Govt mulls incorporating three zero theory with SDGs

The government is considering incorporating the three zero theory of Chief Adviser Dr Muhammad Yunus to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Policymakers of the government have said it would be easy for the country to achieve the SDG targets by effectively applying the three zero theory at the public and private levels.

Muhammad Yunus has made a compelling call to world leaders to build a "World of Three Zeros" - meaning zero poverty, zero unemployment and zero net carbon emissions.

The three zero theory is an elective and popular model to ensure economic emancipation, create a workforce and protect the environment in the present world, analysts said.

The three zero theory is a social and economic outlook.

Youth endeavour, use of technology, good governance and social business can help achieve the three zero goals.

Founder of Grameen Bank and the Noble Peace Laureate Prof Yunus has been much appreciated around the world for his three zero theory.

About the three zero theory, the principal coordinator on SDG affairs, told BSS that the government is trying to integrate the theory with SDG targets. 

In this connection, a workshop with public and private officials has already been held.   

“We want to create awareness on the three zero at all levels in the interest of sustainable development,” she added. 

Mentioning that the theory is being considered in all activities of SDG implementation, Lamiya Morshed said Prof Yunus did not want to impose the theory on the activities but the government aims to encourage people to apply it.

She said that the government did not take any mega initiative on the theory except SDG implementation.

While addressing the climate summit (COP29) in Baku, Azerbaijan, the chief adviser stressed the need for creating a new lifestyle based on zero waste and zero carbon aiming to protect the planet from climate catastrophes.

“To survive, we need to create another culture. A counter-culture, which is based on a different lifestyle. It is based on zero waste. It will limit consumption to essential needs, leaving no residual waste,” Yunus told the summit.

Yunus said this lifestyle will also be based on zero carbon - no fossil fuel but only renewable energy - and this will be an economy based primarily on zero personal profit, for example on social business.

Defining the social business as a non-dividend business addressed to solve social and environmental problems, he said a vast part of social businesses will focus on protecting the environment and mankind.
 
“Human lives will not only be protected but qualitatively enhanced through affordable healthcare and education. It will facilitate entrepreneurship for the youth. Young people will get prepared through new education in entrepreneurship. Education of creating job seekers will be replaced by entrepreneurship-focused education,” the Chief Adviser said.

He said the young people will love that lifestyle as a choice, while each young person will grow up as a three-zero person- zero net carbon emissions, zero wealth concentration, through building social businesses only, and zero unemployment by turning themselves into entrepreneurs.

“Each person will grow up as a ‘three zero’ person, and remain a ‘three zero’ person all his/her life. That will create the new civilization,” he said.