Sustainable Development Goals (SDG's)
12 March 2018
During our visit to Ecobuild we sat in on the conference regarding sustainable development. This is where we gained greater understanding about Sustainable Development Goals (SDG's). These SDG's are 17 goals to transform the world which came about when, in 2015, leaders from 193 countries of the world came together to face the future. Some of these goals seem very ambitious, however it is hoped that, if we work together with these common goals in sight, we can improve the world we live in now, and more importantly, in the future for our children and our children's children. So what are the SDG's? The table below summarises them.
| NO POVERTY | To end extreme poverty in all forms by 2030 |
| ZERO HUNGER | To end hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture |
| GOOD HEALTH & WELL-BEING | To ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages |
| QUALITY EDUCATION | To ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all |
| GENDER EQUALITY | To achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls |
| CLEAN WATER & SANITATION | To ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all |
| AFFORDABLE & CLEAN ENERGY | To ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all |
| DECENT WORK & ECONOMIC GROWTH | To promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all |
| INDUSTRY, INNOVATION and INFRASTRUCTURE | To build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialisation and foster innovation |
| REDUCED INEQUALITIES | To reduce inequality within and among countries |
| SUSTAINABLE CITIES & COMMUNITIES | To make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable |
| RESPONSIBLE CONSUMPTION & PRODUCTION | To ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns |
| CLIMATE ACTION | To take Urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts |
| LIFE BELOW WATER | To conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development |
| LIFE ON LAND | To protect, restore & promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation & halt biodiversity loss |
| PEACE, JUSTICE & STRING INSTITUTIONS | To promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development. Provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels |
| PARTNERSHIPS FOR THE GOALS | To strengthen the means of implementation and revitalise the global partnership for sustainable development |
At the conference the Global Director Climate Programme (World Resources Institute), Paula Gaberello, stated that the Paris Agreement and the Urban Agenda go a long way in supporting these SDG's. Paula identified that current climate and development agendas are not working together and the SDG's provide a greater vision. She also stated that there needs to be a change in perspective to obtain the legacy we wish to provide for our grandchildren, we have to believe in these goals and aim for them. Why? Because with an estimated 60% increase in our population and 70% of global GHG emissions from our cities we have big challenges ahead. Sustainable infrastructure delivers across many of the SDG's and designs we make today will impact our futures and those of the next generations. For more detail on what the SDG's cover you can download SDG Booklet.