#Act4SDGs mobilizes millions for the SDGs and the Decade of Action ahead
By: Un Sdg Action Campaign
Tags: Sdgs, Sustainable Development, Act4sdgs, Global Goals

3. Building and Creating Practical Items Inspired by the SDGs

Riley Kerehoma, a 13-year-old from Gisborne, New Zealand, designed and launched a series of handmade bowties which align to each of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals. Riley sold the unique bowties during the Global Week to #ACT4SDGs and donated the proceeds to local charities.

In Brazil the Associação Encosta de Sol constructed a sky crossing to assist wild animals in crossing a road in Itatiba. The sky crossing was created out of recycled materials.

In Central Cameroon, the United Nations mobilised volunteers to participate in eco-jogging, tree planting and an activity which used recycled plastic waste and tires to create furniture.

4. Sports for the SDGs

All Together in Dignity (ATD) Ireland established the first European #Cycle4SDGs, cycling from Dublin’s Human Rights and Poverty Stone to the one in Paris. Throughout the journey, cyclists met with city mayors and presented the 2030 Agenda and engaging in discussions with the general public about the role sustainable transportation in the realisation of the 2030 Agenda.

Along with participating in the Global Climate Strike, Germany’s Welthungerhilfe took action by hosting the #ZeroHungerRun. The event, which occurred in Bonn, brought thousands of runners together to take action and work towards ending hunger around the world.

5. Civil Society Standing Together in (Performative) Marches

Civil society organizations around the world joined the #StandTogetherNow mobilization to stand in solidarity with the growing global youth climate movements and others calling on world leaders to accelerate action on equality, civic space and environmental and climate justice.

In Kathmandu, the NGO Federation of Nepal hosted community educational workshops targeting Goal 13 (Climate Action) in 77 of Nepal’s districts.

Kahirapan Wakasan (GCAP Philippines) youth marched around the Quezon Memorial Circle, calling for government action to reduce inequalities, increase civic space, and achieve climate justice. The event, called ‘Run for Equality, Run for Life’, had students demanding that their governments address climate change or their generation will perish. Students and volunteers from KOICA staged a die-in as a result of climate-induced disasters.

6. Reaching Broad Audiences through Radio Broadcasts

In Nigeria, Follow the Money’s chapters across the country took action by reaching out to the public through radio programmes concerning the SDGs and government accountability.

The Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation hosted a week-long radio series on the SDGs to inform the public about the goals in the country.

7. Transitioning to a Circular Economy

An innovative group in Brisbane, Australia launched the World’s Biggest Garage Sale to promote and commercialise the circular economy, hosting a massive community garage sale in their Circular Economy Pop-Up Shop. Donated items were recycled, repurposed and resold, with proceeds being invested back into Brisbane’s local community and community and their charity partner Good360.

In France, the Lablaco Circular Fashion Summit held on September 28th during Paris Fashion Week, provided concrete, easy to achieve actions to industry leaders, challenging them to take measurable actions to address environmental sustainability within a 1-year time frame.

The Italian Alliance for Sustainable Development’s (AsVis) Saturday’s for Future campaign launched during the Global Week to Act4SDGs to tackle responsible consumption across Italy on the biggest shopping day of the week.

In a Warsaw, Poland press conference on measuring impacts of business actions for the SDGs, CSR Consulting presented the Polish Plastics Act and the Sustainable Packing Centre, aimed at accelerating Poland’s progress towards SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production).

8. Young People Getting More and More Engaged for the SDGs

Every year youth groups take a leading role in the global mobilization to Act4SDGs, inspiring their peers, their parents, their school and their communities to get involved and step up for people and the environment.

MYWorld Mexico alone initiated over 600 actions including teaching, art workshops and clean ups, and engaging over 20,000 participants in a series of actions through out the week.

In Sierra Leone, the Western Rural District School Green Clubs mobilised schools and youth groups to raise awareness about the local effects of climate change and deforestation. Participants engaged in a peaceful protest commencing at Waterloo Rural District Council.

The 3% Project, which aims to empower and mobilise 1 million youth for the SDGs , or 3% of Canada’s total population, visited secondary schools in northern Alberta encouraging students to find solutions for local climate change issues.

In India, the Rotaract Club of Presidency College visited the Farooqia Girls High School in Mysuru to address local taboos concerning menstruation and empower students to create an open dialogue about menstrual hygiene.

The Zimbabwe National Youth SDG Summit and Roundtable mobilised over 1,500 youth in promoting awareness and facilitating meaningful participation to move our planet closer to achieving the SDGs, focusing on Goal 4 (Quality Education), Goal 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) and Goal 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions).

Pacific Island youth united at the UN Climate Youth Summit to share their experiences of how climate change has resulted in the loss of two pacific islands. By drawing attention to the severity of the climate crisis, Fijian youth strive to engage our planet’s inhabitants to #Act4SDGs.

In Peru and throughout the Latin American region the Millennials Movement hosted a series SDG youth conferences during the Global Week to #Act4SDGs.

9. Municipalities Stepping Up Action

The Association of Flemish Cities and Municipalities (VVSG) organised the ‘Week of the Sustainable Municipality’. More than 90 Flemish municipalities proudly displayed the SDG-flag at their city Halls and put their ‘sustainable heroes’ in the spotlight. The heroes are citizens, schools, companies and organisations who have contributed to the Sustainable Development Goals in their own daily lives and work. They become the local faces of the 17 Global Goals.

Right across France 1,600 libraries introduced exhibits to explain the SDGs as part of a nationwide campaign on September 25th by the French chapter of the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions.

Although the 2019 Global Week to #Act4SDGs has come to an end, the global mobilisation for the 2030 Agenda continues to grow. With only 10 years remaining until 2030, your participation is needed more than ever for the Decade of Action to come.

As the #Act4SDGs movement continues to grow, join and support local mobilizations or add your own individual and collective action to the map 👉https://act4sdgs.org/ and tell the world how together, we are making a difference.