SUSTAINABILITY TLDR NEWSLETTER: EDITION 29

This newsletter gives you highlights of selected sustainability insights that were, perhaps, too long (you) didn’t read (TLDR) or there’s just too much out there to read. The highlights presented cover insights gleaned from a global, regional (African), and national (Kenyan) perspective. Happy reading!

GLOBAL

Global Risks Report 2025

The World Economic Forum published the 2025 report, its 20th edition of the Global Risks Report. Here are some interesting considerations from the report:

Globally optimism is declining, the world is more polarized, divided and skepticism prevails in the inability of our governing institutions and social mechanisms to handle the fragile world we are in.
Deepening rifts in political economy and geopolitics resulting in national security gaining priority on government agendas and budgets (to the detriment of other public services), and these rifts are being exacerbated by cyber insecurity, misinformation and disinformation.
Social fragmentation from rising inequality, displacement and migration, erosion of civic freedoms are stressing social cohesion within and across countries.
Environmental risks remain critical as negative climate and environmental impacts take their toll, and are expected to continue doing so. Nature loss and ecosystem collapse are also at the fore with significant deterioration expected.
Technology risks threatening information quality and exchange contributing as well to social fragmentation. We are also yet to grasp the adverse outcomes of AI technologies.

The report highlights the global risks in 2025 (watch the video) as below, and also shows the most severe risks for the next 2 years and 10 years:

This year’s report also highlighted risks by age-group and stakeholder group, which I thought was interesting as well.

Under 30 years ranked extreme weather events as the current no.1 risk; while Above 30 year’s ranked state based armed conflict as their current no.1 risk.

Looking at stakeholder groups ranking of global short term risks (2 years): civil society – extreme weather events; international organisations – stated based armed conflict; and academia, government and private sector – misinformation and disinformation.

The WEF 2025 report, provided some key actions needed to address the global risks we face:

Global cooperation and multi-stakeholder engagement through multilateral institutions is needed to navigate these times and what lies ahead.
Regional organisations need to take a proactive and key role in managing tensions.
Diversify supply chains to ensure supply chain resilience as well as domestic supply.
Upskill the people building automated algorithms, improve digital literacy for all, and establish governance and transparency of and for new (and emerging) technologies.

My two-cents: This global risk report is a critical annual reminder of the significant collective risks that leaders and organisations need to address. We have 5 years left to achieve global commitments of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Paris Agreement for climate – time flies!

AFRICA

Foresight Africa: Top Priorities for Africa 2025 – 2030

The African Union will see the appointment of a new African Union Chairperson in February 2025. The Chairperson serves a 4 year term (renewable only once) and oversees delivery of the long term commitment to “An integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa, driven by its own citizens and representing a dynamic force in the global arena”, under the African Union’s Agenda 2063, the continent’s blueprint for development.

Africa has a critical role to play in our globalized world, and an even more significant responsibility to prioritizing sustainable development for its people.

This year, the Brookings Institution moved from delivering an annual foresight, to one that presents a 5 year strategic perspective for policy and decision-makers relevant to the continent. This comprehensive foresight report provides key insights and thought-provoking contributions from key African leaders for consideration.

Here are some highlights from the report:

Harnessing Africa’s Inner Strength: The continent’s potential – with fast growing economies, youth population, natural resources and vibrant mobile and digital economy, among others – are some of the essential foundations for development that can be leveraged to address country and pan-African poverty and economic productivity disparities. African leaders must put concerted effort into realising the AfCFTA for intra-regional opportunities and resilience.
Achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): Only 6% of the 32 measurable SDG targets reviewed are on track to be achieved by 2030 for the continent. It’s imperative that leaders prioritise domestic finance to meet development needs, optimise data-driven decision making and digitisation for efficiency, and implement climate resilience.
Women and Youth Empowerment: With over 50% of the African population being women, and more than 60% of Africa’s population under 35 years – it is evident that only a minority of Africans have access to opportunities to contribute to their societies and economies, while the majority are left out. These demographic dividends can no longer be ignored, and the report presents the need for investments in education, entrepreneurship, and structural reforms to empower women and youth as key levers to change this gaping inequality.
Governance: Governments are not delivering the progress needed for their countries, and ‘A growing number of Africans struggle to secure the basic necessities of life’ (p.121). Addressing implementation gaps, establishing government accountability, and fostering citizen engagement are vital for effective governance.

Technology and Innovation: Exploring the transformative potential of AI and digital infrastructure in solving Africa’s challenges moving the continent from simply being a user of technology to a creator of technology. Policy makers will need to take action to boost investment, enable access to education that enhances tech and digital knowledge and skills, and ensure robust regulation and governance measures are established to provide a just and responsible landscape.
Global Partnerships: The continent is (finally) taking a more prominent role on the world stage e.g. G20 membership, making the case for permanent membership to the UN Security Council (for 80 years this has not been the case), pushing for reforms in global tax regimes, e.t.c. The African Union and all its member states will need to be strategic in negotiating trade agreements and other partnerships around financial and debt sustainability, strategic minerals, renewable energy, e.t.c. to secure real development for their countries, maintain and ensure sovereignty, and deliver just and sustainable transitions.

My two-cents: Reading this report, the most compelling insight I have drawn is that the continent requires the best possible decision-makers and leaders in leadership positions in government and business, to deliver development (in real-terms) required for Africa’s people and the continent’s shifting role in the world. (Silent pause for reflection on leaders and decision-makers).

KENYA

Kenya’s SDGs Voluntary National Review Report 2024

This insight was published in mid-2024 as the government submitted the report for the UN meetings in September last year. As the year is fresh, I thought it might be worthwhile to provide an overview of Kenya’s SDG progress as organisations and practitioners reflect on their initiatives for the year – the bigger picture of national progress might be useful.

The world is not on track to meet the SDG commitments by 2030, and neither is Kenya, but progress has been made. In this report 17 of 47 counties undertook their own local reviews. These counties were: Kakamega, Vihiga, Elgeyo Marakwet, Bungoma, Kajiado, Narok, Taita Taveta, Homa Bay, West Pokot, Mombasa, Nyeri, Embu, Makueni, Baringo, Kilifi, Busia and Wajir. Besides Mombasa, Kenya’s largest counties by economic contribution – Nairobi, Kiambu, and Nakuru – did not submit local/county level reports.

Externalities continued to challenge SDG progress, namely the COVID-19 pandemic impacts, geopolitical conflicts and climate change related impacts.

From 2015 – 2023:

There was positive progress in the following SDGs: SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), 4 (Quality Education), 5 (Gender Equality), 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), 13 (Climate Action), 15 (Life on Land) and 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).
Progress stalled and/or regressed for SDGs: SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), 10 (Reduced Inequalities within and Among Countries), and 14 15 (Life Below Water).
Slower progress was seen on SDGs: SDG 1 (No Poverty), 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure), 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) and 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions).

To address the gaps in delivering sustainable development for Kenya, the government will prioritise:

Financing the SDGs – mobilizing domestic resources and fiscal space, strengthen stakeholder engagement and partnership for SDGs delivery, and define a cost analysis on realizing the SDGs in the next 5 years.
Data & Reporting – improve data quality, sources and reporting in partnership with other stakeholders.
Capacity building – understand and equip county and national level knowledge and skills for SDG data relevance, and seek partnerships with academia to enhance research.
Communication and advocacy – improve and enhance SDG and stakeholder communication, and good practice compilation and sharing.

This SDG report highlights the national sustainable development trajectory over the past 8 years (nearly a decade), and while there has been some progress; it would seem that the challenges maybe overwhelming the nation-wide ability to address them e.g. between March – May 2024, over 2 million learners in Kenya experienced disruption in schooling due to damaged infrastructure and loss of teaching and learning materials caused by the heavy rains and floods in that 3 month period.

My two-cents: Multi-stakeholder collaboration and partnership will be key if Kenya is to make progress on the SDGs. It may well be worth industry convening around key/specific SDGs bringing all relevant stakeholders around the table, with all their expertise and resources, and solving the SDGs together. For the industry practitioners looking at this, perhaps this gives you a sense of where significant and collective efforts are required. Perhaps it’s time to go big (only 5 years left to 2030) or…go bust..?!

Read previous editions of the sustainability TLDR newsletters