Sustainable Development Goal 9 (SDG 9 or Goal 9) is about “industry, innovation and infrastructure” and is one of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 2015. SDG 9 aims to build resilient infrastructure, promote sustainable industrialization and foster innovation.
SDG 9 has eight targets, and progress is measured by twelve indicators. The first five targets are outcome targets: develop sustainable, resilient and inclusive infrastructures; promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization; increase access to financial services and markets; upgrade all industries and infrastructures for sustainability; enhance research and upgrade industrial technologies. The remaining three targets are means of implementation targets: Facilitate sustainable infrastructure development for developing countries; support domestic technology development and industrial diversification; universal access to information and communications technology.
In 2019, it was reported that “the intensity of global carbon dioxide emissions has declined by nearly one quarter since 2000, showing a general decoupling of carbon dioxide emissions from GDP growth”. Millions of people are still unable to access the internet due to cost, coverage, and other reasons. It is estimated that just 54% of the world’s population are currently (in 2020) internet users.
Background
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are focused on creating a better world for the future generation. SDG 9 is an important future goal among the 17 SDGs. SDG 9 is based on building resilient infrastructure and sustainable industrialization, apart from that encouraging innovation is also included in SDG 9. There are 8 targets within SDG 9 along with 12indicators. Currently, SDG 9 has many impacts on the ecosystem, mainly forest based. The UN explains: “Investments in infrastructure – transport, irrigation, energy and information and communication technology – are crucial to achieving sustainable development and empowering communities in many countries. It has long been recognized that growth in productivity and incomes, and improvements in health and education outcomes require investment in infrastructure.”
The aim of attaining inclusive and sustainable industrialization is to “unleash dynamic and competitive economic forces that generate employment and income”. This goal includes striving for resilience (engineering and construction) and urban resilience.
SDG 9 recognizes that humanity’s ability to connect and communicate effectively, move people and things efficiently, and develop new skills, industries and technology, is crucial in overcoming the many interlinked economic, social and environmental challenges in the 21st century.
In order to have a successful community, a functioning and strong infrastructure has to be in place as its basic requirement. SDG 9 is all about promoting innovative and sustainable technologies and ensuring equal and universal access to information and financial markets.
The technological development in infrastructure is what gives rise to a sustainable society. This is expected to create prosperity and jobs and build stable and prosperous societies across the globe. The key emphasis is on developing reliable and sustainable infrastructural solutions that support economic development as well as human well-being, while also ensuring financial affordability. This goal aims at ensuring every society in the world possess good infrastructure.
Achieving SDG 9 will require significant financing and political will. Key challenges include improving internet access in developing countries, inadequate transport, (particularly in land-locked developing countries) and the disparity of Research and Development investment and the number of researchers in developing countries when compared to developed countries.
| Targets | Indicator(s) |
|---|---|
| 9.1 Develop quality, reliable, sustainable and resilient infrastructure, including regional and transborder infrastructure, to support economic development and human well-being, with a focus on affordable and equitable access for all | 9.1.1 Proportion of the rural population who live within 2 km of an all-season road 9.1.2 Passenger and freight volumes, by mode of transport |
| 9.2 Promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and, by 2030, significantly raise industry’s share of employment and gross domestic product, in line with national circumstances, and double its share in least developed countries | 9.2.1 Manufacturing value added as a proportion of GDP and per capita 9.2.2 Manufacturing employment as a proportion of total employment |
| 9.3 Increase the access of small-scale industrial and other enterprises, in particular in developing countries, to financial services, including affordable credit, and their integration into value chains and markets | 9.3.1 Proportion of small-scale industries in total industry value added 9.3.2 Proportion of small-scale industries with a loan or line of credit |
| 9.4 By 2030, upgrade infrastructure and retrofit industries to make them sustainable, with increased resource-use efficiency and greater adoption of clean and environmentally sound technologies and industrial processes, with all countries taking action in accordance with their respective capabilities | 9.4.1 CO2 emission per unit of value added |
| 9.5 Enhance scientific research, upgrade the technological capabilities of industrial sectors in all countries, in particular developing countries, including, by 2030, encouraging innovation and substantially increasing the number of research and development workers per 1 million people and public and private research and development spending | 9.5.1 Research and development expenditure as a proportion of GDP 9.5.2 Researchers (in full-time equivalent) per million inhabitants |
| 9.a Facilitate sustainable and resilient infrastructure development in developing countries through enhanced financial, technological and technical support to African countries, least developed countries, landlocked developing countries and small island developing States | 9.a.1 Total official international support (official development assistance plus other official flows) to infrastructure |
| 9.b Support domestic technology development, research and innovation in developing countries, including by ensuring a conducive policy environment for, inter alia, industrial diversification and value addition to commodities | 9.b.1 Proportion of medium and high-tech industry value added in total value added |
| 9.c Significantly increase access to information and communications technology and strive to provide universal and affordable access to the Internet in least developed countries by 2020 | 9.c.1 Proportion of population covered by a mobile network, by technology |
Custodian agencies
The custodian agencies are responsible for data gathering and reporting on the indicators. They are:
- For Indicator 9.1.1: World Bank (WB)
- For Indicator 9.1.2: International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and International Transport Forum- Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (ITF-OECD)
- Both indicators under Target 9.2 and for Indicator 9.3.1 and Indicator 9.b.1: United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO).
- For Indicator 9.3.2: United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and World Bank (WB)
- For the two indicators under Target 9.4: United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and International Energy Agency (IEA)
- For the two Indicators under Target 9.5: UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UNESCO-UIS)
- For Indicator 9.a.1: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)
- For Indicator 9.c.1: International Telecommunication Union (ITU)
Links with other SDGs
SDG 9 “Industries, Innovation, & Infrastructure”, like every other SDG, has a direct impact on the other 16 SDGs.
Organizations
UN system
- United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO)
- World Bank (WB)
- International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)
- International Transport Forum-Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (ITF-OECD)
- International Energy Agency (IEA)
- UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UNESCO-UIS)
- Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)
- International Telecommunication Union (ITU)
Importance of SDG9
SDG 9 is important for all countries to develop their economic growth in a sustainable way and also develop a forest-based economy. Industrialization is essential for every country but at the same time, it is also necessary to build an environment-friendly infrastructure that can support the country’s economy and protect the ecosystem. Technology is playing a critical role to develop an environment-friendly infrastructure in order to achieve the targets of SDG 9. The targets of SDG 9 are proposed to bring ecological modernization based on research and technology to make a bridge between economic growth and sustainable development of the environment.
– Importance of building sustainable Infrastructure in underdeveloped countries
Underdeveloped countries face problems regarding supportive infrastructure, and it leads to the loss of different business activities. As a result, the economy of those countries is also affected by this type of less productive business activity. In order to support those countries in the sustainable development of their industries, SDG 9 has been designed. SDG 9 supports the development of Infrastructure in underdeveloped countries with the help of modem technologies and develops the overall ecosystem of the country. In order to support the socio economic structure of underdeveloped countries such as the African continent and boost technological progress, the targets of SDG 9 play an important role. SDG 9 targets are focused on investment in different sectors such as transport, agriculture, energy and many more to speed up the industrialization process and support the employment of those countries. Nowadays countries understand the needfor sustainable development in different sectors, and they focus more on the innovation of new products and strategies which can support their economy and build a better ecosystem. Underdeveloped countries are now taking steps towards the stability of the electric supply to provide more value in their industry and after all, it will help to boost their economy. The transportation system plays a great role in any economy to determine the price of the products. More stoppage in the transportation and unavailability of good transportation systems increase the prices of transported goods. In order to cut down the cost of transportation SDG 9 targets are helping the countries. The availability of roads increases the availability of different technologies and medical equipment, which helps the growth of the population around the roadside and increases the sustainable development of that particular population.
SDG 9 and India
Indian government has taken multiple flagship programmes for example Make in India, Start-up India. Through these flagship programmes, the Indian government is increasing opportunities for fostering innovations. The development of reliable infrastructure will help the effective delivery from these flagship programmes in terms of improved living conditions from an increase in industrial growth and human resource development.
Under the Make in India programme, the government invited companies from outside India to set up manufacturing units in the country assuring them all facilities required for the purpose. Special efforts were made to reach to the world community with the advantages in terms of a huge and qualified manpower, security and friendly government attitude towards investors.
Evaluation of Sustainable Industrialization
As per the industrialization report of 2022, the world economy shaken by the pandemic has started to bounce back. The manufacturing industry plays an important role in increasing resilience. The mission of UNIDO is to make policies and multiple organizations to fight against hunger, sustainable development, and energy access for all. Under the mission of UNIDO standard and fair trade is necessary for global industry. UNIDO in partnership with other developed countries/regions tends to overcome the challenges of industries in under developed and developing countries.
Communication industry after the pandemic has shown quite fast growth in the world. At present more than half the people of the world are connected online and the areas are covered with mobile networks. The World Bank has estimated that almost 4.5 % of GDP along with climate change mitigation and adaptation for sustainable development. An investment of $434 billion per year is needed to tackle the climate change related problems alone.
FOR MORE DETAIL DISCUSSION ON SDG 9 – INDUSTRY, INNOVATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE, LISTEN TO THE PODCAST EPISODE ON ‘RESEARCH WITH NJ’.
Naman Jain 