Great Transitions- Doubling down on the Sustainable Development Goals

“17 Rooms 2020 is a yearly convening of leading experts and practitioners brought together by the Brookings Institution and The Rockefeller Foundation to channel ideas and energy into actions for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)” which are being used as a “North Star” to guide action out of the crisis. The 17 rooms have identified four Great Transitions: for justice, for the environment, for technology, and for the next generation.

The 17 Rooms Secretariat highlights these four transitions and provides a framework for leaders to build and respond to the challenges. They recognise that COVID-19 pandemic has inevitably exposed the fragility of the world, exacerbating existing inequalities and the unfair distribution of burdens and grievances. Managing the pandemic in itself is an extremely difficult task and doing so whilst addressing other complex issues, such as climate chinage, discrimination adds significantly to the difficulty. Global leadership and a willingness to cooperate are crucial to the continued fight against the virus simultaneously with promotion of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). 

Toward Justice for all: One major standpoint of the report is the interconnectedness of inequalities and how these have been epitomised during the pandemic, making it clear that when left unaddressed the impact on imbalances of justice is detrimental. Encouraging leaders to adopt a stance which is inclusive of all areas of society, particularly the marginalised, provides a range of actions to ensure efforts are focused towards justice for all.

Towards blue-green replenishment: Increasingly science and business leaders are recognising the profitability of natural capital and its contribution to economic and social development. Doubling down to protect ecosystems in order to reap the significant benefits of a positive relationship between humanity and nature is outlined as an issue of paramount importance to support all societies. The actions for 2021 provide a significant framework for leaders and individuals at all levels of society to understand and strengthen blue-green priorities. 

Towards equitable technology infrastructure: A number of technological breakthroughs and advancements, particularly since the start of the pandemic have highlighted technology to be one of the world’s most powerful platforms to respond to and identity challenges. The 17 Rooms secretariat outline the huge impact of this tool as well as key goals for leaders to build on its capacity.

Towards generational transition: Leadership is at the core of all that we do, the report identifies investment in youth leaders and intergenerational collaboration as a fundamental principle for development. Both the successes and failings seen throughout 2020 both in the COVID-19 pandemic and amid other crises can be drawn back to leadership capacity. It has become clear that the youth provide invaluable contributions to the way leaders must operate going forwards. Building on this opportunity to collaborate and include multiple fresh perspectives is imperative. The 17 Rooms Secretariats recognition of this is hugely signifciant in paving the way for new, more effective forms of leadership to emerge.

As we move towards 2021, the report builds on the current concerning state of the issues outlined, however it proceeds to highlight several grounds for optimism going forward and the hope of inspiring individuals to take advantage of these opportunities to act in the interest of sustainability, inclusion and leadership.

Read the full report here: Great Transitions Doubling Down on the Sustainable Goals.