Achieving the ambitious UN sustainable development goals — which aim to end poverty, boost shared prosperity and promote sustainability, between now and 2030 — will require overcoming some major obstacles, ranging from securing enough financing and tackling climate change to managing macroeconomic shocks. But there is one potential obstacle that could turn out to be a blessing in disguise: the diverse demographic shifts that will take place. By the time the sustainable development goals agenda reaches its end date, there will be an estimated 8.5-billion people worldwide. And 20 years later — just 34 years from now — there will be nearly 10-billion, or nearly 2.5-billion more people than there are on Earth today. What will such a world look like? Where will those additional people live? How will they make their living? Will they bolster or weigh down economies? For clues, we can look 35 years back, to the early 1980s. US president Ronald Reagan, Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping, British ...
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Subscribe now to unlock this article.
Support BusinessLIVE’s award-winning journalism for R129 per month (digital access only).
There’s never been a more important time to support independent journalism in SA. Our subscription packages now offer an ad-free experience for readers.
Cancel anytime.
Questions? Email helpdesk@businesslive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00. Got a subscription voucher? Redeem it now.