Sustainable Development Goals

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, adopted by all United Nations Member States in 2015, provides a shared blueprint for peace and prosperity for people and the planet, now and into the future. At its heart are the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which are an urgent call for action by all countries - developed and developing - in a global partnership. They recognize that ending poverty and other deprivations must go hand-in-hand with strategies that improve health and education, reduce inequality, and spur economic growth – all while tackling climate change and working to preserve our oceans and forests.

Sustainable Development Goals Graphic

Join the Sustainable Development Goals Scholars Program and earn a digital badge on one of five SDGs

Did you know you can earn a non-credit digital credential around now five of the Sustainable Development Goals? Explore your passions while expanding your knowledge, skills and local and global professional networks, plus develop a unique portfolio item you can share with prospective employers or help to build online presence! Check out the information below and contact us if you want to learn more or get started.

Check out the four badge options the fifth (Responsible Production and Consumption) coming soon!

Students holding cards with SDGs

Dig into the Goal

Complete 5 hours of a global open online course related to that Sustainable Development Goal, through our partnership with the Sustainable Development Solutions Network. Learn from expert researchers & peers from around the world!

Learn from & Network with Experts

Participate in 2 sessions with local and global experts around your chosen SDG. These will be presentations about that expert’s work either here in Nebraska/Midwest on that goal, or their work/experience elsewhere in the world about that goal. Interact live with the expert, + connect with them professionally after either on LinkedIn or in further conversations in person or on Zoom, per the expert’s availability, helping you to grow your professional network.

Collaborate & Ideate with your Peers

Participate in a peer to peer “goal swap” exploration and ideation session with a fellow student in the program who is from a different community than you are. Exchange how this goal plays out in your community, how it looks in theirs, and work together to brainstorm ideas that might advance this goal in one or both of your communities.

Make Something that Matters

Create original content around your goal to add to our Human Library and for your own professional portfolio. Reflect on the last 3 activities, consider what this goal looks like in your community, and how you could apply your skills and knowledge to the goal. Then create a video, podcast, animation, infographic, data visualization, a written op-ed, etc.

Interested in learning more, or getting started? Contact Brianne Wolf at bwolf4@unl.edu.

Learn more about UNL’s work towards the the Sustainable Development Goals

In the News

Are you a student, faculty or staff member who is doing work at Nebraska contributing to the SDGs?

Submit your work!