Implementation status and monitoring of a environmental health-related index in relation to Sustainable Development Goals

Abstract

The environmental health goals that are directly and indirectly related with the health goals of the Sustainable Development Goals are connected with the goals and targets of Goal 6 (clean water and sanitation), Goal 7 (affordable and clean energy), Goal 11 (sustainable cities and communities), Goal 12 (responsible consumption and production), Goal 13 (climate action), Goal 14 (life below water), Goal 15 (life on land) and Goal 16 (peace, justice and strong institutions). For example, air pollution can cause such non-communicable diseases as lung cancer and increase the risk of acute respiratory diseases. The World Health Organization reported in 2016 that, in 2012, around 8,710,000 people had died in the world due to the pollution of drinking water, waters and soil, along with inadequate sanitary facilities and services. The World Health Organization also reported that around 4.3 million people had died of ischemic heart diseases, strokes, chronic lung diseases, lung cancer and pediatric pneumonia due to inefficient energy use when cooking at home. These figures show the importance of environmental factors in relation to health. When policy makers carry forward goals and policy measures focused on diseases in consideration of associations among related areas, there is insufficient access to necessary knowledge, means and technologies. Korea has to determine the level and scope for developing a domestic implementation index, while developing a monitoring index in relation to the global index. Consequently, comprehensive achievement of the health goals of Sustainable Development Goal at home and abroad requires a cross-sectoral approach involving comprehensive participation by all stakeholders including the state, corporations and civil society to overcome the segmentalization of goals, beyond improving the existing policies.