OUR Initiatives

The current global crisis is a stark reminder of how connected we are. In the sharpest possible relief, it also shows how far we are from resilient, inclusive, sustainable societies. And how we must work together across borders, sectors and generations to overcome challenges affecting all of humanity.

Together with our partners, the UN SDG Action Campaign is seizing four opportunities to scale up transformative changes leading to the Sustainable Development Goals.

Like the flutter of a butterfly wing effect, individual actions reverberate around the world.

Inspire action for OUR Goals

From fair wages to quality health care to social protection, the SDGs are the roadmap to recovery and resilience. The UN SDG Action Campaign brings the Goals to broad audiences, inspiring a groundswell of action for “our goals” as inherent to “our lives”. We involve everyone, across societies, so the drive to achieve the Goals becomes unstoppable.

The SDG Action Zone: Bringing the world to the UN and the UN to the world

The SDG Action Zone, held during the high-level week of the United Nations during the General Assembly week in September, rallies world leaders, SDG activists, mobilizers change makers to accelerate action and meet the 2030 vision.
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The Turning Point for People and Planet Campaign: Setting a new course for the coming decade

Through a butterfly effect, the campaign will renew hope and shape a constituency to mobilize for the duration of the SDG Decade of Action, showing world leaders that people everywhere stand behind the 2030 Agenda. To mark the fifth anniversary of the SDGs, the Action Campaign will collaborate with creative partners to fire up a million or more individuals who can help make this turning point for people and planet

Hack the Crisis: Calling all action takers and solution makers

Hackathons unleash the ideas and energy of action takers and solution makers. They spur fast creation, testing and prototyping, especially now in the face of a crisis demanding responses at an unprecedented speed and scale. From the 2020 Hack the Crisis movement, 12,000 people from over 100 countries have collaborated on 500 life-changing projects. They have drawn a global media spotlight to further spread the word and grow the SDG action community exponentially.
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Mobilize leaders to to go beyond business as usual

 

Until recently, the transformative changes required to achieve the 2030 Agenda were perceived as too costly and difficult. Yet the pandemic’s shattering consequences have fueled momentum to accelerate transformation. People are reimagining societies, economies and governance to realize not just short-term gains, but long-term commitments to human rights, sustainability and mutual benefit.


By mobilizing leaders from many quarters to pursue bold alternatives to business as usual, the UN SDG Action Campaign calls for social, economic and governance systems to move fast in mitigating inequalities, reducing human vulnerability and deprivation, and taking better care of our shared environment, among other fundamental concerns.

UN75: Joining the global conversation, a million members strong

As the United Nations unites to tackle the COVID-19 crisis, it has launched UN75 – its most ambitious effort ever to crowdsource solutions for the big “reset”. A one-minute survey gives a million+ people a chance to make their voices heard. Through SDG Dialogues, leaders in many fields dive deep into threats to our shared future, scope expectations for reinvigorated global cooperation and set a new course. Conclusions will be taken to world leaders at the commemoration of the UN’s 75th anniversary.
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Hope & Togetherness—Building a Sustainable World! Rallying around a fundamental: ending poverty

To mark the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, the UN SDG Action Campaign, UNDP and Heart17 will rally informed and active citizens in physical and virtual events exploring creative solutions to top SDG concerns. High-level UN leaders and famous artists will exchange ideas and encourage individuals to become part of a just recovery from COVID-19. The events will bring new people and commitment into the SDG action community.

Amplify individual actions into an engaged community

Individual action can unleash tremendous power, as the COVID-19 response has repeatedly shown. Around the world, people have inspired and comforted each other with simple, spontaneous acts of everyday heroism. The UN SDG Action Campaign amplifies individual actions by building a constituency of engaged and informed individuals, strategically using the “butterfly effect”. As people share their actions, and encourage others to act, they galvanize momentum behind transformative changes.

The TurnItAround Campaign: Setting a new course for the coming decade

Through a butterfly effect, the campaign will renew hope and shape a constituency to mobilize for the duration of the SDG Decade of Action, showing world leaders that people everywhere stand behind the 2030 Agenda. To mark the fifth anniversary of the SDGs, the Action Campaign will collaborate with creative partners to fire up a million or more individuals who can turn it around for people and the planet

Leveraging digital platforms: Fuelling SDG action, one person at a time

An enhanced digital SDG Action platform is a go-to hub for the SDG Action community and ongoing activism, collaboration and learning. Individuals and organizations turn to it to discover initiatives in their communities, create their own actions, find resources and track events across the world.

Art for the SDGs: Speaking through creativity and culture

Landscape art and street murals. Augmented reality and immersive stories. Famous artists and new creators. Art for the SDGs mobilizes people of all ages and backgrounds to express their creativity for a social good. The process brings members of the creative community into leading global solutions, creating the basis for a future SDG Art & Culture Compact that rallies creatives for SDG Action.

Foster a global solidarity movement and keep people involved 

A spontaneous solidarity movement is emerging, lifting hopes that more unites us than divides us, and that we can work together for a better world. Channeled well, the movement is a powerful force to advance global cooperation grounded in the values of multilateralism, universality and interconnectedness. Fostering this movement can shape new narratives around a globalized world that is also just and sustainable. The UN SDG Action Campaign draws on longstanding partnerships with creative and arts communities, using their speed and agility to create compelling campaigns that capture current aspirations for change.

UN SDG Action Awards: Mobilize, inspire and connect

The UN SDG Action Awards celebrate the most innovative, impactful SDG campaigners around the world. By recognizing and widely sharing outstanding achievements, the awards galvanize the growing network of SDG changemakers. Award winners show how individual people and organizations can drive transformation, and offer a beacon of hope and empowerment.
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The SDG Global Festival of Action: Re-imagining the centre of action

At a time when global community is most needed, the SDG Global Festival of Action continues to provide THE meeting place for SDG actors to connect and mobilize. Operating in a re-imagined form to engage new audiences, it is reaching further than ever before. Through collaboration with partners across the UN system and beyond, the new festival will plunge into the most forward-looking ideas and define those with greatest potential.
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