The United Nations has named 2015 the International Year of Light to bring attention to the crucial role light and light-based technologies play in scientific discovery and human development. Next year has also been labelled the International Year of Soils by the UN’s general assembly, to raise awareness of how better soil will improve food security and climate change mitigation in the global south.
The whole community will, of course, be battling to get their causes into the sustainable development goals (SDGs), while the end of the year will be dominated by the highly anticipated climate talks in Paris. Will world leaders agree a deal, or will Cop 20 be another climate change conference that ends in failure? Whatever happens, our community concurs that getting an agreement is essential for the future of the planet:
@GuardianGDP I think getting 2015 Climate change agreement will be key issue in 2015 as impacts of climate change is felt by the poor
— Esther Agbarakwe (@estherclimate) December 22, 2014
Apart from these pre-determined events, which issues are you anxious to be included in the development agenda?
For Calestous Juma, a Harvard international development academic, the key issue will be global security. He says that perception that we live in a “crowded world running out of jobs, water, food and opportunities for youth advancement will put the world on edge”.
Scott Jerbi at the Institute of Human Rights and Business says one of the most important issues they’ll be working on next year is to ensure that the SDGs highlight the role the private sector can play in protecting human rights.
Plan UK’s policy and advocacy adviser, Liam Sollis, says the organisation will be pushing for universal health coverage and a “strengthened commitment to sexual and reproductive health and rights”.
What will you be working on and what issues will you be pushing? Tell us in the comments thread below.
