Sustainable Development

The UN System and Sustainable Development

An in-depth look at selected SDGs and UN efforts to achieve them, with a focus on People, Prosperity, Peace and Partnership.

Institute
UNU-IAS
Credits
2
Term Offered
4–13 September 2024

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development was adopted at the UN General Assembly in 2015. It is a shared blueprint for peace and prosperity for people and the planet, now and into the future. At its heart are the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), a universal call to action for all countries to end poverty, protect the environment, and ensure that all people enjoy peace and prosperity by 2030. To ensure that no one is left behind, a global partnership is necessary. The 17 SDGs are integrated. Action in one area will affect outcomes in others. Development must balance social, economic and environmental sustainability. At the same time, the 5 Ps of the SDGs are often emphasized: People, Planet, Prosperity, Peace and Partnership. 

In this course, we focus on People, Prosperity, Peace and Partnership. (Planet will be the focus of another UNU-IC course, Global Change and Planetary Boundaries). For the topics of this course, several SDGs are selected, and within each Goal, several Targets will be chosen for discussion. 

For each course topic, (i) the current situation will be assessed; (ii) the challenges in achieving the Goal and some of its Targets will be analyzed; and (iii) priority action will be discussed. Each course topic will be covered by a distinguished scholar with work experience in the UN system (UN Funds & Programmes and Specialized Agencies), as well as other international governmental and non-governmental organizations. 

Course Topics

Please note that the topics and schedule are subject to change.  

Orientation: Prof. Yasushi Katsuma (UNU-IAS)

  • SDG 3: Health and the Role of WHO, UNICEF and UNFPA (Prof. Hiroki Nakatani, Keio University) 
  • SDG 3: Climate Change and Health (Prof. Masahiro Hashizume, The University of Tokyo) 
  • SDG 4: Education for Sustainable Development (ESD), HESI & SDG-UP (Prof. Sachi Lim Ninomiya, St. Paul University) 
  • SDG 5: Gender Equality: the Roles of CEDAW and UN Women (Prof. Misako Takizawa, J. F. Oberlin University) 
  • SDG 10: Reducing Inequalities and the Role of OHCHR (Shuichi Furuya, Waseda University) 
  • Working Experiences with UNICEF (Prof. Taeko Okitsu, Otsuma Women`s University)
  • SDGs and the Alignment of Food Safety Systems with the Codex Alimentarius, the Joint FAO/WHO Food Standards Programme (Assoc. Prof. Makiko Matsuo, The University of Tokyo)