Have you heard about the Sustainable Development Goals? Let us fill you in…

It’s fair to say we have a lot of problems here on earth, many of them are harming our people, communities, animals, plants and planet.
What’s worse is many - if not most - of our problems are man-made. 
They are a result of our increasing consumption of products, of land clearing, mining, conflict, and unsustainable development.

But first thing’s first - what does sustainable mean?
Here sustainable refers to practices (like farming, manufacturing, mining, fishing, education, employment) that can continue without causing harm to people or the planet. 

We don’t have an endless supply of resources in the world. So it’s really important we find ways to use those resources responsibly so we can live healthy lives with equal access to basic necessities like safety, health, education, food, water and employment.

The Sustainable Development Goals & why we use them

In 2015 the Heads of State and Government and High Representatives (in other words the Prime Ministers, Presidents, Royal leaders and representatives) of the United Nations met to discuss and plan a series of goals and targets to develop and protect our planet and its people. 

They set 17 Sustainable Development Goals for 2030, goals that more and more people, organisations, businesses and governments are working towards today. 

While they might not cover everything, they’re a great place to start for united action. 

That’s why Think Enough is adopting the SDGs as a way to help classify the impact of our for-purpose businesses. 
We ask each business “in which area(s) are you actively creating a positive impact?” they can then choose their top 1 to 3 areas of impact.

Why just 3, you ask?

Great question. We cap the selection at 3 because while businesses may indirectly contribute to a lot of SDGs, we want to make sure they give you an idea of what their priorities are, in what they care about. This helps us to make sure when you filter by an SDG you care about you’ll get businesses who directly contribute to and prioritise that area.

So if you’re feeling like you don’t know where to start, why not start here… 

• Goal 1. NO POVERTY
  End poverty in all its forms everywhere
  
  

• Goal 2. ZERO HUNGER
  End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture
  
  

• Goal 3. GOOD HEALTH AND WELL-BEING 
  Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages
  
  

• Goal 4. QUALITY EDUCATION
  Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all
  
  

• Goal 5. GENDER EQUALITY
  Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls
  
  

• Goal 6. CLEAN WATER AND SANITATION
  Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all
  
  

• Goal 7. AFFORDABLE AND CLEAN ENERGY
  Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all
  
  

• Goal 8. DECENT WORK AND ECONOMIC GROWTH
  Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all
  
  

• Goal 9. INDUSTRY, INNOVATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE
  Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation
  
  

• Goal 10. REDUCED INEQUALITIES
  Reduce inequality within and among countries
  
  

• Goal 11. SUSTAINABLE CITIES AND COMMUNITIES
  Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable
  
  

• Goal 12. RESPONSIBLE CONSUMPTION AND PRODUCTION
  Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns
  
  

• Goal 13. CLIMATE ACTION
  Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts
  
  

• Goal 14. LIFE BELOW WATER
  Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development
  
  

• Goal 15. LIFE ON LAND
  Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss
  
  

• Goal 16. PEACE, JUSTICE AND STRONG INSTITUTIONS
  Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels
  
  

  Goal 17. PARTNERSHIP FOR THE GOALS
  Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development
  
  
  You can learn more about each specific goal here.

Think Enough is an active member of Catalyst2030, a movement of individuals and organisations who have joined forces to speed up the achievement of the SDGs. 

2030 is pretty close, the goals to meet are already set out for us, the only way to achieve them is if we work towards them together.