# UN Development Goals Part of the Sustainability Merit Badge Digital Resource Guide: [Introduction & Overview](https://merit-badge.university/merit-badges/sustainability/guide/index.md) *7. Global Challenges* > **7.** Do TWO of the following and discuss with your counselor: **Choose TWO of requirements 7a through 7f.** This page covers option 7a. Read all six options before deciding which two interest you most. > **7a.** The United Nations lists 17 Sustainable Development Goals. These include Zero Hunger, Clean Water and Sanitation, Affordable and Clean Energy, Sustainable Cities and Community, Responsible Consumption and Production, Climate Action, Life Below Water, and Life on Land. Pick one of these eight and summarize the goal and its current and future impact on you, your family, community, and the world. ## What Are the Sustainable Development Goals? In 2015, all 193 member nations of the United Nations adopted the **2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development** — a shared blueprint for peace and prosperity for people and the planet. At its heart are **17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)**, each targeting a specific global challenge. The SDGs are ambitious targets to be achieved by 2030. They recognize that ending poverty, improving health and education, reducing inequality, and protecting the environment are all connected — you cannot solve one without addressing the others. ## The Eight Goals You Can Choose From The requirement focuses on eight of the 17 SDGs. Here is a brief overview of each: ### SDG 2 — Zero Hunger **Aim:** End hunger, achieve food security, improve nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture. - 828 million people worldwide are chronically hungry - Climate change threatens crop yields in the most vulnerable regions - Connects to food waste, sustainable farming, and equitable food distribution ### SDG 6 — Clean Water and Sanitation **Aim:** Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all. - 2 billion people lack safely managed drinking water - 3.6 billion people lack safely managed sanitation - Connects to water conservation, pollution prevention, and ecosystem health ### SDG 7 — Affordable and Clean Energy **Aim:** Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all. - 675 million people worldwide have no access to electricity - Fossil fuels remain the dominant energy source globally - Connects to renewable energy, energy efficiency, and carbon emissions ### SDG 11 — Sustainable Cities and Communities **Aim:** Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable. - More than half of the world's population lives in cities - Cities consume over 75% of global energy and produce 70% of carbon emissions - Connects to transportation, green buildings, and urban planning ### SDG 12 — Responsible Consumption and Production **Aim:** Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns. - The global material footprint is growing faster than population - One-third of food is wasted globally each year - Connects to reducing waste, recycling, and making sustainable choices ### SDG 13 — Climate Action **Aim:** Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts. - Global temperatures have risen about 1.1°C above pre-industrial levels - Extreme weather events are increasing in frequency and severity - Connects to greenhouse gas emissions, adaptation, and resilience ### SDG 14 — Life Below Water **Aim:** Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas, and marine resources. - Oceans absorb about 30% of CO2 produced by humans - Overfishing threatens 34% of global fish stocks - Connects to ocean pollution, marine biodiversity, and coastal communities ### SDG 15 — Life on Land **Aim:** Protect, restore, and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems. - Forests cover 31% of Earth's land area but are shrinking rapidly - 1 million plant and animal species are threatened with extinction - Connects to deforestation, soil degradation, and biodiversity loss > **Did You Know?** > > The 17 SDGs have 169 specific targets and over 230 indicators to measure progress. Every country reports on its progress annually, creating one of the largest collaborative efforts in human history. ## How to Approach This Requirement Pick the goal that interests you most and research it in depth. For your discussion with your counselor, be ready to cover: ### The Goal Itself - What specific problem does it address? - What are the measurable targets? - How much progress has been made so far? ### Impact on You and Your Family - How does this issue affect your daily life? - What actions does your family already take that support this goal? - What could you do differently? ### Impact on Your Community - Are there local organizations working on this issue? - How does your community contribute to the problem or the solution? - What local policies or programs address this goal? ### Impact on the World - Which countries or regions are most affected? - What are the biggest obstacles to achieving this goal by 2030? - What gives you hope about progress? > **Tip** > > The official UN SDG website has dedicated pages for each goal with current data, stories, and progress reports. Use these as your primary research source — the information is authoritative and frequently updated. ![A colorful display of the United Nations 17 Sustainable Development Goals icons arranged in a grid, with a Scout studying them at a library table](https://ik.imagekit.io/doulacoop/tr:w-800/mbu-assets/merit-badges/sustainability/guide/un-sdg-goals-display?v=44f39ee9) [United Nations Sustainable Development Goals](https://sdgs.un.org/goals): Official UN page with detailed information, data, targets, and progress reports for all 17 Sustainable Development Goals. Video: [UN Sustainable Development Goals - Overview](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M-iJM02m_Hg) --- - Previous: [Waste & Recycling](https://merit-badge.university/merit-badges/sustainability/guide/req6c/index.md) - Next: [Planetary Life-Support Systems](https://merit-badge.university/merit-badges/sustainability/guide/req7b/index.md)