What are the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs)?
The UN SDGs are an agenda agreed upon by all United Nations Member States to strive for to reach peace and equality for all people and the planet by 2030 and onwards. The 17 goals are a strong call to action and focus on health, education, energy, climate action and partnerships.
While ending energy poverty is our main focus at SolarBuddy, which targets Goal #7, we understand that doing so is heavily linked to many of the other UN SDGs. That’s why at SolarBuddy, we have developed our programs and our products to be aligned to five of these goals with the aim they will be reached by 2030.
Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages
How SolarBuddy is tackling this goal:
Our school and corporate programs that raise awareness of energy poverty in Australia are socially conscious, connected and collaborative activities for participants to complete, beneficial to their wellbeing and the wellbeing of others.
Just one gifted JuniorBuddy light positively impacts the health of a family of 5 – it offsets 166 CO2 kgs of toxic and pollutive carbon emissions, preventing deadly diseases and health problems caused by indoor air pollution like pneumonia, lung cancer, heart diseases, severe burns and tuberculosis.
Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all
How SolarBuddy is tackling this goal:
Our social STEM Education program has been developed for school children to learn about energy poverty and be inspired by their opportunity to help end it.
Receiving the gift of a SolarBuddy solar device allows children to study longer and improve their educational outcomes, positively improving their future income prospects.
Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all
How SolarBuddy is tackling this goal:
One JuniorBuddy light reduces kerosene expenditure by 80% and improves the financial situation, security and safety of families.
For some families living in energy poverty, expenditure on toxic and unsafe lighting fuels like kerosene can amount to on average €71 per year (Institute of Development Studies). Switching to solar lighting makes a huge difference for those living below the international poverty line of $2.15 USD per day.
Gifting a JuniorBuddy light allows children to study longer and improve their educational outcomes, positively improving their future income prospects.
Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts
How SolarBuddy is tackling this goal:
One JuniorBuddy light also brings environmental benefits – it has the equivalent of 21.3 seedlings grown for ten years, while increasing families’ familiarity with solar technology.
In just two weeks, one kilogram of black carbon has the same warming effect as 700 kilograms of CO2 circulating in the atmosphere for 100 years – and 51% of the world’s black carbon emissions emerge from pollutive indoor household energy like biomass and kerosene.
Providing communities experiencing energy poverty non-pollutive sources of light like a JuniorBuddy light can significantly reduce that world’s black carbon emissions.
Our products are designed and developed to be innovative, ethical and sustainable at every level of the supply chain.
SolarBuddy is certified carbon neutral by Climate Active and we are a member of “1% for the Planet”.
Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalise the global partnership for sustainable development
How SolarBuddy is tackling this goal:
Our corporate partners build and quality control our lights, and donate towards the production and distribution of our lights
Our school partners allow Australian students to build our lights and learn about energy poverty, inspiring the next generation to continue our mission.
Our distribution partners ensure our lights arrive safely in the homes of the children that need them.
Our field partners, other not-for-profits and NGOs work collectively with us to make the most impact for the most people possible. Even you, individually can get involved by donating towards the production of a SolarBuddy light, helping to lift a child and their family out of energy poverty and helping us strive for the UN SDGs!
“Energy is the golden thread that connects economic growth, increased social equity, and an environment that allows the world to thrive. Development is not possible without energy, and sustainable development is not possible without sustainable energy.”
Ban Ki-moon, former United Nations Secretary-General
Hear more about these from Billie Murphy, about Sustainable Development Goals.
Solve the 17 program
If you want to learn more about the United Nations Sustainable Development goals in an interactive team building way, then check out our exciting program.
Solve The 17, SolarBuddy’s Global Innovation Challenge, is a highly engaging virtual team building program with a purpose. The solutions-focused program is aligned to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The SDGs are a call to action with three overarching aims: to fight inequality and injustice, end extreme poverty, and to tackle climate change.
In teams, via an interactive platform, employees will collaborate to discover, define, develop, design and deliver a unique solution to a global issue we currently face in relation to one of the 17 SDGs. Solve The 17 has been curated by an exceptionally skilled team of educators, innovators and designers to provide employees with an interactive, educational program that creates real-world solutions to the most pressing global issues that we face. Is your team up for the challenge?