Organizations and institutions (school, college, university & government) & general global citizens (students, teachers, women and businessmen) can contribute towards sustainable development in their own context. You do not need to be a rocket scientist, just be a responsible good citizen for that.
1. Educate yourself & Educate People Around You
At first, citizens have to read and understand the issues of sustainable development, global warming, and climate change etc. knowing theories is not just enough but the practical approach should be followed. In this case, teachers and researchers can play a big role in implementing sustainable development goals. Besides teaching and making SDGs easier for the students, teachers can find out more innovative and easier ways to reach these goals. We don’t know some peculiar facts on environment and SDGs. For example, the meat industry (consumption) causes global warming! We need to open our heart and eyes to learn new from the world.
2. Team Work
Supportive and strong teams are crucial since time is limited and we have to act quickly. Members of a team can support each other. Engineers, doctors, geographers, journalists and scientists can contribute in their own contexts.
3. Simple Living & High Thinking
We must understand that over-consumption and wastages are harmful to our body and our world. People are at one corner starving and some are at other part throwing away excess food. If you have more than enough resources for you, donate and give items to the poor.
4. Innovation
SDGs cannot be achieved through work as usual and waiting for either the economy or the government to change the world. Innovative ideas need to be translated into products and we should invest more in sustainable technology. The excessive use of natural resources must be minimized to preserve it from getting extinct. Ethical or environment-friendly products need to be produced more and focused to motivate people to buy.
5. Good Governance
Good Governance is essential for implementing new and sustainable ways. The Government, private sectors and citizens must cooperate with each other otherwise initiatives for good projects will see the failure. Governing bodies for sustainable development should be corruption free.
6. Curricular and educational institutions
If you go through the SDGs, you can recognize that these specific goals cannot possibly be attained without the positive influence of educational institutions. Knowledge and information of a wide spectrum of economic, social, and environmental challenges and solution are developed and rendered by teachers and researchers. Universities around the world receive public and private research funds and donation to, directly and indirectly, solve world issues and crisis. Educational institutions develop human resources that can translate learnt lessons into real-world applications.
The student must be taught on the importance of SDGs and how to implement those goals. They need to be considerate, be moderate and be sensitive to the environment, society and culture. So the system and structure should be changed. The illiterate people should be provided formal or informal education for better knowledge on sustainable development.
7. Volunteer & Leadership & Institutional culture
Club activities, networking, campaigns and projects are crucial for students to be active and a good member of society. Universities can bridge between the students and the global stakeholders (collaborations between stakeholders: the UN, govt, NGOs, leaders, local communities).
8. Reward system
A reward system can be undertaken by the UN and governments. Person who contributes to SDGs will get monetary or in-kind awards. People love rewards and it is a great motivation.
9. Awareness-raising programs
Awareness-raising programs should be conducted from the school level to the university level for the importance of sustainable development. All sectors from government to non-government must integrate SDGs in their programs and projects properly. A combination of daily and small acts makes a real and big difference. Sustainable practices of living are not only good for the planet but also for a happier, healthier life.
10. Donation
One of the easiest of supporting the SDGs is to donate money and other resources to organizations that are dedicating it to fulfil specific Sustainable Development Goals. You can support a charity in various ways.
11. Volunteer Your Time & Skills In Your Free Time
You can spend time and money without hurting your study or career. Contributing to an organization which deals with the SDGs can make a real impact in local or national projects.
12. Don’t waste
We should not buy things which are unnecessary. Conserve water, gas, electricity as they are scarce and valuable. Moreover, pollution creates a problem for the health of human being and animals.
13. Public bus & Ridesharing
Using public transport and utilizing the ridesharing system (like Uber) & carpool help reduce carbon emission and traffic jam.
14. Implementing green infrastructures
For the purpose of supporting a better quality of life and sustainable living, walkways, bikeways, parks and community gardens, greenways, energy-efficient homes and buildings etc. should be built.
15. Forestation
Besides filtering and oxygen generation, trees can be planted for foods (fruits, vegetables) for direct consumption and we can reverse a big part of damage we are creating on our ecosystem. Garden can a good hobby and it can reduce your chance to be depressed. You can use compost from your food scraps (kitchen).
16. Reduce – Reuse – Repair - Recycle – Recover – Dispose Approach
17. Invest in renewable energy and Avoid plastic
Controlling human greed is very tough but it must be controlled.
Question: How else can I help? The answer is very easy!