Report on Executive Actions and Their Implications for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

A series of recent executive actions has significantly altered federal policy concerning Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) criteria. These changes have direct and substantial implications for the United States’ alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly in the areas of social equity, environmental protection, global health, and international cooperation.

Social Equity, Justice, and Institutional Integrity

Impact on SDG 5 (Gender Equality) and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities)

Several executive orders dismantle federal frameworks aimed at promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion, representing a significant deviation from the principles of SDG 5 and SDG 10.

• EO 14151 – Ending Radical and Wasteful Government DEI Programs and Preferencing: Mandates the termination of all Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) and Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) policies, offices, and positions within the federal government. This action directly curtails initiatives designed to reduce systemic inequalities.
• EO 14168 – Defending Women from Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government: Establishes legal definitions for “biological” gender terms for adoption across federal agencies, impacting policies related to gender identity and undermining progress on gender equality.
• EO 14173 – Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity: Requires the termination of all policies and programs deemed to provide discriminatory preferences. It rescinds Executive Order 11246 (Equal Employment Opportunity) and directs the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs to cease promoting affirmative action, thereby altering long-standing mechanisms for addressing inequality.
• EO 14281 – Restoring Equality of Opportunity and Meritocracy: Directs federal agencies to deprioritize enforcement of statutes and regulations that include disparate-impact liability, weakening legal tools used to combat systemic discrimination and reduce inequalities.

Impact on SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions)

Actions affecting federal enforcement priorities and institutional frameworks impact the nation’s commitment to building effective, accountable, and inclusive institutions.

1. EO 14209 – Pausing Foreign Corrupt Practices Act Enforcement to Further American Economic and National Security: Orders a temporary pause on new investigations and a review of enforcement policies under the FCPA, potentially weakening anti-corruption efforts that are central to SDG 16.
2. EO 14202 – Eradicating Anti-Christian Bias: Creates a task force to review executive agency activities for anti-Christian bias, focusing institutional resources on a specific religious group.

Environmental Sustainability and Climate Action

Impact on SDG 13 (Climate Action) and SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy)

A primary focus of the executive actions is the reversal of climate-related policies and the promotion of fossil fuels, directly contradicting the objectives of SDG 13 and the clean energy targets of SDG 7.

• EO 14162 – Putting America First in International Environmental Agreements: Mandates the withdrawal from the Paris Agreement and ceases financial commitments under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, disengaging the U.S. from global climate action efforts.
• EO 14154 – Unleashing American Energy: Establishes a policy of fossil fuel exploration on federal lands, eliminates the “EV mandate,” and revokes numerous prior climate-related executive orders. This order fundamentally shifts national energy policy away from renewable sources and climate mitigation.
• Memo – Temporary Withdrawal of All Areas on the Outer Continental Shelf from Offshore Wind Leasing: Halts new offshore wind energy leasing pending a comprehensive review, impeding the development of a key renewable energy source critical for achieving SDG 7.
• EO 14261 – Reinvigorating America’s Beautiful Clean Coal Industry: Directs agencies to rescind policies discouraging investment in coal production and to promote exports of coal and coal technologies, further entrenching fossil fuel dependency.

Impact on SDG 14 (Life Below Water) and SDG 15 (Life on Land)

The executive actions prioritize resource extraction and deregulation, posing risks to marine and terrestrial ecosystems and undermining SDG 14 and SDG 15.

1. Proclamation – Unleashing American Commercial Fishing in the Pacific: Amends the management of the Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument to allow commercial fishing in previously protected zones, directly impacting marine biodiversity conservation efforts.
2. EO 14153 – Unleashing Alaska’s Extraordinary Resource Potential: Reverses restrictions on resource development in Alaska and mandates the expedition of permits for projects, including liquefied natural gas (LNG), impacting sensitive ecosystems.
3. EO 14225 – Immediate Expansion of American Timber Production: Directs agencies to implement policies to increase timber harvesting, affecting forest ecosystems and sustainable land management.
4. EO 14285 – Unleashing America’s Offshore Critical Minerals and Resources: Aims to strengthen seabed mineral exploration and development, raising concerns about the environmental impact on marine ecosystems.
5. Memo – Stopping Radical Environmentalism to Generate Power for the Columbia River Basin: Revokes a memorandum that prioritized ecological restoration, including dam breaching for fish protection, shifting focus away from ecosystem health.

Impact on SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation)

Water management policies have been revised to prioritize resource delivery over environmental and conservation standards, affecting the sustainable management of water as outlined in SDG 6.

• EO 14181 – Emergency Measures To Provide Water Resources in California: Directs federal agencies to override activities impeding water delivery and expedite exemptions under the Endangered Species Act for water projects.
• EO 14264 – Maintaining Acceptable Water Pressure in Showerheads: Rescinds a rule defining “showerhead” for energy and water conservation purposes, moving away from efficiency standards that support sustainable water use.

Global Health and International Partnerships

Impact on SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals)

The executive actions signal a significant withdrawal from international cooperation on global health and development, directly impacting SDG 3 and SDG 17.

• EO 14155 – Withdrawing The United States From The World Health Organization: Announces the intent to withdraw from the WHO, pauses all funding, and recalls personnel. This action dismantles a key partnership for global health security and pandemic response.
• EO 14169 – Reevaluating and Realigning US Foreign Aid: Pauses new awards of development assistance funds pending a review, potentially disrupting programs that support health, education, and economic stability in developing nations.
• EO 14199 – Withdrawing the United States from and Ending Funding to Certain United Nations Organizations: Terminates U.S. participation in the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) and funding for other UN agencies, weakening the multilateral system essential for achieving the SDGs.
• EO 14182 – Enforcing the Hyde Amendment: Revokes prior executive orders related to reproductive healthcare access, impacting health services that fall under the scope of SDG 3.

Education and Governance

Impact on SDG 4 (Quality Education)

Federal education policy has been redirected to influence school curricula, which has implications for the goal of ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education.

• EO 14190 – Ending Racial Indoctrination in K-12 Schooling: Seeks to prohibit the use of certain ideologies in federally funded K-12 schools and reestablishes the “1776 Commission” to promote “patriotic education,” influencing the content and delivery of education nationwide.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

1. SDG 5: Gender Equality
   • The article discusses executive orders that directly impact gender issues. EO 14151 terminates Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs, which often address gender equality. EO 14168 provides legal definitions for “biological” gender terms, affecting policies related to gender identity. EO 14182, by enforcing the Hyde Amendment and revoking orders protecting reproductive healthcare, directly relates to women’s health and autonomy.
2. SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
   • Multiple executive orders address racial and social inequality. EO 14151 and EO 14173 terminate DEI programs and affirmative action for federal contractors, respectively. EO 14281 seeks to eliminate the use of “disparate-impact liability,” a tool used to fight systemic discrimination. EO 14190 aims to end “racial indoctrination” in schools, and EO 14202 creates a task force to address anti-Christian bias, both touching on issues of inequality based on race and religion.
3. SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
   • The article highlights changes to institutional frameworks and legal enforcement. The termination of DEI offices (EO 14151), the directive for the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs to cease promoting diversity (EO 14173), and the deprioritization of disparate-impact liability enforcement (EO 14281) represent significant shifts in institutional practices aimed at ensuring justice and non-discrimination. The pause on Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) enforcement (EO 14209) also impacts institutional justice mechanisms.
4. SDG 4: Quality Education
   • EO 14190, “Ending Racial Indoctrination in K-12 Schooling,” directly addresses educational content and policy. It prohibits certain ideologies in federally funded schools and reestablishes the “1776 Commission” to promote “patriotic education,” thereby influencing the curriculum and principles taught in educational institutions.
5. SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
   • Several orders focus on energy policy, primarily by promoting fossil fuels over renewable sources. EO 14154, “Unleashing American Energy,” establishes a policy of fossil fuel exploration and eliminates the “EV mandate.” The memo withdrawing areas from offshore wind leasing directly curtails clean energy development. Conversely, EOs like 14262 aim to strengthen the reliability of the electric grid.
6. SDG 13: Climate Action
   • The article explicitly mentions actions that reverse climate policies. EO 14162 orders the withdrawal from the Paris Agreement, a cornerstone of global climate action. EO 14154 revokes numerous prior climate-related executive orders, signaling a major policy reversal on climate change mitigation.
7. SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation
   • Water management and resources are a key theme. EO 14181 and the memo “Putting People over Fish” direct actions to maximize water delivery in California, potentially at the expense of environmental considerations. EO 14264 rescinds water conservation standards for showerheads, impacting water-use efficiency.
8. SDG 14: Life Below Water
   • Actions described in the article affect marine ecosystems. The memo to temporarily withdraw all areas of the Outer Continental Shelf from offshore wind leasing impacts the use of marine spaces. The proclamation “Unleashing American Commercial Fishing in the Pacific” amends the management of a Marine National Monument to allow for more commercial fishing.
9. SDG 15: Life on Land
   • The article details policies impacting terrestrial ecosystems and resources. EO 14225 aims to increase American timber production. EO 14241 and EO 14285 focus on increasing domestic mineral production and seabed mineral exploration. EO 14314 revises policies for national parks to increase revenue and access.
10. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
    • Several executive orders have direct implications for public and global health. EO 14155 announces the withdrawal from the World Health Organization (WHO). EO 14182 restricts federal funding for abortion services. EOs 14273 and 14297 aim to lower prescription drug prices, addressing healthcare affordability.
11. SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
    • The policies discussed impact employment practices and economic sectors. EO 14173 ends affirmative action requirements for federal contractors, changing employment opportunity frameworks. The strong focus on promoting fossil fuels (EO 14154), coal (EO 14261), timber (EO 14225), and mining (EO 14241) aims to stimulate economic growth in these specific sectors.
12. SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals
    • The article describes a significant shift away from international cooperation. EO 14162 (withdrawal from the Paris Agreement), EO 14155 (withdrawal from the WHO), and EO 14199 (withdrawing from the UN Human Rights Council and ending funding to other UN organizations) all represent a retreat from global partnerships for sustainable development.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. Target 5.5: Ensure women’s full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership in political, economic and public life.
   • EO 14151, which terminates all DEI and DEIA policies in the federal government, and EO 14173, which directs the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs to cease promoting diversity, can be seen as running counter to this target by dismantling programs designed to ensure equal opportunities.
2. Target 10.3: Ensure equal opportunity and reduce inequalities of outcome, including by eliminating discriminatory laws, policies and practices.
   • EO 14281, which directs agencies to “deprioritize enforcement of all statutes/regulations to the extent they include disparate-impact liability,” directly undermines a key legal tool for addressing systemic discrimination and reducing inequalities of outcome.
3. Target 16.b: Promote and enforce non-discriminatory laws and policies for sustainable development.
   • The termination of “discriminatory and illegal preferences, mandates, policies, programs” under EO 14173, including the rescission of Executive Order 11246 (Equal Employment Opportunity), and the deprioritization of disparate-impact enforcement under EO 14281 represent a significant change in the enforcement of non-discriminatory policies.
4. Target 4.7: By 2030, ensure that all learners acquire the knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development, including, among others, through education for… appreciation of cultural diversity.
   • EO 14190, which seeks to prohibit “discriminatory” ideologies based on race and reestablishes the “1776 Commission” to promote “patriotic education,” could be interpreted as conflicting with the goal of appreciating cultural diversity in educational settings.
5. Target 7.a: By 2030, enhance international cooperation to facilitate access to clean energy research and technology… and promote investment in energy infrastructure and clean energy technology.
   • The memo withdrawing all areas on the Outer Continental Shelf from offshore wind leasing directly hinders investment in a key clean energy technology. EO 14162, by withdrawing from the Paris Agreement, dismantles a primary framework for international cooperation on climate and clean energy.
6. Target 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies and planning.
   • EO 14154 explicitly revokes several prior climate-related executive orders (13990, 14008, etc.), directly reversing the integration of climate change measures into national policy. The withdrawal from the Paris Agreement (EO 14162) is the most prominent example of this reversal.
7. Target 6.4: By 2030, substantially increase water-use efficiency across all sectors.
   • EO 14264, which directs the rescission of the Energy Conservation Program’s definition of “showerhead,” is a direct action against a regulation designed to increase water-use efficiency in households.
8. Target 17.16: Enhance the global partnership for sustainable development, complemented by multi-stakeholder partnerships.
   • The article details several actions that weaken global partnerships. These include withdrawing from the WHO (EO 14155), the Paris Agreement (EO 14162), and the UN Human Rights Council (EO 14199), as well as pausing foreign aid (EO 14169).

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

1. Status of DEI, DEIA, and environmental justice offices and positions:
   • EO 14151 provides a clear, measurable indicator: the number of such offices and positions terminated. The order specifies a 60-day deadline, making this a trackable outcome.
2. US membership in international organizations and agreements:
   • The article provides binary indicators. EO 14162 mandates withdrawal from the Paris Agreement. EO 14155 mandates withdrawal from the WHO. EO 14199 mandates withdrawal from the UNHRC. The status of US participation (member vs. non-member) is a direct indicator.
3. Federal funding for international organizations:
   • EO 14199 explicitly directs agencies not to contribute funds to the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). The amount of funding provided (or withheld) is a quantifiable indicator.
4. Number of permits and leases for energy and mineral exploration on federal lands:
   • EO 14154 (“Unleashing American Energy”) and EO 14153 (“Unleashing Alaska’s Extraordinary Resource Potential”) call for expediting permitting and leasing. An increase in the number of approved projects would be a direct indicator of these policies’ implementation.
5. Enforcement statistics for disparate-impact liability cases:
   • EO 14281 directs agencies to “deprioritize enforcement” of disparate-impact liability. A measurable indicator would be a decrease in the number of investigations initiated or enforcement actions taken by agencies like the DOJ under these provisions.
6. Area of the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) available for wind energy leasing:
   • The memo on this topic calls for a “temporary” withdrawal of all areas on the OCS from wind leasing. The acreage available for leasing is a direct, quantifiable indicator of this policy’s effect.
7. Regulatory status of water efficiency standards:
   • EO 14264 directs the rescission of a specific federal regulation (86 Fed. Reg. 71797) concerning the definition of a showerhead. The formal status of this regulation in the Code of Federal Regulations serves as a clear indicator.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: jdsupra.com