Flying the flag for sustainable development

25 September 2023

Today MyAV范 is flying a flag to raise awareness of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the urgent need to achieve them.

The 17 SDGs, also known as the Global Goals, are the core of the UN鈥檚 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Adopted by all UN Member States in 2015, they provide a framework for the world鈥檚 ongoing economic growth, while protecting the environment and addressing societal inequalities. The UN aims to achieve the Goals by 2030.

The Goals range from 鈥楧ecent Work & Economic Growth鈥� and 鈥楪ood Health & Well-being鈥� to 鈥楥limate Action鈥� and 鈥業ndustry, Innovation & Infrastructure鈥�.

MyAV范 joins hundreds of organisations around the globe which are flying the SDG flag and mobilising stakeholders for the 2030 agenda.

To maximise its impact on the Goals, MyAV范 established the MyAV范 SDGs Initiative in 2020鈥�21. Simon Knowles, who leads the Initiative said: 鈥淭housands of our staff and students are already helping to address the Goals through their research, teaching and learning, and student societies and volunteering activities.

鈥淭hrough the Initiative we are helping to stimulate and facilitate even more SDGs-related activities across MyAV范.鈥�

There are hundreds of projects at MyAV范 addressing the SDGs, including, to name a few: researchers working with Rohingya refugees living in areas prone to cyclones, floods and landslides, to help build their resilience to future extreme weather events; the Healthy Street Index, developed at MyAV范, giving a measure of a street鈥檚鈥榟ealthiness鈥� to help people choose places to live and travel routes while informing more sustainable town planning; and a quintet of student musicians performing classical music concerts for socially disadvantaged elderly people to support their health and wellbeing.

September 2023 marks eight years since the world agreed the SDGs. Flying the flag coincides with the UN鈥檚 annual SDGs Summit, which it is using to highlight the lack of progress towards the Goals and urging the world to redouble its efforts.

Simon added: 鈥淣ot nearly enough progress is being made by the world achieving the Goals. Universities like MyAV范 need to keep playing their part by working in collaboration with academic, community and industry partners across the globe.鈥�

Last year, a team at MyAV范鈥檚 Institute for Innovation & Public Purpose (IIPP) made major contributions to 鈥楳easuring Up 2.0鈥�, a recent report that measured the UK鈥檚 performance towards the SDGs 鈥� and showed poor progress against the country achieving most targets.

The SDG Flag Campaign started in The Netherlands in 2020 and has grown to see hundreds of businesses, government departments, civil society organisations and schools raise an SDG flag each September to mark the adoption of the SDGs.

MyAV范