17 Sustainable Developement Goals (SDG)

The 2030 Agenda, consisting of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), represents a global roadmap aimed at promoting sustainable peace, prosperity and the protection of our planet. Since its launch in 2016, all countries have worked together to integrate this ambitious vision into their national development plans to fight poverty and reduce inequalities. Particular attention has been paid to the needs and priorities of the most vulnerable populations and countries, as meeting the 17 goals by 2030 is only possible if no one is left behind.

The first goal of the 2030 Agenda is to end poverty in all its forms everywhere. Despite progress, nearly 10% of the global population was still living on less than $1.90 per day by the end of 2015, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa (42%). Poverty encompasses not only a lack of income but also hunger, malnutrition, limited access to education and basic services, as well as social discrimination and exclusion. Achieving this goal requires inclusive economic growth, the creation of sustainable jobs, and the implementation of social protection systems. These measures strengthen community resilience and help eradicate extreme poverty.

// The 4Gamechangers Festival brings together innovators, entrepreneurs, and decision-makers to promote sustainable business ideas and projects that drive economic growth and create jobs. It provides a platform for developing and spreading innovative solutions to combat poverty.

The second goal of the 2030 Agenda is to end hunger, ensure food security, and promote sustainable agriculture. To achieve this, we need to rethink our farming methods, food trade, and consumption patterns. Currently, climate change and resource overuse are degrading soils, water, and biodiversity, leading to malnutrition and food insecurity. To feed the 815 million hungry people and the projected two billion undernourished individuals by 2050, investment in agriculture and a shift towards sustainable food systems are essential.

// The 4Gamechangers Festival supports initiatives and technologies for sustainable agriculture. It connects experts, technology developers, and decision-makers to develop innovative solutions for improved farming methods, sustainable fishing, and forestry.

The third goal aims to promote healthy lives and well-being for all ages. Despite progress in life expectancy and reductions in child and maternal mortality, further efforts are needed to achieve fewer than 70 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births by 2030. To reduce premature deaths from non-communicable diseases by one-third by 2030, more efficient technologies for clean cooking and education on tobacco risks are essential. Improved health financing, sanitation, access to healthcare, and reduced air pollution can save millions of lives.

// The 4Gamechangers Festival supports this goal by advancing innovations and technologies that enhance health and well-being. It provides a platform for discussing solutions to reduce air pollution, promote clean cooking methods, and address health risks such as tobacco use. Through its reach, the festival supports initiatives to strengthen health infrastructure.

Goal 4 of the 2030 Agenda calls for inclusive, equitable, and quality education for all, along with the promotion of lifelong learning. Education is crucial for sustainable development, yet over 265 million children worldwide are out of school. Many students who do attend school still lack basic literacy and numeracy skills. Despite progress, universal education remains elusive, especially at higher education levels. Factors include insufficiently trained teachers, poor infrastructure, and unequal opportunities in rural areas. Investments in scholarships, teacher training, school construction, and improved facilities are urgently needed.

// The 4Gamechangers Festival supports this goal by highlighting education and lifelong learning on the 4Future Day. It offers a platform for pioneering concepts and discussions on global educational opportunities. By connecting experts, businesses, and educational initiatives, the festival contributes to improving education quality and expanding access for disadvantaged groups. By emphasizing the importance of education for sustainable development, the festival promotes concrete solutions for inclusive and high-quality education for all.

Goal 5 of the 2030 Agenda aims to achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls. Despite progress, discrimination and violence against women remain widespread. One in five women or girls aged 15 to 49 experiences physical or sexual violence from a partner each year, and 49 countries lack laws against domestic violence. While there have been successes in combating child marriage and female genital mutilation, these practices still persist. Access for women to education, healthcare, employment, and political participation is crucial for sustainable growth. New legal frameworks are needed to end gender-based discrimination.

// The 4Gamechangers Festival places gender equality and women's rights at the forefront. It fosters discussions on innovative ideas that empower women and brings together advocates for equality. By promoting education, economic participation, and combating discrimination, the festival provides significant momentum for social change and sustainable gender justice.

Goal 6 of the 2030 Agenda aims to ensure access to clean water and sanitation for all. Despite sufficient freshwater resources, millions of people die each year from water-related diseases. Water scarcity and poor water quality threaten the livelihoods of billions, with one in four people expected to live in a water-scarce region by 2050. Investment in water resource management and sanitation infrastructure, especially in Africa and Asia, is crucial.

// The 4Gamechangers Festival supports Goal 6 by spotlighting solutions for access to clean water and sanitation. It fosters discussions on sustainable water management strategies and innovative technologies to improve water quality. By bringing together experts, businesses, and NGOs, the festival advances initiatives that enhance water supply in developing countries and contribute to global water security.

Goal 7 of the 2030 Agenda seeks to ensure universal access to affordable and sustainable energy. Energy is crucial for employment, security, climate protection, and economic development. Despite advances in renewable energy, billions of people still lack access to clean energy and are exposed to harmful air pollution. Addressing this challenge requires increased efforts, including greater investments and innovative business models to transform energy systems.

// The 4Gamechangers Festival supports Goal 7 by focusing on pioneering concepts and technologies for sustainable energy. It brings together experts and businesses working on solutions for access to clean and affordable energy. By discussing and showcasing innovative business models and investment strategies, the festival contributes to the global transformation of energy systems.

Goal 8 of the 2030 Agenda aims for sustained, inclusive, and sustainable economic growth, as well as productive employment and decent work for all. Despite global progress, about half of the world's population still lives on less than two dollars a day, and the unemployment rate stands at 5.7 percent. To eradicate poverty, it is essential to create high-quality jobs that consider both economic and environmental factors. Additionally, improving access to financial services and enhancing commitments in trade, banking, and agriculture are necessary to boost productivity and employment.

// The 4Gamechangers Festival contributes by spotlighting innovative approaches to sustainable economic growth and decent work. It provides a platform for ideas and projects that create high-quality jobs while protecting the environment. By sharing best practices and promoting new business models, the festival supports improved access to financial services and contributes to increasing productivity and employment.

Goal 9 of the 2030 Agenda aims to build resilient infrastructure, promote sustainable industrialization, and foster innovation. Investments in transport, energy, IT, and irrigation are crucial for sustainable development. While manufacturing drives economic growth and employment, value creation in the poorest countries lags far behind Europe and North America. Technological progress is vital for improving resource efficiency and environmental protection. Increased investments in high-tech and mobile communication services are needed to advance communication and innovation.

// The 4Gamechangers Festival supports the achievement of SDG 9 by focusing on resilient infrastructure and sustainable industrialization. It brings together experts and innovators to develop solutions for technological advancements and more efficient resource use. By promoting high-tech investments and modern communication, the festival aids in creating a more sustainable and forward-looking industry.

Goal 10 of the 2030 Agenda focuses on reducing inequalities. Despite progress in poverty reduction, disparities in access to health and education persist. While income inequality has decreased, further political measures are needed to support disadvantaged groups. This includes better export conditions for developing countries and increased representation in international organizations. Technological innovations can also lower remittance costs for migrant workers.

// The 4Gamechangers Festival contributes by addressing inequality as a core focus. It fosters dialogue on inclusive economic growth and improving access to education and healthcare for marginalized groups. By showcasing innovative solutions that reduce remittance costs for migrant workers or establish fairer export conditions, the festival helps to mitigate inequalities both within and between countries.

Goal 11 aims to make cities more inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable. With the urban population expected to reach 5 billion by 2030, innovative urban planning and effective management are crucial to addressing the challenges of urbanization. To maintain livable cities, issues such as traffic congestion, air pollution, and inadequate basic services need to be tackled. Efficient resource use, improved waste management, and targeted poverty reduction play a key role in this effort.

// The 4Gamechangers Festival actively supports Goal 11 by focusing on forward-thinking urban development. It brings together experts and decision-makers to develop creative solutions for sustainable city planning and resource management. The festival demonstrates how innovative approaches to improving basic services, energy efficiency, and transportation systems can make cities safer and more livable for all residents.

Goal 12 focuses on sustainable consumption and production to enhance resource and energy efficiency while securing access to essential services and green jobs. These efforts contribute to poverty reduction, cost savings, and improved competitiveness. Given the rising material consumption and ongoing environmental pollution, it is crucial to make the entire supply chain sustainable, educate consumers, and establish responsible procurement practices.

// The 4Gamechangers Festival highlights sustainable consumption and responsible production. It provides a platform for discussing new ideas that reduce resource use and increase energy efficiency. Additionally, the festival promotes sustainable procurement practices and raises consumer awareness about environmentally friendly choices. By showcasing innovative solutions, it supports the transformation of supply chains towards greater sustainability and improves long-term quality of life.

Goal 13 calls for urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts. Climate change affects every country, profoundly impacting economies and daily life. Extreme weather events and rising sea levels especially threaten the most vulnerable. Despite the Paris Agreement, further collective efforts are needed to reduce emissions and implement adaptation strategies.

// The 4Gamechangers Festival is actively committed to addressing climate change. By bringing together experts, innovators, and policymakers, it facilitates discussions on concrete measures to reduce emissions and adapt to climate changes. The festival also showcases projects that advance climate protection and sustainable development, and encourages global collaboration to tackle this pressing challenge.

Goal 14 focuses on conserving and sustainably using the oceans, seas, and marine resources. Oceans are vital to the Earth as they regulate the climate, provide food, and produce oxygen. Despite their importance, they are threatened by pollution, which impacts ecosystems and biodiversity. Effective management of marine protected areas and actions against overfishing and marine pollution are essential for ocean protection.

// At the 4Gamechangers Festival, the protection of oceans and seas is highlighted to support SDG 14. The festival provides a platform to raise awareness about the threats facing marine ecosystems and to showcase sustainable solutions. Experts and activists discuss measures to reduce marine pollution and overfishing, and how to manage marine protected areas more effectively. By doing so, the festival contributes to preserving biodiversity and protecting our crucial oceans.

Goal 15 focuses on protecting, restoring, and sustainably managing land ecosystems, including forests, combating desertification, and preserving biodiversity. Forests are crucial for providing food, regulating the climate, and maintaining biodiversity. However, millions of hectares of forest are lost each year, and drylands are turning into deserts. These issues threaten lives and efforts to alleviate poverty. Global initiatives, such as international agreements and investments, aim to protect forests and prevent desertification.

// The 4Gamechangers Festival plays a vital role by emphasizing the protection and sustainable management of land ecosystems. It provides a platform for discussions on innovative approaches to forest management, combating desertification, and preserving biodiversity. By showcasing projects and initiatives aimed at ecosystem protection and restoration, the festival supports global efforts to sustainably manage natural resources and minimize environmental impacts.

Goal 16 aims to promote peaceful and inclusive societies through improved access to justice and strong institutions. Addressing issues such as homicide, child violence, human trafficking, and sexual violence requires global efforts. Despite reductions in homicide and human trafficking rates, regions like Latin America and Sub-Saharan Africa continue to face these challenges. Protecting children's rights and combating sexual violence necessitate transparent regulations, comprehensive public budgets, and strengthened birth registration and national human rights institutions.

// The 4Gamechangers Festival supports this goal by focusing on the importance of peaceful and equitable societies. It provides a platform for discussing strategies to strengthen justice systems and institutions, as well as to combat violence and human trafficking. By exploring innovative approaches to improving law enforcement and promoting human rights, the festival contributes to fostering more transparent and inclusive societies.

Goal 17 aims to strengthen the global partnership for sustainable development and mobilize effective implementation means. Successful sustainable development requires cooperation between governments, the private sector, and civil society at all levels. It is crucial to leverage private resources for long-term investments in areas such as sustainable energy and infrastructure. The public sector must establish clear guidelines and frameworks to promote these investments and support sustainable development. Strengthening national oversight mechanisms is also essential for the successful implementation of development goals.

// The 4Gamechangers Festival makes a significant contribution to SDG 17 by fostering global partnerships and collaborations. It brings together governments, businesses, and civil society to develop shared goals and innovative solutions. A prime example of such partnership power is the unique collaboration between us, the private broadcaster group ProSiebenSat.1 PULS 4, and the public service broadcaster ORF, showcased at the festival through "The Power of Cooperation." By facilitating the exchange of best practices and creating networks, the festival supports the development of effective frameworks for sustainable development and global partnerships.

Get involved with the SDGs yourself! Find inspiration at https://sdgactioncampaign.org/
To learn more about the 17 Sustainable Development Goals, visit https://unric.org/en/sdg-1/