9 UNSDG Goals Reinforced by MSPO
Adopted in 2015 by all United Nations Member States, the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDG) has listed 17 goals to work towards the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
The goals are created as an urgent call for action for all countries to work together towards a shared future where not only poverty is eliminated, but with improvements in health and education, reduced inequality, and continuous economic growth whilst tackling the challenges of climate change.
In tandem with international developments, the Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil (MSPO) certification scheme was first launched in 2015 and provides general principles to produce sustainable palm oil that covers the 3Ps (People, Planet, Profit) in Malaysia.
The five principles of the Revised MSPO Standards MS2530:2022 are designed to provide a balance between the need for sustainability and economic growth. The increasing adoption of the MSPO certification scheme strengthens Malaysia's potential to work towards achieving all the goals within the UNSDG. Here's how the MSPO is specifically aligned with the 9 goals of the UNSDG:
Goal 1: No Poverty
The first goal of the UNSDG is to end poverty. Global poverty is one of the worst problems that the world faces today. Palm oil plantations are a source of income and employment that helps eliminate poverty. Currently, there are 650,000 oil palm smallholders in Malaysia.
The MSPO principle of legal compliance ensures that each plantation worker is paid by the minimum wage law.
Through the MSPO principles of best practices and development of new plantings, the quality and quantity of yield from oil plantations will be improved and this will invariably bring better income to plantation owners as well as smallholders.
Goal 2: zero hunger
With improved income, poverty will be reduced and inevitably eliminate hunger. This coincides with the second goal of the UNSDG, zero hunger.
Apart from that, the greater yield per land area of palm oil as compared to other oil-producing plants means a lower cost of vegetable fats in foods when palm oil is used.
Palm oil is also a good substitute for more expensive dairy fats. Not only that, but it is also more resistant to oxidation compared to other vegetable fats which increase the shelf life of products containing palm oil. These factors create solutions to meet the goal of zero hunger worldwide.
Goal 3: good health and well-being
The UNSDG aims to provide good health and wellbeing globally. Did you know that palm oil is rich in antioxidants and vitamin E? Both nutrients contribute to strengthening the immune system as well as providing protection from free radicals.
Plus, it's a cheap source of vegetable fat and this ensures greater access to a balanced diet for all.
Goal 4: quality education
Quality education for all is the fourth goal of the UNSDG. Through MSPO’s fourth principle of social responsibility, health, safety, and employment conditions, the MSPO certification scheme will improve infrastructure development in oil palm plantation areas and create a sustainable source of income for workers.
Both factors will increase accessibility to education for the children of plantation workers. A higher and more sustainable source of income from oil palm plantations has provided better education opportunities, especially in rural areas.
Goal 6: clean water and sanitation
According to the UN, universal access to clean water, sanitation, and hygiene has the potential to save the lives of 829,000 people. By 2030, the UNSDG intends to achieve access to safe water and better sanitation management.
The fifth MSPO principle includes the criteria of waste management and disposal that ensures better conditions in certified plantations.
Apart from that, MSPO certified and standardised oil palm plantations increase the potential for centralised accommodation, which will bring better infrastructure for clean water and sanitation.
Goal 8: Decent work and economic growth
Next, MSPO-certified palm oil products have greater access to the international market, due to the increasing demand for sustainably sourced products in developed countries.
Apart from that, the MSPO principle of best practices, as well as the development of new plantings, results in a higher potential for plants that produce greater yield as well as higher quality palm oil.
Both these elements secure the economic growth of smallholders as well as plantation workers in the long run. Not only that, but the principle of best practices also includes transparent and fair price dealing, enabling a fair-trade environment between growers and millers that ensures smallholders are paid accordingly.
Goal 11: sustainable cities and communities
Through the second MSPO principle of social responsibility, health, safety, and employment conditions certified plantations areas will have well-planned housing infrastructure with essential public amenities included.
A sustainable community emerges especially for smallholder plantations that provide schools, clinics as well as proper roads.
Goal 13: climate action
The UNSDG tackles climate change and aims to improve the livelihood of many. The sixth principle of MSPO focuses on the environment, natural resources, biodiversity, and ecosystem services. Through the certification process, the practice of open burning and peat clearing will be reduced. Consequently, reducing the occurrence of haze as well as carbon dioxide emissions.
Adding to this, palm oil is also an essential ingredient for biodiesel, which is a sustainable fuel source that provides a good alternative to conventional diesel. Biofuels already make up a significant portion of Malaysia's palm oil exports.
The combustion of biodiesel releases lower levels of pollutants as well as greenhouse gas emissions, greatly reducing the impact of internal combustion engines on the environment.
Goal 17: partnership for the goals
From the implementation of the sixth and seventh principle of MSPO in the certification process, the standardisation of best practices of oil palm plantations as well as greater transparency secures better recognition from international trade agencies.
Additionally, improved accessibility of information about oil palm plantations to environmental groups will strengthen the awareness of the benefits of palm oil products.
Not only that, greater transparency and best practices implemented through MSPO certification will set a positive precedent to other oil palm producing countries which will bring about positive changes on a global level.
In conclusion, the MSPO certification process for oil palm plantations and refineries helps in more ways than one for Malaysia in working towards successfully achieving the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Greater effort needs to be done towards meeting 100% MSPO certification throughout all oil palm plantations and refineries in Malaysia.
MSPO is distinctly beneficial, and it is salient that better awareness and recognition of MSPO certification is promoted at the world stage.
