The world is off track to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), but bold action can be taken to correct the course. The SDGs are a universal call to action by all countries to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure all people enjoy peace and prosperity. The United Nations "Decade of Action" is a global initiative aimed at accelerating crucial sustainable solutions and concrete actions on the SDGs. The initiative was launched by the UN in 2020 and will run until the 2030 deadline, with the goal of mobilizing governments, civil society, the private sector, and individuals to take action and make progress towards the SDGS. The "Decade of Action" campaign is a widespread call to action for everyone to work together to create a better, more sustainable future for all. UN Secretary-General António Guterres called for all people to, “Step up. Seize the moment. And let us work together to meet the goals, move the world forward, and leave no one behind.”
The “Decade of Action” campaign aims to:
Mobilize everyone, everywhere - it will construct a network of stakeholders that are determined to address the SDGS ensuring no one is left behind. It will require all of us to take actions - individually and collectively, locally and globally.
Demand urgency and ambition - the campaign urges us to hold leaders to account and address what is necessary and possible to deliver results. The urgency of the issues commands us to work together to win the race against climate change, end extreme poverty, and combat gender inequality and injustice.
Superchange ideas to solutions - the action plan will spotlight solutions and encourage the implementation of ideas to action. It will mobilize sustainable innovations, financial investments, and making space for young people to participate and lead.
The “Decade of Action” campaign is essential because though progress is being made in many places such as decreased infant mortality, closing the digital divide, and women in the job sector, action to meet the Sustainable Development Goals is not yet progressing at the speed or scale required for the 2030 deadline. Large financial investment and cross-country collaboration will be necessary, so partnerships at all levels of society will be crucial. We must work together to reimagine and overhaul unsustainable ways of living and conducting business, food and energy production, justice systems, and work to empower the most at risk.
