SDG – Details, episodes & analysis

SDG #8 is to “Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all.” Within SDG #8 are 12 targets, of which we here focus on Target 8.6: By 2020, substantially reduce the proportion of youth not in employment, education or training  Target 8.6 has one indicator: Indicator 8.6.1: Proportion of youth (aged 15–24 years) not in education, employment or training 

SDG #8 is to “Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all.”

Within SDG #8 are 12 targets, of which we here focus on Target 8.5:

By 2030, achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all women and men, including for young people and persons with disabilities, and equal pay for work of equal value

Target 8.5 has two indicators:

• Indicator 8.5.1: Average hourly earnings of employees, by sex, age, occupation and persons with disabilities

• Indicator 8.5.2: Unemployment rate, by sex, age and persons with disabilities  

Only a couple dozen countries have data for employees’ average hourly earnings. The highest among them was Switzerland. By sex, the greatest difference was in South Korea, where the average hourly earnings of male employees of $23.96 and $15.91 for women.

The global unemployment rate as of 2022 was 5.3%, with gender differences only a fractional difference.

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SDG #7 is to “Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all.”

Within SDG #6 are 5 targets, of which we here focus on Target 7.1:

By 2030, ensure universal access to affordable, reliable and modern energy services

Target 7.1 has two indicators:

• Indicator 7.1.1: Proportion of population with access to electricity

• Indicator 7.1.2: Proportion of population with primary reliance on clean fuels and technology 

The obvious importance of electricity access lies as it’s a marker of living standards, as well as a necessity for health.

The World Bank has measured access to electricity worldwide to be 91% as of 2021. To break this up, Europe and Central Asia have full electrification, as do the high-income and the upper-middle income countries. The regions of the Middle East and North Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean and East Asia and the Pacific have between 97-98%. The lower-middle income countries have a similar proportion to the global population. 45% in low-income countries have electricity. 

As we saw in Target 3.9, air pollution from stoves burning solid cooking fuels in households in some developing countries is a health risk. By contrast, in high-income countries, households tend to use cooking and energy methods not posing a health risk. Dirty fuels also pose affect the environment and contribute to climate change.

The World Health Organization estimates access to clean cooking fuels to be 71% of the world population.

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SDG #6 is to “Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all”

Within SDG #6 are 8 targets, of which we here focus on Target 6.b:

Support and strengthen the participation of local communities in improving water and sanitation management 

Target 6.b has one indicator:

• Indicator 6.b.1: Proportion of local administrative units with established and operational policies and procedures for participation of local communities in water and sanitation management

The data for this target draws from UN Water’s Global Analysis and Assessment of Sanitation and Drinking-Water (GLAAS). The World Health Organization puts this assessment into effect.

We’re here looking at water at the local government level. A handy tool is the OECD’s Water Governance Indicator Framework to assess policies. This framework is part of the OECD’s water program, which advises governments on water policies. The OECD also has 12 Principles on Water Governance it recommends for governments.

As of 2019, 70% of countries had in place policies and procedures for community participation in water and sanitation.

SDG #6 is to “Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all”

Within SDG #6 are 8 targets, of which we here focus on Target 6.a:

By 2030, expand international cooperation and capacity-building support to developing countries in water- and sanitation-related activities and programmes, including water harvesting, desalination, water efficiency, wastewater treatment, recycling and reuse technologies

Target 6.a has one indicator:

• Indicator 6.a.1: Amount of water- and sanitation-related official development assistance that is part of a government-coordinated spending plan  

Using the OECD’s Creditor Reporting System, we can disaggregate development flows by type. In this instance, we want to separate out water aid. 

Let's look at ODA spent on water as part of a government’s budget. As of 2021, the biggest spender was India, with $420 million. Following was Vietnam and Cambodia, with $413 million and $309 million, then Bangladesh with $284 million and Egypt with $261 million.

SDG #6 is to “Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all”

Within SDG #6 are 8 targets, of which we here focus on Target 6.5:

By 2030, implement integrated water resources management at all levels, including through transboundary cooperation as appropriate

Target 6.5 has two indicators:

• Indicator 6.5.1: Degree of integrated water resources management 

• Indicator 6.5.2: Proportion of transboundary basin area with an operational arrangement for water cooperation 

What is integrated water resources management (IWRM)? In some ways, it’s reflective of the concept of sustainable development as it relates to water. It means to devise and put into effect a system which manages water resources with several considerations. It needs to consider the economic, social, and in particular the environmental aspects. At the governmental level, it can involve the coordination of several ministries. These might include the portfolios of water, planning, land, agriculture, and rural development.

Managing water resources is of utmost importance for the environment. But it also has large social, and economic implications in water scarce regions such as Western Asia and Africa. Every drop seems to count to ensure dignity and prosperity in these regions.

The Global Water Partnership, a network of over 3000 water organisations, and DHI, support such efforts. Managing water is relevant not only at the national level, but across countries within regions sharing a common border. It likewise has importance across administrative divisions within countries. 

This issue of water resources shared across borders brings us to Indicator 6.5.2. This is relevant whether a shared water body is visible on the surface, or groundwater in an aquifer. This topic seems ripe for conflict in water scare regions, and as such, competing interests need managing. International treaties between nations on the sustainable use of transboundary freshwater aid this. The most prominent example is the 1997 Water Convention.

The degree to which an integrated water resources management plan is in effect across all countries worldwide is 54% as of 2020. France and Singapore lead with 100% implementation. A half-dozen countries score 0, among them Argentina, Canada, and Venezuela.

41% of global aquifers have transboundary basins with arrangements to cooperate over water as of 2022. 65% of river and lake basins have such coverage, with 58% for both combined.

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SDG #6 is to “Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all”

Within SDG #6 are 8 targets, of which we here focus on Target 6.4:

By 2030, substantially increase water-use efficiency across all sectors and ensure sustainable withdrawals and supply of freshwater to address water scarcity and substantially reduce the number of people suffering from water scarcity

Target 6.4 has two indicators:

• Indicator 6.4.1: Change in water-use efficiency over time

• Indicator 6.4.2: Level of water stress: freshwater withdrawal as a proportion of available freshwater resources 

It’s valuable to consider all the different activities which call upon water resources. These include the immense requirements of the primary industries of agriculture and resource extraction. Then there’s the secondary sectors of manufacturing, construction, plus the supply of power, as well as sewerage and waste treatment, as well as domestic water supply.

Water use efficiency is a measure in monetary terms, denominated in US dollars per cubic metre. At the country level, this means we take the GDP, and divide it by the number of cubic metres of freshwater withdrawn, to give us the water efficiency.

Worldwide, water efficiency in 2020 was $21 per cubic metre. Let's compare this figure for the best and worst performers among countries with data. The tiny country of Luxembourg had $1,379 per cubic metre  the most water efficient, and Madagascar was the worst with $0.91/m3.

We become at risk of water stress when we withdraw freshwater at a rate faster than it can renew, minus what the environment needs. As of 2020, there’s 42 billion cubic metres of renewable water in the world, with an annual freshwater withdrawal rate of 3.8 billion cubic metres. We can calculate this to tell us how water stressed a country is. First, we take the amount of freshwater withdrawn (measured in cubic metres). We then divide this by the total renewable freshwater, minus the environment requirements. After multiplying by 100, this gives us a percentage of water stress, which if greater than 75%, is high. Besides affecting our drinking water supply and economic sectors, this threatens food security.

Measured at the global level, the level of water stress is 18% as of 2020. This level hasn't changed since 2015, although the target has asked us to reduce those living with water scarcity. Several countries even have a critical water stress percentage greater than 100. This occurs when we withdraw freshwater at a greater rate than the renewable sources can replenish. These countries span the Sahara, across the Mideast into Central Asia. Kuwait’s water efficiency percentage is a stratospheric 3,850%, followed by 1,587% in UAE and 974% in Saudi Arabia. Not only has Kuwait not decreased its water scarcity, its doubled it since 2000.

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SDG #6 is to “Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all”

Within SDG #6 are 8 targets, of which we here focus on Target 6.3:

By 2030, improve water quality by reducing pollution, eliminating dumping and minimizing release of hazardous chemicals and materials, halving the proportion of untreated wastewater and substantially increasing recycling and safe reuse globally

Target 6.3 has two indicators:

• Indicator 6.3.1: Proportion of domestic and industrial wastewater flows safely treated

• Indicator 6.3.2: Proportion of bodies of water with good ambient water quality 

The proportion of treated domestic wastewater worldwide stands at 57% as of 2022. Very few countries have enough data to report treatment for industrial wastewater.

The global proportion of water bodies with good water quality stands at 71% as of 2020.

SDG #6 is to “Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all”

Within SDG #6 are 8 targets, of which we here focus on Target 6.2:

By 2030, achieve access to adequate and equitable sanitation and hygiene for all and end open defecation, paying special attention to the needs of women and girls and those in vulnerable situations

Target 6.2 has one indicator:

• Indicator 6.2.1: Proportion of population using (a) safely managed sanitation services and (b) a handwashing facility with soap and water 

UNICEF and the World Health Organization have teamed up to report the progress on this issue under the banner of the JMP. This stands for the Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH).

The worldwide proportion of people with access to sanitation facilities is 56% as of 2022 and 75% for handwashing facilities.

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SDG #6 is to “Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all”

Within SDG #6 are 8 targets, of which we here focus on Target 6.1:

By 2030, achieve universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all

Target 6.1 has one indicator:

• Indicator 6.1.1: Proportion of population using safely managed drinking water services

SDG #6 introduces us to UN Water, coordinating the efforts of all the other UN agencies on the topic of water and sanitation. WHO’s guidelines inform the definition for drinking water quality. Access to safe water is essential to health and disease prevention and lowering the barriers to access is a human right.

The worldwide access to safe drinking water as of 2022 was 72%. Central African Republic had the lowest access among countries with data, with only 6%. Much of this gap is due to where one lives, whereby worldwide, 81% of the urban population have access, but only 62% for those living in rural locations.