Spain, in 21st place in sustainable development worldwide, according to a study

Spain ranks 21st out of 162 in terms of sustainable development, well behind Sweden, Denmark and Finland, which lead this index that includes the new report presented today by the Bertelsmann Foundation together with the Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN).

Thus, Spain achieves in the general classification, designed based on the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) adopted unanimously in 2015 by the 193 MEMBER STATES of the UN, a score of 77.5%, while Sweden, Denmark and Finland, add 84.8%, 84.7% and 82.2%, respectively.

Spain obtains its best results in SDG 6 (clean water and sanitation) and SDG 7 (affordable and non-polluting energy).

Performance on SDG 3 (health and well-being) and SDG 4 (quality education) is also quite positive, although greater efforts are needed to address relatively high smoking rates and ensure equal opportunities for all population groups, the report notes.

As in other high-income countries, high levels of CO2 emissions and pollution and threats to biodiversity will require major transformations to achieve the SDGs by 2030.

The sustainable use of land, contemplated in SDG 2 (zero hunger), requires transformative actions in Spain.

Spain also generates negative environmental externalities (or side effects) that undermine the ability of other countries to achieve the SDGs.

Chile tops the list of Latin American countries, in 31st place, with a score of 75.2%, followed by Costa Rica, with 74.9%.

With scores slightly higher than 70%, Ecuador (in 41st place, with 72.5%), Uruguay (43/72.4%), Argentina (45/72.2%), Peru (49/71.3%), Cuba (50/71.2%) and Brazil (53/71.0%) are located.

These countries are followed by Colombia (61/69.9%), the Dominican Republic (67/69.6%), Mexico and Bolivia, in positions 75 and 76, respectively, with 68.7%, Nicaragua (83/68.0%), Paraguay (87/67.2%), El Salvador (89/67.0%), Panama (93/66.4%) and Venezuela (98/65.3%).

Honduras and Guatemala close the list of Latin American countries, in positions 105 and 121, respectively, with 64.4% and 60.3%.

According to the report, “no country is currently on track to meet all the goals by 2030.”

Source: The Vanguard