5 P's

1. People

Eliminate poverty, stay in good health, and value each other

For people all over the world to be happy, it is imperative to solve the problems of poverty and hunger. It is important to create an equitable world where we value each other and all can live in good health.

Poverty also causes various other issues, including: people suffering from hunger and malnutrition because they cannot get enough food; people not being able to access education; and people facing various forms of discrimination and prejudice in society. Poverty is deeply connected to all of these difficult problems.

In addition, as the world’s population increases, we don’t have enough food to feed everyone and the number of people starving increases. This issue may become more serious going forward. To enable everyone in the world to enjoy a long and healthy life, it is necessary to ensure various services to allow people to maintain their health and receive medical treatment for diseases and injuries. The availability of such care and treatment is particularly important for babies and children. So that people can live a healthy life, it is also important to secure safe water and a sanitary environment.

2. Prosperity

Create a prosperous world where people can live with peace of mind

It is essential that every person on Earth, wherever they may be, is able to live a rich life, both physically and mentally. To this end, it is necessary to narrow the gap not only between nations but also within nations and regions.

It is also important to ensure that all countries remain in harmony with nature while also promoting economic growth. One way to achieve this is to use renewable energy wherever possible.

Technological advances may make the world more affluent by generating new technologies and innovations. On the other hand, for individuals to actually live a life of prosperity and abundance, it will be important to have a good income, a satisfying job, and a good work-life balance, and to live in a place that is safe and comfortable.

3. Planet

Co-exist with nature to protect the global environment

The Earth, on which we live, is blessed with a rich natural environment. Protecting this beautiful planet for our children and future generations is our responsibility. But protecting the global environment requires more than the efforts of one nation or region alone. Rather, it will take the entire world.

To protect limited resources and continue to live in a rich natural world in the future, we must meaningfully turn our attention toward various issues such as species extinction, climate change including global warming and the resultant natural disasters, and the loss of forest and marine environments. We then need to think about how our own lifestyle affects the global environment, focusing on things happening around us.

4. Peace

First know peace without conflict

Everyone wishes for a world of everlasting peace. But, even now, there are people in various parts of the world who are suffering from wars, conflicts, violence, persecution, etc.

Living in a peaceful country like Japan, I guess we are likely to feel that such conflicts are far away. As we all share the same planet, however, we need to take an interest in conflicts happening elsewhere around the globe. This is another step on the road to world peace that we can each practice ourselves.

5. Partnership

The importance of different forms of cooperation

The aim of the SDGs is to encourage the entire world to come together to address various problems so that everyone living on this planet will “get a happier future.” Cooperation between countries is of course very important, but what is more important is having lots of small-scale cooperation through partnerships. If people cooperate within countries, companies, regions, schools, and families, the SDGs as global goals will be realized.

Let’s widen the circle of cooperation from our immediate surroundings and think and take action for a future in which everyone can be happy.