As cities worldwide embrace the idea of more liveable, human-centred places, Cork is leading the way with a bold, health-focused vision.
On Tuesday the 30th of July 2019 we attended the National Stakeholder Forum in Dublin Castle. This forum invited members of the public to discuss with and listen to Government and stakeholders the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and how we can all work together to achieve them.
This forum specifically looked at Goal 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth. It was great to see so many businesses in attendance eager to understand the UN SDGs and how they can best work towards them in their work.
As practitioners for Education for Sustainable Development, we are passionate about ensuring all members of society are equipped with the knowledge to understand what these goals are and how we can work towards them in our personal and professional lives.
What are the UN SDGs?
They are a set of 17 goals with 169 targets. The goals cover social, environmental, economic and health challenges (among many more) we all face. In 2015, 193 country representatives took the pledge to actively work towards these goals and strive toward achieving them by 2030 to: end poverty, hunger, inequality and to protect people and the planet.
As we enter into our last 10 years of working toward the Sustainable Development Goals we must first understand what are the targets and indicators of each goal and how in our own lives, can we direct our own daily actions towards achieving them.
At Global Action Plan (GAP) , we not only believe that empowered individuals can make a difference, we believe that education supports people to make more informed decisions, leading to a more sustainable way of living.
How can GAP help?
We have a bespoke range of programmes, each aligned with the UN SDGs and that support you in understanding what they are, why they are important and help you to take action on the goals which apply most to your life. Our interactive workshops and activities explore the specific goals and themes of Sustainable Cities and Communities, Responsible Consumption and Production, Climate Action, Life below Water and Life on Land. Exploring these goals will highlight how our changing climate impacts poverty locally and worldwide. We focus on fostering an understanding of how the goals are interlined and how the fight against climate change helps to address poverty eradication here and globally. These are necessary steps in order to work towards a sustainable community. This workshop will help you to engage with the UN SDGs. By reflecting upon our own communities, and using the UN SDGs as a framework we will consider creative solutions to local issues and understand the global impact this has when we work together.
Who can act on the SDGs?
Everyone! Our workshops are suitable for primary and secondary school students, teachers, youth & community groups, and businesses & corporates. We are passionate about including everyone in society towards our shared journey of making the world a more sustainable place for people and the planet.
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