We will not realise the dream of a world in which all people enjoy a ‘better and more sustainable future’ as outlined by the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) unless we quickly improve our relationship with the Earth, including making our production and consumption patterns sustainable.
About 60% of the natural systems that regulate the climate, provide clean air and water, and sustain food, fibre and animal feed production are degraded or lost.1 Our modern and highly inefficient food systems generate significant volumes of food waste.2 One hundred gigatons of new material goes into the global economy each year – of which only 8,6 gigatons are recycled.4 And the global economic system is still powered by fossil resources that drive climate change, air pollution and biodiversity loss.
This degradation of the environment does not equate to a better quality of life for all. About 1,3 billion people live in multidimensional poverty out of which 803 million live in a household where someone is undernourished and 687 million lack electricity.4