By Cindy et Benoit
Table of contents
Man "consumes", each year, 5 times the resources that the planet can produce without being exhausted...
This is why it is important to act NOW and all together!
Each year, the European Sustainable Development Week (ESSD) takes place from September 18 to 28 , bringing together stakeholders from all backgrounds to promote sustainable development in Europe. This event, at the initiative of the European Commission, aims to raise awareness among the wider world and mobilize all economic, social and environmental stakeholders around the issues linked to sustainable development.
During this week, events highlighting sustainable development are organized by associations, schools, communities, students, etc.
Did you know that this event was initiated in France in 2003? It only became European from 2015!
Goal of this week:
The SEDD aims to raise awareness of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the 2030 Agenda and thus encourage the realization of concrete actions by citizens, administrations and businesses.
These goals constitute a global call to action to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all.
Each year, the SEDD addresses diverse and varied themes, such as:
- Fight against climate change : Raising awareness of the impacts of climate change and promoting initiatives aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
- Circular economy : Encouragement to adopt recycling and reuse practices to minimize waste.
- Biodiversity : Protection of ecosystems and promotion of biodiversity as a lever for sustainable development.
- Social inclusion : Promotion of equal opportunities and fight against inequalities.
What are the 17 sustainable development goals?
Here is the list of the 17 goals of the 2030 agenda:
- No poverty : ending extreme poverty and hunger.
- “ZERO” hunger : eliminate hunger, ensure food security, improve nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture.
- Good health and well-being : enable everyone to live in good health and promote the well-being of all at all ages.
- Quality education : ensuring equal access to quality education and promoting lifelong learning opportunities.
- Gender Equality : Achieving gender equality and empowering all women and girls.
- Clean water and sanitation : guarantee access to water and sanitation for all and ensure sustainable management of water resources.
- Clean and affordable energy : guarantee access for all to reliable, sustainable and modern energy services at an affordable cost.
- Decent work and economic growth : promote sustained, shared and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all.
- Industry, innovation and infrastructure : building resilient infrastructure, promoting sustainable industrialization that benefits everyone and encouraging innovation.
- Reduced inequalities : reduce inequalities within and across countries.
- Sustainable cities and communities : ensuring that cities and human settlements are inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable.
- Responsible consumption and production : establishing sustainable consumption and production patterns.
- Actions to combat climate change : Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts.
- Aquatic life : conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development.
- Land life : preserve and restore terrestrial ecosystems, ensuring they are exploited sustainably, sustainably manage forests, fight against desertification, halt and reverse the process of land degradation and put an end to the loss of biodiversity.
- Peace, justice and effective institutions : promote the advent of peaceful and inclusive societies for the purposes of sustainable development, ensure access to justice for all and establish effective, accountable and open institutions at all levels to everyone.
- Partnerships for achieving the goals
Here we provide you with the link to these objectives in the form of a diagram , produced by the Ministry of Ecological and Inclusive Transition.
How can you contribute to this day?
In 2023, the SEDD has identified more than 5,000 projects at European level and 400 in France. And you too can propose a project this year. To participate:
- Design and organize your project
- Register it in the space dedicated to the SEDD
- Communicate about your event using the communication kit offered by the Agenda 2030 website, section “ Mobilize for sustainable development/resources” .
- Take advantage of the reputation of the SEDD to encourage participants to come in large numbers to discover and adopt new, more sustainable living practices!
Conclusion :
This European Sustainable Development Week is much more than just an event: it is a call to action to build a future where sustainability is at the heart of individual and collective choices.
By participating, each of us has the power to contribute to positive change. By joining forces, we can work together for a fairer and more environmentally friendly world.
