“Talking about SDGs, we can’t ignore the power of media!”
In a previous interview “Professor Jeffrey Sachs, Chairman of SDSN: The Global Climate Crisis Cannot Be Postponed, It Calls for Global Action to Confront It Together” Jeffrey Sachs, President of the Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN), emphasized the importance of international cooperation.
This time, he focused on the influence of media.
Sachs believes that media plays a crucial role in addressing the global climate crisis and promoting sustainable development goals, bearing the responsibility of helping society recognize vital issues and guiding the public toward solutions and action.
“I recently wrote an article titled ‘US Politics and the Paris Finance Summit’ where I mentioned sustainable development issues like tackling the global climate crisis and poverty. Many praised the ambitious goals, but in reality, very little money was invested. “there are too many summits and too few dollars!” Sachs chuckled.
Sachs: Media Fostering Mutual Understanding on SDGs Among Global Regions
“The media can help the public to understand how we can move to a much better world that’s more fair, that’s more prosperous, and that is environmentally safe” Sachs stated. He emphasized that media not only connects emotions but also consolidates consensus, a crucial factor in advancing the common goals of SDGs.
Sachs also pointed out that as the primary source of information for society, media guides people from different regions and languages to understand each other, establishing a foundation for communication. Especially in the face of escalating global environmental challenges such as typhoons, heatwaves, and other worldwide issues, people from diverse regions need not only to understand each other but also have plenty to learn together.
“Media stands as the frontline communicator, not only providing information but also disseminating reactions and voices from various societal strata. Through close collaboration with experts in different fields, media serves as an interpreter on global issues, transforming diverse and intricate topics into clear narratives that can be shared with audiences worldwide. It ensures that these complex issues find their precise target audience.”
Sachs: Media Should Help Society Refocus on SDGs
“The urgency of extreme climate issues and other global concerns is paramount. In this critical moment, the media has a responsibility to assist the global populace in focusing on these long-term, pivotal issues, starting with the SDGs.”
Sachs advocates that as we enter the era of Web 3.0, which is currently being termed the Sustainable Year of 2023, the media industry should redefine its purpose. It should prioritize essential topics influencing societal development, transforming media into the guardian of societal conscience and promoting sustainability:
“‘The Icons’ serves as an excellent paradigm, spotlighting exceptional global leaders. Your focus on themes related to ESG and SDGs in these leaders’ stories creates a positive global cycle, and I see you nurturing it.”
Sachs particularly emphasizes that global issues are interconnected, forming a complex web. Therefore, leaders must share a collective awareness of present and future challenges, believing in the shared fate of humanity. He states, “Media holds the key to amplifying voices, but what it amplifies should be positive, unifying voices that foster cohesion, not divisive ones. This is the role media should play in the sustainable era!”
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