The World Has a Plan — and It Must Be Carried Out

Posted on 29 December 20252 January 2026 by Joana Pinto dos Santos

THE WORLD HAS A PLAN — AND IT MUST BE CARRIED OUT
Elies Molins
Copresident of the World Federation of Scientific Workers

The world already has a plan: The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), proposed by the United Nations 10 years ago [1]. This plan is valuable because it is the result of broad global contributions and consensus. It looks beyond the short term, offering a deeper vision for humanity. The mission and vision are clear: the SDGs are not just a roadmap for progress, but an emergency plan for the survival of our civilization. The alternative is catastrophic: the probable loss of about 90% of human lives under dramatic conditions, leaving behind an uninhabitable planet for the survivors.
The risks are already evident. We have recently passed a new threshold in the oceans, and millions of people face immediate danger: coastal flooding, prolonged droughts, shortages of drinking water and food, extreme weather events, acidifying seas, colossal forest fires, the alarming spread of peat fires, and other unforeseen crises. These environmental disasters will inevitably be followed by profound social conflicts.
Recognizing this reality, the next step must be implementation. Understanding the deep implications of the SDGs means embracing radical change at every level: from consumption to production, from agriculture to transport, from industry to digital technologies including AI, from exploitation of nature to its protection, etc. None of this will be possible without a profound transformation of the political regulations and of the economic system, both should ensure a more equitable distribution of wealth. The United Nations is the only organization that can coordinate their implementation and recommend that all countries carry them out.
Unfortunately, the initial positive momentum toward the SDGs has stalled. The social and economic progress achieved during the second half of the 20th century is now, at best, frozen. In spite of the efforts made by many of them, progressive governments have been unable to resolve the plethora of problems ahead because they have applied measures based on market logic and prevailing liberalism. Recent international trends leading to confrontation and the seizure of new territories will further hinder the implementation of the SDGs.
Worse still, manipulation through social media is shifting public opinion toward extreme-right narratives. These offer trivial solutions based on fabricated enemies, protecting oligarchic interests while ignoring the real challenges. Attacks on science and scientists are part of this strategy, silencing those who reveal uncomfortable truths. This shallow approach, blind to complexity, leads only to chaos. For example, immigration is framed as a “problem,” while in reality countries such as Spain are thriving thanks to the labor force provided by immigrants.
On the other hand, the inhuman suffering of the Palestinian (or South Sudan, among others) people is stirring global conscience. It reminds us that awareness and solidarity can open the door to solutions. The lesson is clear: the major challenges we face—whether oligarchic power or climate change—can only be overcome by massive, bottom-up pressure. Every contribution matters. Rosa Parks began a revolution with a single act of resistance. Even initiatives some dismiss as symbolic—such as the Gaza flotilla—play a role in raising awareness.
The World Federation of Scientific Workers must make the SDGs a priority objective in its agenda and work on their further development, advancement and implementation. Scientists are particularly concerned by the SDGs, as their success depends largely on new scientific and technological contributions.
The WFSW calls for critical thinking and collective action. Question the information you receive. Check its sources. Use reason. Form opinions, confront them with others, and organize to advance along the path set out by our common plan, the SDGs. Every contribution is essential.