The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN-SDGs) are a set of 17 interconnected goals that were adopted by all UN Member States in September 2015 as part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
The SDG's cover a broad spectrum of issues, spanning poverty, hunger, health, education, gender equality, clean water, sanitation, affordable and clean energy, decent work, industry and innovation, reduced inequalities, sustainable cities, responsible consumption and production, climate action, life below water, life on land, peace, justice, and strong institutions, and partnerships for the goals. The SDGs were designed to guide international efforts towards a more sustainable and equitable future, with the intent of providing a universal framework for countries, organisations and individuals to work together towards addressing these global challenges.
Given the complexity and interconnectedness of these global challenges, it is clear that they require a coordinated, comprehensive, and perhaps most importantly, a systemic approach. Symptomatic quick-fixes may well achieve specific goals in the short term, but only further exasperate the situation in the longer term.
This presentation will consider the UN-SDG's from a systemic perspective, highlighting the complex and interconnected nature of the challenges, and suggesting a naturally emergent human-centred approach may well lead most efficiently and effectively towards their attainment.