Responsible tourism in Andalusia

Poner End poverty in all its forms throughout the world.

Eradicating poverty in all its forms remains one of the major challenges facing humanity.
Since 2000, poverty has been reduced by 50 per cent, but there are still millions of people who have no resources at all.
Accelerated economic growth in countries such as China and India has lifted millions out of poverty, but progress has been uneven.
In areas such as South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa, 80 per cent of the population lives in extreme poverty.
Poverty has devastating consequences: hunger, malnutrition, disease, discrimination, lack of decent housing, etc. Achieving this goal means promoting economic growth that promotes equality and is sustainable.

End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture.

In the last two decades the number of undernourished people has almost halved thanks to rapid economic growth and increased agricultural productivity. Regions such as Central and East Asia and Latin America have made enormous progress in eradicating hunger.
Unfortunately, hunger and malnutrition remain major obstacles to development in many countries.
On the other hand, the land and water of our oceans and rivers are suffering great degradation due to overexploitation.
We all know that agriculture and the food sector are key to eliminating hunger and poverty, but it is in urgent need of reform. International cooperation, the implementation of sustainable agricultural practices, support for small farmers by ensuring equal access to land, technology and markets are a must.

Ensuring healthy living and promoting well-being for all at all ages.

More than five million children die every year before they reach the age of five. A chilling statistic that makes this goal the basis for all the others, since in order to achieve the other SDGs it is necessary to guarantee and promote health and well-being.
Much work remains to be done, as currently in the poorest areas of the world, maternal and neonatal mortality rates remain very high, infectious diseases are spreading and there is poor reproductive health.
Actions such as financing health systems, increasing access to medical services or eradicating certain diseases are crucial to ensure healthy lives and promote wellbeing at all ages.

Ensure inclusive, equitable and quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.

Since 2000, there has been tremendous progress towards the goal of universal primary education. In 2015, the total enrolment rate reached 91% in developing regions and the number of children out of school has almost halved globally. Even so, there are still more than 265 million children out of school today. Poorly trained teachers, lack of schools or the poor state of schools are some of the problems that need to be improved. Armed conflict and poverty in general are also factors that increase the proportion of children out of school.
Without a doubt, quality education and literacy are the basis for improving lives, and represent a fundamental tool for increasing the chances of escaping poverty and opting for a better future.
By 2030, every child in the world should be able to access and complete primary and secondary education.

Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls.

Ending all forms of discrimination against women and girls is not only a basic human right, it is also crucial for sustainable development.
Although significant progress has been made in recent years, today one in five women and girls between the ages of 15 and 49 report experiencing or having experienced physical or sexual violence.
Ensuring universal access to reproductive and sexual health and giving women equal rights to economic resources, such as land and property, are fundamental goals for achieving equality.
Equally important is that all women and girls should have access to education, decent work and be able to participate in political and economic decision-making processes in all countries of the world.

Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.

We all know that drinking water is a vital element for life, yet according to the UN, some 2.2 billion people lack safe drinking water and 4.2 billion lack sanitation.
Water scarcity currently affects more than 40% of the world’s population.
By 2050, it is estimated that at least 25% of the world’s population will live in drought-affected areas and that one in four people will be affected by recurrent water shortages. These alarming figures will also directly affect and exacerbate other problems such as hunger, food security and malnutrition.
There is no doubt that sustainable management of water resources and adequate investment in infrastructure are vital to ensure that all people have access to safe drinking water and sanitation.

Ensure access to affordable, secure, sustainable and modern energy for all.

Energy misuse is the largest contributor to climate change, accounting for about 73% of greenhouse gases, and is caused by human action.
Currently almost one third of the world’s population cooks with harmful fuels and inefficient technologies.
Actions such as increasing public and private investment, improving and facilitating the financing of cleaner technologies and promoting the use of renewable energies in heating and transport systems are key factors in protecting the environment.
Putting aside economic interests and adopting a more solid commitment from governments, companies and the general public are crucial to achieve this fundamental objective.

Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all.

Fortunately, over the past 25 years the number of workers living in extreme poverty has declined dramatically, despite the impact of the 2008 economic crisis and global recessions. In developing countries, the middle class now accounts for about 35% of total employment, a figure that nearly tripled between 1991 and 2015.
Even so, it is estimated that approximately 50% of the world’s population lives on less than $2 a day. Equally worrying is that in many countries, having a job does not guarantee or help to escape poverty.
The aim of Goal 8 is, among other things, to ensure that all people can have a quality job in order to reduce unemployment and achieve higher levels of productivity and therefore consumption.
Promoting development-oriented policies that support productive activities, entrepreneurship, creativity, innovation and fostering the creation and growth of micro-enterprises and SMEs are other goals to be developed to achieve this objective.

Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialisation and foster innovation.

Investing in infrastructure and embracing innovation are essential to achieve sustainable technological progress and environmental goals.
With more than half of the world’s population living in cities, the widespread deployment of renewable energy in transport becomes essential.
The promotion of energy efficiency, investment in scientific research and innovation or the creation and development of new industries and information and communication technologies are the way forward if we really want to achieve sustainable and long-lasting development.
Quite simply, without technology and innovation, industry will not be promoted and without it there will be no development.

Reducing inequality within and between countries.

There are currently large inequalities within and between countries in access to education, health services and productive assets.
Income inequality is on the rise: the richest 10% of the population takes up to 40% of total world income, while the poorest 10% get only 2-7% of total income.
To reduce inequality, it is crucial to create universal policies for the most disadvantaged and marginalised populations that favour developing country exports and innovations in technology, while reducing tariffs on international trade.
Income inequality is a global problem that requires global solutions.

Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable.

Currently more than 50% of the population lives in urban areas.
By 2030, nearly 5 billion are expected to do so, by 2050 this figure will have risen to 6.5 billion, i.e. two thirds of the world’s population will live in urban areas.
The rapid growth of urban areas as a result of population growth and migration leads, especially in the developed world, to an uncontrolled increase in mega-cities and, in turn, slums.
Sustainable development cannot be achieved unless we radically transform the way we build and manage urban spaces. If we are to improve the safety and sustainability of cities, we must first ensure access to safe and affordable housing and improve and reduce slums.
Increasing investment in sustainable public transport, creating more green spaces in urban areas, and implementing more participatory and inclusive planning and management are also critical to achieving these goals.

Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns.

The world continues to use natural resources in an unsustainable way.
The UN warns that if the population reaches 9.6 billion by 2050, we would need three times more resources than our planet produces today to sustain today’s lifestyle.
Agriculture is the largest consumer of water in the world and irrigation today accounts for almost 70% of all freshwater available for human consumption.
There is no doubt that unsustainable consumption causes pollution and degrades the environment. If we really want to achieve economic growth and sustainable development over time, it is of vital importance to implement a drastic change in the current methods of production and consumption of goods and resources.
Recycling and reducing waste, and implementing efficient management of shared natural resources and the way in which toxic waste and pollutants are disposed of is clearly the way forward.
We must all choose and commit to a more sustainable way of life to care for nature and slow down climate change.

Take urgent action to combat climate change and its effects.

Climate change is an undeniable reality and is having very negative effects on all countries, people, the economy and nature. Weather systems are changing, sea levels are rising and weather events are becoming more extreme.
2019 was the second warmest year ever and levels of carbon dioxide (CO2) and other greenhouse gases in the atmosphere were at record highs (50% higher than 1990). The past decade (2010 – 2019) has been the hottest decade on record.
The Paris agreement, signed in 2015, aims to strengthen the global response to the threat of climate change by limiting global temperature rise this century to less than 2 degrees Celsius.
With real political will, putting aside economic interests and collective action, we can still stop a catastrophe that is becoming increasingly palpable.

Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development.

The oceans and their temperature, life, chemical composition and current drive the global systems that make the earth a habitable place for humans. Our weather, rainfall, drinking water, climate, coastlines, much of our food and even the oxygen in the air we breathe are provided and regulated by the sea.
Marine pollution has reached alarming levels, with an average of 13,000 pieces of plastic debris per square kilometre of ocean.
The livelihoods of more than 3 million people depend on marine biodiversity. It is estimated that 30% of the fish population is overexploited.
The oceans absorb about 30% of the carbon dioxide generated by human activity. Since the start of the industrial revolution, there has been a 26% increase in the acidification of the seas and oceans.
Responsible, careful and effective management of this essential resource is a key factor in halting the massive degradation of our oceans, countering the effects of climate change and ensuring a sustainable future. Creating and enforcing laws to reduce overfishing, marine pollution and acidification of the seas and oceans is another key factor in achieving SDG 14.

Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss.

Human life depends on both land and oceans for its sustenance and subsistence. More than 30% of the earth’s surface is covered by forests. They provide crucial habitats for millions of species and represent an important source of clean air and water. Trees are key elements in slowing climate change and flora provide 80% of the food we eat.
Every year 13 million hectares of forest are lost, and the degradation of drylands has led to the desertification of 3.6 billion hectares, with the poorest communities being most affected.
Some 7,000 species of animals and plants have been illegally traded. Wildlife trafficking, apart from eroding global biodiversity, creates insecurity and increases corruption.
Urgent action is needed to address serious problems such as the loss of natural habitats, biodiversity and the spread of desertification. Sustainable management of our forests, the recovery and conservation of ecosystems and the fight against deforestation, poaching and trafficking of protected species are urgently needed.

Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, facilitate access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels.

Without peace, stability, human rights and effective governance based on the rule of law, sustainable development cannot be achieved. Violence in all its forms continues to be a problem affecting millions of people around the world.
High levels of armed violence and insecurity have destructive consequences for the development of any country, negatively affect economic growth and often result in entrenched grievances that can span generations.
In 2018, the number of people forced to flee war, persecution or conflict exceeded 70 million, the highest number recorded by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in nearly 70 years.
In 2019, the United Nations recorded 357 killings and 30 enforced disappearances of human rights defenders, journalists and trade unionists in 47 countries.
The SDGs seek to substantially reduce all forms of violence and work with governments and communities to find lasting solutions to conflict and insecurity.
Strengthening the rule of law and promoting human rights is central to this process, as is reducing the flow of illicit arms and strengthening the participation of developing countries in the institutions of global governance.

Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalise the global partnership for sustainable development.

There is no point in setting goals if there is no agreement among all the actors that need to be involved: governments, private companies and citizens.
For a development agenda to be successfully realised, inclusive partnerships (at global, regional, national and local levels) need to be built on principles and values, as well as on a shared vision and goals that focus on people and planet first.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and armed conflicts, the global economy is expected to contract sharply in the coming years, which could result in the worst recession since the Great Depression of 1929.
The SDGs can only be achieved through strong global partnerships, cooperation, awareness raising, putting economic interests aside and putting people and the planet we live on at the centre.