GEO-6 Regional Asssement for West Asia


targets. The SDG targets were reviewed and a set of SDG targets (presented in Table 3.5.1) were selected to reflect the regional priority areas that were identified in the West Asia Regional Environmental Information Network (REIN) Conference that was held in Amman in May 2015. The selected SDGs are discussed below (this is not an inclusive list but given information and time constraints, the below table presents identified SDGs that overarch priority areas:


• SDG target 16.1 tops the list as it captures the main concern of a region with three of its most populous countries – Iraq, Syria, and Yemen – witnessing civil wars and unrest accompanied by a massive exodus of refugees. Without active intervention at regional and


global levels, these violent events may continue for years to come and threaten to spill over to neighbouring countries. As indicated previously, refugees have overwhelmed the main host countries and are triggering a major global crisis as many travel across dangerous routes to Europe. West Asian countries have underscored peace and security as a prerequisite for achieving the SDGs. Jordan, Qatar and Iraq also emphasized the important role of the UN, particularly support from the specialized agencies, in addressing national and transnational challenges such as those of refugees and displaced people as well as education.


Table 3.5.1: Sustainable Development Goal targets particularly relevant to the West Asia region #


Description of selected SDG target


1 2


3 4 5


6 7


8 9 10 SDG target 16.1: significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death rates everywhere.


SDG target 6.4: by 2030, substantially increase water-use efficiency across all sectors and ensure sustainable withdrawals and supply of freshwater to address water scarcity, and substantially reduce the number of people suffering from water scarcity.


SDG target 6.5: by 2030 implement integrated water resources management at all levels, including through transboundary cooperation as appropriate.


SDG target 6.3: by 2030, improve water quality by reducing pollution, eliminating dumping and minimizing release of hazardous chemicals and materials, halving the proportion of untreated wastewater, and substantially increasing recycling and safe reuse globally.


SDG target 2.4: by 2030 ensure sustainable food production systems and implement resilient agricultural practices that increase productivity and production, that help maintain ecosystems, that strengthen capacity for adaptation to climate change, extreme weather, drought, flooding and other disasters, and that progressively improve land and soil quality.


SDG target 11.4: strengthen efforts to protect and safeguard the world’s cultural and natural heritage.


SDG target 13.3: improve education, awareness raising and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction, and early warning.


SDG target 11.6: by 2030, reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, including by paying special attention to air quality, municipal and other waste management.


SDG target 12.5: by 2030, substantially reduce waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling, and reuse.


SDG target 9.5: enhance scientific research, upgrade the technological capabilities of industrial sectors in all countries, particularly developing countries, including by 2030 encouraging innovation and substantially increasing the number of R&D workers per one million people and public and private R&D spending.


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