The 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and their associated 169 targets were agreed by all countries at the United Nations in September 2015 and constitute a shared global framework of development priorities to 2030. They aim to bring an end to extreme poverty, promote prosperity and well-being for all, protect the environment and address climate change, and encourage good governance and peace and security.
Universities will have a vital role to play in addressing these critical global challenges and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. Universities have a responsibility through their teaching to equip the next generation of leaders, innovators and thinkers to understand global challenges and the role they play in rising to meet these challenges. Through their research and training of research leaders, universities are at the forefront of finding sustainable social, economic, environmental and technical solutions.
In September 2019, Charles Sturt University became a signatory to the Sustainable Development Solutions Network (Australia, NZ and Pacific).
The SDSN works to support the tertiary education sector's contribution to the goals and is aiming to provide case studies of how the Australasian sector is leading the world in progress toward the goals.
Since 2019, Charles Sturt University has submitted our research, policies, procedures and other work towards the SDGs in the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings.
To build understanding across the university of how we are contributing to the goals each month we will profile one of the goals and highlight key achievements and how we can build upon this work and better link research and teaching to the goals. We recognise there isn't an 'end point' to this work and the THE impact rankings can serve as a review of where we need to build upon.
Charles Sturt University SDG Reports:
‘The United Nations definition of sustainability is the reconciliation of environmental, social and economic demands - the “three pillars” of sustainability – for the immediate and future wellbeing of individuals and communities.’
The SDGs and their targets are all interconnected and impact each other. They recognise that we need to work together globally to achieve the goals and one goal can not be achieved in isolation from another. Poor countries can not work towards reducing inequalities without foreign support and investment. Wealthy countries can not meet climate targets without supporting other countries to achieve their sustainability targets. On a personal scale, inequalities in our communities impact the prosperity of regions which has been shown to influence the ability to participate in activities that work towards achieving other goals. Universities are key to supporting the progress toward these goals due to the complex and far reaching nature of research, students studying and undertaking research and the staff we employ.
The research undertaken by Charles Sturt University’s Senior Research Fellows and Research Fellows aligns with many of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
The Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) seeks to invest in projects that will help the university deliver the outcomes outlined in the University Strategy and which are aligned with the Charles Sturt Research Narrative.
The Research Fellows pages has more information about current Fellows, programs and their links to the SDGs.
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