How to Achieve the Sustainable Development Goals

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Free Online Course: How to Achieve the Sustainable Development Goals provided by edX is a comprehensive online course, which lasts for 7 weeks long, 4-6 hours a week. The course is taught in English and is free of charge. Upon completion of the course, you can receive an e-certificate from edX. How to Achieve the Sustainable Development Goals is taught by Jeffrey D. Sachs.

Overview
  • On September 25, 2015, the United Nations General Assembly adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, along with a new set of goals collectively called the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This ambitious agenda is a call to action to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure that all people enjoy peace and prosperity.

    This course on How to Achieve the SDGs provides an in-depth look at planning for SDG implementation. The range of topics covers financing, policy development, roles of stakeholders, and more. A comprehensive understanding of the societal transformations needed to achieve the SDGs is conveyed.

    This course is for:

    • Policy professionals who want to understand frameworks for SDG planning.
    • Sustainable development practitioners seeking knowledge on goals-based development.
    • Advanced undergraduates and graduate students interested in key concepts related to the SDGs

Syllabus
  • Module 1: The SDG framework and Agenda 2030

    • Chapter 1: Scale and Scope of the SDGs
    • Chapter 2: A Brief History of the SDGs
    • Chapter 3: Transformation Challenges
    • Chapter 4: Differential Diagnosis
    • Chapter 5: Structures of power and decision making

    Module 2: Transformation Pathways to Success

    • Chapter 1: Education, Inclusion, Jobs, and Growth
    • Chapter 2: Health and Wellbeing
    • Chapter 3: Clean Energy and Industry
    • Chapter 4: Sustainable Food and Land Use
    • Chapter 5: Smart Cities and Transport
    • Chapter 6: Digital Technologies and E-Governance

    Module 3: Government and the SDGs

    • Chapter 1: Planning and Back-casting
    • Chapter 2: Organizing Government for the SDGs
    • Chapter 3: SDG Policy Instruments
    • Chapter 4: SDG Pathways: The Case of Deep Decarbonization
    • Chapter 5: Industrial Policies and the SDGs

    Module 4: SDG Financing

    • Chapter 1: Needs assessments: estimating resource needs for the SDGs
    • Chapter 2: Types of Financing
    • Chapter 3: Capital Markets and the SDGs
    • Chapter 4: New financing mechanisms and Global Funds
    • Chapter 5: Development financing for the SDGs.

    Module 5. The Business Sector and the SDGs

    • Chapter 1. The Role of Business in the SDGs
    • Chapter 2. Shareholders and Stakeholders
    • Chapter 3. Global Value Chains
    • Chapter 4. Unsustainable Industries
    • Chapter 5. Public-Private-Civil Society Partnerships

    Module 6. Civil Society and the SDGs

    • Chapter 1. Public awareness and Consumer Activism
    • Chapter 2. Data for Accountability and Decision-making
    • Chapter 3. Investor Activism
    • Chapter 4. Litigation and Human Rights
    • Chapter 5. Social business, CSOs, and operations where government is weak

    Module 7: Global Partnerships for the SDGs

    • Chapter 1: Development Assistance
    • Chapter 2: Other dimensions of Global Partnership
    • Chapter 3: The Role of Universities and SDSN
    • Chapter 4: Moral Advocacy: Religious Leaders
    • Chapter 5: Cross-Border Cooperation
    • Chapter 6: The World in 2030: Mapping a path forward