The world is facing many challenges, with the fight against climate change at the forefront. To inspire hope and maintain the drive toward solutions, it’s essential that we connect the dots between local actions and global goals. This notion takes centre stage as we celebrate Global Goals Week and mark the launch of the second annual CICan’s ImpAct Climate Challenge – an initiative that is more than just a campaign to reduce greenhouse gases; it’s a pathway to addressing the broader spectrum of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
What is the ImpAct Climate Challenge?
The ImpAct Climate Challenge empowers students, staff, and faculty members at colleges and institutes across the country to actively reduce greenhouse gas emissions on campus and in their personal lives.
From October 11 until November 22, participants will test their climate knowledge and learn actionable strategies to drive impactful changes throughout their daily lives. They can also enter weekly draws, qualify for a grand prize, and boost their college or institute’s chance to win one of four $3,000 bursaries for a climate leader.
While the challenge’s primary focus naturally aligns with SDG 13 (Climate Action), it also delves into critical themes such as energy, food, transportation and waste, addressing other vital SDGs, including SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy) and SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production). It’s a powerful example of how collective, local action can drive progress toward our global goals.
Sign up for the Challenge. Ask students to participate. Ask your colleagues to get involved.
Colleges, institutes, and the Sustainable Development Goals
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are 17 actionable items that form the basis of the United Nations 2030 Agenda. They are a global call to action for countries to work together to solve issues that affect us all – like poverty, hunger, inequality, and climate change – while planning for a long-term equitable, peaceful, and prosperous future. Visit our blog to learn more about how colleges and institutes act on the SDGs every day:
- Read: Climate change is a global emergency that requires collective action, at all levels and across all sectors (SDG 13 & SDG 17). A sustainable future requires us to do our part – SDG 13 challenges us to take urgent action to combat climate change. Our new milestone report, “Are We Ready?” is a scan and compilation of college and institute leadership in climate action
- Read: We all have a role to play in energy efficiency (SDG 7). SDG 7 challenges us to ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all. Colleges and institutes are leaders in our renewable energy future. They train people to work in the clean and renewable energy sector and support industry to find innovative solutions to energy challenges in their communities.
- Read: Sustainable food ensures a sustainable future. SDG 12 challenges us to work together to ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns. Food is a big part of that, including accounting for food that is lost, wasted, or produced unsustainably. That’s why the work colleges and institutes do in sustainable food and agricultural innovation is so important
- Read: We need biodiversity to improve air quality (SDG 15). SDG 15 challenges us to do more to protect, restore, and promote sustainable use of our land ecosystems. Training more people to work in forest conservation, natural resources, and land management is one of the ways colleges and institutes help improve the air we breathe.
- Read: Carefully managing our oceans is key to a sustainable future (SDG 14). Covering more than 70% of the planet, oceans support the environment and make the Earth habitable for humans. Colleges and institutes are helping to protect life below water by leading ground-breaking research in the marine and coastal sectors.