Activating the SDGs

We believe in the power of collaboration, innovation, and integration to advance the 2030 Agenda. Check out our activities below to see the progress we've made and where you can get involved.

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Closing 2023 & What’s Next
22/12/2023
Closing 2023 & What’s Next
As 2023 comes to a close, the SDG Lab team would like to take a brief moment to thank you for your support, engagement, and interest in our work over the past 12 months. It has been an extremely rewarding and insightful period for the Lab team as we embarked on developing, testing, refining, and rolling out a new vision, mission, and strategy.
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Reflecting on "Emotions: A Missing Link Towards Long-Term Sustainability?"
6/12/2023
Reflecting on "Emotions: A Missing Link Towards Long-Term Sustainability?"
Emotions are inherent to being human. They influence all aspects of our daily lives—from the choices we make to the decisions we take. Yet, factoring in emotions as a crucial component of sustainable development has been lacking. And while the links between emotions and sustainability are clear, there has been limited effort to infuse the two areas in support of accelerating the shift to long-term sustainable actions. Against this background, the 29 November What’s Next event "Emotions: A Missing Link Towards Long-Term Sustainability?" was designed with three overarching questions in mind: 1) How can we better understand what motivates action; 2) Which emotions are most likely to trigger pro-sustainability behaviours, and 3) How can this knowledge be applied to strategies and practical policymaking.
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Sustainable Cities and Communities
Climate Action
Partnerships For the Goals
Responsible Consumption & Production
Wellbeing Beyond GDP: Embracing a Beyond Growth Approach for Sustainable Futures
13/11/2023
Wellbeing Beyond GDP: Embracing a Beyond Growth Approach for Sustainable Futures
We need a transformation in how we define and measure economic value, and how we design economic systems to respect environmental boundaries of our planet and promote human well-being and prosperity within those limits. It is against this background that the SDG Lab is focusing on new lenses to sustainability, such as systems change and regenerative development. Complementing the What’s Next high-level event on “Rethinking economic systems for long-term sustainable development” of 31 October 2023, this article discusses the imperative to embrace a beyond growth approach for sustainable futures.
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Reduced Inequalities
Responsible Consumption & Production
Partnerships For the Goals
So What's Next Series: Emotions - A Missing Link Towards Long-Term Sustainability?
31/10/2023
So What's Next Series: Emotions - A Missing Link Towards Long-Term Sustainability?
We are at the midpoint to 2030 and progress on the SDGs is nowhere where it should be. There are valid questions to be asked as to why the international community is not delivering on the promise of the 2030 Agenda and the Paris Agreement. Arguably, the lack of progress has led to frustration, complacency and ultimately inaction. So, what’s the missing link? Is it agency? Do people feel empowered to act? Are we omitting human emotions and psychology from the equation? Join us for a panel discussion on 29 November, 16h-17h30 followed by an Apéro, at the Palais des Nations, Geneva.
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Geneva SDG Community
Health and Well-Being
Climate Action
Partnerships For the Goals
Commentary: Safeguarding Rights of Future Generations for Long-term Sustainability
19/10/2023
Commentary: Safeguarding Rights of Future Generations for Long-term Sustainability
In this article, we discuss the links between safeguarding the rights of future generations and ensuring long-term sustainability. Today’s actions shape our future. That is why it is crucial to integrate the rights of future generations into today’s decision making, to avoid short-termism and instead strengthen long-term sustainability and intergenerational equity. How would your grandchildren perceive the choices you make today? Is there a way to thoughtfully consider the voices of the future today?
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Reduced Inequalities
Peace. Justice and Strong Institutions
Partnerships For the Goals
So What's Next Series: Rethinking Economic Systems for Long-term Sustainable Development
17/10/2023
So What's Next Series: Rethinking Economic Systems for Long-term Sustainable Development
Without a radical transformation of our economic systems, we will not be able to honour the commitments and promise of the Sustainable Development Goals for a sustainable future that is equitable and leaves no one behind. On 31 October 2023, as part of the SDG Lab’s What’s Next Series, the SDG Lab organized an event on ‘Rethinking Economic Systems to Achieve Long-term Sustainability.’ It brought together influential speakers from the UN and various civil society organizations (CSOs) to address the urgent need for a paradigm shift in our economic systems.
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Geneva SDG Community
Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
Partnerships For the Goals
Decent Work and Economic Growth
SDG Lab Dispatch: Special Post-SDG Summit Edition
16/10/2023
SDG Lab Dispatch: Special Post-SDG Summit Edition
In this special post-SDG Summit edition of the SDG Lab Dispatch, we delve into the insightful events and discussions that transpired during and after the 2023 SDG Summit. We envision a response from the viewpoint of the SDG Summit itself, reflect on our SDG Mobilization Day workshop on how to best manifest intergenerational sustainability values, and preview what's on the horizon. Read on!
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Partnerships For the Goals
Intergenerational dialogue discusses priorities and next steps for SDG action
16/10/2023
Intergenerational dialogue discusses priorities and next steps for SDG action
As we approach the midpoint of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, addressing inequalities and challenges, while leaving no one behind, remains paramount for achieving a sustainable future. Localized approaches, transparent metrics, thinking beyond GDP, and collaborative efforts between governments, the private sector, and development organizations are key factors to accelerate efforts by 2030. Some of these findings, such as the beyond GDP or intergenerational equity are currently being discussed by the SDG Lab, through the “So What's Next” series, which aims to unpack new perspectives on the SDGs and long-term sustainability.
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Partnerships For the Goals
“Dear SDG Summit participants…” a letter from the SDG Summit
16/10/2023
“Dear SDG Summit participants…” a letter from the SDG Summit
Now that the SDG Summit is one month behind us, we wanted to come up with a novel way to share our insights on the gathering. A general report back in narrative form is the standard go-to, but what about a different, perhaps more provocative format—hearing from the SDG Summit as if it were a person?
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Partnerships For the Goals
SDG Summit 2023: SDG Lab workshop focuses on manifesting new sustainability values
4/10/2023
SDG Summit 2023: SDG Lab workshop focuses on manifesting new sustainability values
SDG Lab at SDG Summit 2023: "Manifesting New Sustainability Values: From aspirational envisioning to practical policymaking"
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Partnerships For the Goals
Commentary: UN 2.0: Strengthening Capacities of the UN – Today and Tomorrow
21/9/2023
Commentary: UN 2.0: Strengthening Capacities of the UN – Today and Tomorrow
The SDG Lab discusses UN Secretary-General’s Policy Brief on UN 2.0, outlining his vision for strengthening the organization’s capacities for a modern, agile, and future-forward UN system. This vision is built around two core elements: a forward-thinking culture; and cutting-edge skills in data, digital transformation, innovation, strategic foresight, and behavioral science.
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Peace. Justice and Strong Institutions
Partnerships For the Goals
Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
SDG Lab Dispatch: Special SDG Summit Edition
14/9/2023
SDG Lab Dispatch: Special SDG Summit Edition
As the adage goes, “It’s that time of the year…”, and for individuals and organizations working in the sustainable development and multilateral spaces, September means the UN High-Level Week, commonly known as UNGA. This year’s high-level week is exceptional for its focus on the Sustainable Development Goals, with two key kick-starter events: SDG Action Weekend (16-17) followed by a two-day SDG Summit (18-19).
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Partnerships For the Goals