GCU contributes to UK report on Sustainable Development Goals

Professor John McKendrick

The UK is not fulfilling its commitments to create a sustainable and fairer society, according to a new report.

Measuring Up 2.0, published by the UN Global Compact Network UK, highlights a continued lack of progress by the UK Government towards delivering the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The UK is only performing well on 17% of the targets relevant to the domestic delivery of the Goals, with no change registered in 65 of the targets and regression recorded in 18 areas.

More than 100 businesses, charities, academics, and professional associations have taken part in Measuring Up 2.0.

GCU's Professor John McKendrick and Professor Natascha Radclyffe-Thomas have authored two chapters in the influential report, out today.

Glasgow Caledonian University was the first university to use the 17 global goals to shape its research strategy.

Professor McKendrick, writing about SDG1: No Poverty, said: "Food banks should not be part of the social support landscape. But as the number of users continues to increase, our most vulnerable are becoming ever more reliant on charitable acts and goodwill."

The co-director of the Scottish Poverty and Inequality Research Unit at GCU added: "Unless the UK adopts a different approach... the prospect of achieving SDG 1 is a remote possibility."

Sustainable Development Goal 12

Professor Radclyffe-Thomas, of GCU's British School of Fashion, examined Sustainable Development Goal 12: Responsible Consumption and Production.

She said: "Although a focus on recycling is necessary, there is a risk that we become complacent and fail to make significant changes to total consumption levels.

"Without addressing these, the UK will continue to overconsume beyond planetary boundaries."

The report looks at each of the 17 SDGs and 169 targets and uses existing public policy and published data to understand the UK’s performance.

The UN Global Compact Network UK is asking for clear Government leadership supported by action from businesses to ensure the UK achieves the SDGs as quickly as possible.

Lord McConnell, Co-Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on the UN Global Goals, said: "National and local government in the UK need to up their game, setting out clear targets and measuring their impact. We cannot afford to leave more people behind, at home or around the world."

Steve Kenzie, Executive Director of the UN Global Compact Network UK, added: “Measuring Up 2.0 provides a vital assessment of the UK’s progress towards the future we want.

"Unfortunately, it’s not a success story yet, but there is cause for hope. With strong leadership, there is tremendous potential to mobilise our resources and deliver the change we need to achieve the SDGs by 2030.”