The European Sustainable Development Week 2021
The COVID-19 pandemic has interfered in the achievement of the sustainable development goals
On the European Sustainable Development Week, we present data indicating the economic, social and environmental impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Sustainable development and the COVID-19 pandemic
This year's European Sustainable Development Week, which will take place from 20 to 26 September 2021, will once again focus on promoting and increasing the visibility of activities, projects and events related to sustainable development and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the 2030 Agenda.
The COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on the implementation of the 2030 Agenda, as its impact extends to all three dimensions of sustainable development (economic, social and environmental). All dimensions and long-term consequences of the pandemic will be revealed in the future, but short-term data already show the impacts on the achievement of the sustainable development goals. Eurostat is publishing a dashboard to monitor economic recovery, which shows how the COVID-19 pandemic and its consequences are affecting the European Union and its efforts to achieve the sustainable development goals.
This year's European Sustainable Development Week, which will take place from 20 to 26 September 2021, will once again focus on promoting and increasing the visibility of activities, projects and events related to sustainable development and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the 2030 Agenda.
The COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on the implementation of the 2030 Agenda, as its impact extends to all three dimensions of sustainable development (economic, social and environmental). All dimensions and long-term consequences of the pandemic will be revealed in the future, but short-term data already show the impacts on the achievement of the sustainable development goals. Eurostat is publishing a dashboard to monitor economic recovery, which shows how the COVID-19 pandemic and its consequences are affecting the European Union and its efforts to achieve the sustainable development goals.
Increased excess mortality
Public health concern is one of the most important aspects of the pandemic. In 2020 and the first half of 2021, excess mortality in the EU-27 reached three peaks, following three waves of new COVID-19 cases. Although there is no confirmation that all excess deaths are due to COVID-19 disease, there is a clear link between excess mortality and the outbreak of the pandemic. In April 2020, there were 25% more deaths in the EU-27 compared to the monthly average for the 2016–2019 period, in November 2020 40% and in April 2021 20.2%. In the first half of 2020, Slovenia did not have such a pronounced peak, with the excess mortality rate being the highest in June (9.5%). In November 2020, the excess mortality was 91.3%, and in the first half of 2021 it was again the highest in June, when it was 15.7%.
Lower gross domestic product, higher general government debt
Because of the measures taken by countries to halt the spread of the virus, the EU economy experienced negative trends in 2020. Compared to 2019, the gross domestic product per capita in the EU-27 decreased by 6.1% in real terms, and in Slovenia by 4.9%. On the other hand, due to measures to mitigate the economic and social impacts of the pandemic, the general government gross debt increased to 92.9% of the EU-27 GDP at the end of the first quarter of 2021, and 84.6% of the GDP in Slovenia.
Increased unemployment and youth inactivity
Despite mitigation measures, the pandemic also had a negative impact on the European labour market. At the annual level, unemployment (15-74 years) in the EU-27 increased by 0.4 of a percentage point compared to 2019 (from 6.7% to 7.1%), and in Slovenia by 0.5 of a percentage point (from 4.5% to 5.0%). The highest unemployment rate in the EU-27 was recorded in August and September 2020 (7.7%) and in Slovenia in May and June 2020 (5.4%).
The pandemic has revealed a number of existing inequalities, as some groups of people are more vulnerable, both in terms of the virus and in terms of the consequences of the lockdown measures taken by countries to halt the pandemic.
Young people are also one of the vulnerable groups in the pandemic. In 2020, the share of young people (15–29 years) who are neither in employment nor in education or training increased compared to 2019 by 1.1 percentage points (to 13.6%) in the EU-27; in Slovenia by 0.4 of a percentage point (to 9.2%). The share was the highest in the second quarter of 2020, when it was 14.6% in the EU-27 and 10.5% in Slovenia. At the beginning of 2021, the share in the EU-27, after a previous decline, increased again (to 13.8%), while in Slovenia it continued to decrease (to 8.4%).
Public health concern is one of the most important aspects of the pandemic. In 2020 and the first half of 2021, excess mortality in the EU-27 reached three peaks, following three waves of new COVID-19 cases. Although there is no confirmation that all excess deaths are due to COVID-19 disease, there is a clear link between excess mortality and the outbreak of the pandemic. In April 2020, there were 25% more deaths in the EU-27 compared to the monthly average for the 2016–2019 period, in November 2020 40% and in April 2021 20.2%. In the first half of 2020, Slovenia did not have such a pronounced peak, with the excess mortality rate being the highest in June (9.5%). In November 2020, the excess mortality was 91.3%, and in the first half of 2021 it was again the highest in June, when it was 15.7%.
Lower gross domestic product, higher general government debt
Because of the measures taken by countries to halt the spread of the virus, the EU economy experienced negative trends in 2020. Compared to 2019, the gross domestic product per capita in the EU-27 decreased by 6.1% in real terms, and in Slovenia by 4.9%. On the other hand, due to measures to mitigate the economic and social impacts of the pandemic, the general government gross debt increased to 92.9% of the EU-27 GDP at the end of the first quarter of 2021, and 84.6% of the GDP in Slovenia.
Despite mitigation measures, the pandemic also had a negative impact on the European labour market. At the annual level, unemployment (15-74 years) in the EU-27 increased by 0.4 of a percentage point compared to 2019 (from 6.7% to 7.1%), and in Slovenia by 0.5 of a percentage point (from 4.5% to 5.0%). The highest unemployment rate in the EU-27 was recorded in August and September 2020 (7.7%) and in Slovenia in May and June 2020 (5.4%).
The pandemic has revealed a number of existing inequalities, as some groups of people are more vulnerable, both in terms of the virus and in terms of the consequences of the lockdown measures taken by countries to halt the pandemic.
Young people are also one of the vulnerable groups in the pandemic. In 2020, the share of young people (15–29 years) who are neither in employment nor in education or training increased compared to 2019 by 1.1 percentage points (to 13.6%) in the EU-27; in Slovenia by 0.4 of a percentage point (to 9.2%). The share was the highest in the second quarter of 2020, when it was 14.6% in the EU-27 and 10.5% in Slovenia. At the beginning of 2021, the share in the EU-27, after a previous decline, increased again (to 13.8%), while in Slovenia it continued to decrease (to 8.4%).
Lower electricity consumption, improved air quality in cities
The consequences of countries' restrictive measures also had an impact on the environment. The pandemic affected, among other things, energy consumption, mainly in transport, and consequently greenhouse gas emissions.
Compared to April 2019, in April 2020 electricity consumption decreased by 13.0% in the EU-27 and by 14.2% in Slovenia. A year later, consumption was again at a higher level, as in April 2021 in the EU-27 15.9% and in Slovenia 10.9% more electricity was consumed than in April 2020.
Due to the reduction in traffic during the restrictive measures, air quality in cities has improved. The average monthly concentration of NO2 in the capitals of the EU-27 was the lowest in May 2020, when it was 16.7 µg/m3. In Slovenia, it was the lowest in Ljubljana in April 2020, when it was 9.0 µg/m3. In the first half of 2021, the lowest average monthly concentration was recorded in May: in the EU-27 18.0 µg/m3, and in Ljubljana 14.1 µg/m3.
The consequences of countries' restrictive measures also had an impact on the environment. The pandemic affected, among other things, energy consumption, mainly in transport, and consequently greenhouse gas emissions.
Compared to April 2019, in April 2020 electricity consumption decreased by 13.0% in the EU-27 and by 14.2% in Slovenia. A year later, consumption was again at a higher level, as in April 2021 in the EU-27 15.9% and in Slovenia 10.9% more electricity was consumed than in April 2020.
Due to the reduction in traffic during the restrictive measures, air quality in cities has improved. The average monthly concentration of NO2 in the capitals of the EU-27 was the lowest in May 2020, when it was 16.7 µg/m3. In Slovenia, it was the lowest in Ljubljana in April 2020, when it was 9.0 µg/m3. In the first half of 2021, the lowest average monthly concentration was recorded in May: in the EU-27 18.0 µg/m3, and in Ljubljana 14.1 µg/m3.
When making use of the data and information of the Statistical Office of the Republic of Slovenia, always add: "Source: SURS". More: Copyright.
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