I’m sure there are many reasons to visit Namibia. It has the world’s highest sand dune, majestic desert scenery, great wildlife viewing and a massive Atlantic coastline, but I am here to see sustainability in action.

The UN describes the Sustainability Development Goals as a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet and improve the lives and prospects of everyone everywhere. Noble goals indeed, agreed by all states in 2015 with an ambitious 15 year plan to achieve.

The 2023 Progress Report reveals the slow pace of change with only 15% on track for success by 2030. Levels of poverty show the greatest improvement although I suspect this is a moving figure with grain shipments faltering out of the Black Sea region.

I would personally like to see Governments all around the world – most of whom are in crisis – use these goals as the foundation stones for making policy.

The 15th goal to protect Life on Land revolves around the urgent need to protect natural habitats and the biodiversity these areas sustain. Annually 13 million hectares ( this is Spain!) is lost to human food production and development. Yes, this is a very complex story, but with land quickly degrading in to deserts reversal of this situation is our only option.

Namibia, like all countries, has UN goals set down. Linked specifically to Goal 15 it has targets to conserve land, and if possible reverse its land degradation, and importantly to conserve its limited water supplies. They signed up to prevent the extinction of protected species through measures to end poaching and the trafficking of protected species.

An article in Al Jazzera 31 Jan 23 made grim reading. 87 rhinos were poached in Namibia in 2022 up from 45 in 2021. 600 rhinos this year in Namibia are planned to be dehorned as a deterrent to poachers.

More positive news though on elephants in Namibia. 4 killed in 2022, down from 101 in 2015.

The last count by the EHRA on the sub species desert elephant that they are trying to protect, from extinction, is a mere 62 animals.

Not only do I have a passion for elephants, but in Namibia I will see how charities work. See the UN goals in action. Who manages them? How widely they are known, understood and embraced at the local level? Can they make a real difference?