“Climate change is destroying our path to sustainability. Ours is a world of looming challenges and increasingly limited resources. Sustainable development offers the best chance to adjust our course.”
Ban Ki-moon
In September 2015 I was fortunate enough to watch live streaming for the first time in my life the full Summit at the United Nations showing leaders of almost 200 countries signing an important commitment towards creating a better world for all through Global Goals, which have been created after long discussions with Scientists, Governments and Civic Associations.
These are the 17 Sustainable Development Goals that each country has promised to mobilize everything they can, to achieve them by 2030.
The Sustainable Development Goals are the blueprint to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all. They address the global challenges we face, including those related to poverty, inequality, climate, environmental degradation, prosperity, and peace and justice. The Goals interconnect and in order to leave no one behind, it ís important that we achieve each Goal and target by 2030. You can read more at www.un.org/SustainableDevelopmentGoals
I felt so excited and happy that finally, something like this was happening, as it is a subject that it has always been close to my heart and am so passionate about.
I also thought they were very ambitious at the time and had my perplexities with regards to the officials in each country, but upon closer understanding, I realized that this time we were all involved, not only each governmental corporation but the public and the youth, each global citizens, us, was going to have the opportunity to learn how to make a difference in our everyday life.
“Sustainable development is the pathway to the future we want for all. It offers a framework to generate economic growth, achieve social justice, exercise environmental stewardship and strengthen governance.” Ban Ki-moon
Each one of us in our field can help to make these goals achievable even if it is only by talking about them and let everyone know of their existence.
What I noticed after 2015 that little was being said about them, both in the news and on social media and my hopes were coming down. But many things were going on in the back if one looked at the news in the United Nations site.
I began again with my Art journey in September 2016 and truly I had forgotten about them completely until in 2017 while having dinner with my parents an amazing advert showed up on the Italian TV, asking “2030 What are you doing?”, it was from a famous Italian Coffee brand called Lavazza who was presenting their 2018 Calendar with 17 photographic portraits of the 17 Ambassadors of the Global Goals.
What was I doing?
In my life for the last 20+ years I have been organizing the way I live in the most sustainable way possible, adapting to each circumstance that I have encountered, but what was I doing to help spread the message of these important goals as an Artist? Really nothing.
So I decided to write this post and produce Art that addresses these issues, donating all that I can to each Association that I feel are really working towards making a better world.
You can check this sticker at Red Bubble.
Already there are countries like Denmark, Sweden, Norway and Switzerland that are getting nearer to achieving all of them, and show everyone else in the World, that yes it is possible. Together we can make it! You can watch this video on how we are progressing. Worldwide Progress on Global Goals
“Alone we can do so little, together we can do so much”. Helen Keller
The best phrase that remained with me from that beautiful conference was “NOONE SHALL BE LEFT BEHIND”. I really hoped that all countries would stand-by what they all signed.
“Our world demands of all government leaders a will which is effective, practical, constant, with concrete steps and immediate measures for preserving and improving the natural environment and thus putting an end as quickly as possible to the phenomenon of social and economic exclusion, with its baneful consequences.” Pope Francis
Now after 4 years I am really pleased that a lot is being done, many people around the world are doing so much which really gives me hope for the future.
Laws are being implemented to force industries and businesses to comply with regulations that promote sustainability. We must remember that businesses everywhere survive on trends, and we are the ones that decide those trends.
Without us, the buyers, no industry would exist, so the Power is to the People, we are the ones that can choose what kind of markets do we want to see thriving. If we all decide on sustainable living, all industries will have to comply with it if they want to stay in the market. It is really that simple.
Danish Minister for Finance Kristian Jensen said: “The world needs dreamers and it needs doers, the business people of the world are doers…having the dreamers and doers working together will do the job.”
How you can help?
I am so pleased that in the UN site they have given so many useful guidelines about little small acts that you can do today divided into levels, but really we can all be creative and ask the universe to shows us what we can do with our own gifts to help in our local community or online (you can read more The Lazy Person’s Guide to Saving the World).
Some included in Level 1:
- Save electricity by unplugging all appliances when not in use and switching off lights.
- Stop paper bank statement
- Share Social Media posts about Climate change or Women’s right
- Speak up! Ask your local and national authorities to engage in initiatives that don’t harm people or the planet
- Report online bullies.
- Stay informed. Follow your local news and stay in touch with the Global Goals online or on social media at @GlobalGoalsUN.
- Tell them about your actions to achieve the global goals by using the hashtag #globalgoals on social networks.
- Save water by showering less frequently and closing the tap when brushing teeth.
I hope you will help me spread the message of their existence, and comment if you already know and would like to add any suggestions. I think that the more people will talk about them the more achievable they become. Just like everything else. And this is for the benefit of all. It is our Planet and our lives. Thank you so much for reading!
SunFreeStar 