234
Specific fields of economy, trends in the
energy and transport sector and related paradoxes
are analysed in the book edited by da Costa and
Attias (2018). The way towards sustainable economy despite existing paradoxes is sought in the
publication.
Numerous experts study the reasons and consequences of global migration. The book edited
by Asgary (2019) gives a comprehensive analysis
of the issue. Scientists in many other topics using
a wide range of modern methods try hard to help
politicians and the entire society to achieve SDGs
(Horbach and Reif 2018; Kogan 2019; Kumar
et al. 2019). The above examples only highlight
some of the many research issues to prove that
scientists worldwide consider the implementation of SDGs highly important.
Still, the authors of the present book doubt
that SDGs could be successfully implemented by
2030. Primarily because no one will charge the
countries if the set goals are not achieved. On the
other hand, the relationship between the UN and
national states is specific. The authors see this
situation as follows.
The General Assembly of UN is its highest
decision-making panel that decides by two
thirds majority regarding major issues and by
simple majority in other issues. Members of the
General Assembly include all member states
(currently 193).
• According to experience of the authors, representatives of the member states represent primarily the interest of their own country and
consider global interest less important than
national interest. (It is especially important
that leaders of global powers often think and
decide in the same way.)
• The relationship between the society and the
natural environment is not always unambiguous even in scientific terms, therefore the environmental effects of anthropogenic processes
are not regarded according to their weight by
many leading politicians.
• Disproportional distribution of financial
resources is the interest of leading society layers and of rich countries both in the given
countries and in the global society. Global
interconnectivity, however, has an effect in the
direction of a more equal distribution among
countries.
• Cultural and religious oppositions between
certain country groups or religion groups are
so strong that solving such contrast cannot be
hoped in the near future. It seems that the
activity of the majority of people is controlled
by religion, therefore irrational individual and
collective social decisions and activities are
not rare.
• Harmonisation of the numerous interests mentioned above (national, environmental, economic, cultural, religious) and the solution of
oppositions could be only possible if all country leaders would make their decisions bearing
in mind the long-term global interests of
humanity, and these would be accepted by the
majority of the society as well. These are often
contradictory to short-term and local
interests.
Decision makers representing the majority of
people should be simultaneously capable of
making compromise in the interest of realising
the sustainable development of the global society. They should be able to recognise global
problems and the right steps towards their solution. It is highly unlikely that the leaders of the
states will go through such enlightenment in the
near future.
What can be the solution then? What can make
people to establish a more developed social system that would make human relations more
humane and the relationship between society and
nature more harmonic and sustainable?
6.2
SDG: Renewing Education
in a Bit More Detail
Some details related to SDG 4 on quality education are discussed below. The authors consider
this SDG one of the most important as the development of education and the renewal of its content affect all activities of the society, therefore
without this SDG, the others could not be implemented either.
6 Steps Towards Realising Global Sustainable Development
Specific fields of economy, trends in the
energy and transport sector and related paradoxes
are analysed in the book edited by da Costa and
Attias (2018). The way towards sustainable economy despite existing paradoxes is sought in the
publication.
Numerous experts study the reasons and consequences of global migration. The book edited
by Asgary (2019) gives a comprehensive analysis
of the issue. Scientists in many other topics using
a wide range of modern methods try hard to help
politicians and the entire society to achieve SDGs
(Horbach and Reif 2018; Kogan 2019; Kumar
et al. 2019). The above examples only highlight
some of the many research issues to prove that
scientists worldwide consider the implementation of SDGs highly important.
Still, the authors of the present book doubt
that SDGs could be successfully implemented by
2030. Primarily because no one will charge the
countries if the set goals are not achieved. On the
other hand, the relationship between the UN and
national states is specific. The authors see this
situation as follows.
The General Assembly of UN is its highest
decision-making panel that decides by two
thirds majority regarding major issues and by
simple majority in other issues. Members of the
General Assembly include all member states
(currently 193).
• According to experience of the authors, representatives of the member states represent primarily the interest of their own country and
consider global interest less important than
national interest. (It is especially important
that leaders of global powers often think and
decide in the same way.)
• The relationship between the society and the
natural environment is not always unambiguous even in scientific terms, therefore the environmental effects of anthropogenic processes
are not regarded according to their weight by
many leading politicians.
• Disproportional distribution of financial
resources is the interest of leading society layers and of rich countries both in the given
countries and in the global society. Global
interconnectivity, however, has an effect in the
direction of a more equal distribution among
countries.
• Cultural and religious oppositions between
certain country groups or religion groups are
so strong that solving such contrast cannot be
hoped in the near future. It seems that the
activity of the majority of people is controlled
by religion, therefore irrational individual and
collective social decisions and activities are
not rare.
• Harmonisation of the numerous interests mentioned above (national, environmental, economic, cultural, religious) and the solution of
oppositions could be only possible if all country leaders would make their decisions bearing
in mind the long-term global interests of
humanity, and these would be accepted by the
majority of the society as well. These are often
contradictory to short-term and local
interests.
Decision makers representing the majority of
people should be simultaneously capable of
making compromise in the interest of realising
the sustainable development of the global society. They should be able to recognise global
problems and the right steps towards their solution. It is highly unlikely that the leaders of the
states will go through such enlightenment in the
near future.
What can be the solution then? What can make
people to establish a more developed social system that would make human relations more
humane and the relationship between society and
nature more harmonic and sustainable?
6.2
SDG: Renewing Education
in a Bit More Detail
Some details related to SDG 4 on quality education are discussed below. The authors consider
this SDG one of the most important as the development of education and the renewal of its content affect all activities of the society, therefore
without this SDG, the others could not be implemented either.
6 Steps Towards Realising Global Sustainable Development