40
S. Liphadzi et al.
Sustainable use of water-related ecosystems
SGD 6.6 targets protecting and restoring water-related ecosystems, including
mountains, forests, wetlands, rivers, aquifers, and lakes. The indicator forms
part of Goal 6 in that water and sanitation services are its main objective; thus
while Target 6.6 is about ecosystems, it is the services of these ecosystems to
society that are important. It is these ecosystems that need to be protected and
managed if sustainability is to be a possibility. Ideally, the data for Target 6.6
would include the spatial extent of water-related ecosystems, the volumes of
water contained by them, the quality of water within them, and the health of
the ecosystems that they contain.
In short, sustainable development refers to development that does not endanger the
systems that support life on earth [49]. However, this has been impossible as human
interventions on the environment have altered the same environment that sustain
life, triggering a host of challenges like climate change and novel socio-ecological
interactions that are risking human health [5]. This is evidenced by the emergence
of novel infectious diseases such as Ebola, HIV/AIDS, and COVID-19 that have
claimed millions of lives [66].
Sustainable energy resources
Sustainable energy which incorporates energy access, efficiency, and renewable energy is a critical enabler for all SDGs. Globally, there has been huge
progress made towards the achievement of SDG 7 as well as a shift towards
sustainable energy supply options. In developing countries, there has been
continued progress in access to electricity with a global increase from 83% in
2010 to 87% in 2017. Energy efficiency and use of renewable energy increased
globally from 8.6% in 2010 to 10.2% in 2016. However, more effort is still
required to improve access to clean and safe cooking fuels and technologies
for 3 billion people globally as this has increased at a very low rate of 0.5%
per annual from 2010 to 2017 [81]. In sub-Saharan Africa, there is need to
increase electrification as only 44% of the population has access to electricity
[80].
On the other hand, the UN Report titled “The Future We Want”, which forms the
basis of the SDGs, defines sustainable development as “promoting sustained, inclusive and equitable economic growth, creating greater opportunities for all, reducing
inequalities, raising basic standards of living; fostering equitable social development
and inclusion; and promoting integrated and sustainable management of natural
resources and ecosystems that support inter alia economic, social and human development while facilitating ecosystem conservation, regeneration and restoration and
resilience in the face of new and emerging challenges” [82]. This UN definition is
S. Liphadzi et al.
Sustainable use of water-related ecosystems
SGD 6.6 targets protecting and restoring water-related ecosystems, including
mountains, forests, wetlands, rivers, aquifers, and lakes. The indicator forms
part of Goal 6 in that water and sanitation services are its main objective; thus
while Target 6.6 is about ecosystems, it is the services of these ecosystems to
society that are important. It is these ecosystems that need to be protected and
managed if sustainability is to be a possibility. Ideally, the data for Target 6.6
would include the spatial extent of water-related ecosystems, the volumes of
water contained by them, the quality of water within them, and the health of
the ecosystems that they contain.
In short, sustainable development refers to development that does not endanger the
systems that support life on earth [49]. However, this has been impossible as human
interventions on the environment have altered the same environment that sustain
life, triggering a host of challenges like climate change and novel socio-ecological
interactions that are risking human health [5]. This is evidenced by the emergence
of novel infectious diseases such as Ebola, HIV/AIDS, and COVID-19 that have
claimed millions of lives [66].
Sustainable energy resources
Sustainable energy which incorporates energy access, efficiency, and renewable energy is a critical enabler for all SDGs. Globally, there has been huge
progress made towards the achievement of SDG 7 as well as a shift towards
sustainable energy supply options. In developing countries, there has been
continued progress in access to electricity with a global increase from 83% in
2010 to 87% in 2017. Energy efficiency and use of renewable energy increased
globally from 8.6% in 2010 to 10.2% in 2016. However, more effort is still
required to improve access to clean and safe cooking fuels and technologies
for 3 billion people globally as this has increased at a very low rate of 0.5%
per annual from 2010 to 2017 [81]. In sub-Saharan Africa, there is need to
increase electrification as only 44% of the population has access to electricity
[80].
On the other hand, the UN Report titled “The Future We Want”, which forms the
basis of the SDGs, defines sustainable development as “promoting sustained, inclusive and equitable economic growth, creating greater opportunities for all, reducing
inequalities, raising basic standards of living; fostering equitable social development
and inclusion; and promoting integrated and sustainable management of natural
resources and ecosystems that support inter alia economic, social and human development while facilitating ecosystem conservation, regeneration and restoration and
resilience in the face of new and emerging challenges” [82]. This UN definition is