The 17 Sustainable Development Goals have been adopted by all UN Member States. That’s great, but now what?
Governments will be busy for the next 15 years working to achieve the goals, but that doesn’t mean all the work falls on them. The private sector, civil society organization and regular people can all help accelerate the achievement of the SDGs. But sometimes it’s not that easy to know where to start. There are 17 goals after all, each one with different targets and indicators.
In fact, the question we get asked most frequently is: how can I help?
We want to make it easier for you to do your part. We don’t want you to feel like ending poverty, tackling climate change and reducing inequality is something only policymakers can do. We don’t want you to think it’s difficult to achieve – it is all doable.
This is why we have started the Year of Living Sustainably, a space where we will share tips on how to lead a sustainable lifestyle. Many of our tips are simple and you may already be doing them. Others will require you to change or adopt new habits. But you don’t have to turn your life upside-down to be sustainable. You don’t have to do everything at once, but also know that change starts with you and your involvement matters. Your small actions can have a big impact!
We also want to hear from you. We want to know how you’re helping to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. Do you have an idea or initiative already running that is helping to improve people’s lives and protecting the planet? Tell us about it. We’d like to share with others.
So here’s how you can follow the Year of Living Sustainably:
We will be sharing regular blog posts on this website and also through the @GlobalGoalsUN twitter and facebook pages. The UN instagram page will also be doing a #SustainableSunday activity every week.
Tell us what you’d like to see here.
PGA on “Be the Change for SDGs Week”
The President of the 71st session of the UN General Assembly, Mr. Peter Thomson, joined staff on a tour of the United Nations Food Gardens this week to learn more about urban agriculture and locally-sourced food. The event, organized as part of the “Be the Change for SDGs Week”, showcased the composting efforts and healthy food growing taking place on the grounds of the Secretariat Building. It also touched on the need to raise awareness about food security.
What’s the buzz at UNHQ?
The President of the General Assembly, Peter Thomson, was on hand to officially welcome three colonies of honeybees to UN Headquarters as part of the UN’s ongoing greening efforts.
Be the Change: Week in Photos
In order to promote the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals — 17 goals that range from ending poverty to reducing consumption to taking climate action — UN staff are participating in Be the Change week […]
Restaurants near UNHQ NY that commit to sustainability
Here's a list of the restaurants that commit to participate in the UN's Be the Change week and allow customers to bring their own containers for food and drinks.
Be the Change: Take the Sustainability Challenge!
During the week, staff will be encouraged to live more sustainably, by changing their consumption patterns, using active transport and buying local foods.
‘No Impact Man’: Individual behaviour can drive institutional change
The UNICEF Conversations with Thought Leaders series recently welcomed Colin Beavan, author of “No Impact Man,” a memoir about his efforts toward living a carbon-impact free existence for one year, and Eva Mennel, Director of the UNICEF Department of Human Resources.
#Recipe4Change sustainable cooking contest heats up
As the Paris Agreement begins, the SDG Fund and UNDP Goodwill Ambassadors the Roca brothers launch a sustainable cooking contest: #Recipe4Change
‘Audacious’ Solar Impulse airplane showcases power of clean energy
Calling it an "audacious, historic and transformative expedition," Ban Ki-moon visited the Solar Impulse aircraft as it awaited the next leg of its worldwide, solar-powered journey.
Photos: UN Green Fair 2016
Staff and visitors at the United Nations Headquarters in New York picked up tips on composting, beekeeping, gardening, and other sustainable living ideas from more than 30 vendors
Migratory birds need our action
While migratory birds--which include eagles, storks and cranes--are struggling, there are things we can do to help.
UN leaders go green for Earth Day, plant tree in Food Garden
In honor of Earth Day, the UN Deputy Secretary-General and President of the General Assembly lead a team in planting a tree in the UN Food Garden.
Help your local parks this International Day of Forests
We spoke with Bram Gunther, co-director of the New York City Urban Field Station, to find out what we can do to help our parks and forests.
The future of wildlife is #InOurHands
Here are actions you can take to encourage living in a way that's sustainable for wildlife and reduce demand for illegal products.