"If the National Government doesn't implement policies that will achieve the SDGs in our own backyard, it shows that signing them was nothing but grandstanding," said Shaw. Photo / Getty Images
"If the National Government doesn't implement policies that will achieve the SDGs in our own backyard, it shows that signing them was nothing but grandstanding," said Shaw. Photo / Getty Images
Prime Minister John Key arrived in New York on Monday, 28 September to attend a United Nations General Assembly week. The main idea of the conference is to agree upon set goals for international development over the next 15 years. New Zealand has adopted these 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs),which range from gender equality to clean water and sanitation. Among these goals are initiatives to end worldwide poverty and to stop climate change.
Key is catching some backlash for signing up to take on these goals. "John Key cannot go to New York and sign up to end extreme global poverty while at the same time deny children in New Zealand necessities like school lunches and warm homes," said Green Party Co-leader James Shaw.
The concern is that under Key, New Zealand isn't focusing enough on its own citizens before it takes on the bigger picture. Shaw urges Key to take action and carry out these goals in New Zealand and improve the standard of living for the country as a whole.
"If the National Government doesn't implement policies that will achieve the SDGs in our own backyard, it shows that signing them was nothing but grandstanding," said Shaw.
The SDGs are replacing the eight Millennium Development Goals that were due to expire at the end of this year. The MDGs were not as successful as the United Nations had hoped; as only one of eight goals was accomplished. Shaw attributes some of the blame to countries like New Zealand, saying that funding commitments were not met.
"New Zealand needs to take action on all of these goals because they work best in unison; it isn't enough to just pick out one or to rest on our laurels about past achievements," said Shaw.
The new goals took three years of deliberation with UN member countries and non-governmental organisations to develop. Experts behind closed doors created the MDGs. The more collaborative approach will hopefully garner more success for the SDGs, and New Zealand has 15 years to help make a difference globally and domestically.
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