The UN Sustainable Development Goals

The discussion around the role of Universities in contributing to the mandate of the 2030 United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is intensifying. It is unlikely that global goals will be achieved without the involvement of the education sector 鈥� especially the University sector. This is obvious in relation to the fourth SDG, which advocates for “inclusive and equitable quality education and lifelong opportunities for all”. A glance at the list of 17 SDGs shows that the involvement of Universities will be critical to achieving goals such as Goal 9: Industry, infrastructure and innovation; Goal 12: Responsible production and consumption; and Goal 13: Climate Action, to name but a few. But we have a contribution to make to all the goals:

Our task is to formally document how our activities contribute to some or all of these goals.

  1. End poverty in all its forms everywhere.
  2. End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture.
  3. Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all ages.
  4. Insure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.
  5. Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls.
  6. Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.
  7. Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all.
  8. Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all.
  9. Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation.
  10. Reduce inequality within and among countries.
  11. Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable.
  12. Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns.
  13. Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts.
  14. Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development.
  15. Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss.
  16. Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels.
  17. Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development.