By: Anisha D, Executive Coordinator
Created in 2015, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) aim to transform our world through a call to action adopted by the United Nations to end poverty and inequality, protect the planet, and ensure that all enjoy good health, justice, and prosperity. This blog post will outline the 17 goals and what we can do to help achieve them.
1. No Poverty - In 2015, 10% of the world's population lived in extreme poverty, struggling to fulfill the most basic needs such as health, education, and access to water. Your active engagement in policymaking can make a difference.
2. Zero Hunger - More than 690 million people were undernourished in 2019 due to conflict, climate shocks, locust crisis, and no covid. You can make changes in your own life by supporting local farmers/markets and making sustainable food choices.
3. Good Health and Well-Being - Most countries have insufficient health facilities, medical supplies, and health care workers. You can protect your health by making well-informed choices, practicing safe sex, and vaccinating children.
4. Quality Education - In 2018, 773 million adults remained illiterate when it comes to reading and writing, with Covid-19 school closures now setting back progression to access. We need to ask our governments to place education as a priority.
5. Gender Equality - Women continue to be underrepresented at all levels. If you are a girl, you can stay in school and empower women. If you are a woman, you can address unconscious biases. If you are a boy/man, you can work alongside women and embrace healthy, respectful relationships.
6. Clean Water and Sanitation - In 2017, 3 billion people could not wash their hands with clean water. Civil society organizations should work to keep governments accountable, invest in water research and development, and promote the inclusion of women, youth, and indigenous communities in water resources governance.
7. Affordable and Clean Energy - 789 million people lack access, leading to women and girls having to spend hours fetching water, clinics cannot store vaccines for children, and many schoolchildren cannot do homework at night. Countries can accelerate the transition to an affordable, reliable, and sustainable energy system by investing in renewable energy resources
8. Decent Work and Economic Growth - Decent work means opportunities for everyone to get work that is productive and delivers a fair income, security in the workplace and social protection for families, better prospects for personal development, and social integration. Providing youth the best opportunity to transition to a decent job calls for investing in education and training of the highest possible quality, providing youth with skills that match labour market demands.
9. Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure - Basic infrastructure like roads, information and communication technologies, sanitation, electrical power, and water remain scarce in many developing countries. We can collaborate with NGOs and the public sector to help promote sustainable growth within developing countries.
10. Reduced Inequalities - It is important to empower and promote inclusive social and economic growth. We need to ensure that developing countries are better represented in decision-making on global issues. Governments need to promote safe, regular, and responsible migration.
11. Sustainable Cities and Communities - Making cities inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable. Take an active interest in the governance and management of your city. Advocate for the kind of city you believe you need. Develop a vision for your building, street, and neighborhood, and act on that vision.
12. Responsible Consumption and Production - Currently, we lose 13.8% after harvesting and during transport, storage, and processing alone, amounting to a cost of over $400 billion a year. Reduce your waste and be thoughtful about what you buy. Ensure you don’t throw food away, and carry reusable bags.
13. Climate Action - If left unchecked, climate change will cause average global temperatures to increase beyond 3°C, and will adversely affect every ecosystem. To find out what you can do, go to https:// www.un.org/en/actnow.
14. Life Below Water - The health of the ocean is tied to our health. The diversity of species found in the ocean offers great promise for pharmaceuticals, along with much more. For open ocean and deep sea areas, sustainability can be achieved only through increased international cooperation to protect vulnerable habitats.
15. Life On Land - From the air, we breathe to the water we drink, to the food we eat–forests sustain us. Biodiversity is declining faster than at any other time in human history. Things we can do are recycling, eating a locally-based diet that is sustainably sourced, consuming only what we need, and being respectful to wildlife.
16. Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions - People everywhere have the right to be free of fear from all forms of violence and feel safe as they go about their lives. Violence affects children’s health, development and well-being, and ability to thrive. It causes trauma and weakens social inclusion. Exercise your right to freedom of information and promote inclusion and respect.
17. Partnerships for the Goals - The goal is to revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development. We need everyone to come together—governments, civil society, scientists, academia, and the private sector. Join/create a group in your local community that seeks to mobilize action on the implementation of the SDGs. Encourage your governments to partner with businesses for the implementation of the SDGs. Register your initiatives on the SDGs Partnerships Platform to inform, educate, network, and be inspired.