Chapter 1
Global Perspectives
Reading Passage
Common Goals for Our Future
[1] The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a set of universal goals to make a better world. All of the member states at the 2015 United Nations General Assembly agreed upon them. The SDGs clarified the global challenges that both developed and developing countries need to tackle in three areas: the environment, society, and the economy. Importantly, these goals were not simply created by government organizations, but by a diverse range of groups including companies, NPOs, minorities, and young people. The SDGs represent everyone and are based on the collective voices of people from around the world.
[2] The SDGs aim to change our future and reflect a vision of our world in 2030. They are made up of seventeen goals and 169 targets for achieving them. Each goal focuses on a different important issue such as climate change or poverty. It may seem impossible to tackle so many different problems on such a large scale. However, if we view the SDGs from “global perspectives,” we can see that they all share certain characteristics. Let’s take a look at three key perspectives and how they relate to the SDGs.
[3] The first perspective is making connections. All of the goals outlined in the SDGs are interconnected with each other. This means that rather than trying to tackle all seventeen goals at the same time, we can start with one and use it as a gateway for dealing with other issues. The problems facing our world are very complex, so, first, we need to understand how they are related to each other on a global scale. We also need to be aware of how they connect with our daily lives. In other words, in order to solve the world’s problems, we cannot think of ourselves as passive outsiders. Instead, we should take daily steps toward a solution.
[4] The second perspective is recognizing differences. The SDGs aim for a world without discrimination in which “no one is left behind.” They take a holistic approach in which everyone from you and me to different vulnerable groups, animals, and even the environment is included. To achieve this, we should try to accept diversity and recognize that there is more than one perspective on any single issue. There is no single “right answer” to any of the problems identified by the SDGs. Different possible answers will be created as we tackle the world’s biggest problems together.
[5] The final perspective is looking to the future. According to the SDGs, just learning about the issues is not enough. To change the world, we need to reflect on our own individual lifestyles and values. The problems we are facing are difficult to overcome, so people from different backgrounds must come together to work toward their common goals. The future is not set in stone. There are many possible alternative futures depending on the actions we take today. Even if we choose to do nothing, it will still affect our common future.