it. In low-income nations, the same is true of reducing poverty: people who were struggling to even survive now have the chance to make real choices in deciding how to live. In both cases, people with more resources find it easier to pursue education, find better work and live in other ways that promote sustainability.
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