In this episode of The PGN Podcast, host Meshi Taka sits down with Dr. Olli Jones, the Associate Director of Sustainability and Innovation at Cundall. Their conversation explores both the challenges and opportunities that come with exploring and implementing Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with an emphasis on the importance of community action and long term planning in order to achieve those goals.
Key Topics Covered:
What are Sustainable Development Goals?: A breakdown of SDGs and their significance in addressing climate change.
Progress: The frustration surrounding the lack of progress and action towards achieving SDG’s, despite declarations and commitments.
Climate Emergency: What is a climate emergency and why do we need bold, immediate actions to address its impacts?
Government: A discussion surrounding the need for stronger climate leadership within the government and why both accountability and long-term planning is integral to driving progress.
Community: The need to leverage community action and engagement in order to hold decision makers accountable and drive change.
Opportunities for Change: An exploration of current and future opportunities for economic development, to achieve a more climate resilient future.
Guest Speaker:
Dr. Olli Jones - Associate Director of Sustainability and Innovation at Cundall, leading a team of over 180 people to deliver sustainable consulting on engineering projects.
Useful Information and Links:
Cundall
Learn more about SDGs
Learn about the UN Report
The UN report on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is an annual assessment that provides an overview of progress made toward achieving the 17 goals established by the United Nations in 2015. These goals aim to address global challenges such as poverty, inequality, climate change, environmental degradation, peace, and justice by 2030.
The report typically includes:
Progress Updates: Information on how countries and regions are performing in relation to the SDGs, highlighting successes and areas needing improvement.
Data and Statistics: Key indicators and data that illustrate the current state of global development and the effectiveness of policies aimed at achieving the SDGs.
Challenges and Gaps: Identification of obstacles that hinder progress, including issues like financing, governance, and the impacts of crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic.
Recommendations: Suggestions for actions that governments, organizations, and individuals can take to accelerate progress toward the SDGs.
Case Studies: Examples of best practices and innovative solutions from various countries and communities that have successfully advanced the SDGs.
https://unstats.un.org/sdgs/report/2024/The-Sustainable-Development-Goals-Report-2024.pdf
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