What Are the UN Sustainable Development Goals?

The Sustainable Development Goals are a perfect guide to start living a more sustainable life and contribute to the sustainable development of our planet. 

Learn More Below.

 

At Recyclops, our mission is to provide access to affordable recycling to all, regardless of where people live. We want to make it possible for anyone and everyone to be able to live their ideal sustainable lifestyle. Living sustainably can be done in many different ways but it’s easy to be lost when looking at these sustainability problems at large.

It’s clear that there is lots of work to be done in almost every area of our lives and all over the world. That’s why the United Nations created the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Each of these goals tackles a different problem on a global scale and helps different countries and organizations such as Recyclops operate more effectively.

SDG Logo
The History of the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

“The Sustainable Development Goals are the blueprint to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all. They address the global challenges we face, including poverty, inequality, climate change, environmental degradation, peace and justice.”

– The United Nations

Created by the United Nations General Assembly in 2015, the 17 Sustainable Development Goals or Globe Goals are intended to be achieved by the year 2030. As stated in the quote above, the goals are meant to be a “blueprint to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all.” something that Recyclops is proud to be working towards.

What Are the UN Sustainable Development Goals?

Goal 1: No Poverty

Sustainable Development Goal 1 No poverty

The goal of SDG 1 is to end poverty in all its forms everywhere by 2030. More than 700 million people, or 10% of the world population, live in extreme poverty. People under these conditions struggle to fulfill their basic needs such as health, education, and access to water.

As if that wasn’t enough of an issue our current struggle with the COVID-19 pandemic has created more issues in terms of poverty. The COVID-19 pandemic is estimated to have pushed an estimated 71 million additional people into extreme poverty.

So what can you do about it?

Become active in your community and local government. Your engagement in policymaking and legislation can make a difference in addressing poverty in your area. To find out more about this SDG and how you can make a difference visit here.

Goal 2: Zero Hunger
Sustainable development goal 2 Zero hunger
The goal of SDG 2 is to end hunger, achieve food security and improve nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture by 2030. 2 billion people in the world do not have regular access to safe, nutritious, and sufficient food. In 2019, 144 million children under the age of 5 were stunted and 47 million were affected by malnutrition.

So what can you do about it?

You can make small changes in your life. By supporting local farmers and markets in your community and by making sustainable food choices. Fighting food waste is another great way to help combat this issue. To find out more about this SDG and how you can make a difference visit here.

Goal 3: Good Health & Wellbeing
SDG 3 Good health and well-being
The goal of SDG 3 is to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages by 2030. Many countries, especially poor countries, have insufficient health facilities and low medical supplies. Additionally, there is a need for almost 18 million health workers, primarily in low and middle income countries to achieve universal health coverage by 2030.

So what can you do about it?

Raise awareness in your community about the importance of good health. Teaching those around you to live a more healthy lifestyle as well as getting access to quality health care. You can also hold your local government accountable by moving to support initiatives that practice good health standards. To find out more about this SDG and how you can make a difference visit here.

Goal 4: Quality Education
SDG 4 quality Education
The goal of SDG 4 is to ensure inclusive and equitable education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all. Many individuals around the world do not have access to quality education, especially women. This goal aims to create inclusive education that is available for all, no matter where you live or what gender you are.

So what can you do about it?

Make education a priority in your community. Ask our governments to place education as a priority in both policy and practice. Continuing to lobby your local government to make firm commitments to provide free primary education to all, including vulnerable or marginalized groups. To find out more about this SDG and how you can make a difference visit here.

Goal 5: Gender Equality & Women’s Empowerment
SDG 5 Gender Equality
The goal of SDG 5 is to achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls. Many women and girls all over the world are marginalized and are not given access to some basic rights and needs. Depending on where you live this can be harder to see but the overall goal is to allow women and girls to achieve their full potential.

So what can you do about it?

Work alongside women and girls to achieve gender equality. You can address unconscious biases and implicit associations that form an unintended and often an invisible barrier to equal opportunity. Focus on embracing healthy relationships and changing harmful laws. To find out more about this SDG and how you can make a difference visit here.

Goal 6: Clean Water & Sanitation

SDG 6 Clean Water And Sanitation

The goal of this SDG is to Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all by 2030. Worldwide, 1 in 3 people do not have access to safe and clean drinking water. On top of that 2 of 5 people in the world do not have access to basic sanitation stations with soap and water.

According to the World Health Organization, handwashing is one of the most effective ways you can reduce the spread of pathogens and prevent infections, including the COVID-19 virus.

So what can you do about it?

Get involved in your community. You can get involved in the World Water Day and World Toilet Day campaigns that aim to provide information and inspiration to take action on hygiene and water distribution issues. Generating awareness around this issue is also one of the best ways to get the action started in your community. To find out more about this SDG and how you can make a difference visit here.

Goal 7: Affordable & Clean Energy

SDG 7 Affordable and clean energy

The goal of this SDG is to ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all. Access to electricity in poorer countries has begun to accelerate and energy efficiency continues to improve with renewable energy making gains in the electricity industry. 

More attention is needed however to improve access to clean energy, safe cooking fuels and technologies in certain areas of the world for almost 3 billion people. This needs to go beyond the electricity industry, especially in sub-Saharan Africa.

So what can you do about it?

You can save electricity by plugging appliances into a power strip and turning them off completely when not in use, including your computer. You can also bike, walk, or take public transport to reduce carbon emissions. To find out more about this SDG and how you can make a difference visit here.

Goal 8: Decent Work & Economic Growth

SDG 8 Decent work and economic growth
The goal of this SDG is to promote sustained, inclusive, and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment, and decent work for all. Sustained and inclusive economic growth can drive progress, creating decent jobs for all and improving the overall quality of life for individuals. COVID-19 has disrupted billions of lives and endangered the global economy in several ways. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is expecting a global economic recession as bad or potentially worse than 2009.

So what can you do about it?

Implementing adequate health and safety measures and promoting supportive working environments is fundamental to protecting the safety of workers; especially health workers and those providing essential services. To find out more about this SDG and how you can make a difference visit here.

Goal 9: Industries, Innovation & Infrastructure

SDG Industry innovation and infrastructure
The goal of this SDG is to build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization, and foster innovation. Least developed countries, in particular, need to accelerate the development of their manufacturing sector if they are to meet the 2030 target and scale up investment in scientific research and innovation. Global manufacturing growth has been steadily declining, even before the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic is hitting manufacturing industries hard and causing disruptions in global value chains and the supply of products.

So what can you do about it?

Collaborate with Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and the public sector to help promote sustainable growth within developing countries. Think about how industry impacts on your life and well-being and use social media to push for policymakers to prioritize the SDGs.To find out more about this SDG and how you can make a difference visit here.

Goal 10: Reduced Inequalities

SDG 10 Reduced Inequalities
The goal of this SDG is to reduce inequality within and among countries. COVID-19 has deepened existing inequalities, hitting the poorest and most vulnerable communities the hardest. It has put a spotlight on economic inequalities and fragile social safety nets that leave vulnerable communities to bear the brunt of the crisis. At the same time, social, political and economic inequalities have amplified the impacts of the pandemic

So what can you do about it?

It is important to empower and promote inclusive social and economic growth. We can ensure equal opportunity and reduce inequalities of income if we eliminate discriminatory laws, policies, and practices. To find out more about this SDG and how you can make a difference visit here.

Goal 11: Sustainable Cities

SDG 11 Sustainable cities and communities
The goal of this SDG is to Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable. Since 2007, more than half the world’s population has been living in cities, and that share is projected to rise to 60% by 2030. Cities and metropolitan areas are powerhouses of economic growth, contributing about 60% of global GDP. However, they also account for about 70% of global carbon emissions and over 60% of resource use. Rapid urbanization is resulting in a growing number of slum dwellers, inadequate and overburdened infrastructure and services, worsening air pollution and unplanned urban sprawl.

So what can you do about it?

Advocate for the kind of city you believe you need. Develop a vision for your building, street, and neighbourhood, and act on that vision. The better the conditions you create in your community, the greater the effect on the quality of life. To find out more about this SDG and how you can make a difference visit here.

Goal 12: Responsible Consumption & Production

SDG 12 Responsible Consumption and production
The goal of this SDG is to Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns. Economic and social progress over the last century has been accompanied by environmental degradation that is endangering the very systems on which our future development. Each year, an estimated one-third of all food produced, equivalent to 1.3 billion tonnes worth around $1 trillion, ends up rotting in the bins of consumers and retailers or spoiling due to poor transportation and harvesting practices.

So what can you do about it?

Reducing your waste and being thoughtful about what you buy and choosing a sustainable option whenever possible. Ensure you don’t throw away food, and reduce your consumption of plastic or recycle it with Recyclops. Find out more about recycling with Recyclops.

Goal 13: Climate Action

SDG 13 Climate Action
The Goal of this SDG is to Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts. Climate change is affecting every country on every continent. It is disrupting national economies and affecting lives. Weather patterns are changing, sea levels are rising, and weather events are becoming more extreme. Although greenhouse gas emissions are projected to drop about 6% in 2020 due to travel bans and economic slowdowns resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, this improvement is only temporary.

So what can you do about it?

Weatherize your home and power it with renewable energy, invest in energy-efficient appliances, reduce water waste, eat the food you buy and make less of it meat, buy better bulbs, pull the plugs, drive a fuel-efficient vehicle, rethink planes, trains and automobiles, and shrink your carbon profile. To find out more about this SDG and how you can make a difference visit here.

Goal 14: Life Below Water

SDG 14 Life Below Water
The goal of this SDG is to Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas, and marine resources for sustainable development.

So what can you do about it?

Try to eliminate plastic usage as much as possible and organize beach clean-ups. Most importantly, we can spread the message about how important marine life is and why we need to protect it. To find out more about this SDG and how you can make a difference visit here.

Goal 15: Life on Land

SDG 15 Life on Land

The goal of this SDG is to protect, restore, and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, halt and reverse land degradation, and halt biodiversity loss.

Around 1 million animal and plant species are threatened with extinction, many within decades, according to the 2019 Global Assessment Report on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Service.

So what can you do about it?

Some things we can do to help include recycling, eating a local-based diet that is sustainably sourced, and consuming only what we need. We must be respectful toward wildlife and only take part in ecotourism opportunities that are responsibly and ethically run in order to prevent wildlife disturbance. Find out more about living a more sustainable lifestyle.

Goal 16: Peace, Justice & Strong Institutions

SDG 16 Peace, justice and strong institutions
The goal of this SDG is to Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all, and build effective, accountable, and inclusive institutions at all levels. Conflict, insecurity, weak institutions and limited access to justice remain a great threat to sustainable development. The number of people fleeing war, persecution and conflict exceeded 70 million in 2018, the highest level recorded by the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) in almost 70 years.

So what can you do about it?

Exercise your right to hold your elected officials accountable. Exercise your right to freedom of information and share your opinion with your elected representatives. Promote inclusion and respect towards people of different ethnic origins, religions, gender, sexual orientations, or different opinions. To find out more about this SDG and how you can make a difference visit here.

Goal 17: Partnerships

SDG 17 Partnerships for the goals
The goal of this SDG is to strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development. A successful development agenda requires inclusive partnerships, at the global, regional, national and local levels, built upon principles and values, and upon a shared vision and shared goals placing people and the planet at the centre.

So what can you do about it?

Join or create a group in your local community that seeks to mobilize action on the implementation of the SDGs. Encourage your governments to partner with businesses for the implementation of the SDGs. To find out more about this SDG and how you can make a difference visit here.

Start Recycling with Recyclops.

Our team at Recyclops makes it easy to recycle today straight from the convenience of your home. With our service, you know that your recyclables are going to a designated recycling facility and not a landfill. Learn more about where your recycling goes here

Depending on your location, recycling is as easy as putting all your materials in one or more bags (depending on how many you have) and putting them right on your doorstep or curbside. Your local Recyclops driver will be there to pick up your materials and ensure they arrive at the destination. And don’t worry about making space for another bin, Recyclops bags or carts come with all our services and pickups come at your convenience. 

We want to make recycling easy and simple, and that starts with recycling on your schedule. 

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