Sustainable Development Goals

At the 2015 Sustainability Summit, all 193 Member States of the United Nations set a total of 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) with the “2030 Agenda”. This Agenda is a global plan to promote sustainable peace and prosperity, and to protect our planet. The SDGs are intended to pave the way for a sustainable world without poverty and inequality, with education and health care for all, with abundant natural habitats, an intact climate and a global economy rooted in sustainability. The goals reflect all three dimensions of sustainability: these being ecological, social and economic components.

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Poverty in Germany – it doesn’t exist. Or does it?

For sure! In Germany, almost 16 per cent of the population live in relative poverty. When compared to "extreme poverty", this segment of the population does not suffer an existential threat, but rather is excluded from broad areas of society. Approximately 11 per cent of the world’s population (roughly 836 million people) live in extreme poverty, meaning that these people have to get by on less than USD 1.25 a day. The global community has set itself the goal of completely eradicating extreme poverty and halving relative poverty by 2030.

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at 17ziele.de

Are you hungry?

There is enough food produced in the world today to ensure the sufficient nourishment of all people. But not all people enjoy the same access to food. In Germany, approximately 11 million tonnes of food are thrown away each and every year. With this in mind, the ability for all to enjoy healthy and balanced nutrition is to be ensured, while incomes for small food producers are to be doubled and sustainable agriculture is to be promoted.

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“All over the world, all people can be treated when they are sick.”

Large numbers of people are still denied access to adequate health care, for example, because of their gender, age, financial means or place of residence. That is why many people still die from diseases that can be treated. By strengthening health systems and, in particular, by making vaccines widely available, we can succeed in reducing (and even eradicating) these diseases by 2030.

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at 17ziele.de

Do you have access to “quality” education?

Education is a fundamental human right and a key to sustainable development, both for the individual and for society. Without proper education, people experience great difficulty in improving their political, social and economic situation. However, it is not only about access per se, but also the quality of education. Therefore, by 2030, the goal is to ensure inclusive, equitable and high-quality education for all people, while opportunities for lifelong learning should also be promoted.

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at 17ziele.de

In Germany, women earn the same as men. Or do they?

In Germany, women earn about 22 per cent less than men. International studies and estimates reveal: Women still suffer disadvantages almost everywhere in the world and are deprived of their rights,  such as their right to self-determination, inheritance and property. Goal 5 aims to achieve gender equality, social participation and  self-determination  for all women and girls.

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Take a guess: How much water do you need per day?

We consume about 30 times more water than we are aware of consuming. We need it for drinking water and sanitation, as well as in agriculture to produce the food we consume. There are many "invisible" litres of water hiding in our consumer goods and food. Clean water and sanitation should be guaranteed for all people.

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Where does the energy for the electricity in your home come from?

Nearly 80 per cent of the energy generated worldwide comes from fossil fuels. Burning fossil fuels causes climate damage and an enormous cost burden for the health system.
Goal 7 aims to ensure access to affordable and sustainable energy, as well as energy efficiency for all.

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Economics is the art of making the most of life.”

(George Bernhard Shaw, 1910)

The economic growth of recent decades has come at the expense of natural resources and the world’s climate, and has long since come up against its ecological limits.
Sustainable economic development reconciles social, environmental and economic development goals and creates dignified work for all.

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Will we all have to walk everywhere in future, in order to protect the environment?

There are now many environmentally friendly means of transport, the use of which is to be expanded within the framework of the 2030 Agenda. On balance, the aim is to build infrastructure in a sustainable way, because non-existent (or otherwise dilapidated) infrastructure inhibits economic efficiency and thus increases poverty.

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Prosperity can only be conceived as a condition that includes obligations and responsibilities to others.”

(Zia Sardar, 2008)

The growing level of social and economic inequality within (and between) states  is one of the great challenges of our time. Promoting equal opportunities contributes to sustainable economic growth and strengthens social cohesion within a society.

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Do you live in a “Fair Trade Capital”?

Cities are an ideal starting point in the fight against climate change. This is because they can contribute on a large scale to conserving resources and shaping sustainability, for example, through a local-level commitment to fair trade as well as through land-saving urban structures, low-emission and affordable transport systems and energy-efficient buildings.

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Have you ever heard of “green fashion”? Does “fair chocolate” taste better than “unfair chocolate”?

The shift towards an economy and lifestyle that respect the natural limits of our planet can only succeed if we change our consumption habits and production techniques, and if we halve food losses. For this to happen, internationally valid rules governing occupational safety, health and environmental protection are important; but also as individuals, we can be the change that matters.

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The Democratic Republic of Congo recorded the world’s lowest CO2 emissions per capita in 2015: 0.06 t (Germany: 9.64 t).

Water shortages, droughts, hurricanes and floods are just a few of the many consequences of global climate change and causes of migration. However, climate change does not stop at national borders and its effects are not simply limited to individual policy areas, economic sectors or social groups. Effective climate protection, therefore, requires compliance with treaties and international cooperation, as well as genuine commitment in our local region.

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at 17ziele.de

... but who lives underwater?

Around 30 per cent of the world’s fish stocks are overfished (in the European Atlantic: 63 per cent; in the Mediterranean: 82 per cent) and these stocks are threatened with extinction. Global warming and the acidification of the world’s oceans threaten oceanic life and thus the basis of all life on Earth. The protection of marine biodiversity, its sustainable use and the equitable sharing of the resulting benefits from our seas and oceans are essential factors that underpin sustainable development.

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at 17ziele.de

In Ecuador’s Constitution, nature has been granted rights to protect it from exploitation and destruction.

The loss of biodiversity is on the increase, yet it forms the basis of our life – and it is being destroyed at a rapid pace. Land ecosystems should, therefore, be protected, sustainable forest management supported and the scourge of desertification combated, in order to preserve natural habitats.

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at 17ziele.de

Peace or justice – Which is more important for you?

Peace, physical integrity and protection thanks to a stable legal system are indispensable prerequisites for sustainable development and prosperity. The aim is to reduce all forms of violence, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and transparent institutions at all levels.

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at 17ziele.de

Is Germany a “developing country”?

The 17 goals can only be achieved by way of a strong global partnership. Governments, civic society and businesses must work together to implement them. “Leaving no one behind” is the main principle of the 2030 Agenda. Achieving these 17 goals is the task and responsibility of EVERY country on earth.

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at 17ziele.de