United Nations adopts new Sustainable Development Goals
Canadian Foodgrains Bank urges increased commitment to foreign aid
WINNIPEG, MB---On September 25 the United Nations General Assembly adopted 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), replacing the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), which expire this year. This new global vision includes goals aimed at ending extreme poverty and hunger, reducing inequality, promoting more sustainable production and consumption, reducing inequality, improving governance, and addressing issues of climate change and peace.
“These goals articulate a bold global vision, one which echoes the call we hear from the biblical prophets to create conditions where everyone is able to flourish,” says Jim Cornelius, executive director of the Canadian Foodgrains Bank, a Christian organization responding to world hunger. “People of faith can play an important role in championing and finding ways to implement this vision.”
The Foodgrains Bank especially welcomes the second goal of ending global hunger, achieving food security, improving nutrition, and promoting sustainable agriculture.
“We see the vision, mission, and programming of the Canadian Foodgrains Bank as being well aligned with this goal,” says Cornelius.
“Significant progress has been made in reducing hunger during the period of the Millennium Development Goals, with the prevalence of hunger in developing countries falling from 23 per cent to 13 per cent between 1990 and today, but much remains to be done.”
Making further progress towards these new ambitious goals will require a significant mobilization of resources and efforts by local communities, civil society, national governments, international institutions, and the private sector.
Cornelius is urging the Government of Canada to play its part by increasing foreign aid.
“Additional resources will be needed to meet the targets that are set out,” says Cornelius, noting that as a percentage of Gross National Income, Canada’s foreign aid spending has fallen from 0.34 per cent to 0.24 per cent, ranking it 16 out of 28 donor countries.
From 2011 to 2014, Canada’s aid spending has dropped by $670 million.
“Canada could certainly do better as a country. Increased foreign aid, particularly aid focused on promoting sustainable agriculture, can make an important contribution to reducing and ending hunger.”
(From press release: "Foodgrains Bank Welcomes New Global Sustainable Development Goals" --- September 29, 2015).
Dear Readers:
ChristianWeek relies on your generous support. please take a minute and donate to help give voice to stories that inform, encourage and inspire.
Donations of $20 or more will receive a charitable receipt.Thank you, from Christianweek.
