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Sustainability at the National Academies

This page highlights activities related to sustainability throughout the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, with relevance to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) adopted at the United Nations in 2015. The SDGs include 17 goals, targets, and indicators covering a broad array of sustainable development issues, ranging from eradicating poverty and making cities more sustainable to addressing climate change.

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About the Science & Technology for Sustainability Program

This page is brought to you by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine's Science and Technology for Sustainability (STS) Program. The objective of this program is to harness the power of science, engineering and medicine to meet sustainability challenges from local to global scales. To achieve this, the STS program works to elevate the impact and visibility of the National Academies' efforts and actions.

1: No Poverty

1 NO POVERTY

Economic growth must be inclusive to provide sustainable jobs and promote equality

2: Zero Hunger

2 ZERO HUNGER

The food and agriculture sector offers key solutions for development, and is central for hunger and poverty eradication

3: Good Health and Well-Being

3 GOOD HEALTH AND WELL-BEING

Ensuring healthy lives and promoting the well-being for all at all ages is essential to sustainable development

 4 - Quality Education

4 QUALITY EDUCATION

Obtaining a quality education is the foundation to improving people’s lives and sustainable development

5 - Gender Equality

5 GENDER EQUALITY

Gender equality is not only a fundamental human right, but a necessary foundation for a peaceful, prosperous and sustainable world

6 - Clean Water and Sanitation

6 CLEAN WATER AND SANITATION

Clean, accessible water for all is an essential part of the world we want to live in

7 - Affordable and Clean Energy

7 AFFORDABLE AND CLEAN ENERGY

Energy is central to nearly every major challenge and opportunity

8 - Decent Work and Economic Growth

8 DECENT WORK AND ECONOMIC GROWTH

Sustainable economic growth will require societies to create the conditions that allow people to have quality jobs

9 - Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

9 INDUSTRY, INNOVATION, AND INFRASTRUCTURE

Investments in infrastructure are crucial to achieving sustainable development

10 - Reduced Inequalities

10 REDUCED INEQUALITIES

To reduce inequalities, policies should be universal in principle, paying attention to the needs of disadvantaged and marginalized populations.

11 - Sustainable Cities and Communities

11 SUSTAINABLE CITIES AND COMMUNITIES

There needs to be a future in which cities provide opportunities for all, with access to basic services, energy, housing, transportation and more.

12 - Responsible Consumption

12 RESPONSIBLE CONSUMPTION AND PRODUCTION

Ensuring sustainable consumption and production patterns

13 - Climate Action

13 CLIMATE ACTION

Climate change is a global challenge that affects everyone, everywhere

14 - Life Below Water

14 LIFE BELOW WATER

Careful management of this essential global resource is a key feature of a sustainable future

15 - Life on Land

15 LIFE ON LAND

Sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, halt and reverse land degradation, halt biodiversity loss

16 - Strong Institutions

16 PEACE, JUSTICE AND STRONG INSTITUTIONS

Access to justice for all, and building effective, accountable institutions at all levels

17 - Partnerships for the Goals

17 PARTNERSHIPS FOR THE GOALS

Revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development.