New York was the focal point for the first meeting held by the Inter-Agency and Expert Group on the Sustainable Development Goal Indicators (IAEG-SDGs). Member States engaged in deep talks to find solutions for linking global indicators to a set of national indicators while maintaining the global nature of the SDGs.
FIATA was there to weigh in on the concept of logistics connectivity. FIATA had previously discussed the significance of logistics connectivity in the indicator framework discussion to the Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN). This time around, the IAEG-SDGs would take a more statistical approach developing a practical indicator framework, to give the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) a fighting chance of being realised come post 2015.
In order to improve those chances, the SDGs and the indicator framework must look at the importance of logistics connectivity, says FIATA. If appropriately outlined, this concept has the capability to stretch itself across a range of SDGs and the capacity to be the ultimate ‘bridge’ of success giving SDG implementation the extra kick.
FIATA has helped summarise the impact of logistics connectivity in five key statements:
Prosperity comes from working hard and trading effectively. Many are ready to work hard, but trading effectively depends on fair conditions surrounding them. We must work together to create these fair conditions.
Effective trade needs connectivity and facilitation. Imagine the economic impact of enhancing logistics connectivity to stretch trade to endless portions of the earth. It is our world, all peoples must have their share.
Sustainable logistics ensures that food produced in the best climate reaches our plates all over the world with the least well-to-wheel environmental impact.
Appropriate investments ensure health, logistics connectivity ensures health; states may not all possess the required resources locally, but good logistics routes make it possible to benefit from one another’s medication and treatment.
Logistics connectivity is not only a means to an end, like throwing a rock in a pond the impact of logistics connectivity will ripple into multiple industries and activities creating employment opportunities and better living for all people of the world.
FIATA says these statements outline the tangibility of logistics and the need to ensure the indicator framework’s global nature. Development in logistics can be seen as a major connector of global initiatives helping to standardise the measurement of improvements in country’s trade performance and facilitation.
