AFR Participation in Consumer Assembly Highlights Key Sustainable Development Goal Challenges

Event Overview

Representatives from Americans for Financial Reform (AFR) presented at the annual Consumer Assembly, an event organized by the Consumer Federation of America. The presentations addressed critical issues directly aligning with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

1. Oscar Valdés Viera, Research Manager, AFR
2. Alex Martin, Senior Policy Analyst for Climate and Finance, AFR

Analysis of Presentations and SDG Alignment

Housing Market Stability and SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

Oscar Valdés Viera’s presentation, “When Wall Street Buys Up Main Street: How Private Equity’s Spending Spree on Single-Family Homes Is Altering the Housing Market for Consumers,” directly addressed challenges to achieving SDG 11.

• SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities): The discussion focused on the impact of private equity on the housing market, which is central to Target 11.1: ensuring access for all to adequate, safe, and affordable housing. The influx of institutional investment can jeopardize housing affordability and stability for consumers.
• SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities): By altering the housing market, such investment trends risk exacerbating economic inequalities, making it more difficult for lower and middle-income families to secure housing.

Climate Policy, Consumer Protection, and SDG 13: Climate Action

Alex Martin’s presentation on “Climate Change Policy and Consumer Protection” underscored the intersection of environmental policy and consumer welfare, linking to several key SDGs.

• SDG 13 (Climate Action): The core topic addressed the urgent need for effective climate change policies to combat climate change and its impacts, a primary objective of SDG 13.
• SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production): Integrating consumer protection into climate policy is essential for ensuring a just transition and promoting sustainable consumption patterns among the populace.
• SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions): The presentation highlighted the need for strong institutional frameworks to implement fair and effective climate policies that protect consumers and advance global climate goals.

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

The following SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article:

• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities: This goal is addressed through the presentation topic, “When Wall Street Buys Up Main Street: How Private Equity’s Spending Spree on Single-Family Homes Is Altering the Housing Market for Consumers.” This topic directly relates to the availability and affordability of housing within communities.
• SDG 13: Climate Action: This goal is directly connected to the presentation topic, “Climate Change Policy and Consumer Protection,” which focuses on taking action to combat climate change through policy.
• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities: The housing topic implies a focus on economic inequality, suggesting that the purchasing power of large financial entities (“Wall Street”) negatively impacts the ability of average individuals (“Main Street”) to secure housing.

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

The following specific SDG targets can be identified:

1. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

   • Target 11.1: By 2030, ensure access for all to adequate, safe and affordable housing and basic services.
     • Explanation: The presentation by Oscar Valdés Viera on how private equity’s spending on single-family homes is “altering the housing market for consumers” directly addresses the challenge of ensuring housing is accessible and affordable for all, which is the central theme of this target.

2. SDG 13: Climate Action

   • Target 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies and planning.
     • Explanation: Alex Martin’s presentation on “Climate Change Policy and Consumer Protection” explicitly refers to the creation and implementation of policy related to climate change, which is the core action described in this target.

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

The article does not explicitly mention any quantitative indicators. However, the presentation topics imply the following areas of measurement:

• For Target 11.1 (Affordable Housing):
  • Implied Indicators: The topic of an altered housing market for consumers implies a need to measure changes in housing affordability. This would involve tracking metrics such as the house price-to-income ratio, rental costs as a percentage of income, and the proportion of homes owned by institutional investors versus private individuals.
• For Target 13.2 (Climate Policy):
  • Implied Indicators: The topic “Climate Change Policy and Consumer Protection” implies that progress would be measured by the number and scope of national policies established to address climate change. Furthermore, it suggests an indicator related to the extent to which these policies incorporate provisions for consumer protection.

4. Create a table with three columns titled ‘SDGs, Targets and Indicators” to present the findings from analyzing the article.

Source: ourfinancialsecurity.org