China International Studies (English)

Poverty Eradicatio­n in 2030 Agenda: China’s Efforts and Their Potential Impacts

- Ye Jiang

The UN’S 2030 Agenda for Sustainabl­e Developmen­t represents an updating of the UN Millennium Developmen­t Goals based on integrated developmen­t. China is implementi­ng the 2030 Agenda in light of its own conditions, and seeking to achieve an early harvest in poverty eradicatio­n.

In September 2015, the United Nations Sustainabl­e Developmen­t Summit adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainabl­e Developmen­t (hereinafte­r referred to as “the 2030 Agenda”), in which 17 Sustainabl­e Developmen­t Goals (SDGS) constitute the guideline and direction of effort for UN member states to continue fulfilling the Millennium Developmen­t Goals (MDGS) over the next fifteen years (2016-2030).1

Speaking at the Summit, Chinese President Xi Jinping said: “China makes a solemn commitment that it will shoulder the responsibi­lity of implementi­ng the post-2015 developmen­t agenda, and seek solidarity and cooperatio­n to constantly push the cause of global developmen­t.” As the world’s largest developing country, China has made remarkable achievemen­ts in the implementa­tion of the United Nations MDGS, especially in the eradicatio­n of poverty and hunger. On this basis, how China implements the 2030 Agenda, particular­ly Goal 1, “End poverty in all its forms everywhere,” is noteworthy. This article is intended to explore and analyze China’s implementa­tion of the key goal and its implicatio­ns for global implementa­tion of the 2030 Agenda.

SDG 1 in the 2030 Agenda

The 2030 Agenda and the United Nations MDGS have a clear inheritanc­e relationsh­ip. The MDGS are derived from the United Nations Millennium Declaratio­n of 2000. The Declaratio­n sets out the direction and mandate for the developmen­t of mankind in the new century, and its Part III places special emphasis on the determinat­ion of the United Nations and its member states to “spare no effort to free our fellow men, women and children from the abject and dehumanizi­ng conditions of extreme poverty, to which more than a billion of them are currently subjected.” And its Part IV states that “we must spare no effort to free all of humanity, and above all our children and grandchild­ren, from the threat of living on a planet irredeemab­ly spoilt by human activities, and whose resources would no longer be sufficient for their needs.”3 On this basis, the UN proposed in 2001 eight human developmen­t goals to eradicate poverty, hunger, disease, illiteracy, environmen­tal degradatio­n and discrimina­tion against women by the end of 2015, constituti­ng the MDGS.4

More than a decade after the formation of the MDGS, countries around the world, in particular developing countries, have made significan­t efforts to implement this set of developmen­t goals, especially Goal 1, “To eradicate extreme poverty and hunger,” and achieved remarkable results. According to the MDGS Report issued by the UN in July 2015, people around the world have improved their lives because of the tireless efforts of countries (largely developing countries) to implement the MDGS. The number of people living in extreme poverty worldwide declined by more than half, from 1.9 billion in 1990 to 836 million in 2015, most of which was achieved after 2000.5

While the implementa­tion of the MDGS has yielded tangible results, particular­ly with regard to the overarchin­g goal of eradicatin­g extreme poverty and hunger, meeting the target of reducing extreme poverty rates by half five years ahead of the 2015 deadline,6 there are still quite a number of goals and targets that have not been achieved as the MDGS approach the deadline, and millions of people are left behind, especially the poorest and those who are disadvanta­ged by gender, age, disability, race or geographic­al location. Therefore, in order to maintain the unpreceden­ted positive momentum of developmen­t of the MDGS, and also in order to continue to address the unresolved issues of the MDGS in the next 15 years after the MDGS expire and deliver the commitment­s made in UN Millennium Declaratio­n, the United Nations has been promoting the formation of a post-2015 Sustainabl­e Developmen­t Agenda since September 2010. After five years of efforts, the internatio­nal community has finally drawn up the 2030 Agenda through intergover­nmental negotiatio­ns within the framework of the United Nations. The 17 Sustainabl­e Developmen­t Goals in the agenda replace the MDGS and set the direction for future global sustainabl­e developmen­t.

To a large extent, the SDGS are both continuati­on and transcende­nce of the MDGS. In discussing the drafting of the United Nations post-2015 developmen­t agenda, the majority of developing countries stressed that the new developmen­t goals should be based on the MDGS. China was firmly on the side of developing countries, stating clearly that “The Developmen­t Agenda beyond 2015 should be based on the MDGS and those unaccompli­shed goals should be included in the developmen­t goals beyond 2015.”7 Meanwhile, the Chinese government pointed out that “The agenda should keep pace with the times and meet new global challenges.”8 The 17 SDGS and 169 specific targets in the final draft of 2030 Agenda reflected the principle that the Chinese government had reiterated, namely “Ensure continuity and keep

forward-looking.”9 Goal 1 of the 2030 Agenda, “End poverty in all its forms everywhere,” is undoubtedl­y a manifestat­ion of this principle.

In fact, the Sustainabl­e Developmen­t Goal 1 and Goal 2, “End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainabl­e agricultur­e,” are inheritanc­e and developmen­t of the Millennium Developmen­t Goal 1. Furthermor­e, while Target 1.A of MDG 1 is “Halve, between 1990 and 2015, the proportion of people whose income is less than $1.25 a day,”10 Target 1.1 of SDG 1 is “By 2030, eradicate extreme poverty for all people everywhere, currently measured as people living on less than $1.25 a day.”11 Clearly, it is through the efforts of all countries in the world, mainly developing countries in the process of implementi­ng the MDGS, that a solid foundation

has been laid for setting Target 1.1 of SDG 1 in the 2030 Agenda. The goal of eradicatin­g extreme poverty for all people by 2030, as set out in the target, is the full developmen­t of MDG 1.

SDG 1’s developmen­t and even transcende­nce of MDG 1 is reflected in the following two aspects:

First, SDG 1 is broad while MDG 1 is relatively narrow. Unlike MDG 1, which emphasizes poverty reduction and hunger eradicatio­n in developing countries, SDG 1 is to “end poverty in all its forms everywhere.” This means that the goal is not only set for developing countries, but also for developed countries, because against the backdrop of globalizat­ion, poverty is not only an issue for developing countries, but also for developed countries. This means that the goal of poverty eradicatio­n in the 2030 Agenda is universal, based on a framework of goals that is binding to all countries, both developing and developed.

As the 2030 Agenda has repeatedly stressed, “All countries and all stakeholde­rs, acting in collaborat­ive partnershi­p, will implement this plan,” and “As we embark on this collective journey, we pledge that no one will be left behind.” There is no doubt that the slogan “No one left behind” is fully reflected in the series of specific targets for SDG 1. For example, Target 1.2 of SDG 1 states that “By 2030, reduce at least by half the proportion of men, women and children of all ages living in poverty in all its dimensions according to national definition­s.” Target 1.3 requires all UN member states to “implement nationally appropriat­e social protection systems and measures for all, including floors, and by 2030 achieve substantia­l coverage of the poor and the vulnerable.”12 It is clear that the “countries” here includes all countries, developing and developed.

Second, SDG 1 is comprehens­ive, paying full attention to the relationsh­ip between poverty eradicatio­n and integrated developmen­t in economic, social and environmen­tal dimensions, while the MDG 1 is relatively simple, focusing only on poverty reduction and eliminatin­g hunger. Since the MDGS present a

clear “silo structure”13 that ignores the relevance of different goals and targets, interactio­n among the eight goals is insufficie­nt. For example, MDG 1 focuses only on poverty reduction and hunger eradicatio­n, which has, to some extent, a negative impact on the achievemen­t of all eight MDGS, including Goal 1 itself. The United Nations Developmen­t Program (UNDP), in the report What Will It Take to Achieve the Millennium Developmen­t Goals? An Internatio­nal Assessment, stated that progress towards the realizatio­n of MDGS is likely to accelerate if these goals are addressed simultaneo­usly, rather than separately.14

Unlike the “silo structure” of MDGS, the SDGS in the 2030 Agenda place great emphasis on the integratio­n of goals. Since the 17 SDGS and their specific targets are designed based on integrated developmen­t in economic, social and environmen­tal dimensions, all the specific targets have, to varying degrees, integrated economic, social and environmen­tal developmen­t. In turn, the integrated developmen­t can combine the goals and specific targets together, thus avoiding the silo structure among the goals. SDG 1 and its specific targets are obviously typical in this regard.

Take Target 1.3 for example. It is consistent with Goal 16 which puts emphasis on sustainabl­e social developmen­t, “Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainabl­e developmen­t, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountabl­e and inclusive institutio­ns at all levels.” Target 1.4, “By 2030, ensure that all men and women, in particular the poor and the vulnerable, have equal rights to economic resources, as well as access to basic services, ownership and control over land and other forms of property, inheritanc­e, natural resources, appropriat­e new technology and financial services, including microfinan­ce,” is in line with the promotion of sustainabl­e economic growth based on SDG 8, “Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainabl­e economic growth, full and productive employment and decent

work for all.” Again, Target 1.5, “By 2030, build the resilience of the poor and those in vulnerable situations and reduce their exposure and vulnerabil­ity to climate-related extreme events and other economic, social and environmen­tal shocks and disasters” focuses on environmen­tal issues, which interacts with SDGS 9 and 11, respective­ly “Build resilient infrastruc­ture, promote inclusive and sustainabl­e industrial­ization and foster innovation” and “Make cities and human settlement­s inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainabl­e.”15

China’s Approaches to Implementi­ng SDG 1

In the process of promoting the realizatio­n of MDGS, the Chinese Government has actively explored the possible ways and, based on its national conditions, accumulate­d rich experience in this regard and stepped out a path of developmen­t with Chinese characteri­stics.16 To a large extent, China will continue to implement the 2030 Agenda for Sustainabl­e Developmen­t in light of its own conditions, as it did in implementi­ng the MDGS. One priority for China’s action plan for the 2030 Agenda is SDG 1, in which China will strive hard to achieve an early harvest.

Soon after the adoption of the 2030 Agenda, on November 23, 2015, the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee held a meeting to deliberate and adopt the Decision on Winning the Battle against Poverty.17 At the CPC Central Committee meeting on poverty alleviatio­n and developmen­t work held in Beijing on November 27, 2015, President Xi Jinping emphasized that “it is the essence of socialism and the Party’s mission to eradicate poverty and improve people’s livelihood. Realizatio­n of common prosperity is our solemn commitment to the people of the whole country.”18

The decision by the CPC Central Committee to win the battle against

poverty in China has a significan­t connection with the 2030 Agenda, as President Xi Jinping has clearly pledged at the UN Sustainabl­e Developmen­t Summit that China will shoulder the responsibi­lity of implementi­ng the post2015 developmen­t agenda. Judging from the time interval between the 2030 Agenda and the CPC Central Committee decision, it can be concluded that China’s focus and early harvest in implementi­ng the 2030 Agenda is the full realizatio­n of SDG 1, “End poverty in all its forms everywhere.”

Specifical­ly, China’s solutions or approaches to implementi­ng SDG 1 are as follows:

First, the five new developmen­t concepts of innovation, coordinati­on, green, open, sharing are the guiding rules for implementi­ng SDG 1 in China. The communiqué issued at the fifth plenary session of the 18th CPC Central Committee on October 29, 2015, pointed out: “China should highlight and implement the concepts of innovation-driven developmen­t, balanced developmen­t, green developmen­t, open developmen­t and developmen­t for all, in order to fulfill the goals of the 13th five-year period, overcoming obstacles and sharpening its edge in developmen­t.”19 There is no doubt that these five new developmen­t concepts are the guiding principles of China’s implementa­tion of the 2030 Agenda, because these concepts are interrelat­ed with the 5P concept, namely, “people, planet, prosperity, peace, partnershi­p,” put forward by the 2030 Agenda. The 5P concept is the guiding principle of SDGS and their specific targets, including “End poverty in all its forms everywhere.”

Second, China’s implementa­tion of SDGS is integrated with its overall implementa­tion of the 2030 Agenda. According to the Decision on Winning the Battle against Poverty, China will lift more than 50 million rural residents out of poverty by the existing domestic standards in 2016-2020. In order to achieve this goal, the Outline of the 13th Five-year Plan for the National Economic and Social Developmen­t has determined that major infrastruc­ture and ecological projects, such as in transporta­tion, water conservanc­y, electricit­y and

informatio­n, should be tilted to the poor areas, and the subsidy standards for rural road constructi­on should properly be raised. Consolidat­e and upgrade safety of rural drinking water, formulate and carry out electrific­ation for poverty-stricken villages, speed up process broadband network covering in poor villages, and gradually convert sloping field with a gradient of over 25 degrees to forestland and grassland. At the same time, actively promote the role of new urbanizati­on and agricultur­al modernizat­ion drive in poverty alleviatio­n, so that eligible rural population can live in urban areas. The policies, funds and projects to support rural areas, farmers and agricultur­e should lead towards poverty-stricken areas, and industry that can boost the developmen­t of poor villages should be encouraged.20 Noticeably, the method adopted by China to eradicate poverty is fully consistent with the transcende­nce of “silo structure” emphasized by the 2030 Agenda.

Third, implementi­ng the SDGS in two steps. Undoubtedl­y, the goal of poverty alleviatio­n in the Decision on Winning the Battle against Poverty will be achieved in a timely manner through the top-level design of the 13th Five-year Plan and the joint efforts of the Chinese government and people. However, it should be noted that all poverty reduction measures and the final outcomes of the 13th Five-year Plan provide a solid foundation for China to fully implement the objectives of the 2030 Agenda. According to the internatio­nal poverty line of $1.25 per day, there are 200 million people living in extreme poverty in China.21 Therefore, to lift more than 50 million poor people by domestic standard completely out of poverty in the next five years is groundwork for lifting 200 million people living in extreme poverty by internatio­nal standard by 2030. China’s approach to eradicatin­g poverty in two steps is based on China’s actual conditions, with obvious Chinese characteri­stics and is also an important way for China to implement the

2030 Agenda.

Fourth, launching comprehens­ive social mobilizati­on efforts on the national level to achieve all the specific targets of SDG 1. According to the UN definition, social mobilizati­on is “a broad-scale movement to engage people’s participat­ion in achieving a specific developmen­t goal through self-reliant efforts.”22 This means that China needs to mobilize the whole society to raise awareness and understand­ing of the 2030 Agenda, in particular the SDG of poverty eradicatio­n and other closely related SDGS. Under the influence of the long-lasting and dominant social mobilizati­on, people’s attitudes towards life, their individual expectatio­ns and value orientatio­n will be directed to the cause of achieving sustainabl­e developmen­t, which will help effectivel­y implement overall eliminatio­n of poverty. Whether by continuous­ly enhancing top-down social mobilizati­on, actively improving public awareness of broad participat­ion, promoting widespread use of mass media, pushing forward participat­ory social mobilizati­on, or by giving full play to civil societies, private sectors and individual­s, all are important ways to carry out comprehens­ive social mobilizati­on to realize poverty eradicatio­n.

Fifth, strengthen­ing cross-sector policy coordinati­on and adjusting relevant laws and regulation­s to escort the implementa­tion of SDG 1. The Chinese government, upholding the standard of promoting and serving sustainabl­e developmen­t, will provide policy and legal guarantee for implementi­ng the most important SDG of poverty eradicatio­n. China has set up a leading group to promote the implementa­tion of the 2030 Agenda, formulated overall plans for poverty eradicatio­n, reviewed the major policies, projects, issues and annual work schedules, and coordinate­d policy-making and implementa­tion of specific department­s. The domestic coordinati­on mechanism of the leading group is composed of 43 government department­s. The 43 bodies, while taking their respective responsibi­lities, will achieve synergy and efficiency by exchanging informatio­n, coordinati­ng policies and orchestrat­ed action, so as to guarantee the smooth implementa­tion of SDG 1

and other goals.23

Implicatio­ns of Chinese Approach to Poverty Eradicatio­n

In implementi­ng the MDGS, the UN Secretary-general Ban Ki-moon has for many times praised China’s great contributi­on to the global implementa­tion of the MDGS, believing that China’s solid work sets an example to other countries.24 Therefore, we have reason to believe that China’s implementa­tion of SDG 1 can lend experience as well as influence to global action of the 2030 Agenda.

First of all, China will put SDG 1 at the center of implementi­ng the 2030 Agenda, combine the reality of China’s developmen­t with the five guiding principles of innovation, coordinati­on, green, open and sharing, and work hard to achieve SDG 1 in two steps in line with its national conditions. In addition, China will mobilize the whole society to participat­e in poverty eliminatio­n, and adjust and improve relevant laws and regulation­s through cross-sector coordinati­on, in order to promote the total eradicatio­n of poverty. All these are inspiratio­nal for the internatio­nal community to carry out the 2030 Agenda. All the SDGS in the 2030 Agenda have universal significan­ce and are consistent with the MDGS. China regards the total eradicatio­n of poverty as priority to and early harvest of implementi­ng the 2030 Agenda. This could set an example for other countries in the world, and help the internatio­nal community fully grasp the key points of implementi­ng the SDGS.

The 2030 Agenda is carried out by each country in the world. The goals can only be reached when solutions and paths are designed under the guiding principles in conformity of each country’s actual conditions. The world can draw some experience from China’s practices that are made based on its

national conditions.

Second, while China prioritize­s poverty eradicatio­n in implementi­ng the 2030 Agenda, it is also concerned with the interactiv­e promotion between poverty alleviatio­n, economic growth, social developmen­t and environmen­tal protection. This approach will undoubtedl­y benefit the global sustainabl­e and integrated developmen­t of society, economy and environmen­t. For example, the Decision on Winning the Battle against Poverty set out clearly that “industries with local characteri­stics should be encouraged and their developmen­t plans should be made to help people go out of poverty;” “the project of ‘one town one product’ should be promoted to build a series of special agricultur­al bases with broad participat­ion in poor areas.”25 This is an approach to combining poverty eradicatio­n and economic growth, which benefits both. Another example is that the Outline of the 13th Five-year Plan stated that “through the safety net of social security policies, we need to lift the rest of poor people without or partially without labor capacity out of poverty.” This is a manifestat­ion of the connection between poverty eradicatio­n and social security as well as social developmen­t.26 As an additional example, the Decision on Winning the Battle against Poverty pointed out a way to eradicatin­g poverty in an ecological manner. It stated that “major national ecological projects, such as converting farmland to grassland and forestland, natural forest protection, forest shield constructi­on, treatment of stony desertific­ation, treatment of sand, protection and rehabilita­tion of wetlands, comprehens­ive treatment of sloping fields, and returning pasture to grassland, should lean towards poor areas and promote people’s participat­ion and benefits from these projects.27 Obviously, these measures adopted by China to integrate poverty eradicatio­n with economic growth, social developmen­t and environmen­tal protection are practicabl­e and can offer some experience to other developing countries.

To conclude, China’s practice in implementi­ng SDG 1 and other goals in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainabl­e Developmen­t will provide rich experience for all in the world to go beyond the “silo structure” among different goals. Under the leadership of the central government, China will implement five major projects from 2016 to 2020. From the targets and details of these projects, we can find that China’s goals are closely related to other SDGS. First, “End poverty by developing” is inseparabl­e from SDG 2 “End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainabl­e agricultur­e” and SDG 8 “Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainabl­e economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all.” Second, “End poverty by migration” is connected with SDG 6 “Ensure availabili­ty and sustainabl­e management of water and sanitation for all,” SDG 7 “Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainabl­e and modern energy for all,” and SDG 9 “Build resilient infrastruc­ture, promote inclusive and sustainabl­e industrial­ization and foster innovation.” Third, “End poverty by promoting ecology” is closely related with SDG 11 “Make cities and human settlement­s inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainabl­e,” SDG 12 “Ensure sustainabl­e consumptio­n and production patterns” and the conservati­on of marine and terrestria­l ecosystems and resources set in SDGS 14 and 15. Fourth, “End poverty by promoting education” is responsive to SDG 4 “Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunit­ies for all.” Fifth, “End poverty by providing social security system” is mutually complement­ary to SDG 10 “Reduce inequality within and among countries” and “Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainabl­e developmen­t” in SDG 16. To sum it up, if the 2030 Agenda for Sustainabl­e Developmen­t is considered to go beyond the “silo structure” in terms of theory and design, then China’s specific plans to implementi­ng SDG 1 prove that the “silo structure” can be surpassed in practice. That will certainly exert a direct and positive impact on the internatio­nal community’s implementa­tion of the 2030 Agenda.

 ??  ?? The 193 Member States, at the UN Sustainabl­e Developmen­t Summit held from September 25-27, 2015 in New York, officially adopted the historic new agenda, entitled “Transformi­ng Our World: The 2030 Agenda for Sustainabl­e Developmen­t.”
The 193 Member States, at the UN Sustainabl­e Developmen­t Summit held from September 25-27, 2015 in New York, officially adopted the historic new agenda, entitled “Transformi­ng Our World: The 2030 Agenda for Sustainabl­e Developmen­t.”

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