Belgium will not reach over a dozen Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) without policy changes, the Federal Planning Bureau says.
The Federal Report on Sustainable Development 2019 found that Belgium is not on track to reach several SDGs. The SDGs were set by the United Nations in 2015 and are expected to be fulfilled by 2030. They aim to end poverty, improve health and education, and prevent climate change.
The Federal Planning Bureau used 51 indicators to monitor the goals' progress in Belgium and found only 4 would be met by 2030. 17 indicators are not on track to meet their 2030 goals.
For example, one indicator is the decrease of daily smokers. The number of people who smoke daily is declining, but not fast enough to reach the 2030 target. The transport of persons by car is down to 80%, but it must decrease to 67% in 11 years.
The Federal Planning Bureau says that the remaining indicators do not have quantifiable target goals for 2030, and that the lack of objective makes it difficult to know if any action is sufficient. It recommends creating concrete goals and policy objectives for Belgium to help it fulfill the SDGs.
Additionally, the Federal Planning Bureau calls for the federal government to include SDGs in government policy so that the SDGs can be fulfilled.
Sam Nelson
The Brussels Times
