The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development
Following the Millennium Development Goals , 193 UN countries adopted the 2030 Development Agenda. As a result, the world came together to create the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
What are the Sustainable Development Goals?
The SDGs are a set of 17 goals with 169 targets covering a broad range of sustainable development issues. Some of these issues include ending poverty, improving education, and fighting climate change.
Empowered, Active Citizens
Environmental education programmes help protect ecosystems and advance the fight against climate change. As practitioners of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD), we empower people to contribute to the SDGs. Our focus is to engage people with the practical tools to introduce sustainable habits to their daily lives. We look at each of the 169 SDG targets when to structure our workshops. It is important to note that these goals and their objectives are not recent additions to our work. Our objectives have always had sustainable development at their core:
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Educate individuals on improving their behaviour with energy, food, water, and waste
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Engage participants in programmes that emphasise measuring resource savings and behaviour change.
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Inspire people to live sustainable lifestyles through positive behaviour
Below are some examples on how our work reflects at least one target within each SDG.
Goal 1: End poverty in all its forms everywhere
UN TARGET Build community resilience to reduce exposure to climate-related extreme events
How we contribute to Goal 1
We educate students on reducing poverty in Water Explorer and Action on Global Citizenship. In Water Explorer, there is a global water mission area. Action on Global Citizenship empowers students to create campaigns against poverty.
Goal 2: End hunger, achieve food security and promote sustainable agriculture
UN TARGET By 2030, end hunger and ensure access by all people to safe, nutritious and enough food all year round
How we contribute to Goal 2
We engage the community in gardening at our Green Living and Sustainability Community Garden (GLAS) to reduce food poverty. This promotes grow-your-own, sustainable, and affordable food consumption habits.
Goal 3: Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages
UN TARGET reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and contamination
How we contribute to Goal 3
We educate students in our Water Explorer and Park Stewardship Programmes on reducing pollution. At GLAS, we engage volunteers of all ages in promoting biodiversity and living healthy lifestyles.
Goal 4: Ensure inclusive and quality education for all and promote lifelong learning
UN TARGET ensure that everyone gains the skills to promote sustainable development through ESD
How we contribute to Goal 4
Achieving Goal 4 is at the heart of every single one of our programmes, workshops, and actions. Our Green Living Programme educates individuals on ways to change their communities.
Goal 5: Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls
UN TARGET Ensure women’s participation and equal opportunities for leadership at all levels of decision making
How we contribute to Goal 5
Our Action on Global Citizenship programme engages students with the value of gender equality. Throughout the programme, we empower them to create awareness campaigns in their communities.
Goal 6: Ensure access to water and sanitation for all
UN TARGET Support and strengthen local communities in improving water and sanitation management
How we contribute to Goal 6
Our Water Explorer programme educates students on the importance of water in their community. As a result, we empower them to work with their peers to create collective change.
Goal 7: Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all
UN TARGET By 2030, increase the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix
How we contribute to Goal 7
As one of GAP’s core themes, energy is present throughout most of our work. Our energy workshops educate participants on how energy sources impact the planet. Thus, inspiring simple everyday energy-saving actions that reduce energy consumption and carbon emissions.
Goal 8: Promote sustainable economic growth, employment and decent work for all
UN TARGET By 2020, reduce the proportion of youth not in employment, education or training
How we contribute to Goal 8
Our workshops inspire students to take part in sustainable extracurricular activities. We also partner to help early school leavers gain employability skills and further their education.
Goal 9: Build resilient infrastructure, promote sustainable industrialization and foster innovation
UN TARGET Develop sustainable and resilient infrastructure, to support human well-being
How we contribute to Goal 9
We empower students to reduce their transport-related emissions. Our workshops educate on how industries can mimicking our natural environment.
Goal 10: Reduce inequality within and among countries
UN TARGET By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all
How we contribute to Goal 10
Our Action on Global Citizenship workshops engage students with the SDGs. Thus, empowering them to develop campaigns to solve them in their schools.
Goal 11: Make cities inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable
UN TARGET By 2030, provide universal access to inclusive green and public spaces
How we contribute to Goal 11
The GLAS Community Centre engages community members of all ages in grow-your-own and sustainable practices.
Goal 12: Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns
UN TARGET By 2030, reduce waste through prevention, reduction, recycling, and reuse.
How we contribute to Goal 12
Our school workshops educate people on waste reduction and sustainable consumption habits. Our Green Living programme inspires participants to reflect on how their behaviour impacts on the world. Additionally, it empowers them with practical solutions to reduce these impacts.
Goal 13: Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts
UN TARGET Improve education on climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction
How we contribute to Goal 13
We host climate change specific workshops for primary and post-primary workshops to inspire individual action against climate change.
Goal 14: Conserve and use the oceans, seas and marine resources
UN TARGET By 2025, prevent and reduce marine pollution of all kinds
How we contribute to Goal 14
Our Water Explorer programme educates students on minimising their water footprint. As a result, students we engage with marine issues.
Goal 15: Sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, halt land degradation and biodiversity loss
UN Target Protect natural habitats, halt biodiversity loss and protect and prevent the extinction of threatened species
How we contribute to Goal 15
Our DPSM accredited workshops empower students to be active biodiversity champions. The GLAS Community Centre also engages the community in biodiversity enhancement projects.
Goal 16: Promote peaceful and inclusive societies
UN TARGET Ensure public access to information and protect fundamental freedoms
How we contribute to Goal 16
Our workshops, social media profiles, and blogs value collaboration and inclusivity. This providing access to people of all ages and backgrounds to our programs.
Goal 17: Revitalise the global partnership for sustainable development
UN TARGET Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships
How we contribute to Goal 17
GAP works with public sector groups to engage schools in environmental education programmes. We also empower corporations to improve their corporate social responsibility practices.