Addressing Inequality is Crucial for Sustainable Development Success
Achieving global sustainable development goals is significantly hampered if the pervasive issue of inequality is not placed at the forefront of the agenda.
Bern Open Repository and Information System (University of Bern) · 2019
Key Findings
- 01Inequality is a fundamental barrier to achieving sustainable development.
- 02Failure to address inequality will lead to the failure of global development agendas.
- 03Integrated approaches are needed to tackle interconnected challenges of development and inequality.
Application
Design takeaway
Integrate social equity and inequality reduction as core metrics for evaluating the success of sustainable design initiatives.
How to apply
When developing any product or system intended for global impact, conduct an assessment of how it might affect different socioeconomic groups and actively design to mitigate negative impacts and promote equitable access.
Project actions
- 01Consider who benefits from your design and who might be left behind.
- 02Research existing inequalities in the context where your design will be used.
Method & Evidence
Variables
Strengths & Limitations
Strengths
- +Comprehensive synthesis of global challenges.
- +Strong advocacy for a critical, often overlooked, aspect of sustainability.
Limitations
The report is broad and doesn't offer specific design methodologies for addressing inequality.
Reliability & validity
The report's findings are based on a synthesis of numerous scientific studies and global assessments, suggesting high reliability and validity through triangulation of evidence.
Think critically
How can design actively dismantle existing inequalities rather than inadvertently reinforcing them within a sustainable development framework?
Design Principles
"Sustainable solutions must be equitable and inclusive."
Designers and engineers must recognize that the effectiveness of sustainable solutions is intrinsically linked to social equity. Solutions that exacerbate or ignore existing inequalities will ultimately fail to achieve their intended long-term impact.
What This Means for Your Design
If you want to make something sustainable, you also have to make sure it's fair for everyone, or it won't really work.
How to use in your project
- 1.Reference this report when discussing the broader context and importance of ethical considerations in your design project, particularly concerning social equity and sustainable development.
Add to My Project
Quick Cite
(2019). Global Sustainable Development Report 2019: The Future is Now – Science for Achieving Sustainable Development. Bern Open Repository and Information System (University of Bern). Retrieved from https://designdex.org/study/3f284913-78d2-404d-88ec-6075376a71c3/addressing-inequality-is-crucial-for-sustainable-development-success
Paragraph starter
The Global Sustainable Development Report 2019 highlights that 'if we do not put inequality at the heart of the global development agenda, we are doomed to failure.' This underscores the critical need for design projects aiming for sustainability to actively consider and address social equity, ensuring that proposed solutions do not exacerbate existing disparities but rather contribute to a more just and inclusive future.
Source
Bern Open Repository and Information System (University of Bern)
Global Sustainable Development Report 2019: The Future is Now – Science for Achieving Sustainable Development
journal · 2019
View sourceQuestions about this research
- What does the research say about addressing inequality is crucial for sustainable development success?
- Integrate social equity and inequality reduction as core metrics for evaluating the success of sustainable design initiatives. Evidence: Bern Open Repository and Information System (University of Bern) (2019).
- Why does "Addressing Inequality is Crucial for Sustainable Development Success" matter for design?
- Designers and engineers must recognize that the effectiveness of sustainable solutions is intrinsically linked to social equity. Solutions that exacerbate or ignore existing inequalities will ultimately fail to achieve their intended long-term impact.
- How can designers apply this research?
- Integrate social equity and inequality reduction as core metrics for evaluating the success of sustainable design initiatives.
- What were the main findings?
- Inequality is a fundamental barrier to achieving sustainable development.. Failure to address inequality will lead to the failure of global development agendas.. Integrated approaches are needed to tackle interconnected challenges of development and inequality.
- What research method was used?
- Literature Review and Synthesis.
- How strong is the evidence?
- Evidence strength is rated Strong effect, based on a 2019 journal from Bern Open Repository and Information System (University of Bern).
- What should I do differently in my next project?
- When developing any product or system intended for global impact, conduct an assessment of how it might affect different socioeconomic groups and actively design to mitigate negative impacts and promote equitable access.
- What are the limitations?
- The report is a high-level synthesis and does not delve into specific design interventions.
- Is there evidence that sustainable development affects design outcomes?
- The report strongly emphasizes that without actively addressing and prioritizing the reduction of inequality, global efforts towards sustainable development are destined to fail. Designers and engineers must recognize that the effectiveness of sustainable solutions is intrinsically linked to social equity. Solutions th Source: Bern Open Repository and Information System (University of Bern) (2019).
- Where does this social equity research apply?
- Global Development and Policy It sits within sustainability research on designdex.org.
Related research topics
sustainable development design research · evidence on sustainable development · does sustainable development improve design outcomes · social equity studies for designers · sustainable development and social equity findings · sustainability research evidence