{"id":111240,"date":"2023-08-29T14:58:09","date_gmt":"2023-08-29T18:58:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/sustainabledevelopment\/?page_id=111240"},"modified":"2023-10-09T15:23:50","modified_gmt":"2023-10-09T19:23:50","slug":"goal-of-the-month-editorial-august-2023","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/sustainabledevelopment\/goal-of-the-month-editorial-august-2023\/","title":{"rendered":"Goal of the Month Editorial | August 2023"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Goal of the Month – Decent Work and Economic Growth<\/strong><\/span><\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n

Sustainable Development Goal 8<\/a><\/span> is about promoting inclusive and sustainable economic growth, employment and decent work for all. The COVID-19 pandemic caused the worst economic crisis in decades and reversed progress on key issues related toward decent work for all. While global economies have slowly bounced back since 2021, recovery still remains elusive and fragile, especially around employment improvement and availability for all.<\/p>\n

Where are we?<\/b>\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

As we reach the midpoint-review of the 2030 Agenda, it is clear that multiple crises are placing tremendous pressure on the 17 Sustainable Development Goals. According to the 2023 Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ World Economic Situations and Prospect Report (WESP), growth momentum weakened in the United states, European Union, and other developed economics, causing rippling effects on the rest of the world. World output growth is projected to decelerate from an estimated 3.0 per cent in 2022 to 1.9 per cent in 2023, marking one of the lowest growth rates in recent decades.<\/span><\/a> <\/span>Growth in real GDP per capita went from an average annual rate of 1.8 per cent from 2015 to 2019<\/span><\/a><\/span>, to a sharp decline in 4.1 per cent in 2020. While it slowly increased by 5.2 per cent in 2022, it is estimated that growth in 2023 will still be slower, falling short of the SDG target of 7 per cent.<\/p>\n

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Global employment opportunities have also been highly impacted, with key issues for women and youth. The Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Secretary General\u2019s 2023 SDGs Report: Special Edition<\/span><\/a><\/span> highlights that unemployment rates significantly declined in 2022, with an estimated total global unemployment of 192 million. Furthermore, according to WESP<\/span><\/a>,<\/span> job recovery in developing countries has been slower with rates notably higher than before the pandemic. Additional factors, such as impacts from climate change, have also created obstacles on countries trying to achieve productive employment and decent work for all. Learn more from this week\u2019s interview on heatwaves and work environments.<\/p>\n

Global employment opportunities have also been highly impacted, with key issues for women and youth. The <\/span>Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Secretary General\u2019s 2023 SDGs Report: Special Edition<\/a><\/span> highlights that unemployment rates significantly declined in 2022, with an estimated total global unemployment of 192 million. Furthermore, <\/span>according to WESP<\/a><\/span>, job recovery in developing countries has been slower with rates notably higher than before the pandemic.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Further declines are expected in 2023, but the youth unemployment rate continues to be higher than the rate for adults, highlighting the ongoing challenges in securing opportunities for young people. The pandemic disproportionately affected women and young people in the labour market, and while some recovery was seen, young people aged <\/span>15-24 still face difficulties<\/a><\/span> in securing decent employment. Moreover, many young people, especially young women, were not in education, employment, or training in 2022. This is predominant in areas like Central, Southern and Western Asia and Northern Africa.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

To ensure the achievement of SDG 8, we need a financial system<\/a><\/span> that not only tackles issues in rising debt and economic uncertainty, but also focuses on promoting equitable pay and decent work for all young people.<\/p>\n<\/div>

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In Focus<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n<\/div>

Impacts<\/span> of climate change on <\/span><\/span><\/span>SDG 8 – Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ News<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

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Increasing temperatures a<\/span>cross the world continue to <\/span>threaten the environment. <\/span>July 2023 was recorded as the hottest month <\/span>ever, according to recent reports from WMO<\/span>.<\/span> But increasing temperatures can also cause major issues to safe working conditions and can severely impact the achievement of several SDG 8 goals.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

A recent report from the International Labour Organization, highlighted the critical<\/span> issues around <\/span>heat stress on <\/span>decent work, <\/span>economic growth, and <\/span>labour productivity. <\/span>New and recurring heatwaves can make <\/span>work situations difficult <\/span>by increasing the risk of injuries and heat-related illnesses. Learn more about the impacts of heatw<\/span>aves on work environments in the interview below.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

INTERVIEW: Heatwaves endanger workers and reduce productivity<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

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Celebrating youth as agents of change<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"Youth movements around the globe have brought to the world\u2019s attention the importance of listening and working with young people to tackle the various crises we\u2019re facing today. Despite being uniquely vulnerable to the various crises our world is currently facing, young people have repeatedly shown resilience and demonstrated that they are crucial players in shaping a more sustainable world.<\/p>\n

During the ECOSOC Youth Forum in April 2023, the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ\u2019s Secretary General launched a policy brief on meaningful youth engagement in policymaking and decision-making processes<\/span><\/a><\/span>, highlighting key proposals with a view towards ensuring more meaningful, diverse and effective youth participation across intergovernmental decision-making processes at all levels. Young people undoubtedly remain one of our greatest hopes to achieve the SDGs<\/span><\/a><\/span>, ensuring no one is left behind with their innovative solutions and perseverance.<\/p>\n

Now is the time to get the world back on track and young people can play a key role in this. In the lead up to the SDG Summit, the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ\u2019s Office of the Secretary-General\u2019s Envoy on Youth<\/span><\/a><\/span> will be facilitating youth-led consultations to inform and raise awareness on the SDG Summit and gather recommendations and ideas on meaningful youth engagement and the 2030 Agenda. Additional details on participation and registration, can be found here<\/span><\/a><\/span>.<\/p>\n

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International Youth Day (12 August)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

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To mark International Youth Day this year, the Office of the Secretary-General\u2019s Envoy on Youth will run a month long campaign focused on showcasing young people\u2019s resilience, resourcefulness and leadership when it comes to creating a better world for all.<\/p>\n

Under the theme of \u201cCelebrating Ways #YouthLead as Agents of Change for the Global Goals<\/a><\/span>\u201d, the Office will hand over its digital channels (social media, website, email) to a different young person each day throughout the month of August, culminating in a first-of-its-kind month-long takeover showcasing the myriad of intersectional ways that young people are contributing to achievement of the SDGs around the world.<\/p>\n

The youth-led takeover will kick off on 1 August on all @Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵYouthEnvoy channels (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok). A \u201cYouth Live\u201d broadcast featuring the\u00a017 Young Leaders for the SDGs<\/a><\/span>, in collaboration with Peace One Day, will be streamed virtually on 12 August across @Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵYouthEnvoy channels.<\/p>\n

Learn more here<\/a><\/span> on how to participate in the takeover and spread the word to your communities.<\/p>\n

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Youth Advisory Group\u00a0<\/a><\/span>\u2013 Giving young people a voice<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

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Given that young people face particular challenges in exercising their rights while often being at\u00a0the forefront of human rights activism, youth engagement is a key component of the\u00a0Human Rights 75 initiative<\/a><\/span>, celebrating the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). The\u00a0Youth Advisory Group<\/span>\u00a0<\/a>consists of <\/span>twelve inspiring young activists from around the world\u00a0who will help ensure youth voices are heard. \u00a0In the lead up to the International Youth Day on 12 August, help amplify their voices by sharing the assets here<\/a><\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>

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Key Upcoming Moments<\/b><\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n<\/div>

<\/i><\/i><\/span>SDG Summit (18-19 September)<\/span><\/a><\/h4><\/div>
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\"\"Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ will convene the SDG Summit on 18-19 September 2023 at its Headquarters in New York, during the General Assembly high-level week. With the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development at midpoint, world leaders will carry out a comprehensive review of the state of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), respond to the impact of multiple and interlocking crises facing the world, and provide high-level political guidance on transformative and accelerated actions towards the target year of 2030.<\/p>\n

For the first time in decades, development progress is reversing under the combined impacts of climate disasters, conflict, economic downturn and lingering COVID-19 effects. The SDG Summit will be a rallying cry to recharge momentum, for world leaders to come together, to reflect on where we stand and resolve to do more. It is a moment to recommit to a vision of the future that ensures no one is left behind.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

For additional details on programming, media resources, solutions stories and more, please find relevant resources below:<\/p>\n