Sustainability today and the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals

Sustainability requires a holistic view that includes broader social and economic considerations.

In everyday language we often use the term ‘sustainability’ interchangeably with ‘environmentally’ or ‘eco-friendly’. However, ‘sustainability’ doesn’t just mean ‘eco-friendly’. True sustainability requires purposeful and meaningful movement towards social and economic justice as part of our environmental goals. As we explored through the history of the sustainability movement previously, we cannot have environmental justice without social justice; they are interdependent.

Global action plan for sustainable development

In 2015 the United Nations Member States adopted the 2023 Agenda for Sustainable Development, a global action plan to ‘Leave No One Behind’. The plan was centred on five principles – People, Planet, Prosperity, Peace, and Partnership – which in turn were underpinned by 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SGDs) (themselves containing 169 targets and 232 indicators of progress).

_{SDGs, © The United Nations
“The content of this publication has not been approved by the United Nations and does not reflect the views of the United Nations or its officials or Member States”.
Select the image to open in fullscreen}

Importantly the SDGs were designed to provide a balanced movement towards all three dimensions of sustainable development, environmental, social, and economic goals and practices. As such, the SDGs are integrated, indivisible, and interdependent.

Watch the following video to learn about the SDGs and how the practice of one dimension of sustainability, is the practice of them all:

The role of the United Nations in promoting sustainability

Born out of the end of the Second World War, the United Nations was formed by originally 50 countries who created the international organisation in 1945 with the intension of maintaining international peace and protecting human rights.

Today the United Nations, and its 193 member countries, has helped set global direction in sustainability and climate action through the creation of the United Nations SDGs and by overseeing many of the global climate and environmental policies and targets.

Review history of the United Nations to learn more.

Reflect and share

The SDGs aim to balance environmental, social, and economic goals, yet some critics argue that certain elements are underrepresented or overlooked. If you feel something is missing, you’re not alone.

Read the articles below to learn more.

• Beyond Cruelty Urges United Nations to Add Zero Animal Exploitation to its Sustainable Development Goals
• The Missing SDG – what should be added?

Have you heard about SDGs?

If you have, how do the SDGs relate to your personal values and objectives? Are there specific goals that you are particularly passionate about, or were you looking for something in the SDGs that you couldn’t find?

Share your thoughts in the comment section.