Sustainable Development Goals: WHAT’S YOUR GOAL?
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a collection of 17 global goals set by 193 United Nations members states in 2013 with the objective to guide sustainable development in the next 15 years.
The SDGs cover a broad range of social and economic development issues and are part of the “Transforming our World: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development”, or 2030 Agenda in short.
The broad goals are interrelated, though each has its own targets to achieve. The total number of targets is 169. Although the SDGs might sound a bit too broad, each target must be measurable through indicators and statistical data. The UN has a specific service that seeks to provide measurable indicators for each target.
The World Council on City Data (WCCD) is also working hard to produce standardized city data through a network of innovative cities committed to improving services and quality of life with open city data. It provides a consistent and comprehensive platform for standardised urban metrics. The WCCD has developed the first ISO 37120 certification system and the Global Cities Registry.
The SDGs have a huge impact on the political discourse and are shaping European policy, such as the Horizon 2020 programme. It helps shape the research agendas of research and educational institutions.
More recently, a specific document focusing on sustainable urban development was enacted. The New Urban Agenda is a binding document enacted at Habitat III in Quito in 2016, and aims to provide a framework for sustainable, inclusive and fair urban development.
The New Urban Agenda seeks to create a mutually reinforcing relationship between urbanization and development, with the idea that by promoting SDG 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities, we are able to deliver many of the other SDGs.
Bouwkunde wishes to promote SDGs and the New Urban Agenda among its community of academics, practitioners, researchers and students.
Bouwkunde is intent on contributing to SDG 11 everywhere, but our focus now in on African urbanisation, through one of the three As (Africa, Automation, Agility). But BK has a very strong track record on many other SDGs, especially SDG 4 QUALITY EDUCATION, SDG 13 CLIMATE ACTION and many more. BK wishes to improve its track-record on SDG 5 GENDER EQUALITY, SDG 10 REDUCED INEQUALITIES and many other SDGs, but in order to do that, we need your help.
Our question to you is: WHAT’S YOUR GOAL? Tell us who you are, what is the focus of your work, and what SDGs you are addressing.
Please, visit our website to read more on how Bouwkunde is cooperating with UN-Habitat, the World Urban Campaign, the World Council on City Data and other stakeholders to achieve sustainable, fair and inclusive urban development.
