SDG16 addresses a divided world, where some regions enjoy sustained levels of peace, security, and prosperity and others fail to move out of a cycle of conflict and violence.
It is a comprehensive goal, with targets that are hard to quantify. Even when quantification is possible, different and deficient data sets preclude within and between region comparisons.
The dimensions of SDG16 are relevant for all regions, but addressing them is often more challenging in developing countries. Conflict and insecurity are linked to poverty eradication and sustainable development. Marginalized countries and populations are generally more affected by violence. For many of the poorest countries in the world, violence and insecurity hinder poverty reduction and achievement of economic growth. By 2030, 75 % of people in extreme poverty will live in countries at risk from high levels of violence.
ROW and BRISE score high on both violence and corruption, and get a red rating. USA and OECD get a rating of yellow on both targets. China is borderline and also gets a yellow rating. All assessments here have high uncertainty, but the challenges seem overwhelming for the least developed countries (LDCs).
Five regions: USA, OECD (excl. USA), China, BRISE (Brazil, Russia, India, South Africa and 10 other emerging economies), ROW (rest of the world).
Green light: Goal likely to be reached.
Orange light: Goal not likely to be reached, but more than 50% of the gap between today's status and the goal is likely to be closed.
Red light: Goal not likely to be reached, and less than 50% of the gap between today's status and the goal is likely to be closed.
Our world is a divided one. Some regions enjoy sustained levels of peace, security, and prosperity, while others fail to move out of a cycle of conflict and violence. Promoting peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development will rely on effective, accountable, and inclusive institutions.
Can the private sector help? As a trailblazing social investor, John Streur, CEO at Calvert Investments, certainly believes so. For him, the minimum requirement is the expectation that corporations behave in a responsible manner. However, investing for financial and social return means that Calvert seeks out companies that show positive leadership in improving environmental and societal outcomes, and actively works with companies to enhance their impact. This includes impacts in areas that pertain directly to this SDG such as civil rights, conflict minerals, labour conditions, diversity and corruption.
We are living in a global capitalist system, in which the activities of corporations have a significant impact on the lives of virtually everyone on the planet. "If we are unable to improve those behaviours", says Streur, "the implication is that, based on this forecast, we will not significantly improve the security and the opportunity for the part of the population that is least able to benefit from our global capitalist system."