Page 9 - 2021 BHP Foundation Strategy And Impact Booklet

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We live at an unprecedented time of opportunity and
challenge in the history of humanity. The last century
has delivered exceptional human progress through

which people are living longer, safer and more healthy
and productive lives, however this progress has also
generated a challenge: achieving environmental and
socio-economic sustainability.

Year 1820 2015 1.8 people live in poverty in 119+ people were pushed

People living billion resource-rich countries 3 million back into extreme “We have the knowledge,
poverty in 2020,
in extreme 89.15% 9.98% the first time in over the science, the technology
poverty 800 young people on the 20 years 6 and the resources”, said the

Illiteracy in million planet will not have the 101 more children have fallen UN chief. “What we need is
most basic skills for
unity of purpose, effective
people over 87.95% 13.98% employment by 2030 4 below the minimum
15 years million reading proficiency leadership from all sectors,
80% of Earth’s remaining level, potentially wiping and urgent, ambitious action”.
Child mortality biodiversity is contained out two decades of António Guterres, UN Secretary-General
in first 5 43.3% 3.91% within Indigenous or education gains 7
years community-tenured land 5

Global living conditions over the past two centuries1. The decisions we make and actions we The situation has been further
take over the next 30 years will likely have exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic
The demands of 7 billion people are placing implications for the sustainability of the which has overwhelmingly had the
extraordinary pressure on our finite carbon, planet and quality of life for centuries greatest impact on the world’s poorest
biodiversity and water resources. The scale to come. We therefore have a choice: to and most vulnerable people.
of the challenge will intensify as the world’s lean into solving these unprecedented
population rises to a projected 9.7 billion2 challenges with bold new solutions, or Despite these enormous challenges,
by 2050. Herein lies the essence of our continue with incremental ‘business as the situation can and must be turned
collective challenge: enabling a ‘social floor’ usual’ change knowing this will not deliver around.
(decent lives and livelihoods) for all whilst the speed and scale of transformation
transforming our stressed natural systems required. As reported by the United
to sustainable models. Nations, despite progress in some areas
overall global efforts in the five years
since the adoption of the Sustainable
Development Goals have been insufficient
to deliver the level of change required.