Overview

In this section, we will discuss:

The 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and
SDG Targets.

UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Now that we have an understanding of sustainable development, how do the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) fit in?

The Sustainable Development Goals, or SDGs, are a collection of 17 interlinked global goals that are designed to be a shared blueprint for peace and prosperity for people and the planet, now and into the future. The SDGs were introduced in 2015 by the United Nations General Assembly and are intended to be accomplished by 2030 ("The 17 Goals", n.d.).

Video: Introduction to the UN Sustainable Development Goals

Let's learn from Professor Paolo Granata. He is an Assistant Professor in Book and Media Studies at the University of Toronto, a member of the U of T SDG Steering Committee, and a champion of sustainable development.

For closed captioning, click on "CC" or the subtitles button at the bottom-right of the video interface (beside the gear icon), or download the transcript (PDF | DOCX).

What is the Purpose of the UN SDGs?

The SDGs are an evolution and next chapter in the progress towards a more sustainable future following the Millennium Development Goals, or MDGs, that were introduced in 2000 to coincide with the new millennium. Unlike the MDGs, which consisted of eight goals, the SDGs aim to create a broader scope for a more holistic understanding of what it means to be sustainable in the current era.

The overarching purposes of the SDGs include:

Providing actionable goals for developed/developing countries
Providing specification targets for goal completion
Facilitating global progress monitoring for all countries
Focusing on intersectional issues beyond the scope of the Millennium Development Goals

Activity: Discover the 17 UN SDGs

There are 17 UN SDGs, which is quite a lot!

For simplicity, they can be grouped into three categories:

Environmental,
Economic, and
Social.

However, remember what Professor Granata said: the UN SDGs are, by their nature, holistic, interconnected, and overlapping. Often, activities and initiatives cross into multiple SDGs, and therefore can fall into multiple domains of Environmental, Economic, and Social.

Instructions:

Click on the question mark in each of the 17 coloured boxes below to reveal a description of each goal.

This activity is best experienced on a laptop or desktop computer. Mobile devices are not recommended.

SDG Targets

Professor Granata mentioned that each UN SDG also has a set of 5-10 targets that break down the overarching goal into more specific outcomes.

For example, SDG 1: No Poverty has 7 targets ("Goal 1", n.d., paras. 1-3), including:

"By 2030, eradicate extreme poverty for all people everywhere, currently measured as people living on less than $1.25 a day."
"By 2030, reduce at least by half the proportion of men, women, and children of all ages living in poverty in all its dimensions according to national definitions."
"Implement nationally appropriate social protection systems (housing) and measures for all, including floors, and by 2030 achieve substantial coverage of the poor and vulnerable."

These targets are still very ambitious but provide clearer benchmarks for the goal of "No Poverty."

Explore sdg.un.org

Explore sdg.un.org to learn about the different SDGs and their respective targets.

This would be a great way to start brainstorming for your Sustainability Innovation Challenge!

U of T Community Examples

Some activities, programs, and initiatives advance multiple SDGs. Consider these examples from the U of T community.

Graphic of groceries in a box and beside the box

Example #1: Food Bank

The U of T Emergency Food Bank is a joint initiative that is run by students and staff to provide healthy meal boxes to students experiencing food insecurity. They also provide resources on financial aid.

This initiative helps to advance:

SDG 1 (No Poverty) because of their financial aid advocacy,
SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) through the provision of healthy food,
SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities) by providing food to those in need, and
SDGs 11 and 12 (Sustainable Cities and Communities & Responsible Consumption and Production) by working with other associations that reduce food waste.

Graphic of group of people picking up trash in a park

Example #2: Trash Team

Another U of T example is the U of T Trash Team, a science-based community outreach group made up of U of T students, researchers, community members, and staff.

This group has three program areas to increase waste literacy: community outreach, education, and solutions-based research. Scientific evidence informs their work, and through these three connected work streams, the group acts locally and builds collaborations globally to reduce plastic pollution. Among many activities, this group performs community clean-ups of parks, waterways, and shorelines; advances research into microplastic pollution; and engages in community education.

Based on these activities, we can identify:

SDG 4 (Quality Education),
SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation),
SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure),
SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities),
SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production),
SDG 13 (Climate Action),
SDG 14 (Life Below Water), and
SDG 15 (Life on Land).

Want to know more? Visit the U of T Trash Team website and consider joining the team!

On the next page, you will learn more about sustainability initiatives at the University of Toronto.

Reflection

What about you? Are you involved in any clubs, courses, or extracurricular activities that advance the UN SDGs?

Take a moment to reflect on your experiences so far, either academically, in university broadly, or even in your personal life. What SDGs have you advanced through your activities as a student, community member, employee, or volunteer?

Take a Break

This is a good place for a break. Stretch, grab a coffee, or simply leave this module for a while and come back to it later.

References

Sustainability Illustrated. (2020, November 20). Sustainable Development Goals explained with 3 useful tips | Environment SDG sustainability [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qfOgdj4Okdw&t=6s

United Nations. (n.d.). Goal 1: End poverty in all its forms everywhere. https://sdgs.un.org/goals/goal1

United Nations. (n.d.). Sustainable Development Goals. https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/

United Nations. (n.d.). The 17 goals. https://sdgs.un.org/goals

U of T Emergency Food Bank. (n.d.). A contactless food bank for students. https://utfoodbank.tech/

U of T Trash Team. (n.d.). Increasing waste literacy to fight plastic pollution. https://uofttrashteam.ca/