Melissa Guevara 10th April, 2013 Topics in Economic Development How Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) are affected

by disasters and how the negative impacts can be mitigated.

The Millennium Development Goals are: 1. Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger 2. Achieve universal primary education 3. Promote gender equality and empower women 4. Reduce child mortality 5. Improve maternal health 6. Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases 7. Ensure environmental sustainability 8. Develop a global partnership for development These are eight international development goals agreed to by all United Nations member states and have measurable objectives and clear deadlines. Their main intention is to enhance the lives of the poorest people in the world. These goals can be used as an extensive strategic framework to measure the achievement of sustainable development. Sustainable Development is development that satisfies current needs without affecting future ability to satisfy needs (UNCED, 1978). It ensures that current growth does not jeopardize potential growth of the future. Economic growth and positive development in a country can reduce vulnerability which in turn, reduces the risk of disasters occurring. Disasters are very destructive to a country and can significantly impede development economically, socially and environmentally. Unsafe development practices including those that ignore safe working or living conditions and the environment for the sake of prosperity, affect the vulnerability of the country and increase the risk of disasters occurring. Economically, sustainable development attempts to increase efficiency and economic growth which would decrease vulnerability to disasters. Disasters can have a negative impact on sustainable economic development as they destroy infrastructure, physical capital and resources which results in scarce resources being reassigned to provide emergency relief and recovery. The reassignment of these resources decreases economic growth and productivity. Socially, sustainable development aims to reduce poverty and hunger and increase equity (Attzs, 2005). Disasters can result in a decrease in human capital and social capital. Human capital is decreased by reduction in the skills and knowledge of an individual due to lack of education, training and medical care. Social capital is reduced by the depreciation of relationships among persons and the institutions and norms that guide social interaction. Human and social capital can also be reduced by injury and even death.

Environmentally, sustainable development aims to effectively manage natural resources. Disasters can cause damage to the environment and its natural resources in the form of pollution and land degradation (Attzs, 2005). Pollution of the water significantly decreases the supply of water available for drinking and performing other minor tasks which also negatively impacts hygiene. Land pollution and degradation destroys agricultural crops, which decreases the already scarce food supply and increases poverty. The negative impacts of disaster on economic, social and environmental sustainable development can be alleviated by establishment of institutional systems and administrative arrangements that connect sectors of public, private and civil society with each other and formation of vertical ties between individual and organizations on a district, national and international scale. This connectivity will allow easier dissemination of information, faster responses to disasters and provision of financial support when needed. Another option to mitigate the effects of disasters is through legislative reform which can be used to establish standards and boundaries including building codes, basic training requirements and basic responsibilities for risk management. For instance, establishing a standard in building codes will allow safe construction of buildings which reduces the risk of accidents or destruction as a result of a natural disaster. However, the enactment of laws will not encourage adherence to the rules so these legislature must be accompanied by active law enforcement and a monitoring system. Natural disasters can affect anyone but the desolate are often the most affected as they have additional vulnerabilities as a result of poverty (Attzs, 2005). As a result governments must actively seek to reduce these disasters from occurring by promoting positive development of the country and ensuring the adherence to laws environmental and otherwise.

References: Attzs, Marlene (2005). Breaking with Business as Usual: Perspectives from Civil Society in the Commonwealth on the Millennium Development Goals. London: Commonwealth Foundation. Our Common Future. Retrieved from http://www.un-documents.net/ocf-02.htm Accessed on 09/04/2013. Millennium Development Goals. Retrieved from http://www.mdgfund.org/content/MDGs Accessed on 10/04/2013. United Nations Development Programme, (2004). Reducing Disaster Risk, A Challenge for Development. Retrieved from http://www.undp.org/content/dam/undp/library/crisis%20prevention/disaster/asia_pacific/Reduci ng%20Disaster%20risk%20a%20Challenge%20for%20development.pdf Accessed on 10/04/2013.