The 2030 Countdown: Why we can't afford to miss the mark on SDGs 8, 9, and 10

We are standing at a critical crossroads. The year 2030 is no longer a distant future; it is a looming deadline. As students of UNIMAC-IJ and members of the advocacy group Build Up: The Future is Now, we have realised that the clock is ticking louder than ever. If we do not accelerate our efforts, the promises of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)—specifically Goals 8, 9, and 10—will remain just that: promises.

This is why we launched our campaign, “Build, Grow, Include.” It is a call to action, a plea for awareness, and a roadmap for how we—students, communities, and nations—can turn the tide before it is too late.

The Crisis at Hand

The data is stark. At the current rate of progress, the world will not achieve gender equality (SDG 5) until 2062, while eradicating extreme poverty (SDG 1) remains a moving target. For us, the focus is on the economic and social pillars of development:

SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth): We are witnessing a global jobs crisis. Youth unemployment is triple the adult rate. The rise of automation threatens to displace millions, and the “gig economy” often offers instability rather than security.

SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure): While technology advances, the digital divide widens. Developing nations are being left behind in the race for sustainable industrialisation, while infrastructure often crumbles under the weight of climate change.

SDG 10 (Reduced Inequality): The richest 1% of the global population owns nearly half of the world’s wealth. Inequality is not just about money; it is also about access to opportunity, healthcare, and education.

If we continue on this trajectory, we will fail. And failure is not an option.

Our Campaign: “Build, Grow, Include”

As a group of passionate students at UNIMAC-IJ, we decided that we could not just sit in lecture halls and study these problems; we had to act. We formed Build Up: The Future is Now with a simple motto: Build, Grow, Include.

Here is how we translated our philosophy into action to advocate for SDGs 8, 9, and 10.

1. “Build” – Catalysing Sustainable Industry (SDG 9)

Our Message: Innovation must be inclusive. We called on the government to invest in R&D grants for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in rural areas to bridge the infrastructure gap.

2. “Grow” – Redefining Economic Growth (SDG 8)

We realised that growth does not happen in a vacuum; it happens when education meets opportunity. We are calling for a redefinition of “economic growth” to prioritise well-being over output.

3. “Include” – Leveling the Playing Field (SDG 10)

We realised that providing digital literacy classes to women in poor communities can demonstrate that inclusion is the engine of growth.

The Urgent Call: Don’t Let 2030 Pass Us By

Through our campaign, we realised one profound truth: The SDGs are not just the responsibility of governments or large corporations. Everyone has a part to play.

To Governments: We say, prioritise policy over politics. Create fiscal space for innovation and ensure that trade policies reduce—not exacerbate—inequality.

To the Private Sector: We say, commit to fair wages and green technologies. Stop chasing short-term profits at the expense of human dignity.

To Civil Society and NGOs: We say, amplify the voices of the marginalised. Hold institutions accountable.

To Students and Young People: We say, educate yourself. Vote with your wallet. Use your voice on social media. Demand change.

We are the generation that will either be remembered for saving the world or for standing by as it burned. At UNIMAC-IJ, we have chosen to fight.

The Role of the Individual

You might ask, “What can I, a single person, do about global inequality or industrial infrastructure?” The answer is: plenty.

Be a conscious consumer. Buy from businesses that pay fair wages.

Be a lifelong learner. Adapt your skills to the new economy so you can contribute to SDG 8.

Be an advocate. Talk about inequality (SDG 10) at your dinner table. Share the statistics. Break the silence.

The path to 2030 is short, but the distance we must travel is enormous. Our campaign, Build Up: The Future is Now, is proof that students are not just the leaders of tomorrow; we are the changemakers of today.

Let us build the future. Let us grow sustainably. Let us include everyone.

The time to act is now. We are UNIMAC-IJ. We are Build Up. Are you?