Spain ranked 21st globally on sustainable development

A new report by the SNSD ranks Spain 21st out of 162 countries in terms of sustainable development, with a total score of 77.8. The Netherlands ranks ninth with a score of 80.4. Denmark, Sweden and Finland top the 2019 SDG Index.

The Index and ranking were designed based on the 17 SDG which were unanimously adopted in 2015 by the UN’s 193 member states, the 2019 report states that, for the time being, no country in the world has achieved all 17 SDG. According to available trend data, no country is on track for achieving these SDG by 2030, including Spain.

2019 SDG Index

 

Country Profiles

Once again, Denmark (with a score of 85.2), Sweden (85.0) and Finland (82.8) top the SDG Index. Spain ranks 21st with a score of 77.8.

ES performance

                            Spain. Overall performance and Spillover index

NL performance

                            The Netherlands. Overall performance and Spillover index

Spain obtains its best results on SDG6 (Clean Water and Sanitation) and SDG7 (Affordable and Clean Energy). Its performance on SDG3 (Good Health and Well-Being) and SDG4 (Quality Education) is also quite positive, although greater efforts are needed to address relatively high smoking rates and ensure equal opportunities for all population groups.

ES trends

                            Spain. SDG dashboard and SDG trends

Nl trends

                           The Netherlands. SDG dashboard and SDG trends

In Spain, like other high-income countries, high levels of CO2 emissions and pollution and threats to biodiversity will require major transformation to achieve the SDG by 2030. The sustainable use of land, covered by SDG2 (Zero Hunger) demands transformative actions in Spain. The country also generates negative environmental externalities (or spillovers) which undermine other countries’ ability to achieve the SDG.

The European Commission Join Research Centre has successfully audited the report for the first time.

The full report in English is available here: https://s3.amazonaws.com/sustainabledevelopment.report/2019/2019_sustainable_development_report.pdf

Source: retema.es