Students show strong support for UN Sustainable Development Goals!

Students show strong support for UN Sustainable Development Goals!

A Germany-wide online survey conducted by Goethe University Frankfurt examined students' attitudes to the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). According to the results of the survey, the students surveyed show a consistently positive attitude towards the SDGs, regardless of their field of study. Students from 18 different subjects were included in the study, and an interesting correlation was found between closeness to nature and the assessment of sustainability goals.

The highest priority in the survey was given to Goal 2, which focuses on global food security, and Goal 6, which addresses the provision of clean water. Both goals received scores of 4.7 and above. The study found that all SDGs were rated as important, with subject-specific averages ranging from 3.5 to 4.9. Courses that are closer to nature, such as geosciences and architecture, were characterized by higher values ​​in connection with nature. In contrast, subjects such as business administration, chemistry and computer science had lower scores.

Integration proposals for higher education

The authors of the study recommend that sustainability be increasingly integrated into higher education. This could be done through an interdisciplinary exchange that makes it possible to link subject-specific topics with sustainability aspects. The inter- and transdisciplinary approach is highlighted as a promising way to promote the sustainability goals.

The 17 goals, which were adopted by the global community in 2015 as part of the 2030 Agenda, are intended to enable a humane life while preserving the natural basis of life. The federal government has developed a German sustainability strategy to specifically promote the implementation of these goals. The agenda includes the following goals: from fighting poverty and high-quality education to climate protection and preserving biodiversity.

Responsibility and implementation by the federal government

In its strategy, the federal government emphasizes that both industrialized and emerging countries as well as civil society must be held responsible in order to achieve the SDGs. The G20 countries should take a pioneering role in this. According to the federal government, joint action by all actors, including states, science and business, is essential for sustainability. The Federal Statistical Office's indicator report, which is published every two years, serves to review and adapt the measures to implement the sustainability strategy.

Germany has committed itself to implementing the 17 Sustainable Development Goals not only in its own country, but also to offering support to other countries. Experiences from the implementation of the 2030 Agenda show that more sustainable practices are already possible in many areas. But there is still a significant need for action to overcome global challenges and ensure sustainable development for all generations.

The study “Ranking our future: University students’ prioritization of Sustainable Development Goals and their connection to nature” was published to shed more light on the perceptions and priorities of university students. These insights could provide valuable inspiration for future reforms and the integration of sustainability into academic teaching.

These approaches and set goals are part of a comprehensive renewal of the German sustainability strategy, which is to be further developed in 2023/2024.

For further information about the study you can Puk University Frankfurt visit. The federal government provides important details on the German sustainability strategy and explains it Sustainability goals.