UN Sustainable Development Goals

17 Goals to Transform Our World

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, adopted by all United Nations Member States in 2015, provides a shared blueprint for peace and prosperity for people and the planet, now and into the future. At its heart are the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which are an urgent call for action by all countries in a global partnership. They recognize that tackling climate change and working to preserve our forests and oceans are critical for species to survive and to thrive.

In 1992, the UN hosted the Earth Summit in Rio De Janeiro focused on the impact of human socioeconomic activities on the environment. During this conference, the UN concluded that not only are social, economic, and environmental factors interdependent but that balancing these concerns is vital for sustaining human life. The United Nations spent the next 22 years understanding, researching, and developing integrated approaches to solving issues of society, economy, and environment. In 2015, the United Nations’ 193 member countries collectively came together to solidify the agenda for the newly developed 2030 Sustainable Development Goals. Under this program, 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were created and paired with 169 actionable targets to establish a united front and ensure prosperity for all people and the planet.  At the halfway mark to the 2030 deadline, global awareness of biodiversity protection has increased, but efforts to transform human interaction with nature and resource consumption still lag behind in terms of speed and scale. In 2023, three quarters of land on Earth and about 66 per cent of the marine environment have been significantly altered by human actions. More than one third of the world’s land surface and nearly 75 per cent of freshwater resources are now devoted to crop or livestock production. Combined with skyrocketing levels of pollution, the degradation of the natural habitat and biodiversity loss are having serious impacts on communities around the world. In 2023, an estimated 100 to 300 million people are at increased risk of floods and hurricanes because of loss of coastal habitats.

We believe that we can significantly advance the SDGs at the local level by sharing knowledge through education and advocacy. Our goal is to provide community activities that raise awareness, inspire and empower Friends of Orenda as changemakers, ultimately making Massachusetts a better place to live, work and enjoy the natural world. In 2024, Orenda Wildlife Land Trust will continue to prioritize the advancement of the SDGs, and we urge you to join us – we’ll be offering a series of educational walks-and-talks and service events that spotlight and action on specific targets underneath the Goals. We must #ActNow!

🌐 Click here for SDG FAST FACTS!

🌐 Click here to learn about CLIMATE CHANGE!

🌐 Click here for ACTIONS we can all take for a healthy planet!