Looking through a local lens
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The UN Sustainable Development Goals can be addressed at a local as well as a global level. Even if we live in a highly industrialised first world country ALL of these goals have relevance to us and impact our lives.
While it is important that we identify ways we can support those countries and communities where the target goals seem a long way off it is just as important to identify things that we can do in our own communities to address each of the goals. |
When considering each of the goals don't forget to ask yourself questions about your local situation. Here are some examples:
When looking at things we can do ourselves they do not have to be sophisticated, costly or complicated. Here are a few examples of what you might do when exploring each of the goals in your local community :
Goal 1: No Poverty
Donate to a local charity.
Goal 2: Zero Hunger
Donate food to a local shelter or food co-op.
Goal 3: Good Health and well-being
Look after your own health by eating nourishing food, exercising regularly and finding time to relax.
Goal 4: Quality Education
Sponsor a child through a charity such as World Vision so that they can go to school and get an education.
Goal 5: Gender Equity
Closely examine gender roles in your family and friendship groups. Are boys and girls treated equally. Think of ways to close the gender gap so that everyone gets a 'fair deal'.
Goals 6: Clean water and sanitation
Reduce water wastage in your own home and at school. Don't pour chemicals down the drain - these will get into the water system and contaminate it.
Goal 7: Affordable and clean energy
Explore the use of solar-powered appliances in your home to minimise use of the power grid (which is probably coal powered).
Goal 8: Decent work and economic growth
Support local industries (e.g. buy fruit and vegetables from the local growers market, buy locally made products).
Goal 9: Industry, innovation and architecture
Support local industry by buying their products and services. Try and find out about any new innovations / inventions / initiatives that are being developed in your local community (especially those that relate to the UN Goals).
Goal 10: Reduced inequalities
Volunteer to help at a homeless shelter or soup kitchen. If you are unable to do this then perhaps donate to their cause.
Goal 11: Sustainable cities and communities
Find out what is being done in your community to promote sustainability. Look at ways you can be more sustainable in your own home. (e.g. Recycle and up-cycle clothes and other goods etc)
Goal 12: Responsible consumption and production
Minimise the amount of waste you have at home; recycle as much as possible; compost food scraps for your garden; only buy what you need to avoid wastage.
Goal 13: Climate Action
Find out about the carbon footprint in your local community and at home. Do the Low Carbon Challenge which has been developed by 1million women.
Goal 14: Life Below Water
Find out about the sources of water in your own community; look at ways to minimise water waste in your own home; don't poor chemicals down the drain or use beaded soap products.
Goal 15: Life on Land
Plant as many trees and bushes as you can in your own garden; volunteer with a tree planting group; minimise rubbish that will go into landfill.
Goal 16: Peace, justice and strong institutions
Find out about or become involved in local government programs that support justice and peace; apply to go on the school council or other committees that support fairness and equity.
Goal 17: Partnerships for the Goals
Find out which groups and companies are supporting the UN Goals in your community and become involved.
This is just a very small list of the many things that you can do to become involved in achieving the goals. Do not think that you are just one person and cannot make a difference because YOU CAN.
Check out the stories on the You Can Make a Difference page tp see what other young people are doing to improve the lives of those around them.
- What does this problem (e.g poverty) look like in my own community?
- How does this problem directly and indirectly affect me?
- What are some of the statistics about this problem in my community (e.g the percentage of people in my community under the poverty line)?
- What is currently being done to alleviate this problem or to reach the UN Goals target in my community?
- What organisations are involved in helping reach the UN Goal target in my area?
- What role is the government playing to help reach the UN Goals target?
- What are some things I could do to work towards achieving the UN Goals target in my area?
- Is there something I could create or implement to help alleviate this problem in my local area?
When looking at things we can do ourselves they do not have to be sophisticated, costly or complicated. Here are a few examples of what you might do when exploring each of the goals in your local community :
Goal 1: No Poverty
Donate to a local charity.
Goal 2: Zero Hunger
Donate food to a local shelter or food co-op.
Goal 3: Good Health and well-being
Look after your own health by eating nourishing food, exercising regularly and finding time to relax.
Goal 4: Quality Education
Sponsor a child through a charity such as World Vision so that they can go to school and get an education.
Goal 5: Gender Equity
Closely examine gender roles in your family and friendship groups. Are boys and girls treated equally. Think of ways to close the gender gap so that everyone gets a 'fair deal'.
Goals 6: Clean water and sanitation
Reduce water wastage in your own home and at school. Don't pour chemicals down the drain - these will get into the water system and contaminate it.
Goal 7: Affordable and clean energy
Explore the use of solar-powered appliances in your home to minimise use of the power grid (which is probably coal powered).
Goal 8: Decent work and economic growth
Support local industries (e.g. buy fruit and vegetables from the local growers market, buy locally made products).
Goal 9: Industry, innovation and architecture
Support local industry by buying their products and services. Try and find out about any new innovations / inventions / initiatives that are being developed in your local community (especially those that relate to the UN Goals).
Goal 10: Reduced inequalities
Volunteer to help at a homeless shelter or soup kitchen. If you are unable to do this then perhaps donate to their cause.
Goal 11: Sustainable cities and communities
Find out what is being done in your community to promote sustainability. Look at ways you can be more sustainable in your own home. (e.g. Recycle and up-cycle clothes and other goods etc)
Goal 12: Responsible consumption and production
Minimise the amount of waste you have at home; recycle as much as possible; compost food scraps for your garden; only buy what you need to avoid wastage.
Goal 13: Climate Action
Find out about the carbon footprint in your local community and at home. Do the Low Carbon Challenge which has been developed by 1million women.
Goal 14: Life Below Water
Find out about the sources of water in your own community; look at ways to minimise water waste in your own home; don't poor chemicals down the drain or use beaded soap products.
Goal 15: Life on Land
Plant as many trees and bushes as you can in your own garden; volunteer with a tree planting group; minimise rubbish that will go into landfill.
Goal 16: Peace, justice and strong institutions
Find out about or become involved in local government programs that support justice and peace; apply to go on the school council or other committees that support fairness and equity.
Goal 17: Partnerships for the Goals
Find out which groups and companies are supporting the UN Goals in your community and become involved.
This is just a very small list of the many things that you can do to become involved in achieving the goals. Do not think that you are just one person and cannot make a difference because YOU CAN.
Check out the stories on the You Can Make a Difference page tp see what other young people are doing to improve the lives of those around them.