I don’t precisely remember when I first came across the topic of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), but it must have been some five or six years ago. What I do remember is that this topic completely intrigued me from the first moment on. It wasn’t right then, but until a couple of years later when I started using the visualization of the 17 SDGs as the background image on my computer because I really liked the idea of having this in mind and in sight. To be honest, although I find them all amazing, some of the SDGs I completely relate to, while others I don’t, and I guess that’s how it’s meant to be. The one that resonates the most with my mission is #10, reduced inequalities (in sync with my new brand “promoting-equality”).
Is sustainability an issue for you?
How about you? Does sustainability thinking spark something within you in your professional and personal development? Do you think that as a society, we can contribute to ending poverty (#1), eliminating hunger (#2), improving health and well-being (#3), ensuring quality education (#4), providing clean water and sanitation (#5), and promoting affordable and clean energy (#6)? Do you believe that decent work and economic growth (#8), industry innovation, sustainable infrastructure (#9), sustainable cities and communities (#11), and responsible consumption and production (#12) are achievable on our planet, in this lifetime? People talk about climate action (#13) and the environment, flora, and fauna (#14 & #15). They speak of committing to peace and justice (#16), but achieving these goals requires collaboration, inspiration, and dedication to work on them together (#17).
Note: Find more about the general topic of SDGs on the UN-Website: https://sdgs.un.org/goals
What are the SDGs actually?
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) represent a visionary blueprint for humanity’s collective efforts to create a better, more equitable, and sustainable world by 2030. Conceived by the United Nations, these 17 interconnected goals address a wide spectrum of global challenges, from eradicating poverty and improving education to taking action on climate change and promoting gender equality. Each goal serves as a rallying point for governments, organizations, and individuals worldwide, guiding us toward a future where no one is left behind. These goals emphasize the importance of collaboration, innovation, and responsible stewardship of our planet’s resources. They remind us that our shared destiny is intrinsically linked to the well-being of all living beings and the preservation of our planet. The SDGs inspire us to think globally and act locally, encouraging us to take meaningful steps in our daily lives to contribute to a more prosperous and sustainable world for current and future generations.
What can you do with them?
The key question here is what can you do with these goals? How can you engage with them and benefit from them? Let me share a small story from an interaction with a close friend of mine on this topic. I was involved in a project that aimed to help small and medium enterprises discover the benefits of the SDGs.
My friend owns an architectural firm in Berlin and is busy renovating old buildings. He had never heard of the SDGs but was quite intrigued by what I told him. Soon, he understood that he is also contributing through his work to several of these goals. He helps improve infrastructure and living conditions, provides work and economic growth, and possibly even has an environmental impact through his projects.
My friend, the architect, hasn’t yet put his contribution to the SDGs on his website, but I hope that our conversation has raised awareness that individual efforts also contribute to global goals. This perspective can be seen and lived from various angles. In my personal opinion, you can use the SDGs as a framework. Imagine it as a power grid, and your day-to-day actions are the electricity. Let’s run through the grid. Go ahead and tell people that you’re contributing to better quality education or good health and well-being, maybe!
In conclusion, the SDGs can shed light on your sustainable efforts. They enable you to communicate in an efficient and rational way the actions you undertake to leave things better than they were at the beginning.
Making the SDG experience tangible for you!
I’d like to close this article by sharing that during a research activity for one of my European projects, I came across something called the “SDG 2030 game,” and I was fascinated. It’s an interactive negotiation and communication-based game that can be played in person and online, helping players understand global dynamics and reflect on individual behavior regarding sustainability. To be honest, I fell in love with this game because it offers a practical and tangible way to grasp the real-life dimensions of these 17 significant, deep, but somewhat generic goals.
I am now planning to become certified as a facilitator and am very eager to work with this game with any of you. If you want to prebook a session and would like to have a personal chat about it, please contact me. Game sessions or workshops will be available starting from January 2024.
Note: See a short clip about the game from Dutch colleagues about the game developed by the Japanese creators: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iBp5ps2u8_s