Laura Martínez-Ramos, Student volunteer

When talking about SDGs, we talk about concepts. Generalized and centralized concepts that set on a trajectory, but beyond concepts what is the reality of the SDGs? Currently, only 17% of them are on track to be achieved by 2030. So, the question is obvious, but still difficult to answer: how to apply SDGs into practice? The challenge that this two-day conference was addressing was, at least, complex. However, underlying this question, something was clear: there is a need for local understanding to implement SDGs. This necessity was discussed, among others, in Panel science & knowledge IV: ‘Just Knowledge Production and Governance’,the panel I want to talk about.

From the point of view of the researchers participating in this panel, the key to this local approach of the SDGs is social participation, as it is a relevant way to produce information and increase precision in policymaking. Therefore, implementing qualitative research in policy design and including the people on the research from the beginning to the end are necessary when implementing SDGs. Alejandra Cortés Fuertes in Coyhaique[1] and Wagner de Jesús Martins and Edward Torres Maia in Por do Sol and Sol Nascente[2] presented real examples on how we can do this. Moreover, Carmen Guadalupe[3] went further and, in the context of implementation of SDGs in the distinct climatic conditions of tropical regions, asked: “What is considered scientific knowledge? Can Western ontology coexist with Indigenous ontology?” A debate between the participants and the public was opened.

As we experienced in this panel discussion, many questions arise when we go deeper into the roots of Sustainable Development Goals and people, their values, backgrounds, connections, cultures, places of belonging, positionalities, all creates a spider web in where implementing SDGs turns out to be complex. But as Edwar Torres Maia said, “complex problems require complex solutions.”  

Solutions are possible, as these three researchers have presented, but there is still a necessity for improvement in many aspects. From my point of view, movement creates changes and changes in the right direction create improvement. Therefore, the movement of people researching, sharing, debating, and connecting in this conference was a step closer to the direction that was set on the SDGs. So, I can only finish this reflection by saying to all the participants: thank you all for your efforts to make the world a better place to live in!

These are my thoughts on GlobalGoals 2024, but one question is still on my mind: “Who are we producing science for?” I am sure this question will guide me through my recently started studies in sustainable development.

Again, thank you all.

Sincerely,

Laura.

[1] When ‘Modern Energy for All’ Does Not Fit the Local Energy Culture: A Case Study from Southern Chile. Alejandra Cortés Fuentes – Universidad de Chile, Chile

[2] Popular Surveillance for Healthy and Sustainable Development: A Case Study in Por do Sol and Sol Nascente Territories in the Capital of Brazil Between 2021-2024. Wagner de Jesus Martins, Edward Torres Maia; Letícia Albuquerque de Jesus, Cecília de Faria Sampaio, Liliana Silva Cabral, Daniel Fernandes Barbosa, Renata Florentino de Faria Santos & Mauro Niskier Sanchez – Fiocruz, Brazil;Research and Statistics Institute of the Federal District, Brazil; University of Brasília, Brazil.

[3] Whose Voices Shape the Landscape of Sustainability Science and Policymaking Exploring Perspectives from the Tropical Global South. Carmen Guadalupe Mallqui Caballero, Gerbrand Korena, Carole-Anne Sénit & Pita Verweija – Utrecht University, The Netherlands