The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), or the global goals, were implemented by the United Nations in 2015. They are global sustainable development priorities and targets for 2030, which can be also stated as an agenda for people, the planet, prosperity, peace, and partnership. SDGs are an expansive worldwide charter among businesses, civil society, and nations to eradicate poverty and to improve the quality of life with self-esteem and opportunity for all, which certify the transition of the world to sustainable development. 

There are 17 Sustainable Development Goals that are interconnected. Therefore, success in one-goal affects the success of others. These 17 goals have 169 targets that conjoin and balance economic growth, social inclusion, and environmental protection.

As the Rotaract Club of University of Sri Jayewardenepura, we have an akin goal of making this world a better, beautiful, peaceful, and safer place for all generations. The mission statement of the Rotary club is stated as; “We provide service to others, promote integrity, and advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace throughout our fellowship of business, professional, and community leaders.

Therefore, we, as a globally recognized youth movement, are dedicated to build harmony by preventing conflicts, to prevent diseases, to focus on water, sanitation & the environment, to improve the quality of child and maternal health, basic education & literacy, and to support the economy & community development.

As Rotaractors, we want to create a positive impact on society. Therefore, we are always trying to align our project goals with Sustainable Development Goals to achieve the ultimate goal of serving the planet and people. And we always tried to cover up an SDG target with all our past projects while there are many more projects to be carried out under all these SDGs. The 17 Sustainable Development Goals are listed below;

1. No Poverty – Poverty is a state or condition in which a person or community lacks the financial resources and essentials for a minimum standard of living. Today, estimates for global poverty are 8.6% of the world and people who live in extreme poverty live on 1.90$ or less per day.
2. Zero Hunger – Undernourishment affects nearly 800 million people worldwide. Each day 25,000 people, including more than 10,000 children, die from hunger and related causes.
3. Good Health and Well-being – Health is a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being with the ability to lead a socially and economically productive life. 
4. Quality Education – Quality education focuses on the social, emotional, mental, physical, and cognitive development of a child irrespective of his/her race, gender, or socioeconomic status.
5. Gender Equality – This refers to the equal opportunities, responsibilities, and rights of women and men i.e. it is the equal participation of both men and women in all spheres of life irrespective of gender.
6. Clean Water and Sanitation – Sanitation refers to public health conditions related to clean drinking water and adequate treatment & disposal of human excreta and sewage. Today 1 in 3 people or 2.2 billion people around the world lack safe drinking water while over half of the global population or 4.2 billion people lack safe sanitation.
7. Affordable and Clean Energy – Clean energy is defined as energy derived from renewable, zero-emission sources. The most common clean energy resources are hydropower solar, wind, and biomass.
8. Decent Work and Economic Growth – Decent work means opportunities for everyone to get work that is productive and delivers a fair income, job security, social protection, etc.
9. Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure – Infrastructure provides the basic physical systems vital to the operation of the society while industrialization drives economic growth. Innovation advances technological competencies and develops new skills.
10. Reduced Inequalities – This is about ensuring equal opportunity by eliminating discriminatory laws & policies while promoting appropriate legislation & actions.
11. Sustainable Cities and Communities – Creating career and business opportunities, safe & affordable housing, and building resilient societies & economies are the steps of making a sustainable city.
12. Responsible Consumption and Production – This is about doing more and better with less and promoting resource and energy efficiency, sustainable infrastructure, and providing access to a better quality of life.
13. Climate Action – Climate action means stepped-up efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-induced impacts.
14. Life Below Water – Healthy marine and coastal ecosystems are necessary to our survival as they cover 70% of our planet, and we rely on them for food, energy, biofuels, medicines, etc.
15. Life On Land –Forests are home to more than 80% of all land-based species and our significant ecosystems allow us all to eat, breathe, and live.
16. Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions – Peace is the lack of conflicts & violence while justice is the quality of being just; equitableness, or moral rightness. Strong institutions provide rule of law, support economic growth, and reduce poverty.
17.  Partnerships for the Goals Partnership is a formal arrangement by two or more parties. An effective sustainable development program requires a partnership between governments, the private sector, and civil society. (source: www. un.org)

By Rtr. Oshani Samarrakkody