Views & Actions - Scotland's Sustainable Development Goals Network

Blogs and news on the Sustainable Development Goals

Find the latest views and news

It’s not about us. It’s about you... and what you're doing to convince those in power that more needs to be done to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals in Scotland.

These are just some of the views of people and organisations from across Scotland on how we deliver a better society, and the actions they are taking to be part of the change.

We'd love to hear from you too. Visit get involved to send us a blog or to join the network.

Action Climate action Contribute Gender Equality Good health and well-being Industry, innovation and infrastructure Latest Developments in Scotland Life below water Life on land No poverty Partnership for the goals Quality education Reduced inequalities Responsible consumption Affordable and clean energy Strong Institutions Sustainable cities and communities Views Water and sanitation Work and economic growth Zero hunger

Scotland's Goals blog series

Carbon Choices, by Neil Kitching

Guest blog by Neil Kitching, geographer and Energy Specialist | January 2021 Neil has written a book on the common-sense solutions to our climate and nature crises. Here Neil explains how climate, nature and the Sustainable Development Goals are...

Lewis Ryder-Jones: ‘Joined-up’ thinking and cross sector collaboration can make Scotland a leader in Sustainable Development

By Lewis Ryder-Jones | May 2020 Deputy Chief Executive of Scotland’s International Development Alliance What is ‘sustainable development’? Not as simple a question as it may seem – the emphasis on what needs to develop and what needs to be...

Stewart McGrenary: Why Re-use and Refurbished Smartphones are Part of the Solution to Circular Economy Shift for E-waste

By Stewart McGrenary | May 2020 Plunc Technology has come a long way toward making our lives easier and more connected than ever before. What was once a simple device to make and receive phone calls, has morphed into one of the most important pieces...

Paul Bradley of SCVO: Scotland smoothing the road for Agenda 2030

By Paul Bradley | July 2019 Policy and Campaigns Officer at the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations Without the right culture, it’s easy to talk ourselves out of collaboration and simpler to avoid challenging the dynamics that come with...

Rachel McMinn: How fast fashion is impacting the Sustainable Development Goals

On average, people are buying 60 per cent more clothing today than they were 15 years ago, but only keeping them for half as long. In the 2015 documentary The True Cost, Andrew Morgan explores fast fashion in terms of how it contributes to...

On target for 2030?’: New civil society report assesses progress on delivering the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals in Scotland

July 1, 2019 by Alice Mcnaugher Scotland is making mixed progress towards achieving the United Nation’s 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, according to a unique new report by civil society organisations published today. ‘On Target for 2030?’...

By Caspian, Project Scotland: the meaning of the SDGs to young Scots

At this year’s SCVO Gathering I was part of a workshop looking at what the Sustainable Development Goals mean to young people in Scotland. The workshop fed-in to the work of the recently launched Youth Voice in a Sustainable Democracy project, run...

Paul Bradley of SCVO: A collective approach to HIV

Originally posted on HIV Scotland’s website This week saw the UK Government publish its first review taking stock of progress towards the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It’s just one in a series of reports to be published this summer...

Catherine Gee: Shocked by Blue Planet? Everyone can do their bit to protect the world

Authenticity is very much in the news, and rightly so. Whether it’s ‘fake news’, double standards or promises that are never kept, trust seems to be at an all-time low. To achieve real change, not only do we have to change what we think, but we must...

Fran van Dijk: We must educate and inform to tackle climate change

We have recently lived through three years in a row of the hottest temperatures recorded worldwide, a clear sign that our climate is changing, and changing fast. Is this enough to spur us into tackling climate change and other sustainable...

Beyond Green: All businesses must and can embed the SDGs in their practice to reap the rewards

Submitted by Lisa Bertrand and Paul Adderley, Beyond Green Business strategy is most resilient when its purpose is beyond profit making, and when CSR is more than charitable donations, and offsetting its carbon impacts, not just tree planting. A...

Paul Bradley of SCVO: Reflections on the UKSSD ‘Measuring Up’ Report

A landmark report on the UK’s progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) has been published. ‘Measuring Up’, produced by UKSSD, paints a somewhat gloomy picture of the UK’s performance, whilst highlighting successes across the 17 SDGs...

Adam Zyndul of Scottish Water: Our contribution to Scotland’s health, prosperity and natural environment

Adam Zyndul, Policy Advisor at Scottish Water, is the SDG Network’s 15th guest blogger to share their views as part of our ‘Scotland’s Goals’ series. Scottish Water is a public company that provides essential water and waste water services to nearly...

Andrew Dick of Zero Waste Scotland: The Sustainable Development Goals

Andrew Dick, Policy Manager at Zero Waste Scotland, is the SDG Network’s 14th guest blogger to share their views as part of our ‘Scotland’s Goals’ series. Visit Zero Waste Scotland for more information. Concern for...

Jeffrey Hirono of HIV Scotland: HIV in the time of the SDGs

Jeffrey Hirono, Policy and Research Officer at HIV Scotland, is the SDG Network’s 13th guest blogger to share their views as part of the network’s ‘Scotland’s Goals’ series. Growing up in Ecuador, I’ve witnessed...

Scotland’s SDG Network: Responses to its Open Letter and the new National Outcomes

Scotland’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Network has been running for just over a year, and thanks to the support of its members, including many organisations and individuals that make up the Alliance, we have been able come together and make...

Jodie Waite of NUS Scotland: How students can make a difference to global challenges

If working as an elected full-time student representative for three years has taught me anything, it’s this: unless people feel as though they can make a difference, then they’re not going to bother. Across our Scottish campuses, I’ve found that...

Paul Bradley of SCVO: Have your say on Scotland’s Open Government Action Plan

Do you want to help transform government? Imagine a country where citizens and governments come together to solve the most pressing challenges we face; where the decision making process is transparent and accountable, and where you have a real say...

Jennifer Fingland of Cycling Scotland: Cycling as a realistic and effective mechanism for positive and decisive change

Jennifer Fingland is Policy Officer at Cycling Scotland. Cycling Scotland is the nation’s cycling organisation. Working with others, we help create and deliver opportunities and an environment so anyone anywhere in Scotland can cycle easily...

Paul Bradley: Is Scotland moving towards a national plan for the SDGs?

The pace of progress must accelerate to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). That’s according to the latest report from the UN on progress across the world. Now in our third year of action, these words ring true for Scotland as well...

Dr Miles Weaver: A gender conscious approach to addressing grand challenges in Scotland and beyond …

We often hear the term “a unique Scottish approach” but what does it mean? Well, Scotland is distinctive, does things differently and is bold in its approach. This includes building a fairer and more inclusive economy. Can we pursue growth and do...

Policy Coherence for a better world: Lewis Ryder-Jones of Scotland’s International Development Alliance

When the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) came into being, they marked a tectonic shift in how the UN considered global problems – that they are just that – global – and affect all of us. This has the potential to revolutionise how...

Emma Trottier of Engender: Gender equality and the SDGs

This article by Emma Trottier, Policy and Parliamentary Manager with Engender is the sixth in the SDG Network’s blog series ‘Scotland’s Goals.’ A few weeks ago, SCVO asked us to write a short blog about the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG)...

Catherine Gee of Keep Scotland Beautiful: What’s your goal?

This article by Catherine Gee, Director with Keep Scotland Beautiful, is the fifth in the SDG Network’s blog series ‘Scotland’s Goals.’ Most of us have goals that we seek to achieve, either set by ourselves, by who we work for, or both. Common...

Gail Wilson of Stop Climate Chaos Scotland: Connecting the dots for a fairer, greener future

This article by Gail Wilson, Campaigns Manager of Stop Climate Chaos Scotland, is the fourth in the SDG Network’s blog series ‘Scotland’s Goals.’ It’s hard to argue with the idea that we all want to live in a more peaceful, fairer world. But is...

Bella Crowe of Nourish Scotland: Food is key to unlocking the SDGs

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) apply to every country in the world; they recognise that we only have one earth, there is no umbilical cord to provide us with extra resources, there is no extraterrestrial land fill site where we can dispose...

Fiona King of Shelter Scotland: Let’s start with housing…

This article by Fiona King, Campaigns & Public Affairs Manager at Shelter Scotland, is the second in the SDG Network’s blog series ‘Scotland’s Goals.’ In September 2015, Scotland joined 192 other countries and adopted a set of 17 ‘sustainable...

Rachel Thomson of The Poverty Alliance: What Can Scotland Do?

This article by Rachel Thomson, Campaigns and Policy Assistant at The Poverty Alliance, is the first in the SDG Network’s blog series ‘Scotland’s Goals,’ and has been written as part of Challenge Poverty Week. Want to get...

Latest developments

Scotland’s progress on sustainable development lays backdrop for country’s recovery

This week, the Scottish Government published its landmark review of the progress Scotland has made in delivering the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which aim to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. The review...

Scottish Parliamentary question on Scotland’s SDGs National Review

Parliamentary Question: On 10th March 2020, Lewis Macdonald, North East Scotland, Scottish Labour, lodged the following parliamentary question: To ask the Scottish Government by what date it will publish the final version of the Scottish National...

Scottish Parliament debates progress on UN SDGs

On 16th January 2020, the Scottish Parliament debated Scotland’s progress on the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGS). The item of bussiness business was a members’ business debate on motion S5M-20261, in the name of Lewis Macdonald, on...

Secretary of State Rory Stewart launches UK review of progress towards the Global Goals

How government, business, civil society and the public across the UK are working to achieve the Global Goals. Secretary of State Rory Stewart today launched a report on the UK’s progress towards the Global Goals (also known as the Sustainable...

Concerns raised over UK’s Voluntary National Review of the SDGs

The International Development Committee publishes a letter to the Secretary of State for International Development, Rt Hon. Penny Mordaunt MP, highlighting concerns and making informal recommendations in relation to the UK’s Voluntary National...

Edinburgh sustainability campaigner and former pop star wins top award

A former Brazilian pop star now heading a global sustainability charity based in Edinburgh is to receive a major international award for her work with women in the developing world. May East, Chief Executive of Gaia Education, an international...

Empowering teachers creates the global citizens of today and the future

Georgea Hughes, Programme Manager at The Wood Foundation – operational manager and principal funder of Global Learning Partnerships There has never been a greater need for meaningful global education. The role and influence of a...

Church of Scotland and Islamic Finance Council agree shared ethical framework

The Church of Scotland and the Islamic Finance Council UK will unveil the Edinburgh Finance Declaration, an interfaith shared values framework on ethical finance, at a reception in Greyfriars Kirk on Tuesday 23 Oct 2018. The event marks the end of...

Scottish Government and UNDP collaborate to mobilise private capital for sustainable development

The Scottish Government and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) are jointly announcing a 2-year programme of collaboration aimed at mobilising private capital for the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with the Scottish Government...

Everyone’s Business: The role of the Scottish Business Pledge in delivering the Global Goals

By Rhiannon Sims, Policy and Research Officer. The article featured on Oxfam’s website. Today Oxfam has published a new briefing paper: Inclusive Business: Recommendations for enhancing the Scottish Business Pledge as a driver of change. In...

UKSSD publishes ‘Measuring Up’ progress report

Press release published on UKSSD website As UKSSD publishes a landmark report on the UK’s progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals, Emily Auckland, Network Director, says the SDGs are a once in a lifetime opportunity to make the UK a...

New National Performance Framework launched

A new framework for building a more successful and inclusive Scotland, and the way in which progress towards it can be measured, has been launched by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon. The National Performance Framework (NPF), showcased at an...

OPP Pocket Garden winners announced

The overall winners of the annual One Planet Picnic Pocket Garden feature at Gardening Scotland have been revealed. Our annual competition, for Eco-Schools to design and then build a Pocket Garden, has culminated in four overall winners being...

Connor McLean of NEIL: Ireland launches SDGs National Implementation Plan

On Thursday 26 April at the Institute for International and European Affairs, Denis Naughten, T.D., Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment Denis Naughten TD, launched Ireland’s Sustainable Development Goals National...

Paul Bradley: Parliament consults on Scotland’s revised National Outcomes

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) have been with us for well over two years, and now in our third year of action, my most recent blog looked at whether Scotland is moving towards a National Implementation Plan for the Goals. It’s been some...

Elli Kontorravdis: Take Action – Do a Kitchen Table Talk

There’s just over two weeks left to help shape the future of Scotland’s food system. As a member of the Scottish Food Coalition, Nourish has been taking part in and promoting Kitchen Table Talks. Make sure the food justice issues you care about are...

Atishay Mathur: Development is not a Data Problem – Lessons from Scotland

This blog-post is a part of the series #SDG7Conference covering the United Nations’ Global SDG 7 Review in Bangkok, Thailand. In case you have a set of recommendation or would like to share your personal views and opinions, please feel free to...

May East: Mountain to climb in solving world’s problems in a sustainable way

A major network of leading companies, think tanks, charities, universities, trade unions and professional bodies has reached an important milestone in measuring the UK’s performance against the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)...

Speakers at Re-imagine Democracy Conference

Ruchir Shah: Why #reimaginedemocracy? Next week’s conference in Belfast will show us the way

Ruchir Shah from the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations explores why we need to #reimaginedemocracy for 2018 On Thursday March 15th next week, a stramash of people frustrated with the way political decisions are made will descend on the...

Updates from Learning for Sustainability Scotland members

This is an overview of the actions that Learning for Sustainability Scotland members are taking forward to support the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Scotland. You can find out more about at their website. 1. Culloden Academy SDG Work Kate...

Event: Re-imagine Democracy, 15th March, online and in Belfast

Imagine a country where decisions are honestly made, transparent and accountable, where outcomes cannot be bought or manipulated and where policy-making processes enhance democratic participation and connection. Open Government Networks across the...

Pocket garden design competition winners revealed

Twenty-two schools from across Scotland have been selected as winners in the One Planet Picnic Pocket Garden competition. The winners will all now work to bring their creations to life for display in the Garden for Life area at the Gardening...

Grace O’Donovan: We’re inspiring the next generation of critical thinkers and global citizens

On 20 February, the Scotland Malawi Partnership was excited to host its annual Youth Congress at Hampden Park in Glasgow, with more than 300 young people kicking off an ambitious legacy programme with events, media coverage and active youth...

May East: 5 Ways for Social Innovators to Use the Power of the SDGs

The Sustainable Development Goals are here to stay. If you are an early adopter and have already aligned your core growth strategies to the global framework or if you are just beginning to explore the added value the SDGs can bring to your business...

Gareth Jones: The time is now for Sustainable Development Goals

Organisations from across the country have come together to call on powerbrokers to show their commitment to creating a fairer and healthier planet. The UN Sustainable Development Goals aim to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity...

Press release: SDG Network publishes open letter

National network publish open letter to ScotGov on Sustainable Development Goals A national network co-ordinated by the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO) has issued an open letter to government bodies asking them to evidence their...

Office for National Statistics publishes SDGs consultation report

The Office for National Statistics’ (ONS) consultation about how it approaches measuring and reporting the SDGs for the UK closed back in September 2017. ONS have finished analysing the feedback they received and have published their response...

It’s a fact – collective noise is more likely to be heard, by Mhairi Snowden

Speak to anyone who has been to a child’s birthday party, to a pipe band competition or a demonstration, and they’ll tell you that more ‘voices’ make you sit up and take notice. This is something that the Scottish voluntary sector knows well. ...

Trudi Elliott of RTPI: Why we’re all responsible for the goals

A year ago, 170 nations met to agree how they would address critical global urban challenges – from the rapid growth of cities to the threat of climate change, writes Trudi Elliott, chief executive of the RTPI. The UN Habitat III conference in...

Launch of the business and management writing competition

The UKI PRME Regional Chapter and Oxford Brookes University seek through this competition to promote understanding of the United Nations Principles for Responsible Management Education (PRME) and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Every year...