Theo Clarke MP
MP for Stafford, Chair of the UN Global Goals for Sustainable Development APPG, and the Prime Minister’s Trade Envoy to Kenya.Global progress on the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) has significantly lagged, exacerbated by the pandemic, geopolitical conflicts, and climate challenges. The UK is addressing these shortfalls through a strategic, integrated approach, emphasising education, climate resilience, and health, particularly for women and children, to drive meaningful change and uphold its commitment to global development.
The UK’s Commitment to Sustainable Development Goals
Global progress on the UN Sustainable Development Goals has fallen short of expectations. Against the backdrop of the pandemic, the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and fast-changing climate and conflict threats, halfway to 2030, the goals remain far off track.
All 17 SDGs provide a once-in-a-generation opportunity to drive meaningful solutions and help solve interconnected challenges. And here in the UK, we are leading our international partners and pressing for progress to restore a sense of urgency so that we can meet the SDGs. All 17 SDGs are interlinked and have the potential to establish a more peaceful and prosperous world for all.
The UK Government’s International Development White Paper placed the SDGs at the heart of a new integrated cross-departmental approach to tackling poverty and delivering prosperity. Through a ‘whole-of-UK’ approach, the UK will bring together diverse sectors to transform UK aid so that – from business partners to civil society, academia, and the UK armed forces – we ensure no one is left behind in our pursuit of a better world.
Each goal, from ending extreme poverty to tackling climate change, is a challenge. But achieving them is possible, and it is within our reach. Take education, UK aid has supported 20 million children, including 10 million girls, with access to education since 2015. This is something that every British citizen should be immensely proud to have supported.
The UK’s status as a global leader in education thrives on strategic partnerships, both domestically and internationally. The Global Education Summit (GES), co-hosted by the UK and Kenya in collaboration with the Global Partnership for Education (GPE), championed the power of education to address climate change through girls’ education.
Climate change-induced disasters are on the rise, disrupting education for 40 million children yearly. Educating girls is vital for climate resilience. It counters the disproportionate climate vulnerability girls face, by promoting climate leadership and green skills. The UK is a founding member and leading donor of the GPE, and the most recent summit raised $4 billion. This will provide for 175 million children to learn, and it will ensure that 88 million children are in school by 2025. By prioritising education, the UK is both fulfilling an obligation and laying the groundwork for climate resilience and economic prosperity, both of which serve the United Kingdom, and not just those who directly benefit.
Our very own Education World Forum is a testament to Britain’s commitment to collaboration and innovation in education. The cross-departmental collaboration between the FCDO, DfE, and Department for Business and Trade brings education ministers from around the world to meet annually.
The UK presidency of the 47th G7 summit championed global education as a fundamental objective for world leaders to collectively address. Our leadership on the world stage mobilised action – replenishing the GPE fund and underscoring education as a key driver of progress and prosperity.
UK aid is delivering results. It is transforming communities and prioritising women and girls. The UK’s International Women and Girls Strategy for 2030 underpins Britain’s commitment to advancing the SDGs, with women and girls as the central focus of UK aid. Our commitment isn’t just about ticking boxes. It’s about saving lives.
The Need to Continue
But our work is far from over. 7,000 newborn babies, and over 800 women or girls, die due to pregnancy or childbirth complications every day. Nearly 5.5 million pregnant women, newborns, and children under the age of five die each year from preventable problems that, collectively, the world has the means to solve. UK aid is needed now, more than ever, to deliver the SDGs. This is why the UK Government is committed to ending the preventable deaths of mothers, babies, and children by 2030.
Advancing the SDGs at home and abroad is about strategically achieving multiple goals. I firmly believe that every woman deserves quality maternity care, and I am proud to have launched the national inquiry on Birth Trauma in the UK Parliament. By addressing the issue domestically, we not only set a precedent for prioritising healthcare systems for women and children in the UK but also signalled our unwavering commitment to achieving positive outcomes for global health. Through the strategic use of British soft power, we have the opportunity to shape healthcare policies locally and influence standards worldwide. This goes beyond healthcare; it’s about fostering a more equitable future for nations everywhere.
Final Thought
I am proud of the multifaceted reach of the UK’s aid budget. I am even more proud of our scientific breakthroughs that are making the world a better place. The ground-breaking malaria vaccine, developed by the University of Oxford, was administered for the first time in Cameroon in January 2024. With a focus on the fight against malaria in Africa, 100 million doses are expected to be delivered each year. This will save millions of lives.
The UK’s investments to Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, and the Global Fund are driving global health initiatives forward. From the development of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine, defeating Ebola in Sierra Leone, and making advancements in the Zika virus vaccine to the near eradication of polio, British expertise in global health has led to significant progress in curing deadly diseases.
The UK is a country that takes on challenges. British leadership in development is not just about our values, and doing what is right, it is also about making the world a better place for all of us. It is the right thing to do, and it is the smart thing to do too.
This is just one of the articles that features in the ‘Foreign and Defence Policy’ section in Chamber’s Parliamentary Journal. For more insight and analysis, please visit www.chamberuk.com/newsletter, to sign up and receive the online version, or visit the shop to purchase a print copy.
