Jeffrey Sachs’s 12 Grand Challenges for Sustainable Development

Last month Professor Jeffrey Sachs, renowned economist and Director of the Earth Institute at Columbia University, stopped by GW’s Elliott School of International Affairs to discuss the future research agenda for sustainable development. Sachs spoke extensively about what exactly sustainable development means, and how “dangerously off-course” he considers the world to be.

His core theme: that there are no easy answers to be had, and hard decisions lie ahead.

Sachs closed by presenting twelve “Grand Challenges” for a sustainable future, the twelve issues he sees as absolutely essential to moving this planet forward. Explore the interactive video below to hear what Sachs thinks the big challenges ahead are.

1. Identifying Boundaries to Economic Growth
2. Identifying Pathways for the World’s Toughest Regions
3. Securing Minority and Gender Rights
4. Ensuring Proper Childhood Development
5. Creating Affordable Healthcare Systems
6. Providing Low Carbon Energy for All
7. Establishing Sustainable Smallholder Agriculture
8. Protecting Major Ecosystems Under Stress
9. Developing a Toolkit for Urban Sustainability
10. Developing Sustainable Mining and Land Use Policies
11. Designing Equitable Standards for the Global Commons
12. Redefining Corporate Responsibility and Governance

1. 
   On April 4th, 2013 at 5:53 pm Mike DeVito Said:

   test comment

2. 
   On April 4th, 2013 at 6:00 pm Dan Reed Said:

   Love this post!