Over the years, Scouting has made any extraordinary contribution to improve the sustainability of our planet, promote peace, and tackle inequality.
Already Scouts around the world have contributed more than one billion hours towards sustainable development through initiatives under the Better World Framework. Now imagine the impact of 50 million Scouts working as active citizens to leave this world a little better than we found it – that’s the power of Scouts for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)!
What are the Sustainable Development Goals?
In 2015 the United Nations launched the Global Goals for Sustainable Development (SDGs) – 17 goals driving for improved social, economic and environmental sustainability by 2030. Information about each goal is available here.
In late 2018, Scouting as a global Movement established Scouts for SDGs (#Scouts4SDGs), mobilising millions of Scouts to make the world’s largest coordinated youth contribution to the SDGs by 2030 (through two million local projects and an additional three billion hours of service).
How can I get involved?
We need to work together to achieve the SDGs, and there are different ways we can all take part. We have developed an online hub of SDG-related resources, educational tools and activities to support Scouts across New South Wales to engage with the SDGs and find creative ways to align this important work with their activities! Click on the tabs below to explore our resources.
SDGs for Children
- Research based projects for all ages to explore the surroundings to understand SDGs
- Projects on how the stop of COVID-19 is affecting Human Rights
- Short videos about SDGs
View this resource here.
Book about SDGs for Children (eBook)
This eBook uses various expressions and actions to help demonstrate the meaning of each goal. The character has no race or nationality.
View the book here.
SDGs in Australia
Explore projects from Australian organisations that are doing their part to help Australia meet the Sustainable Development Goals.
- Case studies
- News
- Updates
View this resource here.
SDGs in Action App
- Detailed information about each of the 17 goals (targets, explanatory videos, key facts and figures, and suggestions on how you can help achieve them take action)
- The latest sustainable development news from around the world.
- The ability to choose what goals are important to you and receive notifications about that goal.
- Find actions and events near you that you can join to support the goals.
- The ability to create Actions you’re planning in your area, and invite others to join.
SDG Targets
Ability to explore the targets visuallly related to each of the SDGs
View this resource here.
Act for SDGs
The Global Week to Act for SDGs (20-30 September 2020) is an annual call to action for individuals and organisations across the world to accelerate action for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs – also known as Global Goals).
- Submit projects, gain traction of social media and view and global map, mapping SDGs
View this resource here.
We The People (Video)
This video showcases various celebrities, outlining the common aim to achieve the SDGs
View the video here.
Global Goals
- Global awareness campaign
- Navigation of the SDGs
- Recent News
- Resources for businesses and schools
- Brand resources
View this resource here.
Good Goals Life Pack
- SDGs broken down into easily understood, small local actions
- Resources aimed at young people
- Short video outlining the goals
View this resource here. Courtesy of Good Life Goals.
Scouts4SDGs (Video)
A one minute video that gives quick examples of how Scouts are contributing the SDGs around the world, with over 1 billion hours of service towards the SDGs!
View the video here.
Scouts for Sustainability (Scouts Canada)
An infographic developed by Scouts Canada demonstrating how Scouts in Canada are rolling out the SDGs. This resource includes examples of challenges and solutions created for certain goals.
View this resource here.
Scouts4SDGs (Scouts Australia)
- Activity Cards for each SDG following a Plan > Do > Review format. Each activity card includes links to each SDG, and includes discussion type activities and physical activities.
- Information about different projects working towards specific goals.
View this resource here.
17 Goals for 17 Days (Scouts Scotland)
Developed by Scouts Scotland, this initiative will take you on a journey, learning more about the SDGs as well as challenging you to live a sustainable lifestyle for 17 days! Each day will tackle a different area of the SDGs.
Learn more about this initiative here.
View Scouts Scotland SDG resources here.
Messengers of Peace
Messengers of Peace (MoP) is a program developed to recognise the work of Scouting members across the world for their service towards creating a better world. MoP offers a Messengers of Peace Support to provide financial aid for the completion of SDG projects under the scheme.
Learn more about this here.
Go Goals Board Game
A snakes and ladders game with the SDG goals scattered around the board.
View this resource here.
Frieda and the SDGs (eBook)
A picture e-book which teaches children about the SDGs and what they can do to make a difference.
View the eBook here.
All Aboard for Global Goals
Thomas and Friends have collaborated with the UN to teach children and parents about 6 of these Global Goals. On this site, you will find video Life Lessons from our favourite blue engine, Thomas, as well as Parent Tips with activities to help talk to young children about why achieving these Goals is important for everyone in the world.
View this resource here.
170 Daily Actions for Kids (PDF)
A PDF document on 170 daily actions anyone can do to contribute to the SDGs in their own way.
View this resource here.
World's Largest Lesson
A website filled with lesson plans to educate anyone about the SDGs
View this resource here.
Action Kit for Schools
This Action kit provides information about The Global Goals, SDGs for Schools, resources and activities. It can be adapted for Scouts.
View this resource here.
Getting Started on the Goals
Your shortcut to practical tools, interesting reads and inventive ideas. This website is providing links to resources developed by other organisations.
View this resource here.
2019 SDGs Report
A report released by the United Nations, providing a global overview on progress towards the SDGs. Features an infographical overview and written reports on each of the goals.
View the report here.
Australia's SDGs Progress
An article on how Australia is making an impact on the SDGs including different themes such as Changing Economy, Changing Society and Changing Environment.
View the article here.
SDG Tracker
An interactive tracker including background information about each SDG. This tracker outlines the targets for each goal and the indicators used to assess progress towards targets. It includes links to other websites, data sources and research.
The website can be used to obtain facts and statistics about world progress towards the SDGs. Best suited for older Sections of Scouting, however Leaders of younger Sections can use this as a resource to present salient facts for their youth members.
View this resource here.
Climate Action Tracker
Relevant to SDG 13 Climate Action
This website provides information on a wide range of facets relevant to global effort towards climate change such as:
- Research Publications
- Projections and historical data of temperature and CO2 levels.
- How on track individual countries are for their climate targets (including ranking countries).
- Aviation and Shipping Industries progress to Carbon Neutral operations
This website is most suitable for use by older Sections as it requires experience interpreting technical language and graphical depictions of data. Leaders can, however, summarise this data for younger sections and provide it to them.
View this resource here.
Changing the World in 17 Steps
This resource explains how the SDGs morphed out of the MDG (Millenium Development Goals). It links each SDG with its associated MDG. For some, it provides comparison of progress on relevant MDG at 1990 and ~2010 towards the target.
View this resource here.
Logo
The Sustainable Development Goals logo consists of 17 different colours representing each SDG.
Download the logo and other communications materials here.
Icons
Media content and graphical assets for communicating the Goals.
View these resources here.
Guidelines for Logo Use
This booklet is a branding guide for the use of the SDG logo.
View this resource here.
Who is working on the Goals?
UN Youth: A national youth-led organisation that aims to educate and empower young Australians on global issues. All of the work that UN Youth does is rooted in the belief that young people can and do make a difference in their communities. UN Youth fosters ideas and innovation, and gives young people the inspiration and support they need to create change.
The Scout of the Year Award: The Scout of the Year Award is an award to recognise a person or project that has contributed exceptionally to Scouting and the wider community. The Scout of the Year Award will be presented to those applicants that have made a considerable impact on one or more of the SDGs. Successful applicants will become SDG Advocates for Scouts NSW and assist in spreading the message.
The Scouts NSW State Youth Council: The State Youth Council (SYC) is a multi-sectional council comprised of members aged 13-25 from every Region in NSW and with varying degrees of knowledge about the Scouting sections.
UN NSW: The NSW division of the United Nations who work to connect the NSW community, governmet and stakeholders with the UN.
Other Australian organisations: A range of Australian organisations are also actively working towards the SDGs and have shared their case studies and learnings.
Log Your Own Project!
Log your own project so others can find out about who is doing what, and who is partnering with who, to tackle the global goals through local action!
Logging your project might help inspire others to start a project in their local area - or you could you these projects to inspire your own project! Click here to log your SDGs project.
If you would like to get involved with Scouts4SDGs, contact [email protected].
