1. SDGs in conflict: Linking SDGs to global water discourses
Klinkhamer, J., Baan Hofman, H, Sikkema, M. (2016).
Future Planet Studies, Water Governance
Background
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a set of 17 goals, specified into 169 targets, developed to end poverty, fight inequality and injustice and tackle climate change. Although the SDGs cover a wide range of  subjects and contain many cross- cutting elements, each goal and target is said to be of equal importance to realizing the Agenda. One of the major challenges of this century is how to manage and govern water. We use it for everyday practices such as drinking, growing our food, industrial production and bathing. But what are the priorities? Who gets what, when and how? Is water a right? Is it a commodity? Finding a solution is hard, especially as there are many different global water discourses. This analysis investigated the ambiguous use of language within two SDGs and why the combination of these goals creates friction.
Conclusions
First of all, goal 6 of the SDGs has been written from the perspective of the discourse of ‘water as a human right’ as it demands for equitable sharing of this scarce resource.
Second, goal 8 is implicitly steering towards an approach to water as an economic good. This is often accompanied with the privatization of water sectors and as a result of this process water is not being seen as a social equity. It advocates for economic growth in the least developed countries, for investments in high-value added sectors and the efficient use of global resources. This may be a recipe for a malfunctioning water system in the case of areas including poor communities, as water prices usually rise after privatization. The two goals bring about friction because water as an economic good and water as a human right cannot go together. For this to happen, multiple state and non-state actors should respect and protect the human rights of each individual and should also actively be fulfilling these rights. A way to realize this may be increased partnership between governments and the private sector and by involving subsidies, for example.
A ‘water as a human right’ – discourse
Goal 6.1: Was established to provide every individual with affordable and safe drinking water. It promotes the equitable sharing of water.
A ‘water as an economic good’-discourse
Goal 8.1, 2 & 4 provides for: At least 7% GDP growth per annum in the least developed countries, economic diversification should through a focus on high-value added and labor sectors and to improve global resource efficiency in consumption and production.
Cross-cutting targets 6.1 with 8.1, 8.2 & 8.4
The analysis of the cross-cutting between these specific targets of the SDGs has revealed conflicing ideas about the way to use to govern water. When the targets 1, 2 & 4 of goal 8 would be implied and taken as a point of departure, it becomes clear that water will not necessarily be used in an equitable way. The targets of goal 8 advocate for an efficient use of global resources and for investments in high-value added sectors. In the case of water, this would imply that the privitization of water is advocated and that industries and big agricultural corporations would have easier access to quantities of water, as they have more capital to invest in infrastructure.
Sources
Gupta, J., Ahlers, R., & Ahmed, L. (2010). The human right to water: moving towards consensus in a fragmented world. Review of European Community & International Environmental Law, 19(3),
United Nations Development Program. (2016). Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Retrieved on 25 April 2016 from
United Nations General Assembly. (2015). Transforming Our World: The 2030 Agenda For Sustainable Development. 21 October 2015.