COVID-19, Slow Progress, Ongoing Vulnerability for Pacific Sustainable Development, says new report

An updated regional report on sustainable development across the region is aimed at ensuring Pacific People’s well-being through the Blue Pacific identity, the proposed 2050 Strategy and the achievement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, says Forum Secretary General, Dame Meg Taylor. 

But she says slow progress and ongoing vulberabilities, especially in the face of COVID-19, are part of the state of Pacific development.

“The 2020 Biennial Report does not sugar-coat our reality here in the Blue Pacific and in essence, reaffirms the 2018 findings. Despite some significant achievements and milestones, it confirms the slow progress on our development targets in the Pacific with increasing vulnerabilities and deepening inequalities, more so now as we navigate through this pandemic,” she told a launch event this week.

“It is a report that recognises the centrality of the wellbeing of the Pacific people to the future of the Blue Pacific Continent. Indeed, this very same sentiment is echoed through the ongoing work to develop the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent.”

Guided by a Pacific Steering Committee and technical advisers from Pacific regional agencies the 2020 report covering the UN SDGs was also supported by the United Nations in the Pacific, private sector, and civil society.  At a global level, since the adoption of the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals in 2015, Dame Meg said the Pacific has continued to demonstrate its commitment to working towards sustainable development.  

But she said; “The achievement of our sustainable development aspirations, as a region and as individual Members’, is dependent on our ability to work together at the national level, at the regional level and with the support of our development partners and agencies.”

The report, which updates on a 2018 report that also found a need to increase the pace of progress towards the achievement of the 2030 Agenda, echoes the caution against the increasing vulnerabilities and inequalities in the region and the limited access to infrastructure and basic services, in particular the inconsistent access to affordable and quality health care and the need to improve access to quality education.

The findings of the 2020 update also confirm a list of needs and realities including–the region’s ongoing vulnerability to the impacts of climate change and natural disasters;the need to bridge the significant gap in the participation of men vis a vis women in our economies, with women and youth in particular, under-represented in formal employment across the region; the need to address and work to reduce the high rate of violence against women and girls – a problem deeply ingrained in our social norms and attitudes;the need to strengthen the representation of women in political leadership; and the recognition of the one million-plus persons with disabilities in the Pacific who still face deep inequalities and multiple barriers.

Dame Meg says its “imperative that we as a region work together to accelerate progress in several goals such as quality education, climate action, as well as the life on land and below water. These issues will need to be managed and addressed within the parameters of our response efforts to the COVID-19 pandemic and the related unprecedented social and economic disruption it has meant for the region.”

The next report is due in 2022, by which time she says, “at least 90% of the Forum membership would have completed their first or have undertaken their second voluntary national review.” Voluntary National Reviews are a key national report card against the UN 17 SDGs. The Pacific report spreads them across nine regional priorities to help line them up with Pacific realities and priorities. 

“Moving forward, our partnerships both within the region and with international development agencies and development partners will be crucial to delivering coherent, coordinated and targeted development support to Pacific Countries. I recognise that coordination has always been a key challenge of ours, particular us as implementing and advisory agencies. However, the challenges that we are faced with today demand us to work together better and in a more efficient manner to deliver for our Pacific people,” says Dame Meg, “Our most vulnerable are most at risk of bearing the brunt of any adversity across our societies. The voluntary national reviews show us our strengths, and also where we need to work together as one community. We need to be efficient in how we rise to our challenges and move beyond change.”

She pointed out that Thursday 10 December is International Human Rights Day, “a day to reflect and remind ourselves that sustainable development is about people accessing and enjoying their hard-won rights under international law and that we as a family can collectively overcome our hardships, vulnerabilities and challenges if we respect and work together. Ensuring progress in achieving the SDGs will be greatly enhanced by making sure that lessons are shared, and best practices are replicated. The 2020 Pacific Biennial Sustainable Development Report is a critical strategic platform to generate robust discussion and socialisation of equality and the actions required to bridge the gap.”

Calling for collective action to address gender inequalities in the region, she also noted we are in the final decade to the 2030 agenda.

“Indeed, to ensure success for our Blue Pacific, and one Blue Planet, we must all take action,” Dame Meg said.

(Source: PACNEWS first edition 10 December 2020)