On Friday, January 22nd, Pam Chasek, Professor of Government at Manhattan College and co-founder of the Earth Negotiations Bulletin, spoke at Log Lunch. Pam’s presentation, entitled, “From the MDGs to the SGDs: A Discussion of the United Nations’ 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals,” focused on the transition from establishment of the UN’s Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in 2000 to the current status of the newly adopted UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The SDGs are unique in their emphasis on a bottom up approach, universal input from all nations, a multidisciplinary understanding of development concerns, and the idea that sustainability transcends economic development. (A full list of the goals can be found here: https://wethepeople.globalgoals.org/)
Pam Chasek.
In addition to chronically the history of UN negotiations surrounding economic, environmental and social development, Pam shared personal anecdotes about the exhausting but rewarding world of UN negotiations. In one story in particular, Pam recalled having a weekend of meetings during the Ramadan holiday. During the meetings members were not only severely sleep deprived, but also, those fasting where unable to celebrate in breaking fast when the meetings concluded and the only store open at 4 am was Dunkin Donuts.
The United Nations set its goals incredibly high when it adopted 17 Sustainable Development Goals; however, as Pam states, “Unless you set your goals high, you won’t get anywhere – even halfway there!”
– MaryKate O’Brien ’16