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Pact for the Future -

In September 2024, the UN's Pact for the Future reinforced the organization's commitment to global challenges such as climate change, AI regulation, and peacebuilding. This agreement also bolstered efforts toward achieving the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which address pressing issues like poverty, inequality, and environmental degradation. The Pact and the SDGs together emphasize both global collaboration and individual action, urging everyone to contribute to a more sustainable, equitable future by integrating these goals into daily life, industry, and community efforts.

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1. No Poverty -

The list kick-starts with a line that could be out of a Miss Universe beauty pageant. It is a very broad goal to aim to eradicate poverty and blur social and economic differences.

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1. No Poverty -

Over 9% of the global population, approximately 734 million people, live in extreme poverty, surviving on less than US$1.90 a day.

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2. Zero Hunger -

Despite there being enough resources to produce enough food to feed everyone, over 690 million people suffer from chronic hunger. But what are the actions currently in place to help change things?

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2. Zero Hunger -

Ujima Garden is a small urban farming initiative in Nairobi, Kenya. They focus on sustainable and organic farming practices to grow a variety of fruits and vegetables. Ujima Garden not only provides fresh produce to the local community, but also offers training and employment opportunities to women and youth in the area.

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3. Good Health and Well Being -

There has been significant progress in improving global health, as evidenced by the 38% decline in the all-cause mortality rate since 2000. Although it remains a challenge to achieve universal health coverage and eliminate health inequalities worldwide, one of the goals is to enable older people to enjoy a good quality of life.

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3. Good Health and Well Being -

Age UK is a charitable organization in the United Kingdom that provides services and support to help older individuals maintain their independence, health, and well being within their homes. They offer services such as companionship visits, home safety assessments, and assistance with daily tasks. By promoting aging in place and providing essential resources for elderly individuals to lead fulfilling lives in their own homes, the initiative also fosters a sense of autonomy.

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4. Quality Education -

Approximately 260 million children don't go to school, with many lacking access to quality education. While there are poor education systems in some locations, Denmark and Indonesia top the rankings of the most sustainable schools, bringing the two hemispheres together. But there's a big difference.

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4. Quality Education -

While the Green School of Indonesia is not tuition-free, Copenhagen has an array of free public schools, like Utterslev Skole. Sustainability is integrated in the infrastructures and the curriculum, but also by being part of the Danish public schooling system.

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5. Gender Equality -

Despite progress, women still earn 23% less than men globally. SDG 5 aims for equal opportunities, to dismantle gender biases, and to empower women economically and socially. That said, it is estimated that equality will be achieved in 250 years. So, what is being done now?

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5. Gender Equality -

In Copenhagen, research was conducted regarding the number of women represented in statues in Denmark. It concluded that there were more animals up on "pedestals" than women. To raise awareness, an art installation was placed in the main city square during September 2022, with 50 empty pedestals, with names of notable Danish women. The site was also temporarily renamed from Kings Square to Queen's Square.

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6. Clean Water and Sanitation -

Shockingly, 2.2 billion people lack access to safely managed drinking water services.

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6. Clean Water and Sanitation -

Ecofiltro in Guatemala manufactures and distributes affordable water filtration systems to rural communities, providing access to clean and safe drinking water.

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7. Affordable and Clean Energy -

In 2019, renewable energy accounted for 18.3% of global power generation capacity. Although some of this energy production is considered green washing, real clean energy is growing, with new and fun ways to produce it.

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7. Affordable and Clean Energy -

CopenHill is a waste-to-energy facility in Copenhagen, efficiently converting waste into clean energy. It not only generates electricity and heat for thousands of homes, but also promotes sustainable urban development by incorporating recreational facilities like a ski slope and climbing wall, transforming the concept of waste management into a sustainable and community-enhancing endeavor.

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8. Decent Work and Economic Growth -

The unemployment challenge, especially among young individuals, tends to be highlighted when talking about SDG 8. But there's a lot more to it.

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8. Decent Work and Economic Growth -

Did you know that SDG 8 encompasses employers' obligation to guarantee workers rights, and protect their lives in case they are dislocated to work in a dangerous site, city or country? It is one of the requirements for a company to be considered sustainable.

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9. Industry Innovation and Infrastructure -

Innovations like high-speed internet have connected billions worldwide, but there's still a digital divide. This is mainly a space where industries should be inspiring examples of fair work, ecology, and inclusivity.

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9. Industry Innovation and Infrastructure -

In 2022, the Vestre furniture factory (Norway) was completed, achieving the highest sustainability rate (BREEAM Outstanding) and being equipped with advanced technology. It was designed by a woman that had her father's working experience in mind. Viktoria Millentrup, the project leader, wanted to make sure that there were windows and a view to the forest wherever there was an employee.

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10. Reduced Inequalities -

A great example is Fairphone, a small Dutch company specializing in smartphones that has received awards such as the Rank a Brand certification for their commitment to reducing inequalities within the electronics industry by ensuring fair wages, safe working conditions, and responsible sourcing of materials.

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11. Sustainable Cities and Communities -

As of 2020, 55% of the world's population lived in urban areas, a figure projected to increase. SDG 11 encourages the development of sustainable cities and communities, fostering responsible urbanization.

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12. Responsible Consumption and Production -

Every year, approximately 1.3 billion tonnes of food is wasted, while millions go hungry. SDG 12 calls for sustainable consumption patterns and efficient resource use.

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12. Responsible Consumption and Production -

Initiatives like Eat Grim and Too Good To Go (Denmark) or Fruta Feia (Portugal) are promoting responsible consumption and production by rescuing imperfect or surplus food that would otherwise go to waste and offering it to consumers at reduced prices. By reducing waste in the food industry, these organizations play a vital role in achieving SDG 12's goals of sustainable consumption and reducing food loss throughout the supply chain.

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13. Climate Action -

The concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere reached 414 ppm in 2020, the highest in millions of years. SDG 13 urges countries to take decisive action to combat climate change through policies and initiatives.

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14. Life Below Water -

Marine ecosystems are going through tremendous changes. The 14th goal advocates for the conservation and sustainable use of oceans and marine resources. Who's taking action?

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Climate Action and Life Below Water -

Although focused on the sea, The Ocean Cleanup, a Dutch non-profit founded by Boyan Slat in 2013, tackles SDGs 13 and 14. The company specializes in developing advanced technologies to remove plastic waste from the world's oceans. Their innovative systems use passive drifting technology to capture and concentrate ocean plastic, mitigating the impact of plastic pollution on marine ecosystems.

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15. Life on Land -

An estimated 10,000 species go extinct each year due to habitat loss and other factors. There are some examples of big and small organizations trying to tackle this challenge, which has become a pretty hot topic in greenwashing, with companies using reforestation to compensate for and falsely reduce their carbon footprint.

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15. Life on Land -

A good example of a small organization contributing to SDG 15 is TreeSisters, a non-profit that encourages and supports reforestation efforts around the world. They empower individuals and communities to plant trees, which play a vital role in restoring and preserving terrestrial ecosystems. This organization's grassroots efforts approach reforestation with the broader goal of sustaining life on land and protecting the planet's terrestrial biodiversity.

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16. Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions -

In 2020, only 0.42% of official development assistance went to peace and security. Unbiased institutions are crucial in combating corruption and promoting good governance practices.

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17. Partnerships for the Goals -

International development aid totaled US$161.2 billion in 2020, reflecting the importance of global cooperation in achieving all the SDGs. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) plays a pivotal role in wrapping the global network and collaborations with governments, organizations, and businesses worldwide, facilitating the implementation of sustainable initiatives globally.

Sources: (United Nations) (Bloomberg)

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