Using Pulitzer Center Reporting to Examine the SDGs

Warm-up: Students discuss their understanding of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

About the Resource: In September 2015, leaders of all 193 United Nations (UN) member states adopted Agenda 2030, an urgent call to all countries to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure that by 2030 all people enjoy peace and prosperity. This universal agenda contains the Global Goals for Sustainable Development. The Global Goals, also known as Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), lay out three dimensions of sustainability: environmental, social, and economic challenges. These goals necessitate cooperation among governments, international organizations, the private sector, civil society, and the general public.

The 17 SDGs contain 169 targets (goals) and 230 indicators (metrics by which goals are measured). They address many challenges that our global society is facing, including environmental degradation, poverty, gender inequality, access to clean water, and more. If the SDGs are met, the world's environment would improve significantly, poverty would end, and all people would enjoy peace and prosperity. 

Education is recognized as both a key enabler and a driver of capacity building towards meeting the SDGs. Learning about the SDGs can help students gain a better understanding of the critical issues we are facing and the actions we could take to secure a better future. The role of youth is critical in achieving all SDGs. With this resource, students will explore Pulitzer Center-supported reporting that connects to all 17 SDGs and examine different approaches communities around the world have taken to tackle the challenges outlined in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Click here for the United Nations list of SDGs.

Reflection and Discussion:  Students analyze and imagine the impact and efficacy of SDGs through class discussion.

Extension Activities:

1. Explore and Present a Solution
2. Evaluate SDG Progress
3. Researching the History of SDGs
4. Letter-writing
5. Art for Change

Objectives:

Students will be able to…

• Describe the purpose of the Sustainable Development Goals in solving global challenges 
• Explore Pulitzer Center-supported multimedia reporting that connects to all 17 SDGs
• Examine how communities around the world are tackling issues outlined in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development
• Make local connections to global news stories and the SDGs
• Use research, writing, and art skills to engage with the reporting in extension activities

Warm-up:

• The United Nations is an international organization. What role does the United Nations play in connecting and working with countries across the globe?
• What have you heard about Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and their intended purpose? Introduce the term sustainable development to students. Ask students: Have you heard about sustainable development? What predictions do you have about what sustainable development means?
• Share the definition of sustainable development with students. Ask students to:
  1. Write a brief summary of sustainable development (2 to 3 sentences)
  2. Identify the four dimensions of sustainable development
  3. Describe the difference between “sustainability” and “sustainable development.”
• What countries have committed to achieving the SDGs?
• Why are these goals important?

About the Resource:

In September 2015, leaders of all 193 United Nations (UN) member states adopted Agenda 2030. Agenda 2030 is an urgent call to all countries to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure that by 2030 all people enjoy peace and prosperity. This universal agenda contains the Global Goals for Sustainable Development. The Global Goals also known as Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) incorporate the three dimensions of sustainability: environmental, social, and economic challenges. These goals necessitate cooperation among governments, international organizations, the private sector, civil society, and the general public.

The 17 SDGs contain 169 targets and 230 indicators. They address the many challenges that our global society is facing, including environmental degradation, poverty, gender inequality, access to clean water, and more. If the SDGs are met, the world's environment would improve significantly, poverty would end, and all people would enjoy peace and prosperity. With this resource, students will explore Pulitzer Center-supported reporting that connects to all 17 SDGs and examine different approaches communities around the world have taken to tackle the challenges outlined in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Click here for the United Nations list of SDGs.

Pulitzer Center Reporting Corresponding to SDGs

Discussion Questions:

These questions can be explored as part of whole-class discussions or small-group discussions.

• What new information did you learn? Did anything surprise you?
• How has the reporting you explored challenged, expanded, or reinforced your ideas of sustainable development?
• Did you read a story that captures a community or government experimenting with solutions to a problem or challenge? Do you think their solution could benefit other communities? Why or why not?
• How do you think the country you live in is doing in terms of its progress on the SDGs?

• Which SDGs do you think are most urgent or relevant to your community?
• How has COVID-19 affected global efforts to achieve the SDGs?
• The SDGs are meant to be achieved by 2030. Do you think this is possible? Why or why not?

• Do you know of any organizations in your community that are working towards meeting any of the SDGs?
• Do you think any goals are missing?

Extension Activities:

1. Explore and Present a Solution: Choose a story in which a community or government has developed or is experimenting with a solution. Create a short presentation on the reporting and solution you explored. Be prepared to share with your class. Address the following questions in your presentation:

• What is the issue that is being tackled?
• What is the solution or approach to the issue? 
• Is there anything innovative or unique about the approach/solution? 
• Do you think any other communities, countries, or regions might benefit from adopting this approach/solution as well? Why or why not?

2. Evaluate SDG Progress: Our World in Data created a free SDG Tracker where people can track and explore global and country-level progress towards each of the SDGs. This resource is kept up-to-date and presents the latest data across all SDGs. The tracker uses official statistics from the UN and other international organizations. Use the tracker to research global progress on ONE sustainable development goal. Choose one of the following options to explore in a short essay (1-2 pages):

1. Evaluate the progress of a particular country (any country of your choice)
2. Evaluate the progress of a particular region (the Andean region in South America, Western Africa, Central Asia, etc.)
3. Evaluate the progress of the country you reside in

After choosing one of the above prompts, address the following in your paper:

• How many targets and indicators has the UN defined for that particular SDG? Targets specify the goals and indicators represent the metrics by which the world aims to track whether these targets are achieved.
• Identify and explain one target and one indicator in your paper. 
• How does the data look on the indicator you identified? Has there been any progress?
  

3. Researching the History of SDGs: Research when and how the SDGs were created. Present your research in a presentation or short paper (1-2 pages). Address the following questions in your paper or presentation:

• What year were the SDGs adopted?
• How are the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) related to the SDGs?
• What process did the UN undertake to create the SDGs? Who was involved in the consultation process?
• How many goals did the initial proposed list include?

Here is a resource to help you get started: United Nations. The 17 goals | sustainable development.

4. Letter-writing: Make your voice heard and influence representatives. Write a letter to a representative of your choice expressing your concern about the government’s progress on a particular SDG. Here are a few points that might be useful to include in your letter:

• A brief overview of the SDG
• Data on SDG progress
• How this SDG connects to you and your local community
• Actions, policies, or measures that might accelerate SDG progress

Some ideas for who you could address in your letter include…

• Local level: City Council member, mayor
• State level: State Senator, governor
• National level: Congressional representative, U.S. Senator

Click here to explore examples of persuasive letters written by other students.

5. Art for Change: Imagine a future where all SDGs are reached. Depict that world through art (painting, illustration, photography) or writing (short story, essay, poetry, or stage play). Consider sharing your work on social media or display it at school to inspire action.