What are the Sustainable Development Goals?

In 2015, under the guidance of the United Nations, the world adopted a set of goals to target many of world’s most pressing issues. Referred to as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), these 17 goals and their targets seek to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure that all people enjoy peace and prosperity by promoting inclusive, equitable, safe, and sustainable societies. The SDGs do not ignore shortcomings—they confront issues, identify root problems, and set objectives to leave no one behind as we transform nations, cities, and neighbourhoods into places where we can all live and prosper. On October 15, 2019 Bridgewater Town Council adopted the following resolution on the SDGs:

  1. Embrace the global consensus of the SDGs as the overarching plan toward the year 2030 under which we will harmonize our own policy planning, and leverage our efforts toward making the world a better place where we leave no one behind.
  2. Publicly state the Town’s commitment to the achievement of the SDGs;
  3. Urge the Nova Scotia Federation of Municipalities (NSFM) to adopt a resolution of support for the SDGs;
  4. Encourage the Governments of Canada, First Nations, Nova Scotia, and other local municipalities to support the implementation of national and/or provincial or regional strategies, respectively, for the SDGs and to use accessible, verifiable, and transparent indicators that complement the UN indicator framework, to track progress toward achievement of the SDGs;