“The Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) is a collaborative network of academic and research institutions launched in August 2012 under the auspices of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to accelerate practical problem solving for sustainable development and to support the Sustainable Development Goals, which were adopted in September 2015.”
Sustainable development is the most important global movement of our time. In 2015, the 193 member states of the United Nations unanimously adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals. These interconnected Goals aim to end poverty and promote economic prosperity, ensure social equity, and protect the environment. Above all, the 2030 Agenda commits to “leaving no one behind.” How do we know if we are on track to achieve the SDGs? Which Goals should different countries prioritize? And what kind of data do we need to ensure that everyone is counted?Launched in 2015 by the Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) and the Bertelsmann Stiftung, the Sustainable Development Report is the first worldwide study to assess where the world stands with regard to achieving sustainable development. The Report contains the SDG Index and Dashboards, which use a combination of official and unofficial data and indicators to understand each country’s progress on the 17 SDGs.In this short course, you will hear from some of the experts responsible for creating the Sustainable Development Report about the value of measuring progress on the SDGs, and how a tool like the SDG Index and Dashboards helps policymakers and other stakeholders make important decisions about their development priorities. You will examine the different types of data that can be used to measure development progress, and learn the technical steps needed to construct an index for the SDGs. Finally, you will explore regional and city-level indices, and discuss new approaches to SDG measurement and data-based decision-making.
لمحة عامّة من شأن الموارد الطبيعيّة أن تقدّم فرصة تحويليّة لدعم التنمية ولكنّها في نهاية المطاف موارد ناضبة. فكيف يمكن للبلدان تحقيق الإفادة القصوى من هذه الفرصة المحدودة، وفي الوقت نفسه إدارة قطاع معقّد مع الحدّ من الآثار على الصعيد المحلّي والمدى الطويل؟ هذه الدورة الإلكترونيّة المفتوحة والمكثّفة الّتي تمتدّ على 12 أسبوعًا، والتي أعدّها معهد حوكمة الموارد الطبيعيّة مع مركز كولومبيا للاستثمار المستدام والبنك الدولي، تلقي الضوء على الجهود الآيلة إلى إدارة الاستثمارات في الصناعات الاستخراجيّة على نحو مستدام. وستمكّنكم من فهم النواحي المعقّدة والمتداخلة لحوكمة الموارد الطبيعية، لتشكّلوا جزءًا من حركة عالميّة من المواطنين والممارسين الملتزمين بتحقيق الآثار التحويليّةلمواردنا الطبيعيّة.
The time to address climate change is now. The mean surface temperature of the Earth has risen dangerously and spurred devastating impacts – and not just on natural ecosystems worldwide, but on daily human life. We are currently on pace towards a temperature increase of 4°C or more this century, while scientists and policymakers propose targets of just 1-2°C to avoid the total destruction of the planet. In this course, learn solutions to mitigate the effects of the global greenhouse gas emissions causing temperature rise, and how to apply these solutions in different national contexts improvements. Please note:This course was created before the 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference – COP21 – in Paris. While the political situation has shifted rapidly, this course provides a solid overview of the science behind climate change.Climate Change Science and Negotiations is a single-semester course. Please ignore all references to a second semester.This course is for: Graduate students and advanced undergraduate students in the fields of sustainable development, environmental science, sustainable business, international relations or related fields who are interested in the latest on climate changeClimate change activists who want a concise overview of the current issues shaping debate and actionSustainable development practitioners – as well as private-sector actors, such as corporate sustainability and responsibility groups and those who work in the technology or energy industries – who need to understand key issues and facts about climate change, including emissions targets and emerging regulations
Tech for Good was developed by UNESCO and Cetic.br/NIC.br, the Brazilian Network Information Center’s Regional Center for Studies on the Development of the Information Society. It brings together thought leaders and changemakers in the fields of information and communication technologies (ICT) and sustainable development to show how digital technologies are empowering billions of people around the world by providing access to education, healthcare, banking, and government services; and how “big data” is being used to inform smarter, evidence-based policies to improve people’s lives in fundamental ways. It also addresses the new challenges that technology can introduce , such as privacy, data management, risks to cybersecurity, e-waste, and the widening of social divides. Ultimately, Tech for Good looks at the ways in which stakeholders are coming together to answer big questions about what our future will look like in a hyper-digitized world. This course is for: Technology specialists who want to understand more about how ICT is being used to improve people’s lives around the world.Sustainable development practitioners who need to understand the opportunities and limitations of technology in a development context.Advanced undergraduates and graduate students interested in the key concepts and practices of this exciting and ever-changing field. Please note that the course is free to audit, but there is a fee if you choose to pursue a Verified Certificate. Financial assistance is available through edX.
What is “Laudato Si”? First presented by Pope Francis – spiritual leader to the world’s 1.2 billion Catholics – to his faith-based cohort, it is a call to action addressed not only to Catholics, but to all people of the world. Laudato Si’: On Care for Our Common Home raises the profile of the grave ecological crisis that humanity has created and issues a moral clarion call for urgent action to protect the earth and its inhabitants from ruin. This short course provides an overview of the main themes and messages of Laudato Si’. No affiliation or prior familiarity with Catholic teaching is required, nor any prior knowledge of the sustainable development agenda. Students are guided through the basic structure of the Laudato Si’ message – diagnosis of the ecological crisis, an overview of its theological and philosophical underpinnings, evaluation of the human behavior at its root, the need for institutional solutions, and the call for personal action. Issued in the months leading up to adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Climate Agreement, Laudato Si’ can be read as a moral charter for sustainable development. It provides a firm ethical foundation for actions that need to be taken urgently at all levels – global, national, local and personal, too. This is what makes it so important. This course is for: Anyone new to the concept of sustainable development who wants to understand its importance and the rationale for their own personal commitment to its principlesGraduate students and advanced undergraduate students interested in a core principle in their study of sustainable development – the interplay of various stakeholders in achieving the agendaThose in faith-based communities interested in the relationship between faith and action to protect the planet
National economies have grown substantially since the Industrial Revolution of the 19th century yet people have not necessarily seen an increase in opportunities to find decent work or earn a decent income. In fact, in some places, the increased productivity and rising profits associated with automation have directly impacted the availability of decent jobs. According to the International Labour Organization, more than 204 million people were unemployed in 2015, and more than 600 million new jobs are needed by 2030 just to keep pace with the growth of the working-age population. We also need to improve working conditions for the 780 million women and men who are employed but not earning enough to lift themselves and their families out of poverty. In addressing these core issues we will not only see increasing decent work opportunities but also more robust, inclusive and poverty-reducing growth.This course explores the past and future of work in the context of the SDGs, particularly SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth. It examines the state of income and employment around the world, barriers to employment, policies to promote economic opportunity, and the future of work in our rapidly changing world. Encouraging entrepreneurship and job creation are key to achieving the SDGs, as are effective measures to eradicate forced labour, slavery and human trafficking. With these targets in mind, the world can achieve full and productive employment and decent work, for all women and men, by 2030.This seven-module massive open online course (MOOC) provides an in-depth look at the issues of inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment, and decent work for all. The topics covered include structural shifts in economies and work; informality, gender and child labor, the modern welfare state; the future of work, and more. The course concludes with a special module by the ILO on realizing decent work for all and achieving SDG 8.This course is for:Policy professionals who want to understand frameworks for SDG planningDevelopment practitioners seeking knowledge on goals-based developmentAdvanced undergraduates and graduate students interested in economics, development, and other key concepts related to the SDGs
How is intangible cultural heritage – or ‘living heritage’ – related to sustainable development? How is it relevant for addressing today’s development challenges in areas such as health, education, gender, natural disasters and conflict? Why is it important to keep this heritage alive? Communities around the world are transmitting their living heritage, which gives meaning to their lives, strengthens resilience, and contributes to their well-being. In this way intangible cultural heritage and sustainable development are closely linked. The international community made a commitment to safeguarding living heritage when it adopted the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2003 and it set itself ambitious goals by adopting the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. This course helps to understand the connections between the two.By taking this course students and other interested learners and professionals will gain a better understanding of intangible cultural heritage and its relationships with sustainable development, exploring examples and experiences of communities from around the world.By joining the course learners are invited to rethink development from a culture perspective!This course is for:Anyone new to the concept of intangible cultural heritage who wants to understand what intangible cultural heritage is, why it is important to people’s wellbeing and what role it plays in the lives of people, including young people;Graduate students and advanced undergraduate students interested in the key concepts and practices of sustainability and global issues;Key actors engaged in the field of sustainable development at a local, regional or international level , including those who work in corporate sustainability and responsibility and who want to understand the relationship between intangible cultural heritage and sustainable development;Practitioners and professionals engaged in living heritage safeguarding , who want to refresh their knowledge on the key concepts of safeguarding of intangible cultural heritage and want to learn more about the relationship between living heritage and sustainable development.
Unemployment. Inflation. Protectionism. Trade barriers. Fiscal deficit. These are not just terms in an economics textbook or in newspaper headlines. These real-life challenges carry societal and environmental implications for billions of people around the world. How do we balance the pursuit of economic growth with the right of all people to thrive on an increasingly fragile planet? To answer this question, we must reframe our understanding of macroeconomics in the context of a highly interdependent world. Led by two leading economic minds – Columbia University Professor and Senior UN Advisor Jeffrey Sachs and former Chilean Minister of Finance Felipe Larraín – this massive open online course explores traditional macroeconomic principles and tools, updated for the age of sustainable development and the current wave of globalization. Is a thriving global economy possible in an equitable and environmentally thoughtful way? Find out here. This course is for: Graduate students and advanced undergraduate students studying international development, economics and/or sustainable developmentEconomists interested in the balance of macroeconomic principles and ESG (environmental, societal and governance) criteriaSustainable development practitioners – as well as private-sector actors, such as those who work in the financial sector – who need to understand the economic models that support and depend on sustainable development
Health was recognized as a cornerstone of human development in the Millennium Declaration and the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), with three goals explicitly linked to health indicators, and others in some way linked to health. However, since the framing of the MDGs, the world has been witness to significant demographic and epidemiological transitions. While the threat of communicable diseases persists, there is a growing burden of non-communicable diseases such as heart disease, respiratory illnesses, cancers, and diabetes, especially in low and middle income countries. These are attributable to traditional risk factors like alcohol and tobacco use, unhealthy diets and lack of physical activity, and increasing exposure to risk factors like air pollution, inadequate access to clean water and sanitation facilities, climate change, and natural disasters. Health has intrinsic value, especially when framed as a basic human right, but has added importance when framed in the context of progress on the social, economic and environmental pillars of sustainable development. Health is influenced by environment, food systems, energy security, transport, trade and human migration. Health also has a positive influence on other sectors, with investments in health shown to have a positive impact on economic development. Improved health is also essential to achieving other development goals such as poverty reduction, gender empowerment, universal education and conflict resolution. The intersection of health with so many other sectors therefore necessitates an across the board approach to addressing health in any sustainable development agenda post-2015. Public health looks at the determinants of health which act at the level of populations or people as a whole, and then tries to influence those determinants so that ultimately the impact is on improving the health of individuals. This course provides a comprehensive understanding of the interdisciplinary field of Public Health from a global perspective. The concepts outlined in this course will bring to light the vital importance social, economic and environmental factors affecting the health of populations, and of good health for all in achieving sustainable development. These concepts aim at portraying a holistic view of global health and creating awareness about current challenges in global public health, as well as defining the importance of good health in the broader vision of sustainable development. This course will cover a broad range of topics, starting with an introduction to the basic tenets of public health, and the importance of social determinants. Moving on, we discuss the global burden of communicable and non-communicable diseases, and highlight the appropriate public health responses. We then discuss the importance of health systems in promoting the health of populations, and the different methods employed around the world to achieve universality in access to health services. The course also address new and emerging issues including environment change, technologies, and global governance, emphasizing the links to health in each case.Course Structure and RequirementsThis 10-week course is structured around a series of pre-recorded lectures, readings, quizzes and an interactive discussion forum. Each of these course components can be completed at a time that is convenient for the student. The material for each week is made available each Monday, and once the material has been opened, it remains open for the duration of the course. There will be no mandatory written assignments for the course but the course encourages active participation in the discussion forum. In addition to the asynchronous components of the course, instructors will hold 3 real-time Google Hangouts to encourage students to ask questions and engage directly with experts. These Hangouts will be announced 1-2 weeks in advance. As a guideline, in order for students to become part of the community, engage with the content and get the most out of the course, they should aim to spend approximately 5-6 hours per week. All students who successfully complete the course requirements will receive a digital certificate of completion signed by Professor K. Srinath Reddy. Students that participate actively on the forum discussions will receive certificates of completion with distinction. While this course is not credit granting, we encourage students to work with their own institutions to explore the option of granting credit for online coursework. More details will be provided following the launch of the course.
What are the effects of a healthy individual on the world around them? Beyond the hereditary connections between parents and children or the implications of communicable diseases, public health has intrinsic value as a basic human right. Furthermore, health and the three pillars of sustainable development i.e. economic, social and environmental well-being, are intrinsically connected. Global Public Health, is a course taught by experts from the Public Health Foundation of India. It explores the institutions, infrastructure, and the interplay of actors that constitute health not only in local communities but also on a global scale. In this course, you’ll discover how health is influenced by the environment, food systems, energy security, transport, trade, and human migration. You’ll also learn health’s positive influence on other sectors, with investments in health shown to have a positive impact on economic development. Finally, this course will illuminate how health impacts and is essential to achieving poverty reduction, gender empowerment, universal education, conflict resolution, and other Sustainable Development Goals. This course is for:Graduate students and advanced undergraduate students studying public health, international development, public policy, nursing and medicine and other fields who are interested in the key concepts and practices in global public healthHealthcare professionals and other practitioners who want to understand their work within the broader context of international policy and the concept of sustainable developmentSustainable development practitioners who want to understand the lifecycle of needs and support necessary to improve health globally, including those who work for international aid organizations and nonprofits in the realms of healthcare, poverty, and nutrition
From women to children to indigenous peoples, the rights of marginalized groups the world over are violated daily. These injustices affect not just these groups, but also the stability of our world – and our collective future. Join this massive open online course to learn about the establishment of human rights and their linkages to many other global issues in sustainable development. Using legal frameworks as the lens, the course explores the barriers that prevent rights from becoming reality in different societies. This course is for:Graduate students and advanced undergraduate students studying human rights, law, sustainable development, international relations, and related fieldsHuman rights practitioners working on the ground who want to improve the efficacy of intervention programsLawyers and policymakers interested in the context of existing and past human rights legislation and the current issues at play in revising legislation or adopting new legislationPrivate-sector actors , such as those who work in corporate sustainability and responsibility, who are interested in labor rights, gender equality and moreSustainable development practitioners who want to understand human rights in the context of a range of issues, such as forced migration
Our present system of global capitalism is flawed. While it has produced immense wealth and economic growth in nearly all regions of the world, it has also prioritized profits over people and harmful consumption practices over the needs of our planet. Sustainable development must bring about a new world order to replace the vices of global capitalism, ensuring development, human wellbeing, and environmental security. This course presents Agenda 2030 and the Sustainable Development Goals as the necessary successor to laissez faire-style capitalism, and emphasizes the urgency of embracing sustainable development objectives to transform our economy into a more reactive, efficient, inclusive, and environmentally-conscious system. This 8-week massive open online course (MOOC) provides an in-depth look at the shortcomings of our current and past global economies, and shows why and how sustainable development has become the universally-prioritized agenda for the future of our world. The topics covered range from market economics to education, gender equality, international trade, financing, and more. This course is for: Policy professionals who want to understand frameworks for SDG planningDevelopment practitioners seeking information on goals-based developmentAdvanced undergraduates and graduate students interested in economics, development, and other key concepts related to the SDGs
Is the ocean the real final frontier? Humans have a greater understanding of the surface of the moon than they do of the depths of these waters. But what we know of the ocean proves it hosts a wealth of opportunity – connecting the world; supporting important and basic economic, cultural and environmental functions – despite being under significant threat. Stressed by unsustainable lifestyles and the increasing demands of a growing global population, how do we become good stewards of this massive natural resource? Inthis course,learn from the world's leading experts on ocean science. They will present the issues and potential solutions – grounded in rigorous scientific research – to fight for our endangered waters. This course is for: Those who loved Planet Earth and The Blue Planet.Sustainable development practitioners who need a science-based overview of preservation and conservation of the oceans and the ecosystems they supportPrivate-sector actors – such as those who work in corporate sustainability and responsibility, energy, fishing and other industries connected to the oceans – who are interested in understanding the sustainable interaction of their field with these resourcesGraduate students and advanced undergraduate students studying oceanography, environmental science, environmental law, sustainable development, sustainable business and related fieldsClimate change activists or practitioners interested in the current science and governance of ocean use and preservation
Water isthe source of all life. Without it, neither humans nor nature will survive. Yet lack of access to water is a rapidly growing problem and one of the world’s gravest risks. It is a global crisis. The water we have at our disposal is often too little, too much or too dirty.We must learn to manage it more wisely, fairly and sustainably to avoid a serious water crisis.The SDG Academy and the Stockholm International Water Institute have come together to offer this MOOC on some of the most important water issues. We focus on the key role water plays in the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, not least SDG 6, about sustainable water and sanitation for all. The course intends to explain the global water crisis through linkages between water, environment, and societal development, focusing on how to tackle issues such as growing water uncertainty and deteriorating water quality.It aims to build theoretical knowledge as well as provide exposure to concrete practices from around the world through a series of case studies related to good water governance. It deals with issues of water and sanitation services, the role of ecosystems, the impact ofclimate change,the role of water for food and energy production, as well as shared water resources as a source of conflicts and cooperation.Through the course you will gain a better understanding of how water influences lives and livelihoods. You will also learn how your own actions can contribute to a more water wise world.
In September 2015, 193 member states of the United Nations adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and committed themselves to the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The SDGs are interconnected, recognizing that poverty cannot be eradicated without improved health and education, sustainable economic growth cannot occur on a planet under threat of climate change, and so forth.Goal 1, “End poverty in all its forms everywhere,” calls on stakeholders at every level to drastically reduce the number of people living in poverty, provide services and assistance to those in need, and ensure the resilience of the poor and vulnerable in times of crisis. SDG 1 builds on earlier calls to cut poverty in lower-income countries by, first, calling for the elimination of extreme poverty worldwide by 2030, and for every country to cut all dimensions of nationally-defined poverty by half by the same date. Goal 1 further draws linkages between poverty and climate disasters, and sets targets for social protection, resource mobilization and policy development. Likewise, Goal 10, “Reduce inequality within and among countries,” calls on stakeholders at all levels to empower the economic, political, and social inclusion of all people; and for governments to work together to provide pathways of opportunity across the world.This course will present an overview of the definitions, scale, and scope of different forms of poverty and inequality across the world. It will examine links between poverty, inequality, and well-being; opportunities for socioeconomic mobility; the particular challenges facing women, minorities, Indigenous people, and vulnerable populations; and how poverty and inequality link to issues like climate change, migration, and conflict. Finally, the course will conclude with a look at policy approaches and tools for addressing poverty and inequality in a variety of contexts.Understanding Poverty and Inequality was created by the SDG Academy in partnership with the Center for Sustainable Development at the Brookings Institution.This course is for:Policy professionals who want to understand the scale and scope of poverty and inequality in order to design effective interventionsDevelopment practitioners seeking knowledge on poverty alleviationAdvanced undergraduates and graduate students interested in economics, development, and other key concepts related to the poverty and inequality