Stockholm University and Agenda 2030
To eradicate extreme poverty, reduce the inequalities and injustices in the world, promote peace and justice and solve the climate crisis by 2030 – these are the four global goals of the UN Agenda 2030, which were ratified by the world's Heads of State and Governments at the UN Summit on September 25, 2015.
Sustainable development is a fundamental issue for Stockholm University, which contributes through education, research and collaboration, among other things. For example, the University will work actively to achieve the goals of the UN Agenda 2030 – the most ambitious sustainable development agenda ever adopted by the world's countries. Agenda 2030 consists of a total of 17 goals and 169 sub-goals aimed at solving the four global goals.
Read more about the global goals on the UN website
Read more about Agenda 2030 on the Swedish government website
Sustainability on the agenda
The concept of sustainable development, with its three dimensions of ecological, economic, and social sustainability, is a term created in the context of the 1987 Brundtland Report (Our Common Future). The report was written by the World Commission on Environment and Development on behalf of the UN. It was chaired by Norway's then Prime Minister Gro Harlem Brundtland, which is why it is commonly called the Brundtland Commission.
Since then, three additional action programs in sustainable development have been developed – Agenda 21, the Millennium Goals and most recently Agenda 2030.
Agenda 2030 lists what needs to be done, but how is up to each implementer (country, municipality, company, organization) to come up with. In other words, in order to succeed, it is crucial that different actors collaborate and cooperate.
Sweden has the best conditions for achieving the global goals
According to an OECD report, Sweden is the country with the best conditions for achieving the global goals and the point of view by the Swedish Government is that Sweden should be a leader in the work to achieve the goals. The government also points out that in addition to national implementation by government offices, municipalities, county councils and government agencies, involvement from voluntary organizations, businesses, trade unions and the academy is necessary.
In March 2016, the government appointed a delegation whose mission it is to support the implementation of Agenda 2030, among other things by developing an overall action plan and highlighting good examples of the area.
Stockholm University and Agenda 2030
Sustainable development is a fundamental issue for Stockholm University. The University has a considerable breadth, and in both the natural sciences and the human sciences, there is research and education related to Agenda 2030, which in turn can help to achieve the global goals. Here, too, the University's tradition of interdisciplinarity as well as the collaboration that is conducted in the form of, for example, open lectures, participation in public researches and involvement in the public debate contribute.
The vital role that Stockholm University plays in sustainability work is also clearly expressed in the University's strategies for the years 2019-2022.
Stockholm University Strategies 2019-2022
Stockholm University Agenda 2030 projects and activities
Last updated: August 19, 2022
Source: Communications Office (MJ) & Office of the President