Issues
Union commitment to a sustainable future By Kirsty Henderson
The gap between our developed and developing nations is widening. Millions of people are facing extreme poverty. And slum dwellers, women and children are bearing the brunt of the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, a recent report by the United Nations (UN) has found. According to The Sustainable Development Goals Report 2020, released by the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs, worldwide, school closures have kept 1.57 billion kids out of school with over 370 million children missing out on the meals they rely upon daily. Remote learning was out of reach for many students due to a lack of IT access, along with major disruptions to childhood vaccination services during the height of the crisis. Children from disadvantaged communities are now at greater risk of child labour, marriage and trafficking. “In fact, the global gains made in reducing child labour are likely to be reversed for the first time in 20 years,” the report found. But just as our humanity is suffering, so is our planet. According to the report, climate change is accelerating at a much faster rate than anticipated. Warmer weather, ocean acidification, land degradation, animal extinction and unsustainable consumption and production are pervasive. The report provides essential data which can be used by governments to guide efforts towards a sustainable recovery along with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. 22
Western Teacher February 2021
The Agenda, adopted by all UN member states in 2015, provides a blueprint for peace and prosperity for people and the planet, now and into the future. “At its heart are the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which are an urgent call for action by all countries – developed and developing – in a global partnership. “They recognise that ending poverty and other deprivations must go hand-in-hand with strategies that improve health and education, reduce inequality, and spur economic growth – all while tackling climate change and working to preserve our oceans and forests,” states the UN Department of Economic and Socials Affairs. See the SDGs on page 24. The United Nations Association of Australia (UNAA) is the peak body for promoting the United Nations in Australia. Outgoing UNAA WA School Programs Director Rees Barrett said: “The 17 UN 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (commonly termed Global Goals) describe what we mean by thinking globally – balancing the needs of the planet, people and prosperity.” “In 2015, all 193 UN members signed up to the Goals – a commonly accepted ‘road map’ for the first time in human history and particularly relevant in 2020, as we build back better in response to the COVID-19 pandemic,” he continued. It’s now more important than ever that we look to focus education on supporting our common goals in working towards the preservation of humanity and our planet. Each year teachers and schools from around WA are recognised for their commitment to global citizenship through the UNAA World Teachers’ Day Awards.
“The awards promote school global citizenship education programs – thinking globally and acting locally,” Mr Barrett said. The SSTUWA is proud to promote these awards and the work of our public school teachers and school leaders in educating our students and the community on the benefits and necessity of reaching the Global Development Goals. SSTUWA Vice President Samantha Schofield said: “Awareness of the Global Development Goals is even more relevant as people around the globe experience the pandemic.” “Inequities that were present prior to the pandemic have been exacerbated during this crisis – and it’s not over yet,” she said. “Access to high quality, free public education is the key to changing the world for individuals, communities and the globe.” The 2020 recipients of the UNAA World Teachers’ Day Awards were Rachael Roberts (pictured above) from Hillcrest
