Sustainable Development Goals and UN SDG Action Awards – A Dog-eared Map for a Better Future
Defined as the ‘blueprint’ for a better and more equitable future, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are an amalgamation of 17 inter-linked goals formulated in 2015 by the United Nations General Assembly. The SDGs were constituted at the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 2012. The core purpose was to sculpt a set of universal goals and targets that would combat the world's citizens' urgent ecological, political, and economic challenges.
A precursor to the Millennium Development Goals, what sets the SDGs apart from the former is the explicit call made to private enterprises to apply their creativity and innovation to solve sustainable development challenges. The projected time frame of achieving the set goals is 2030. Furthermore, various campaigns and action plans such as the UN SDG awards are fostered by the UN to implement the SDGs worldwide.
The beauty of the SDGs lies in the fact that everyone can pitch in, and every contribution, big or small, will make a substantial contribution in the world.
Before getting into the Nitty-gritty of this pioneering vision, let us first underline the 17 SDGs and what they entail.
SDG 3 – Good Health and Well Being
SDG 4 – Quality Education
SDG 6 – Clean Water and Sanitation
SDG 7 – Affordable and Clean Energy
SDG 8 – Decent Work and Economic Growth
SDG 9 - Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
SDG 10 – Reducing Inequality
SDG 11 – Sustainable Cities and Communities
SDG 12 – Responsible Consumption and Production
SDG 14 – Life Below Water
SDG 16 – Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions
SDG 17 – Partnerships for the Goals
The Astute Significance of SDGs