The United Nations (UN), describes the Sustainable Development Goals as “the blueprint to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all.” The 17 interconnected goals address many global challenges, including those related to poverty, inequality, climate change, environmental degradation, peace and justice. The UN has called for all goals to be achieved by 2030.
As the field of international education grows increasingly committed to incorporating sustainable practices and principles, it is closely examining its impact on local environments and communities. The UN Sustainable Development goals are among many strategies that have guided the implementation of GEO’s own institutional priorities to create a more sustainable future. For example, we have identified more than 20 study abroad programs – searchable on our program pages as GEO Sustainable – that intersect with at least nine of these goals:
Inspired by the UN’s leadership to confront the global challenges that exist in our time, and in step with campus-wide strategic initiatives focused on sustainability, GEO aims to develop and adopt practices that make a real and lasting difference. Learn more about GEO’s full commitment to sustainability by contacting us at geoinfo@uoregon.edu.