Decent work and economic growth

Promote sustained, inclusive, and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment, and decent work for all. Barcelona sets the horizon for economic growth adapted to the circumstances of each place. In any case, seeking more economic productivity, through diversification, modernization, and the promotion of sectors with high added value. With regard to tourism, he calls for a sustainable and more culture-focused approach.

Economic transformation involves supporting productive activities and entrepreneurship, creativity, and innovation. But it also requires progress towards a more dematerialized and circular economy, and the assumption of certain social commitments, with quality employment, job security, and job placement, with a focus primarily on young people.

Industry, innovation, and infrastructure

Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization, and foster innovation. On the one hand, Barcelona aims at the infrastructures that are created with a public vocation, for the welfare of society, with special emphasis on transport infrastructures. He called for them to be sustainable, for their economic and social benefits to be clear, and for their access to be affordable and equitable.

On the other hand, Barcelona refers to the industry, committed to clean industrial production, sustained by scientific research and technological capacity. In this milestone, the role of SMEs is crucial, so their access to credit and markets should be encouraged.

Reduction of inequalities

Reduce inequality in and between countries. Barcelona sets out the principle of leaving no one behind, present across the whole Agenda 2030. In the economic dimension, this must be based on an improvement in the situation of the population with fewer incomes, both in absolute terms as relative.

The idea is to promote fiscal, salary, and social protection policies that guarantee equal opportunities and less inequality of results. But the aim is also for the social, economic, and political inclusion of all people, forging links and breaking barriers of age, gender, class, abilities, language, origin or sexual orientation.

Sustainable cities and communities

Making cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable. Barcelona focuses on access to housing and the factors that constitute the quality of life in the city: services and public spaces. These must be affordable, of good quality and well distributed in the urban fabric, to guarantee territorial equity. One of the key urban services is public transport, which is essential to transforming mobility into a safer, more inclusive, and less environmental impact model.

Beyond everyday life, cities must plan for their development in a sustainable and participatory way, safeguarding the protection of cultural and natural heritage, ensuring metropolitan and territorial integration, and providing comprehensive and resilient responses to the risks of change climate and other possible disasters.

Responsible consumption and production

Guaranteeing sustainable modes of consumption and production. Barcelona focuses on production and consumption practices. To make them sustainable, the most efficient use of natural resources has been achieved at the outset, which includes, inter alia, reducing food waste and the production of waste in general, through prevention, reduction, reuse, and recycling.

It is also about ensuring the proper management of unavoidable waste, especially those that are toxic. Businesses, especially large and transnational corporations, are being asked to act more sustainably and transparently. The public authorities can also do much, through their fiscal and contracting policies, and by promoting social awareness of sustainable development and lifestyles.

Climate action

Take urgent action to combat climate change and its effects. Barcelona calls for measures to combat climate change, focusing on the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, in line with the agreements that are being established in the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.

At the local level, adaptation efforts to the effects of climate change are as important or more important, which include a set of structural transformations – more vegetation, more water use efficiency – and forecasting in exceptional wave situations. heat, storms, or other possible disasters. Logically, such a change requires a substantial investment in human, institutional education, awareness, and training.

Underwater life

Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas, and marine resources for sustainable development. Barcelona aims to address the serious issues affecting the seas and oceans. There is a set of milestones dedicated to the fight against pollution and acidification of seawater, which is the central question when it comes to preserving life in the environment. It is to protect and sustainably manage the marine and coastal ecosystems, with the prospect of conserving at least 10% of all these areas.

And it is also about preserving fisheries, which is an important economic activity for many coastal areas but regulated with sustainability criteria, with particular emphasis on artisanal fishing. Scientific knowledge and technology transfer will be key to achieving this, and they should be given priority.

Life of terrestrial ecosystems

Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, manage forests sustainably, combat desertification, stop and reverse soil degradation, and stop biodiversity loss

Earth life

Barcelona is concerned with the conservation, restoration and sustainable use of terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems, with particular emphasis on degraded soil, forests, and mountain ecosystems. Stopping the destruction of natural habitats and re-naturalizing spaces in the city is essential to preserve biodiversity, which is the other great achievement of this goal.

To this end, it is proposed to eradicate poaching and trafficking in protected species of flora and fauna, as well as increase the prevention and control of invasive alien species. This can only be achieved if local and national development strategies integrate the values ​​of ecosystems and biodiversity and if financial resources can be mobilized for their conservation and sustainable use.

Peace, justice and solid institutions

Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all, and develop effective, responsible, and inclusive institutions at all levels. Barcelona addresses institutional quality and issues essential to the sustainability of the social system as a whole, such as peace and respect for fundamental rights. A key milestone is to reduce the incidence of crimes and violent acts of any kind, by completely eradicating those that affect children. This is to intensify the fight against crime, especially terrorism and organized crime, which traffick arms, money, and people.

The other milestones outline the model to follow for all public institutions: they must be effective, responsible and transparent, fully committed to the fight against corruption, and foster an inclusive, participatory and representative democracy. Otherwise, these institutions must protect fundamental freedoms and guarantee universal access to justice, under equal conditions.

Alliance to achieve the goals

Barcelona is dedicated to the means necessary to achieve all other goals. One of these means is international cooperation since the principle of leaving no one behind also applies between countries.

Thus, in almost every field of action, social, economic, and environmental, the most advanced countries are called to support those who are less so, taking as a reference the contribution of 0.7% of their own income. Often, however, the most useful support can take the form of technology transfer. It is essential to promote regional and international North-South, South-South, and triangular cooperation in science and innovation.

At the internal level of each country, region, or city, the most important thing is to formalize a credible commitment to the 2030 Agenda, supported by effective partnerships between public actors, the private business sector, and organized society. Credibility is tested by the consistency of the policies adopted and the establishment of a system to measure the advances or setbacks on the road to achieving the SDGs.