Sustainable Development Goal 9
Developing the introduction
Overall Aim of Sustainable Development Goal 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
The overall goal of SDG 9 is to build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation. SDG 9 specifically states that “Inclusive and sustainable industrialization, together with innovation and infrastructure, can unleash dynamic and competitive economic forces that generate employment and income. They play a key role in introducing and promoting new technologies, facilitating international trade and enabling the efficient use of resources”.
Its eight targets are as following:
9.1
Develop quality, reliable, sustainable and resilient infrastructure, including regional and transborder infrastructure, to support economic development and human well-being, with a focus on affordable and equitable access for all.
9.2
Promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and, by 2030, significantly raise industry’s share of employment and gross domestic product, in line with national circumstances, and double its share in least developed countries.
9.3
Increase the access of small-scale industrial and other enterprises, in particular in developing countries, to financial services, including affordable credit, and their integration into value chains and markets.
9.4
By 2030, upgrade infrastructure and retrofit industries to make them sustainable, with increased resource-use efficiency and greater adoption of clean and environmentally sound technologies and industrial processes, with all countries taking action in accordance with their respective capabilities.
9.5
Enhance scientific research, upgrade the technological capabilities of industrial sectors in all countries, in particular developing countries, including, by 2030, encouraging innovation and substantially increasing the number of research and development workers per 1 million people and public and private research and development spending.
9.a
Facilitate sustainable and resilient infrastructure development in developing countries through enhanced financial, technological and technical support to African countries, least developed countries, landlocked developing countries and small island developing States.
9.b
Support domestic technology development, research and innovation in developing countries, including by ensuring a conducive policy environment for, inter alia, industrial diversification and value addition to commodities.
9.c
Significantly increase access to information and communications technology and strive to provide universal and affordable access to the Internet in least developed countries by 2020.
Why is it important for educational community?
As mentioned, SDG 9 focuses on building resilient infrastructure, promoting inclusive and sustainable industrialization and fostering innovation. It is extremely important to understand the role infrastructure plays in people’s everyday lives. Only after assessing the current state of infrastructure can we move on to ways of improving it.
SDG 9 is important to educational community because it teaches students to comprehend initiatives designed on a global level and then apply them to their own community. Teaching SDG 9 can have an impact on students’ decision making process and help prepare them for making a positive impacting starting on the local level of their own community or hometown.
Key dimensions of Sustainable Development Goal 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
Seeing as investments in infrastructure, sustainable industrial development and technological progress directly affect economic growth, social development and climate action, it is imperative that we establish standards and promote regulations that ensure company projects and initiatives are sustainably managed.
Innovation and resilient infrastructure, together with opportunities equally available to people from all walks of life must be made available through industrialization and sustained economic growth.
Global manufacturing is experiencing a sharp decline in recent years, and with it the economic growth is also stifled. A dynamic and competitive economy that generates employment and income needs inclusive and sustainable industrialization, together with innovation and infrastructure.
The growth of new industries means improvement in the standard of living for everyone involved, none more so than people living in developing countries across the world. Basic infrastructure like roads, information and communication technologies, sanitation, electrical power and water remains scarce in many developing countries. In 2019, some 87 per cent of people in developed countries used the Internet, compared with just 19 per cent in the least developed countries.
Industry is the main component that drives sustainable development and as such is critical in ending poverty. In addition, quality health care and sanitation, coupled with a better access to education are directly impacted by improved infrastructure and technological innovation. Collaboration with NGOs and the public sector are necessary in order to help promote sustainable growth within developing countries.
https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/9_Why-It-Matters-2020.pdf
The interplay between Sustainable Development Goal 9 and the acquisition of 21st century skills
In this day and age, information literacy is becoming one of the essential skills a student should possess. Independently and freely accessing information, evaluating sources, using information effectively and incorporating it into and building upon existing knowledge should be of the paramount importance for teachers and students alike.
Both students and teachers would also be well advised to learn how to adapt to quickly changing situations in today’s society. This includes both the development of critical thinking and a certain amount of creativity on their part.
It is also vital to connect theoretical problem-solving scenarios with their real-world application in specific situations. Students need to be able to take with them the problem-solving skills we imprint on them in a safe and secure environment and apply those skills later in their lives as community leaders and active contributors to the betterment of society.
