Canadian universities advancing the Sustainable Development Goals

In 2015, all United Nations Member States adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, a roadmap to action to eradicate poverty and inequality, and to preserve the planet for generations to come. At the heart of the 2030 Agenda are the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), 17 indivisible goals with 169 targets and more than 230 indicators, providing a shared framework to work towards a more just, sustainable and inclusive world. The Global Goals embody key economic, social and environmental challenges faced by our world and demand a transformation of the financial, economic and political systems that govern our societies today to guarantee the human rights of all. They require immense political will and ambitious action by all stakeholders. Thus, the SGD framework creates an ideal environment for action and collaboration.

In 2020, Universities Canada embarked on a pan-Canadian initiative focused on increasing exposure for SDG initiatives on Canadian campuses and connecting stakeholders through cross-university and university-community partnerships that bridge efforts across sectors in support of the 2030 Agenda. Supported by the federal government’s SDG funding program, this initiative explores how Canadian universities are advancing the United Nations SDGs through diverse activities and institutional commitments.