POLICY BRIEFS
A Year in the Life of the SDGs, in 17 Stories
Faye Leone, Content Editor, SDGs and 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (US)
In 2017, the SDG Knowledge Hub provided news on all of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals, highlighting actions being taken on issues related to the Goals and how efforts to address the challenges are evolving. Below we share one story on each SDG, to provide a snapshot of key issues raised regarding the Goals in 2017.
GENERATION 2030
Youth Taking on SDG Implementation in Uganda
Kakembo Galabuzi Brian, CEO and Founder, WEYE Clean Energy Company Ltd
Many Ugandans are not familiar with the SDGs, and those that have heard of them picture a complex, international project meant only for those in the United Nations or government to implement. This was the case too for the youth we work with before they became engaged in our Waste to Energy Youth Project. It is our aim to change this lack of knowledge and to deliver action at the community level.
NEWS
SDGs Center for Africa Establishes West African Center
16 January 2018: The Sustainable Development Goals Center for Africa (SDGC/A) signed a host country agreement with the Government of Liberia to establish the West African SDGC/A Sub-regional Center in Monrovia, Liberia. The Center, expected to open during the first half of 2018, will work to accelerate implementation of the SDGs in Côte D’Ivoire, Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone – also known as the Mano River Union countries – which requested the establishment of the West African SDGC/A.
Gold Standard Launches Gender Equality Framework
15 January 2018: Gold Standard, a certification body for climate action, has released a framework to assess contributions of climate action to SDG 5 (Gender Equality) that enables developers and funders of climate projects to maximize contributions to empowering women and girls.
UN Environment Management Group Announces New Dialogues, Campaign
11 January 2018: The Secretariat of the UN Environment Management Group (EMG) will hold a new series of ‘Nexus Dialogues,’ create two new Issue Management Groups and launch a campaign for waste management in the UN, among its activities in 2018. In addition, a biodiversity dialogue is expected to prepare terms of reference for a possible UN system-wide contribution to the post-2020 Biodiversity Framework and implementation of the Aichi Biodiversity Targets.
US Updates National SDG Reporting Platform
January 2018: The US has updated its website for reporting national statistics for the SDGs. Of the 246 indicators that the platform identifies, it reports that data for 82 indicators are included online, measures are being improved for 84 indicators, and data are being explored for another 80 indicators.
UNDP Showcases ‘State of Sustainable Development’ Around the World
January 2018: The UN Development Programme (UNDP) has highlighted actions being taken by countries to accelerate implementation of the SDGs. The report titled, ‘State of Sustainable Development,’ features communities and countries that are working to achieve the SDGs, with case studies on increasing access to water in Nepal, promoting recycling and sustainable development in Peru, combatting drought in Somalia and facilitating access to electricity in Lebanon.