A Paradox of ‘Sustainable Development’: A Critique of the Ecological Order of Capitalism

The UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) adopted on 25th September, 2015 aimed to end hunger, assure gender equity, and build a life of dignity for all over the world. It gave a clarion call of a new framework of “Transforming Our World: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development”. The SDGs composed of 17 goals and 169 targets to wipe out poverty, fight inequality and tackle climate change over the next 15 years. The SDGs are indeed visionary in character and an ideal framework in which all nations need to work out its actionable plans. Because of varying inter-country deficit on actionable areas of sovereign nations, SDGs have not gone into country-specific road-map for action. It is for this reason that SDGs did not mention any constraints in its overall approach to realise its visionary goals. However, constraints do exist in achieving SDGs just as it had existed under MDGs. Two of the top most goals under SDGs is to end poverty in all its forms everywhere (Goal 1) and end hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition (Goal 2). SDGs also aim at promoting sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all (Goal 8). An under-populated country can proceed to reach these goals easily; a country having stable population or optimum population can also move in that direction rather comfortably. But for a country, like India, where TFR is less than replacement level, where there is alarming high order density of population and high quotient of BPL population, where there exits shocking levels of unemployment, under-employment and adverse nutritional standard and relatively poor HDI, the quantum jump at on go to a SDGs level destination is rather a very difficult task. The huge size population and its incremental addition is responsible for this sordid state of affairs. It will be a gigantic task to implement the Goal 12 to ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns for a runaway population of more than 1.21 billion population for such over-populated country.

This study investigated the impact of the people category of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) on sustainable and conventional economic growth in Asia and the Pacific region, using a sample of 52 selected countries between 2000 and 2023. Employing two distinct models, model A1 for conventional economic growth and model A2 for sustainable economic growth, we explained the relationships between five SDG indicators: employed poverty rate, stunted children, expenditure on health, expenditure of education, and % of women MNAs on economic growth. This study employed a fixed-effect model and random-effect model to investigate the impact of the people category SDGs on traditional and sustainable economic growth. The comparative analysis of each SDG in both models revealed valuable insights. SDG 1, “employed poverty rate”, has a positive impact on economic growth in both models, while SDG 2, “percentage of stunted child”, did not significantly influence economic growth in either model. Moreover, SDG 3 and SDG 4, relating to “government’s health expenditure per capita” and “government’s Education education expenditure per capita”, respectively, exhibited a positive impact on traditional and sustainable economic growth. Conversely, SDG 5, “percentage of women members of national parliament”, displayed an insignificant impact on traditional and sustainable economic growth models. In conclusion, this study suggests that policymakers should prioritize targeted interventions to alleviate employed poverty, enhance healthcare, and boost education spending. Moreover, promoting women’s representation in national parliaments should be approached with context-specific strategies to maximize its impact on economic growth.

Cooperatives entities have a great contribution in socioeconomic development of nations, whether developing and developed countries. The National vision 2050 cooperatives are expected to contribute immensely. At regional level, cooperatives have been included in strategies to achieve Africa Agenda 2063. Internationally, cooperatives are among strategies to achieve the global agenda 2023 through the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs- 2030)(MINICOM, 2018). Cooperatives activities contributed directly to achievement of some SDGs such as SDG 1: end poverty in all its forms everywhere especially help in enhancing resilience and production capacity, and better distribution of income among citizens. SDG-2: End hunger, achieve food security and improve nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture where 48% of registered cooperatives are distributed in the agricultural activities which are farming, livestock and fishing activities. They also contribute to SDG-5: Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls. In this line cooperative entities are promoting members economic participation and provide basic framework for the economic and social empowerment of women and girls. SDG-8: Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all. In this perspective cooperatives are considered as primary production entities which are to procure economic production in terms of diversification, processing, technological upgrading and innovation. This is job creation and value chains enhancement, then contribute to economic growth of respective nations.SDG-12: Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns where cooperatives contribute to production activities such as agriculture activities (MINICOM, 2018).

From the perspective of an individual country, it is necessary to implement a series of policy measures and strategies to achieve long-term multiple goals and targets. As a result, whether adjustments or changes in institutions can be timely aligned from the short term to the long term becomes vital. Since “[p]romote sustained, inclusive, and sustainable economic growth” and “[e]nsure sustainable consumption and production patterns” have been clearly stated in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 8 and 12, respectively, it is necessary to make an institutional transition from the conventional linear economy to a circular and sustainable economy. This transition involves substantial changes in the value structure of society’s institutions. For instance, the mainstream curricula have little relevance to the subject matter of sustainability and should be revised to accommodate more socio-economic elements of sustainability in the original institutional economics (OIE) tradition.

This commentary argues that a psychological approach is vital for achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 8, “promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all.” By highlighting the importance of human well-being as both an outcome and an input to economic processes, this commentary contends that psychological insights transcend purely economic ways of viewing sustainable economic development. Key findings from Industrial-Organizational Psychology illustrate the benefits of improving workers’ quality of life, supporting dignity and psychological needs, and fostering entrepreneurship to enhance economic growth and stability. These insights, focusing on individual well-being and productivity, offer a unique lens through which to view the potential and capabilities of economies. This commentary underscores the necessity of disseminating these insights to policymakers, leaders, and voters to inspire action toward sustainable development.

In 2015, Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) towards 2030 were adopted by the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). Goal 8 of this agenda addresses the issues of ‘Economic Growth’ and ‘Decent Work’ under the banner of ‘Sustainable Development.’ The goal is aspirational; it aims to uphold sustainable development through “sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all” (UNGA, Transforming our world: The 2030 agenda for sustainable development, 2015, p. 14). This goal is, for the International Labour Organization (ILO), a key to sustainable development as it is a critical driver of multiple other goals in SDGs (ILO, Decent work and the 2030 agenda for sustainable development, 2017).

A decadal outlook for global aquaculture

United Nations adopted in 2015 seventeen Sustainable Development Goals to be achieved in 2030.The main goals are: ending poverty, ending hunger, achieving equity in heath, education, water treatment and sanitation, full and productive employment for all, sustainable economic growth, sustainable consumption and production pattern, combat climate change and other environmental goals. There are many constraints encountering the achievements of these goal.These constraints are basically financial and political. This paper emphasizes that these goals cannot be achieved without large scale of international financial support in term of grants and easy term loans. In addition, UN has to play its role in preserving international peace and security which are the basic elements in sustainable development. Time frame for achieving sustainable development goals should be extended ,probably, to the mid of this century.

The Sustainable Development Goals (SGDs) call for an end to all poverty and marked improvements in health for all. The linkages of health to poverty reduction and to long-term economic growth have been shown to be much stronger than has been generally understood. The WHO Commission on Social Determinants of Health elucidated the close connexions between conditions of poverty and maladies which include several non-communicable diseases (NCDs), associated with these conditions. Strong evidence links poverty, poor employment and working conditions (exposure to occupational risks), lack of education, and other social determinants to NCDs, creating a vicious cycle, whereby worsen poverty through their impact, while poverty results in rising rates of such diseases. At the same time, because of the magnitude of illness, disabilities and premature deaths they cause and the long-term care required, they reduce productivity and increase healthcare costs, thereby weakening national economic development. Decent work is now at the forefront of the new sustainable development agenda, which for the first time explicitly refers to full and productive employment and decent work for all as a means of achieving sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth (SDG 8), and include goals relating to protecting labour rights and promoting safe and secure working environments of all workers, including migrant workers, women workers, and those in precarious employment. The SDGs also include a number of additional targets and goals, which have implications for health safety and wellbeing (e.g. SDG3, 4, 5, 10 and 12). The SGDs recognise that inclusive and sustainable economic growth is not only linked to the number of economically active people and economic output, but also to the conditions in which they work. However, much still needs to be done to improve working conditions and promote decent work and, consequently, sustainable and inclusive growth.

In recent years, many countries have focused on sustainable development issues in their economic policies. In turn, institutional quality is important for ensuring the sustainable development of the state. One of the key Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is Goal 8 - Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all (SDG8). Achieving this goal is particularly important both for Ukraine, which has faced serious demographic problems due to Russian military aggression, and for Poland, which has accepted a large number of refugees from Ukraine.The aim of the article is to determine the role of institutional quality in ensuring the implementation of SDG8 for Poland and Ukraine. To achieve this objective, the paper uses the following methods: visualisation, calculation of Spearman's rank correlation coefficients, logarithmic transformations, Augmented Dickey-Fuller test (ADF test), and Granger causality test. The study uses the World Bank's SDG 8 indicators as well as the Worldwide Governance Indicators (WGI) for Ukraine and Poland. The data cover the period from 1996 to 2020.The calculation results showed that the correlations between WGI and SDG8 indicators are country-specific. The Granger test demonstrated that causal relationships between WGI and SDG8 indicators in the first and second differences of logarithms vary for Ukraine and Poland. The identified patterns allow us to conclude that the impact of the institutional environment on economic performance has cross-country variations. In addition, the comparison of data for Ukraine and Poland shows that different institutions in the countries have dissimilar effects on employment and productivity by sector. All calculations were carried out by EViews 12 and Statistica programmes.

The growth in population and economic activities has direct implications on the deterioration of the natural capital, especially when referring to the increase in greenhouse gas emissions. However, improvement is possible by empowering sustainable consumption and production patterns. Through the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the United Nations call for a mix of economic development, environmental sustainability, and social inclusion. The agenda also provides the instruments needed to track progress, as each Sustainable Development Goal has a set of indicators meant to assess various dimensions of sustainability. Energy productivity is only one of many, but still special because it reflects sustainable consumption behaviors and production patterns. The 2030 Climate Target Plan elaborated by the European Commission consolidates and brings its contribution to the aims of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development by adding weight to the importance of the greenhouse gas emissions target. The objective of this research was to study the relationship between energy productivity, greenhouse gas emissions, biowaste recycling and nominal GDP in the EU in order to highlight the key of a smooth transition towards sustainable consumption behaviors and production patterns. The results show that recycling, greening the economy and energy productivity are the vectors of this transition.

Objective: This study examines the role of customs cooperation in trade facilitation within the ASEAN region, with a particular focus on its alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Specifically, the research aims to analyze the impact of ASEAN’s customs integration initiatives on regional economic growth (SDG 8), cross-border trade efficiency, and sustainable industrial development (SDG 9), while emphasizing the role of international and regional partnerships (SDG 17) in strengthening trade governance. Theoretical Framework: The study is grounded in international trade law and regional economic integration theories, emphasizing the role of regulatory cooperation in trade facilitation. It draws upon WTO’s Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA), the World Customs Organization (WCO) standards, and ASEAN’s legal instruments governing trade and customs procedures. The SDG framework is utilized to evaluate the broader socio-economic and environmental impacts of trade facilitation, with a particular emphasis on its contribution to inclusive economic growth (SDG 8), industrial development and innovation (SDG 9), and global trade partnerships (SDG 17). Method: A qualitative research approach is adopted, utilizing legal and policy analysis of ASEAN trade facilitation agreements, reports from international organizations, and empirical studies on regional trade efficiency. Comparative analysis is employed to assess the disparities in customs infrastructure, digitalization, and regulatory alignment among ASEAN member states, highlighting how these factors influence the achievement of sustainable industrialization (SDG 9) and the facilitation of cross-border trade partnerships (SDG 17). Results and Discussion: The findings indicate that ASEAN’s customs cooperation mechanisms have significantly streamlined cross-border trade procedures, reducing transaction costs and improving regional economic integration. These advancements have enhanced economic productivity and job creation (SDG 8) and supported the modernization of trade-related infrastructure (SDG 9). However, challenges persist, including legal inconsistencies in customs regulations, disparities in digital capabilities among AMS, and institutional barriers arising from ASEAN’s consensus-based decision-making model. These limitations hinder the full implementation of paperless trade initiatives and the efficiency of customs data exchange, restricting ASEAN’s ability to foster strong international trade partnerships (SDG 17). Research Implications: The study highlights the necessity for ASEAN to develop a harmonized legal framework for cross-border data flows, enhance digital infrastructure in less-developed AMS, and advance the legal unification of customs regulations. Strengthening institutional agility in ASEAN decision-making is also critical for expediting trade facilitation reforms. These recommendations are essential for enhancing economic opportunities (SDG 8), promoting digital and industrial innovation (SDG 9), and fostering a more integrated and rules-based multilateral trade system (SDG 17). Originality/Value: This research contributes to the literature by providing a comprehensive legal and policy analysis of ASEAN customs cooperation in the context of trade facilitation and sustainable development. By integrating trade law principles with sustainable economic growth (SDG 8), industrial modernization (SDG 9), and global trade partnerships (SDG 17), the study offers valuable insights for policymakers, trade negotiators, and businesses engaged in ASEAN’s economic integration.

According to IISD (International Institute for Sustainable Development) “sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs’’. However, many organizations focus on short-term profits while the contribution of human resource management towards sustainable development is pushed to the margins. Intensive labour practices, poor working conditions and poor work systems in Kenya are some of the issues that have been found not to contribute towards sustainability in organizations and in keeping with the 8th sustainable development goal of Promoting “sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all”. Lack of focus on sustainable human resource management practices will make it difficult for Kenya to achieve Vision 2030 as well as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG-goals). Sustainable Human Resource management focuses on managing the people resources in an organization so as to achieve long-term sustainable goals that not only benefit the organization but also the society and the environment at large. This Paper is a literature review and analysis on sustainable Human Resource Management and its benefits to the employees, their families and society at large by exploring sustainable HR practices, sustainable work systems and sustainable resource management that also provide for the sustainable performance of organizations in keeping with the need for corporate sustainability. The paper also explores reporting on sustainable HRM practices as part of corporate sustainability reporting in Nairobi Securities Exchange-listed firms

The relentless devastating impacts of global warming and other climate change effects leading to incessant ecological damages have compelled governments across the globe to rethink the pattern of natural resource depletion. This has motivated policymakers, governments, international organizations, and research pundits alike to advocate for a transition to sustainable consumption and production of natural resources. Consequently, there is a growing call for sustainable production and consumption practices, as outlined in Sustainable Development Goal 12 (SDG‐12). This research probes how natural resource production and consumption facilitate or hinder environmental sustainability in G7 economies from 1996 to 2020. The empirical evidence incorporates green energy, green technology, green finance, environmental tax, financial development, economic growth, and population as control variables within the STIRPAT theoretical framework. Second‐generation estimating techniques are utilized for empirical verification. An outstanding contribution of this study among others is the estimation of the moderating effects of green energy in mitigating the ensuing impact of natural resources on environmental sustainability. The results indicate that both production and consumption of natural resources, particularly coal and oil negatively affect environmental sustainability. Furthermore, green technology, energy, and finance as well as environmental tax are found to play a crucial role in promoting environmental sustainability. Green technology plays significant part in subduing the deteriorating effects of natural resources on the ecosystem. The robustness analyses further buttress the main analyses. Policy recommendations are proposed based on the empirical results.

Purpose of the study: Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) proposed by the United Nations (UN) in 2015 comprising a universally acceptable worldwide development agenda which each country of the world has to achieve till 2030. The purpose of this study is to examine the socio-economic and political transformational challenges confronted to South Asian Countries (SA) i.e. Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka, in achieving the targets of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Methodology: The study uses different statistics of World Bank, International Monetary Fund (IMF), World Health Organizations (WHO), and Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) to give a comprehensive picture of South Asian economies and the challenges which they are currently facing for achieving the targets of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In our preliminary analysis, the methodology highlighted the issues of South Asian Countries such as poverty (SDG 1), healthy lives and well-being (SDG 3), inclusive and equitable quality education (SDG 4), sustained, inclusive, and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all (SDG 8)". Principal Findings: The statistics presented regarding South Asian economies exhibit a dismal picture. At present, the attainment of these stipulated goals seems impossible and remains elusive if some serious measures have not been taken. The role of DCs and the world community as a whole is significant in this regard. To save the planet from extreme poverty, hunger, malnutrition, equitable access to modern technology, improved education and health for all human beings, the developed countries should give at least one percent of their GNP in the form of development assistance to poor countries. The study suggests that good governance that could undertake and implement structural reforms is necessary to deal with the challenges confronting to South Asian countries in achieving the targets of these stipulated goals. More importantly, the Developed Countries (DCs) started to implement their strategies to view SDGs' targets. Now it is a dire need that DCs should assist the Under Developed Countries (UDCs) and help them from their experience in identifying the transformational challenges which they possibly have to face in achieving SDGs' targets. Otherwise, it looks impossible for the UDCs to come up with these targets till 2030. Applications of this study: The study highlighted some key challenges that South Asian countries face to achieve the targets of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The study outcomes can prove very much helpful for South Asian countries for achieving these targets and devising thriving economic policies generous to attaining their targets till 2030. Novelty/Originality of this study: This study gives a brief picture of the current position of the South Asian countries where they stand regard to Sustainable Development Goals' targets. Moreover, the results and policy recommendations presented at the end of the study provides help to deal with the challenges that are big hindrances in achieving the targets of these SDGs.