U.N. Sustainability Goals

By Aubrie Thomas

Climate change can be a scary thing, especially for our generation. We are inheriting the world, and it feels like there has already been irreparable damage done to it. With this in mind, my post will highlight the positive steps that have been taken to benefit our world. Such as the United Nations Seventeen Goals to sustain development. Not all of these goals directly relate to climate change, but I want to mention all of them because they are all incredibly admirable goals to work towards. Here are the Sustainable Development Goals:

1. No Poverty

2. Zero Hunger

3. Good Health and Wellbeing

4. Quality Education

5. Gender Equality

6. Clean Water and Sanitation

7. Affordable and Clean Energy

8. Decent Work and Economic Growth

9. Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

10. Reduced Inequalities

11. Sustainable Cities and Communities

12. Responsible Consumption and Production

13. Climate Action

14. Life Below Water

15. Life on Land

16. Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions

17. Partnerships for the Goals

All members of the United Nations have created and implemented plans to meet all of the seventeen goals by 2030. Each year, the countries and the United Nations as an organization release reports on their progress in achieving these goals in addition to attending the annual "United Nations SDG Moment" that happens at the beginning of the U.N.'s general assembly.

Goal number thirteen directly names climate change as an issue to address. With rising temperatures and increased CO2 in the atmosphere, this is a significant issue that impacts several other 2030 goals. In order to improve the current climate state, the bodies in the U.N. have identified cooperation as the key factor in making a difference. Which is why the Paris Agreement was created as the first binding document to address climate change by multiple countries. The Paris Agreement and the Sustainable Development Goals are the blueprint for the actions to take on this big issue.

The general targets of number thirteen in climate action are to highlight synergies (collaborative opportunities) between climate change and other goals. They focus on clean energy, water, and agriculture as some main points of interest in meeting the 2030 plan. There is also an emphasis on protecting forests and the oceans as key ecological systems. These are still broad topics to begin with but there have been significant steps in the right direction as a result of the 2030 plan and the Paris Agreement.

The most recent milestones in 2023 are the regional climate weeks for Middle East and North African climate, Latin America and Caribbean, and Asia Pacific. These climate weeks are collaborative events for governments and other organizations to keep the momentum of the climate movement. In addition to these meetings, there are other conferences like the "Sharm El-Sheikh Climate Change Conference" and the "Third Global Climate and SDGs Synergy Conference" that discuss implementation plans, practical methods to implement sustainable elements, and reinforce the need for urgency in implementation. Even within its own milestone reports, the U.N. notes that there are significant gaps in the climate actions already enforced by countries. The main concerns are in filling those gaps and keeping the feelings of need.

Since there is so much emphasis on collaboration and continued action, education is a big part of the process to saving our planet. As a result, virtual learning through webinars like in the "Global Synergies Consultation and Virtual Learning Series" milestone are worked into the process of policymaking and collaboration efforts of multiple organizations involved with the Paris Agreement and the Sustainable Development Goals.

The U.N. has made groundbreaking progress on climate change and other significant issues, but there is still more progress to be made. Climate change is a dangerous issue that should be taken seriously, but things aren't hopeless.