What are the 17 goals of sustainable development?

The 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are part of a global plan established by the United Nations (UN) in 2015 to construct and implement public policies that aim to guide humanity until 2030.

These goals are important because they define the list of tasks to be accomplished by governments, civil society, the private sector and all citizens on the collective journey towards a more sustainable world.

To accelerate progress towards the SDGs, it is necessary to raise awareness, take action, and hold decision-makers accountable for progress.

How can you be part of this?

We present some ways to help the planet reach the goals by 2030 and alternatives to make everyone's life better!

GOAL 1: No Poverty

• Do volunteer work

• Participate in donation campaigns (money – those who can, food, warm clothes you no longer use, toys, etc.)

• Research what you can do to help needy communities around the world and in your location. Did you know that 736 million people still live in extreme poverty?

GOAL 2: Zero Hunger

• Participate in the construction of vegetable gardens

• Participate in non-perishable food collection campaigns

• Avoid food waste at all costs

GOAL 3: Good Health and Well-being

• Participate in blood and bone marrow donation campaigns

• Practice outdoor exercise

• Health efforts for the community with specialists

GOAL 4: Quality Education

• Donate books

• Offer free classes and courses

• Participate in “adopt a student” campaigns with financial help and monthly monitoring. Nowadays, 57 million primary-aged children remain out of school, more than half of them in sub-Saharan Africa.

GOAL 5: Gender Equality

• Help women gain power in different areas, whether in politics (vote for women), arts, sciences, sports, or other fields

• Pay (and demand) the same salary for equal work

• Encourage a safe environment for reporting discrimination, harassment and racism

GOAL 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

• Do not waste water. The world has lost 70% of its natural wetlands over the last century

• Fundraising for community projects

• Create networks that enable low-tech solutions to be taken to communities in need

GOAL 7: Affordable and Clean Energy

• Conscious use of energy

• Invest in clean energy, if possible, try switching to a green energy provide

• Fight global warming. Energy is by far the main contributor to climate change. It accounts for 73% of human-caused greenhouse gases

GOAL 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

• Promote and participate in lectures on financial education and worker rights

• Fight for your rights! Overall, 2 billion workers were in informal employment in 2016, accounting for 61% of the world’s workforce

GOAL 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure

• Promote sustainable industries

• Invest in scientific research and innovation

• Support the energy transition. Currently, 2.6 billion people in developing countries do not have access to constant electricity

GOAL 10: Reduced Inequality

• Technical training and opportunities for minorities, for example, refugees

• Support for inclusive educational projects

• Ensure equal opportunity and reduce inequalities of outcome

GOAL 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

• Joint efforts to clean and improve squares, beaches and other public spaces

• Encourage industries, businesses and consumers to recycle and reduce waste

• Walk, use public transport and other means that do not pollute the environment

GOAL 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

• Choose sustainable, vintage, and eco-friendly products

• Avoid single-use plastic and non-recyclable materials

• Be responsible with your consumption of food and products. Per year, 1.3 billion tonnes of food are wasted

GOAL 13: Climate Action

• Shrink your digital footprint

• Optimize your diet. 23% of greenhouse gas emissions are from food production.

• Invest, support, and adopt renewable energies. The energy sector alone will create around 18 million more jobs by 2030, focused specifically on sustainable energy.

GOAL 14: Life Below Water

• Decrease the use of plastic. Currently, an average of 13,000 pieces of plastic litter are found on every square kilometre of ocean

• Reduce Pollutants. Choose nontoxic chemicals and dispose of herbicides, pesticides, and cleaning products properly

GOAL 15: Life on Lan

• Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss

• Combat global poaching and trafficking. Do not buy products that are the result of illegal wildlife trade

GOAL 16: Peace and Justice Strong Institutions

• Promote free legal advice to social organizations and low-income people

• Fostering bottom-up empowerment

• Be an ethical, responsible and transparent person. Corruption, bribery, theft and tax evasion cost developing countries $ 1.26 trillion per year

GOAL 17: Partnerships to achieve the Goal

• It is a call for countries to align policies. It is a vision for improved and more equitable trade, as well as coordinated investment initiatives to promote sustainable development across borders

• Support and publicize collective financing projects for important causes

SOURCES:

• Aldeghi, M. L. (2020, July 1). Global Young Voices. Retrieved from Global Young Voices

• G. R. (2018, 12 20). Believe Earth (2020).

• Unicef

• United Nations Development Programme . (2021)

• Whaites, A. (2016). Achieving the impossible: Can we be SDG 16 believers?