graphic of the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals

UN Sustainable Development Goals: The Role of Cities in Implementation

This course will introduce the 17 Sustainable Development Goals as a framework for planning at the local level.

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Course Info

  • Duration 6 video lessons (75 Mins)
  • Published Published
    2021
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Browse Course Chapters

  • Chapter Locked
    1.
    Introduction
    Chapter Duration 3 mins
  • Chapter Locked
    2.
    Defining Sustainability
    Chapter Duration 16 mins
  • Chapter Locked
    3.
    UN Sustainable Development Goals
    Chapter Duration 20 mins
  • Chapter Locked
    4.
    Connecting Sustainable Development Goals To Local Activism
    Chapter Duration 10 mins
  • Chapter Locked
    5.
    Case Studies
    Chapter Duration 16 mins
  • Chapter Locked
    6.
    Wrap-Up
    Chapter Duration 9 mins

What You Will Learn

  • Develop a common understanding of sustainability across the three pillars (environmental, economic, and social)
  • Understand the history and purpose of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and how they connect to the three pillars
  • Interpret social, environmental, and economic metrics in terms of sustainability
  • Identify connections between local policies and practices to the SDGs
  • Explore how cities have taken a leadership role in implementing the SDGs
  • Explore best practices for local implementation of the SDGs
  • Identify opportunities to utilize the SDGs as a framework for local decision making

Course Description

Sustainability has become a primary focus of urban planning and community development; however, there can be confusion and lack of consensus about what constitutes sustainability and how to incorporate it into local planning processes. Fostering sustainability has to begin with a common understanding of what we mean by the term, recognizing that sustainability is more than just ‘building green’ or undertaking some simplistic approach.

In 2015, the United Nations adopted 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as a framework for collective action to address environmental, social, and economic challenges across the globe. Importantly, the SDGs recognize that true sustainability requires addressing environmental, economic, and social challenges. Cities, with planners playing a vital role, have been at the forefront of implementing these goals.

This course will introduce the 17 SDGs and describe how they provide a framework for planning at the local level. Although the goals are targeted to a global audience, effective implementation has to occur at the local level. Planners can be leaders in developing strategies that address local issues and opportunities while working within the framework of the SDGs. At the end of this course, participants will have an understanding of the SDGs and strategies for connecting community sustainability goals to global sustainability goals.

Learn these skills

  • Environmental Planning
  • Food Systems
  • Resilience Planning
  • Sustainability

AICP CM

This course is approved for 1.25 AICP CM Credit.

AIA CES

This is 1.25 LU.

SACPLAN CPD

This course is approved for 1.5 SACPLAN CPD point.

CIP

This course is eligible for self-reported CIP unstructured CPL units.

Meet Your Instructor

Chris Holtkamp

Chris Holtkamp

Chris Holtkamp is a certified planner and is an Assistant Professor of Environmental Planning at the University of Wisconsin River Falls.

Meet Instructor

Course Reviews

4.36
Lee-Anne Dreyer

Lee-Anne Dreyer

Extremely Satisfied
gregory Haley

gregory Haley

Satisfied
Liz Axelson AICP CPL

Liz Axelson AICP CPL

Extremely Satisfied
Chris Holtkamp guides us through the 3 Pillars of Sustainability and then the 17 the United Nations sustainable development goals describing how they correspond to life, land use and development in modern American communities. He notes realities, opportunities and challenges communities may face emphasizing the need to focus initial efforts on feasible projects to allow communities to wade in to the implementation process. He discusses smaller to larger scale efforts from rain gardens to a collaboration resulting in the Saint Croix River Business Innovation Center, repurposing existing facilities for green educational and work space. The presentation is realistic about potential controversy emphasizing broad community connections and collaboration and the 29 Best Practices. It was a session balancing the monumental task of getting communities started, with local projects, solutions, and concluding that we can build resilience into our communities.
Natalia Rosario

Natalia Rosario

Extremely Satisfied

Course Reviews

50%
40%
8%
3%
0%
Lee-Anne Dreyer

Lee-Anne Dreyer

Extremely Satisfied
gregory Haley

gregory Haley

Satisfied
Liz Axelson AICP CPL

Liz Axelson AICP CPL

Extremely Satisfied
Chris Holtkamp guides us through the 3 Pillars of Sustainability and then the 17 the United Nations sustainable development goals describing how they correspond to life, land use and development in modern American communities. He notes realities, opportunities and challenges communities may face emphasizing the need to focus initial efforts on feasible projects to allow communities to wade in to the implementation process. He discusses smaller to larger scale efforts from rain gardens to a collaboration resulting in the Saint Croix River Business Innovation Center, repurposing existing facilities for green educational and work space. The presentation is realistic about potential controversy emphasizing broad community connections and collaboration and the 29 Best Practices. It was a session balancing the monumental task of getting communities started, with local projects, solutions, and concluding that we can build resilience into our communities.
Natalia Rosario

Natalia Rosario

Extremely Satisfied
jhinkamp

jhinkamp

Extremely Satisfied
Erik Sampson

Erik Sampson

Satisfied
Excellent introduction to the 17 SDGs. Would be interested to see an update to this course considering the current administration's hostile actions towards nearly every one of these goals and making local action a vital necessity for sustainability.
Michael Schuler

Michael Schuler

Extremely Satisfied
An excellent course. This could definitely be expanded to be a whole series.
Adrie Fourie

Adrie Fourie

Satisfied

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