Response to the prompt: After learning more about the goals, please write a paragraph in response to the following prompt: Reflecting upon the summit theme (Play a Role, Achieve the Goals), share with us something you are doing and/or policies your country is implementing to help achieve one or more of the UN SDGs. Try to give us some insight into the current struggles faced by your country and community in your response.

In the USA we have many local parks, trails, and streams that are dedicated to outdoor activities and enjoying the outdoors. These parks can be amazing resources but also fall victim to trash and liter. To fix this problem, trash pick up days have become something people can do to pick up and preserve these places and our earth. In order to "play a role and achieve the goals" I participate and encourage other to participate in these in picking up the trash in these places to save life on water and land.

Did you know that by participating in book club activities, you can gain a wide range of knowledge and viewpoints on the SDGs? The SDG Book Club in Korea is a great example of this. As someone who has enjoyed reading books since I was young, I was immediately interested in this club as it combined two of my favorite activities. After reading books related to the 17 goals of the SDGs designated by the UN, I was able to better understand the SDGs through reading, and I was particularly drawn to books related to the fourth goal, 'quality education'. One such book is James Rumford's "Rain School", which is based on the author's experience of volunteering in Africa. It highlights the importance of education and the need to expand its scope in Africa where education is not mandatory. In Korea, education is currently compulsory until middle school, and I feel saddened by the fact that elementary education is not accessible to all in Africa. I hope that by reading this book, African children can one day attend school and receive a quality education. Furthermore, as a member of the book club, the opportunities to attend lectures on SDGs are provided. After listening to lectures on high-quality education, I hope to gain a broader, global perspective on education.

Aid for Turkey: South Korea Gives Back After Past Assistance

Currently, Turkey and Syria are going through a difficult time due to the damage caused by a high-intensity earthquake. In the past, Turkey has helped Korea as part of the UN military during the Korean War, and now we are returning the favor.

The South Korea Emergency Relief Unit has gone to Turkey to provide aid, and not only the government but also NGOs are accepting donations from people who wish to help. I have also made a small donation and encouraged my friends to do the same through Instagram. Additionally, many large companies and individuals, such as Samsung and BTS, are donating significant amounts of money to support the country. Perhaps Korea would have taken similar actions even if Turkey had not helped us in the past, but our citizens are more concerned in this case because of the assistance we received from Turkey previously.

This kind of universal support and mutual aid helps to unite the world and address the problems we face as a global society. It is important to be aware of global issues and try to participate in addressing them.

As I got to know SDG, I kept thinking about what I could do.
First, I began making regular donations to support human rights groups like Amnesty International, which works to release unjustly imprisoned people and change discriminatory laws. Through this support, I came to recognize that safeguarding the human rights of others is crucial to protecting my own, as human rights affect us all.
Second, I thought about how to reduce consumption and use it in a meaningful place. Originally, I enjoyed buying cosmetics or fast fashion clothes. However, fast fashion destroys the environment and 90 percent of cosmetics containers are not recycled. So I stopped buying cosmetics and clothes and donated clothes I didn't wear to reduce the amount of clothes that were thrown away.
Lastly, I would like to use fair trade products that allow producers and workers to stand on their own feet. Some global companies are forcing them to sell their products at lower prices than their production costs. Thus I decided to join the purchase of fair trade products to solve these problems and help them to create a better future.

I have been reflecting on things that I can do to make a positive change in our rapidly changing world. In the midst of this, I have been paying close attention to the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia, and pondered what actions I could take to help bring an end to the war.
First, I researched organizations that supports the Ukraine-Russia peace efforts and have begun donating $10 per month to UNICEF. Additionally, I have joined the anti-war campaign in order to further support the cause.
Secondly, I recognized that the war created an imbalance in resources and has adversely affected trade. As a result, I consciously practiced turning off the lights that I’m not using, using sunlight when it is daytime and when i feel cold, putting on layers instead of boiler.
Thirdly, I have made a commitment to use fair trade products whenever possible. I now look for the fair trade logo on the products I buy and make a conscious effort to consume responsibly.
Lastly, I am encouraging people around me to practice this habits together. Through social media, I have shared information about the SDGs to my friends, introduced the practices that I’m following, and have suggested that we could do it together.
I think I haven’t practiced specific actions to make a better world than before but through this opportunity I found out what I could do and put it into practice. I believe that if we work together like this, we can bring an end to the conflict and we create the more sustainable and peaceful world together.

Singapore is doing a good job in achieving UN SDGs. Firstly, I would like to talk about quality education. Singapore values good quality education for all students and there are many plans to improve the current education system. Since the start of 2020, the government has poured in its resources in ensuring that every child in secondary school (the Singapore version of High School) is receiving a functional, state-of-the-art laptop that is funded by the government. Each student will have its own Google account and Microsoft Office account, in which is paid for by the government, so that the students can have their own digital space to learn. Singapore has also structured the learning days for students, giving schools some days in a school month to conduct learning at home, where students not only do their own self-learning at home but also use the time to do something that they enjoy doing so much like hobbies. The ministry of education also reduce the stress of students by removing major exams from schools and placing an emphasis to learn with joy. Another UN SDG Singapore is doing is clean water, in which Singapore is building more reservoirs and harnessing technology into changing sewage water into drinkable tap water for its citizens. Although it is expensive, but Singapore has so far built 4 desalination plants in order for Singapore to use their own waters instead of relying external water sources from nearby Malaysia.

Natthanich Mekadenaumporn

Amongst many positive new norms that live on in the post-pandemic era such as mask-wearing and social distancing, one of the most regrettable new norms is the appallingly prevalent use of disposables. Alarmed by the sheer amount of unnecessary single-use plastic and paper waste generated in my school, I was inspired to spearhead the Disposables Reduction Campaign in June 2022, an on-going initiative I've been working on with my school's Green Council aimed at phasing out disposable containers and cutlery in our canteen and café, to champion SDGs 11,12 and 13: Sustainable Cities and Communities, Responsible Production and Consumption, and Climate Action! The journey has been one of the most arduous yet most fulfilling ones of my life. Many struggles resulted from the conflicting interests of various stakeholders: while many students and staff members passionate about environmental sustainability were highly supportive of the move, others who cherished the convenience of grabbing daily morning takeaway drinks and profit-oriented vendors who feared significantly losing sales expressed strong opposition. Therefore, our team worked tirelessly to thoroughly understand these conflicting needs, coordinate with various stakeholders and innovate our approach coupling stringent measures with strong support systems, to balance all these trade-offs in the most sustainable, responsible and empathetic way possible. I'm delighted to share that in February 2023, we've finally achieved a complete ban on disposables in our school, with even more support systems coming up!

Summit will be an interesting experience, playing a role can be useful to understand how to reach this goals.
Italy is not one of the most advanced country, some goals like gender equality and the protection of the enviroment have not yet been achieved.
The current government does not care about these goals, but many Italians care for civil rights and for the environment.

France has implemented several policies to achieve the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The French government has committed to incorporating the SDGs into its domestic policies, and has established a national strategy to support the implementation of the goals. Some of the key policies implemented by France include promoting renewable energy, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, improving access to education and healthcare, and implementing measures to combat poverty and inequality. France has also committed to reducing its carbon emissions and transitioning to a low-carbon economy by investing in renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar power. Additionally, the French government has implemented policies to address food waste and promote sustainable agriculture. Through these policies and initiatives, France is working towards achieving the SDGs and contributing to a sustainable future for all.
Personally I try to achieve those goals by avoiding to buy excessive amount of clothes or food and am careful about wasting stuff. I also sort my waste as much as I can.

In Singapore, innovative steps have been taken to envision an inclusive future for all. In line with the SDGs of Reduced Inequalities and Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure, SG Enable launched Enabling Village in 2015, an inclusive space that incorporates infrastructure that is accessible to all. This includes wheelchair-accessible toilets, larger labels and magnifying glasses for the elderly in supermarkets and braille maps of the facilities. These subtle changes to our regular infrastructure allows us to think about how we could further model our current infrastructures to that of Enabling Village's, to make Singapore an inclusive nation for all to live and thrive in.

I think that the idea of playing a role and achieving goals is important to understand that everybody can make a difference, personally I always try to reduce the use of artificial lights, not overuse the heating or when I'm brushing my teeth I close the tap when I don't need water or often my family and I buy fruits and vegetables in the village shop for two major reason, the first one is that we can help local shops and the second is that if we buy there we don't need to use the car and we don't produce CO2 also the transport because if a product is sold in a big supermarket it probably comes from far away and we all know that the ships produce a lot of pollution, Italy as well is trying to complete the goals, as part of the UN and the EU, they're focusing on the goals 2,6,9,11,12,13,14. In my country there were some protest against the climate change but I think that in this phase of the politics in italy the climate question it has been put aside for other problems that hypothetically affects more the population, but to conclude I believe that our government has to care more about our territory and prevent the nature related problems that our ecosystem may gain if we continue to put aside this topic.

The UN is a noble organization , which brings more attention to the weak parts of society and comes up with solutions to worldwide problems. They are brave to think of ways to change society and to make these solutions become reality. Making compromises with people from different ethnicities is not an easy task. Although the UN puts more weight on the shoulder of an individual, another crucial part worth mentioning in my opinion is the management or even laws of a country. By putting more weight on each government, we are able to control large masses and even private businesses. Otherwise the hard work to make the world a better place would be in vain. Our country has decided to go over to a more green way of producing energy. For a long time we have survived on phosphorus and limestone energy, but since they are not permanent and renewable sources of energy, our country is coming up with a new huge project. One of the problems mentioned in the program that we struggle with in Estonia is gender pay gaps. It is not in our culture to talk about our income and this needs a solution on a deeper level.

I think playing a role is essential to achieve one's goals. Today we are the creators of our future and if we want to save our world we must all get involved. In Italy, unfortunately, I believe that we are still a little behind on the subject of innovation, many rights, fundamental in my opinion, are not yet accepted, I hope this policy will be renewed soon. I want to fight first for the rights of everyone and of our world, which we are currently not treating as it deserves. I hope Italy improves on climate change, we are taking small steps, we will reach this goal!

Hi ! Here in Normandy, the government launched a special action in the form of a free website called AtoutNormandie : helping to fight against inequality and poverty. This website can be used by all teenagers of the Normandie highschools, public or private. It gives easy access to funds going from 20 to 80€ related to all sorts of themes : school books, concerts, cinema… this program is meant to help students of all social backgrounds with school material but also social and cultural possibilities, fighting against teen isolation. This concept even permitted to all freshmen of Normandy to have been given a laptop: lended by the region for their three years of highschool. This gives access to quality studying material for all students and eventually helps working on the better education goal. I myself use the funds often to go to the cinema : it is very easy to use and accessible to all students. France is a country that is struggling with a lot of inequalities and therefor it is important that those kind of programs develop to be able to give a chance to everyone. Working on better education is the key to develop smart minds for the future!!

Singapore is trying to minimise waste, which is linked to responsible consumption and production. This is reflected in how most businesses charge a fee for plastic bags and encourage customers to bring their own reusables. Some challenges of this goal include people being more willing to pay for a bag than go through the inconvenience of bringing their own reusable, defeating the purpose of such a policy. The rise in e-commerce also causes a lot of waste to be generated from unsustainable packaging.

after looking in details at the SDG I have decided to explain how am I taking actions to achieve the one of my most concerned SDG and how in my country they are trying to achieve a better environmental way of life.
First of all the 14th goal Life below water is one of the goal I am the most implicated in. Why ? Because I do sailing and surf since i am six years old and I have always grown up with the environment of the sea so that’s why it’s really important for me. Healthy oceans and seas are essential to human existence and life on Earth. They cover 70 per cent of the planet and provide food, energy and water. The ocean absorbs around one quarter of the world’s annual carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, thereby mitigating climate change and alleviating its impacts. For my part , I try to reduce a lot of plastic by using reusable materials, recycling properly my waste with 3 different bins so the recycling process is more easy . One compartment for the organic waste , one for the plastic waste and one for the corks. With my sailing club , if the weather is too bad to sail , we go on the beach with garbage bags and we clean it. We pick up every piece of plastic or each piece of waste that seems to us to be disturbing for the environment . Sometimes due to the strong storm the sea brings out all the pollution and the rubbish washes up on the beach . On a bigger scale after a big storm the mayor and his administration of French coastal cities like in mine city (Le Havre) calls for a day of garbage collection to limit pollution which brings a lot more people.
I wanted to talk about the 11th goal which is sustainable cities and communities. If well-planned and managed, urban development can be sustainable. I will take the exemple of electrical bikes in my city . The Le Havre transport company has decided to set up electrical bikes at 10€ per month for everyone and to facilitate travel and to reduce pollution. The contracts is renewed every year and this allows people to be able to make trips as fast as a car in a city center and avoiding many inconvenience such as traffic jams or parking spaces. At Institution St Joseph about a quarter of the students are coming with those bikes which are good for the ecology , less people are coming with motorcycle or even car which is better for traffic and better for the air we breath. Those bikes are a sign of liberty other than cars because there is no time constraints like the public transport and it can go up to 30km/h which is the speed limits for cars. To conclude I hope my actions for the SDG life below water will have good repercussions and that everyone should be able to do this for a better advancement and also that the rent of electrical bikes will democratize internationally which would be a good point for the urban development just like in Le Havre.

SDGs 10 (Reduced Inequalities) and 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities)

I think that in Singapore, one of the more pressing issues that is often ignored is the stigmatisation surrounding Persons with Intellectual Disabilities (PWIDs). Thankfully, PWIDs generally aren't subject to overt discrimination or abuse here. However, the general public's lack of awareness on intellectual disabilities leads to PWIDs being socially ostracised.

There are organisations here that both aid and empower PWIDs, as well as attempt to spotlight PWIDs and break the stigma surrounding them. I have volunteered extensively for two such organisations, Special Olympics Singapore (SOSG) and Down Syndrome Association Singapore (DSA), even organising initiatives and activities like amazing races and seminars for the former organisation. Volunteering with SOSG was my first experience interacting with PWIDs, and the experience was extremely pleasant and wholesome. Seeing the beneficiaries' smiles always makes the time and effort I put into volunteering worth it, and makes me even more passionate about the cause! On the downside, it also made me realise that many Singaporeans did not know the difference between the Paralympics and Special Olympics, thus highlighting the critical lack of awareness PWIDs face. With DSA, I spent slightly more than a month going down on weekdays from 9am to 4pm helping and interacting closely with people with Down Syndrome. Through talking with the staff at DSA, and through observing my surroundings more consciously, I realised that Singapore is not really a PWID-friendly place in terms of public facilities and amenities. However, efforts like the Enabling Village and slightly increased public awareness in recent years have ameliorated such issues.

All in all, the biggest takeaway I have in all my time spent with PWIDs is that they are really no different than us and they have their own unique talents and strengths. And so, we as a society should work towards harnessing the strengths of PWIDs and fostering a sense of inclusivity for them.

I think that playing a role and achieving one of the goals is very important. In Italy there are some issues that I think they need to be solved, for example our politicians don't tolerate lgbt people, nowadays finding a job is hard, even if you've studied a lot and a considerable amount of people especially adults aren't open-minded so I guess we would need an innovation. In conclusion I'm willing to improve my country for our future.

I believe that gender equality is the most important SDG goal. In Korea, where the gender equality index is low, such inequality is easily felt and has become normalized. It is incredibly difficult for women to obtain high positions in companies, and they are often expected to behave and speak in a subservient manner simply because they are women. Due to the stereotype that women are good at decorating and embellishing things, I have personally experienced difficulties because I am not good at art. Therefore, I have looked for ways to practice gender equality. First, I will use my voice to stand up against gender inequality. If I feel uncomfortable, I will politely tell people that it seems unfair. For example, when someone says that boys should not cry easily, I will say, "When people want to cry, no one can stop them from crying." Additionally, there are ways to learn about and be cautious of gender stereotypes. Although I have not yet put this into practice, I believe that taking the initiative to learn and practice it would be very helpful for gender equality. By taking action to practice gender equality, we can help break down barriers and create a more inclusive and equitable society for all. I firmly believe that a society where gender equality is achieved can be created through small but valuable personal actions.

One of the big problems of our country is the huge energy inflation and the constant rise in gas prices. Our government made a decision to cap the prices to help people. Also, people all over our country help citizens from Ukraine by sending them various medical supplies or money, and we provide asylum to refugees. It is very important to be interested and try to achieve the SDGs because this world is our future in which we will live and raise our children.

I believe the theme of the summit is a great way to get young people like us to work hard for the world in order to achieve the UN SDGs, as we are going to be the future leaders and we need to be prepared;
I live in Italy, and I often hear my compatriots saying our country is backward-looking, and it is many ways, but because I like looking at the positive side, I always remind my co-citizens about how sanitary service is free for everybody, which is a big step forward.

I think that right now, Italy is struggling to find strong institutions. A lot of people are unhappy with the different political parties, and in my personal opinion we don't have a strong lead upon the Parlament that can provide good decisions for our country. For example, i think that one of our most urgent goals as a country is to create a good action plan to harbour the immigrants that are arriving from Africa. Host them, provide medical care and vaccins if they need, and try to integrate them in our society. These reception centers along with more schools will also solve another big problem in Italy, unemployment among young citizens, creating tons of new jobs opportunities. Of course, all this can't be done without some help from the EU, but i think we mustn't turn our backs and not providing our help to other people that are just trying to escape war and find a better life.

In Italy, SDGs and their goals are very important. In the last years, in fact, there have been implemented a lot of policies that follow the ONU’s goals. The focus in the last years has been more on the environment, clean energy and poverty, which are three of the most important goals. Some of these policies are influencing even everyday life, in fact in every part of Italy separate collection of waste is mandatory and older cars can’t access cities, to limit pollution. I think that there are still many struggles, in fact the eighth goal (decent work and economic growth) may be the farthest to be reached. Still, the work that has been don and is being done is amazing, but, as a country, we are quite far to reach the United Nations goals.

Spain is facing quite a handful of struggles at the moment, some being more impactful than others. I'll be focusing on gender equality on this paragraph though, now that we're pretty close to March 8th (international women's day). As surprising as it may seem, we, in 2023, are still facing gender inequality and violent attacks directed to women. That is why we gather around on March 8th and go on the streets to manifest ourselves and make a change. Our goverment is taking actions regarding the problem and it is slowly becoming a safer country for women. A newly implemented right for women that is to be approved this month is for them to have free anticontraceptive methods until 29 years old, which aims to lower early unwanted pregnancy and, therefore, to decrease chances of contracting an STD.
Sexual assault is being condemned more emphatically thanks to new laws recently approved. On the other side, not everything is positive, as there are some decisions regarding these problems that inversely affect what we're trying to accomplish.
It's definetly a work in progress.

In Spain, clean energy is the most important project for energy in all Europe. The policies are opening a lot of wind energy parks in the whole country and we use a lot of clean energy in Spain. A 47% approximately is the percentage of the clean Energy that we use and the objective is to increase it in the next few years. This energy is better for the environment and is cheaper than the polluting energies. The government is taking actions to accelerate this project. For example, in 2030 all thermal power plants will be close and the most ambitious objective is in the year 2050 only use renewable energy.

In my opinion the summit theme is very essential for really understanding the struggle to achieve the Goals, it is easy to talk about them and make rhetorical speeches, but it is harder to make them real. I want to say something about what I actively do to achieve the Goal 12: I try to avoid any waste of food or to buy objects I know I don’t really need only because advertised by the social media or by the influencers. In my opinion the biggest struggle my country is facing is to achieve Goal 4, if the students aren’t well taught they can’t fight to improve the situation in the world and we can’t achieve all the Goals

Last year has definitely proved to be a one of a kind for me. For the first time I’ve felt unsafe in my country, and it was not something I ever wanna feel again. Therefore the 16th goal is the one I believe is the most important one right now in regard to situation in my part of the world. Poland is one of the countries which have helped Ukraine the most, both in regard of military and accepting refugees. It is my belief that the world shouldn’t be forced to do that though. Everyday of this war, people die and a beautiful country such as Ukraine, gets destroyed further more. It is impossible to fulfill other GOALS, while there is raging war on hand. For development and growth of a country, there needs to be a stable environment to be able to build on.

Ecological problems on our planet have worried me since 2018. I started to read articles and watch documentaries about the difficulties the environment faces and what we humans can do to help. I wanted to find my way of supporting life on land, and I did so in 2019. Once a year, I gather with my friends to plant trees and small plants in the nearby forests and parks. Of course, everything is done with the consent of the owners. Our biggest motivation is that one planted tree is the oxygen for three people, which may not sound like a lot but is very meaningful for our species. Each year it is an essential event for me because I provide help for my city as well as the people in it.

In the world of today, every country faces different challenges. Whether it be poverty, inequality, environment, and much more. All of these issues are impeding on our lives, and this is why the UN SDGs are adamant to our continuity. By achieving just 17 goals, we can lead the path to a brighter future.
Lebanon's contribution to the SDGs would require a coordinated and integrated approach that involves multiple sectors, stakeholders, and levels of government. Unfortunately, the country isn’t exactly stable and due to multiple crises, struggles to achieve SDGs. However, in the country, so many people strive to help others in different ways. Lebanon could help reduce poverty by promoting inclusive economic growth and creating job opportunities by investing in infrastructure, encouraging entrepreneurship, and improving access to education and training. The Lebanese people try their best to stop poverty through charities, donations and more, but with the raising inflation (123.53%), it is getting more and more difficult to achieve stability. Moreover, Lebanon can increase access to quality education, investing in teacher training, and supporting innovation in education. Today, most schools in this country are private, and the few public schools available are closed Over one million children don’t have access to education in 2023, in a population of five million. Thankfully, multiple organizations send out people to volunteer and teach children living in the streets to further their education and knowledge. Furthermore, this country is rich in water resources, and is home to 40 rivers. Access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene is the most basic human need for health and well-being. Upgrading water treatment facilities, improving water distribution systems, and promoting water conservation are all goals this country should strive to achieve. Thus, the multiple water sources here are an advantage to achieving this specific SDG. In addition, gender equality is a must, a fundamental right that should be implemented in Lebanon. Today, women are still put aside because of their gender. Multiple associations in the country help by working to eliminate discrimination and violence against women and girls. They promote equal pay, access to education and training for women, and address social norms that perpetuate gender inequality. Other than gender discrimination, the people also fight against stereotypes and promote peaceful societies, justice for all and inclusive institutions, whatever a persons’ ethnicity, faith or sexual orientation.
The Covid-19 pandemic hit Lebanon very harshly. With the ongoing inflation, social gaps and increasing crises, most global issues have gotten worse. Malnutrition is at its highest since the civil war, and 37% of the population lives with food insecurity. Also, this pandemic has increased mental instability, specifically in teenagers forced into confinement, or people who have lost their jobs, in terms of anxiety or depression. Medicine isn’t always available, and hospitals are overrun. Fortunately, multiple groups of civilians are put together to combat these issues, opening their homes to sick patients, driving to offer food and water, and so much more.
Overall, Lebanon has the potential to make significant contributions to achieving the SDGs, and thanks to the Lebanese people, is able to sustain itself enough to make those changes in the future.

France passed a new parental leave law in 2015. The purpose of this law was to lessen the negative effects that having a child has on a woman's career; after all, mothers take longer parental absences than fathers and are less inclined to return to work. This legislation was designed to ensure that both parents share the paid leave time, but because most fathers were unaware of their right to longer, shared leaves, it is, still, not shared equally between men and women even though it helped mothers return to the workforce sooner as they felt more confident knowing that their partner could take a leave to raise their kid if needed.

In my opinion, this law was still beneficial to women, even if there is still room for improvement on gender equality in the workplace, especially for women after having children.

Although Czechia is a small country, it does not neglect its global responsibility. Our country and most of citizens, that I know, are trying to help achieve SDGs, without even knowing what SDGs are. I will explain it with an example. When you shop, eat and drink locally, you support neighborhood businesses that keeps people employed and it circulates money back into your community. When you take public transport or drive bike instead of car, you are also helping to keep your city and community sustainable. So even if you just shop at local shops, you still play a role in achieving our goal - sustainable development.

The ODS in Spain

Spain ranks 16th out of 163 countries in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (ODS). This makes it one of the most important countries in sustainable development

I focused on point 14. Live below water
Point 14 wants to protect marine and coastal ecosystems in a way that puts an end to the worst practices, such as dumping toxic materials into the ocean and illegal fishing practices such as trawling, and also promotes scientific research in the field of marine technology and including promoting artisanal fisheries and promoting and strengthening international law relating to oceans and seas.

Spain is one of the most vulnerable countries in Europe to climate change because it has nearly 8,000 kilometers of coastline where millions of people live and depend on the sea and healthy coastal areas. The surface temperature of the Mediterranean is increasing at a rate of 0.34 degrees per decade since the early 1980s. This contribution of heat is producing, in addition to an increase in its level estimated at 3.4 mm per year, an increase of the number of tropical nights, currently extended to more than 60.


Which are the goals Spain wants to achieve in the near future?

In 2025, prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds, in particular from land-based activities, including marine debris and nutrient pollution
Minimize and address the effects of ocean acidification, including through greater scientific cooperation at all levels
In 2030, increase the economic benefits that small island developing States and least developed countries derive from the sustainable use of marine resources, including through the sustainable management of fisheries, aquaculture and tourism

A big problem that is Czechia facing right now is deforestation. In the last few years there has been a big drought in the summers. The bark beetle attacks trees weakened by drought and leaves behind a damaged landscape. Another problem is that the original mixed forests were replaced by spruce forests and since this beetle only attacks spruces, the calamity spread faster. Almost one third of the forests in the Czech Republic has disappeared. Solving the bark beetle calamity is a long-term and complex task. The most important step will be the planting new mixed forests. We must pay attention to what is happening in our forests and harvest the attacked wood quickly so that the beetle cannot reproduce. It is necessary to prevent this from ever happening again.

To achieve the goal of zero hunger, my country, the United States has been implementing policies to get us closer to that accomplishment. This is done not only through a national scale, but also on a county or community level. For example, in Loudoun County, we used to have free or reduced lunch. However, this year we have free lunch for everyone. Nationwide, the students who are eligible for free lunch will receive free lunch, but the rest of the students have to pay for it. I think we should move towards making school lunch free for everyone, as now I see a lot more people in the county getting lunch, including myself.

The Sardinia2030 Regional Strategy

The Sardegna2030 Regional Strategy, approved on 6th October 2021, is the long-term vision for the Sardinia we want by 2030. An agenda of goals to be achieved and actions to be taken.
Following the sustainable development method according to the 2030 Agenda and its SDGs, the Strategic Regional Goals of the Sardegna2030 Strategy are based on environmental protection, well-being and social inclusion, and prosperity and economic equity.
Human well-being is intrinsically linked to the health of the natural ecosystems to which it belongs, just as Sardinia is a constituent element of the global environment. Moreover, the climate crisis and the growing awareness of the effects of climate change, underline the need for economic and social models in terms of sustainable development. The Regional Strategy for Sustainable Development represents an important opportunity to integrate aspects of climate change mitigation and adaptation into the regional programming and planning. The Regional Climate Change Adaptation Strategy (adopted on 5th February 2019), was drawn up based on a specific study on future climate scenarios of Sardinia up to 2050. Subsequently, the Objectives of the Regional Strategy for Sustainable Development have been developed within this specific regional framework.
Sardegna2030 should be seen with an open eye on our territory but also on the rest of the planet, where the cultural element and the collaboration between institutions and citizenship promote and support policies focused on integration and the wellbeing for all, leaving no-one behind.

Strategic Themes and Objectives of the Regional Strategy
The central role of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the 2030 Agenda coincide with the 5 Strategic Themes of the Regional Strategy, and are as follows:

A SMARTER SARDINIA with a strengthened administrative capacity, a greater competitiveness of the production system oriented towards innovation.
A GREENER SARDINIA, for the conservation, management, and enhancement of resources and land for an ecological and resilient transition and climate change.
A MORE CONNECTED SARDINIA, for an inclusive connectivity based on sustainable mobility and digital accessibility.
A MORE SOCIAL SARDINIA, for a widespread well-being based on health, training, skills and work, social inclusion, equality, and culture.
A SARDINIA CLOSER TO CITIZEN, that invests in the governance for territorial development plans.

In Italy was established the Control Room "Wellness Italy",the body of the Presidency of the Council responsible for "coordinating, monitoring,measure and improve the policies of all ministries in the name of citizens' well-being". It is a a tool that allows the Government to promote fair and sustainable welfare through the definition of new approaches and new policies. In 2020 Italy was the third State in Europe according to the second goal(Zero hunger). Between 2019 and 2020 Italy has improved only in three objectives: energy system, fight against climate change, justice and sound institutions.

United States of America

The United States struggles domestically with many weather phenomenons associated with climate change. From things like wild fires in California, to severe snowstorms in the same state just months later. This also leads to a large housing and humanitarian crisis in many communities that are impacted by these disasters. However, The United States enacted the Biden Climate Plan, which is supposed to reduce carbon emissions in the US by 65% by 2030.

The 13th goal of the SDG is climate action. I believe that meat-eating is a significant factor that contributes to climate change by generating substantial greenhouse gases during processing. According to the UNFAO’s report, the livestock industry is responsible for 18% of all greenhouse gas emissions from human activities, surpassing even global transportation. Many people have realized the environmental effects of meat-eating. Therefore, interest in vegetarian diets is increasing, with more companies and restaurants catering to vegetarians. While it can be challenging for everyone to adopt a fully vegetarian lifestyle, small changes such as cutting back on meat consumption, implementing Meatless Mondays, and researching vegetarian recipes can go a long way in helping to achieve SDG 13.

Although Lebanon was a nation that aimed at adopting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in all of its processes, it was not able to maintain that due to alarming levels of corruption. Fortunately, Lebanese civic engagement societies, such as NGOs, have been epitomes of sustainability, as they have thrived to fill all governmental voids and supply the citizens with their needs, both short-term and long-term, and improving infrastructure to promote sustainability with all present means.

In accordance with the 17 Sustainable Development Goals, on a personal scale, I participated in multiple MUN conferences locally and internationally, which promote SDGs in all the topics tackled. However, on a national scale to ensure that the SDGs are met, Lebanon is taking a number of steps to promote good governance and combat corruption. This includes strengthening existing institutions and creating new ones, such as the Anti-Corruption Authority. Additionally, the government is increasing transparency in public procurement processes, as well as making sure that all citizens have access to quality education and healthcare services. To further promote economic growth, Lebanon is investing in renewable energy sources and has implemented an energy efficiency program. Finally, the government is also working to create more job opportunities and attract foreign investments.

COVID-19 has completely changed our lives, including not only a drop in earned income but also in the education. A huge learning gap widened, resulting in a difference of more than 10 points in students’ average score.
Therefore digital technology has become the lifeblood of education in the era of COVID-19. As remote or blended classes expanded, a wide variety of online platforms were used. In the process, our society did not only provide recorded video clips of classes but also made efforts to create an educational environment using Edutec. In particular, the government invested great amount of money in narrowing the educational gap by distributing free electronic devices for low-income children.
As we live in an era where the quality of education has a direct impact on our lives, we must change the foundation of education in line with unexpected changes, and create a world where everyone can receive and share high-quality education.

The 17 sustainable development goals of the United National were put in place for the purpose of eradicating world poverty and hunger. While researching them, I realized that every single one is at least loosely related to education. In that prospect, I can proudly say that Lebanon’s education standards are among the best in the world! Unfortunately, only private schools are able to function in a country with little to no electricity, plunged into one of the worst economic crises ever known to man. Nevertheless, in the midst of impending tragedies, the good people of Lebanon are striving to get out of this crater: hundreds of NGOs have been working tirelessly to relieve victims of their suffering, providing the homeless with shelters, the hurt with healthcare, the impoverished with stable jobs, and the illiterate with quality education.
Just the other day, I read about how amputated people now have a safe place where they can learn to play soccer with their disability, all while being protected from job discrimination!
Lebanon is far from perfect; in fact, some may say it will never get better. However, I believe that if the good Lebanese play their role in achieving the UN SDGs and repairing all the damage done, then we just might have a chance to get out of this mess.

I hope that sustainable energy will be a tool for solving many problems that we face on Earth.

Sustainable energy refers to energy sources that are renewable, non-polluting, and can be replenished naturally. With these characteristics, sustainable energy can be the solution of problems like climate change, energy security, and rising energy costs.

For example, a Korean eco start-up used sustainable energy to provide a practical solution to the energy access and education challenges faced by low-income African families. Solar cows, which are a solar charging system, charge portable batteries while kids take classes at school. They can arrive home with fully charged batteries which can be used to power mobile phones, LED lights, and other small devices. Solar energy was an appropriate solution for Africa, which required only a small amount of electricity.

The current issue in Korea is the sharp increase in electricity and heating bills due to the global rise in energy prices. To address this, I suggest to consider using sustainable energy sources, such as solar power. I am also committed to continuing to learn more about sustainable energy.

Lebanon has made significant efforts to achieve the SDGs, and the country has developed a national framework to implement them. The government has also developed a National Voluntary Review (NVR) report that reviews the progress made towards achieving the SDGs.

One of the significant struggles faced by Lebanon is the economic crisis that has led to high unemployment rates, inflation, and poverty. In response to this, the government has implemented various policies to tackle poverty and hunger, which is SDG 1. For instance, the government has launched the National Poverty Targeting Program, which provides cash assistance to vulnerable families. Additionally, Lebanon has increased investment in agriculture to boost food security.

Another significant challenge facing Lebanon is the lack of access to clean water and sanitation, which is SDG 6. The country has implemented various policies to address this challenge, including investing in infrastructure and providing education to improve hygiene practices. However, the country is facing a shortage of resources, including water, which has been exacerbated by the Syrian refugee crisis.

Furthermore, Lebanon is also implementing policies to address climate change, which is SDG 13. The country has developed a national strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase the share of renewable energy sources. However, the country's efforts are hindered by the lack of resources and the economic crisis.

In conclusion, Lebanon is facing significant challenges in achieving the UN SDGs, especially given the current economic crisis and the Syrian refugee crisis. However, the country has implemented various policies to address poverty, hunger, water and sanitation, and climate change. Achieving these goals will require the government's commitment and support from the international community.

Because, as the UN’s third goal states, “ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being is important to building prosperous societies,” the American Red Cross’ Park View High School chapter worked in the fall of 2022 to raise over $974 in a fundraiser where each dollar equals one measles and rubella vaccine for someone in an underserved country. I’m proud to say that Park View’s Red Cross members (one of which I am) prevented almost a thousand people from suffering the negative effects of measles and rubella, which includes death.

Helping to meet the UN’s twelfth goal of “ensur[ing] sustainable consumption and production patterns” is Virginia - particularly Loudoun County, the county I live in, which passed a five cent tax on plastic bags July 1st, 2022. I know it’s convinced my family to bring our reusable bags to the grocery store! There is the issue of simply remembering to bring one’s reusable bags, but overall, the penalty has very much reduced the use of plastic bags in my own house, and, I assume, the wider community of Loudoun County.

Vladislav Moreira Arnaut

Recently the government of Spain approved a new project (PERTE) by its acronym in Spanish, Strategic Project for Economic Recovery and Transformation. It consists of a macro-investment in order to promote renewable energies, emphasizing green hydrogen, since it is considered strategic for the Spanish state. The government will invest 6.9 billion euros which is expected to attract private investments worth close to 10 billion.

In order to alleviate poverty in South Africa in 2023, SONA has stated that the following will be done. South Africa will strengthen the social wage through no-fee schools, free basic services and subsidized public transport. Improve the affordability, safety and integration of commuter transport for low income households as well as accelerating housing and land to poor South Africans. The large costs of commuting as well as poor public transport contributes towards poverty in South Africa so in order to fix this issue South Africa is addressing the challenges facing the Passenger Rail Agency by putting in the works to provide safe and reliable passenger rail services to benefit commuters. Over 7000 new trains will be manufactured as part of PRASA’s Rail rolling stock fleet renewal programme over a period of 20 years. South Africa’s Department of Basic Education is also implementing a 3 year recovery plan in response to the damage covid caused to learners and education by gradually recovering learning losses whilst building on the foundational content required for future learning. South Africa’s energy crisis is currently taking a toll on our food supply which is why we are currently experiencing inflation. In order to provide school children with lunches in less privileged communities, Durban Girls College is currently collecting sandwiches and fruit every wednesday in order to help reduce the crisis. We as a school also participate in an organization called the Bambayi Project where every friday girls can help teach less privileged children in schools math etc… in order to help reduce poverty.

A prevalent issue in South Africa today is the large gap between the rich and the poor. This is somewhat due to the cycle of poverty - children whose families could not fund their education are forced to work for low wages in unskilled labour positions, and the cycle continues. Quality education would help combat this. That’s why I spend some afternoons and weekends volunteering at a Montessori preschool in an impoverished area of my city. Montessori education is definitely quality as it takes a unique approach to education. Children are taught to learn actively instead of passively, subjects are integrated to provide a holistic understanding of them, and social skills are throughly developed. A well-rounded education such as this provides a strong foundation for the children I work with, enabling them to meet the demands of a curriculum that changes drastically after preschool. This can go a long way towards aiding them in the rest of their schooling, consequently providing them with more options in the workplace. This will, in turn, allow some of them to break free of the cycle of poverty.

South Africa is a third world country that suffers from extreme poverty, little to no public healthcare, limited access to education and many more issues that the average South African suffers from daily. As a school, DGC, we participate in numerous outreach programs such as the Bamabyi Project. Here we teach underprivileged children from informal settlements math every Friday after school. Personally I also do many forms of community service from donating blood, donating, helping out at the SPCA and Guide Dogs associations as I feel it is important to acknowledge my privileges' and help those who are less so than myself. I can't wait to get started with this project and to get to know everyone!

One of the Sustainable Development Goals is quality education which is something that many South African public schools don’t have. Education is the pathway to someone’s future success and without the right education, there would be an increase in unemployment rates which leads to more: poverty, crime and hunger. Public schools in South Africa usually lack the facilities to learn (such as textbooks and stationery) and have many students to one teacher in a class (this means that each individual student doesn’t get the right help if they are struggling to grasp a concept). It is hard for pupils to learn like this and it is important for us to intervene which is why I find it so fulfilling that I am a part of my school’s Bhambayi Project. In this project, students from Durban Girl’s College go to a closeby informal settlement called Bhambayi where we tutor children from grade R to 12 on maths (and english for younger grades), giving each student the individual attention that they need to learn. We also donate many textbooks and stationery supplies to them at the end of the year. I think it is important that schools do things like this to help because they can make such a difference in someone’s life.

lebanon has been facing a political and economic crisis for several years,after many earthquakes and explosions the people didnt give up and our country decided to adopt the SDGs couple years ago.After facing many challenges this country knew how to help each other, we continued because we know we have goals to achieve and focus on important topics that would make a change to make lebanon and the world a better place. we prioritize 6 main substainable development such as: energy security, protect natural habits, develop infrastructure, build instatutional administrative capacities , improve social protection systems ,acheive employement generating economic growth after many citizens loosing their jobs do to the economic situation or being payed unfairly.
we have many associations to help different factors affecting our country, after loosing power in most regions we implemented more solar panels in every house, after a lot of poverty and hunger where every house is living with less than 200$ a month the citizens and schools are donating and participating in making these peoples lives better,refugee camps are open always , and we hope to continue to see a bigger change in these peoples lives.

Amidst South Africa’s beautiful fauna and flora, are struggles its citizens face.
The most prominent struggles would be the high unemployment rate, the lack of energy stability and the high crime rate. The goal that ultimately achieves all goals; whether they have to do with the economy, equality, sustainability; is goal number 4 - Quality Education. This goal is significant as it enables South African citizens to lead a better quality of life with stable incomes, health care and households. This can be achieved while developing sustainable, innovative technology; gifting us the ability to make well- educated decisions that will directly lead to a better future, economically and environmentally. To achieve this goal: Quality Education, South African schools and universities offer a wide range of scholarships and financial support to learners. I am involved in The Bhambayi Project (https://www.bhambayiproject.co.za/) where underprivileged students are taught English and Maths. Volunteering at orphaned local Baby Homes has also become a hobby of mine. In conjunction with me using electricity sparingly, South Africa has appointed a new minister of Electricity to tackle the energy crisis. There has also been a recent reshuffle of the cabinet. The words from our President Cyril Ramaphosa,”All parts of government are focused on addressing those issues that concern South Africans the most: load shedding, unemployment, poverty and the rising cost of living, and crime and corruption,” give us hope.

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Bosnia and Herzegovina, a country located in southeastern Europe, has made significant progress in recent years towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). However, there are still many challenges that the country and its communities face in achieving these goals, including high levels of poverty, inequality, and environmental degradation.

One of the key areas where Bosnia and Herzegovina is making progress toward the SDGs is in promoting sustainable economic growth and decent work for all. The country has implemented several policies and initiatives to promote entrepreneurship and job creation, including tax incentives for small and medium-sized enterprises and training programs for young people.

However, there are still significant challenges in the labor market, particularly for women and marginalized groups. Women in Bosnia and Herzegovina continue to face discrimination in the workplace, with lower rates of labor force participation and higher rates of unemployment than men. Marginalized groups, including Roma communities and people with disabilities, also face significant barriers to employment and access to decent work.

Another area where Bosnia and Herzegovina is making progress towards the SDGs is in promoting access to quality education for all. The country has implemented several initiatives to improve access to education, including a program to provide free textbooks to students and efforts to promote inclusive education for children with disabilities.

However, access to education remains a challenge in certain parts of the country, particularly in rural areas and among marginalized communities. Many children in these areas do not have access to quality education, and there are significant disparities in education outcomes between urban and rural areas.

Finally, Bosnia and Herzegovina is also making progress towards the SDGs in promoting environmental sustainability and addressing climate change. The country has implemented several policies and initiatives to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, including investments in renewable energy and energy efficiency measures.

However, environmental degradation remains a significant challenge in Bosnia and Herzegovina, particularly in areas affected by the country's recent conflicts. Land mines and unexploded ordnance pose a significant threat to human health and the environment, and there are also concerns about the impact of illegal logging and pollution on air and water quality.

In conclusion, Bosnia and Herzegovina is making progress towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, but there are still significant challenges that need to be addressed. The country and its communities face high levels of poverty, inequality, and environmental degradation, and there are significant disparities in access to education and decent work. To achieve the SDGs, Bosnia and Herzegovina will need to continue to implement policies and initiatives that promote sustainable economic growth, social inclusion, and environmental sustainability, while also addressing the specific challenges faced by marginalized communities.

Upon the goal 13, climate action, in our school we’re doing many recycling projects like, instead of throwing away our old phones, there’s special bins when it’s full they’ll be donated to some center, will be disassembled and use the functioning pieces. We also have bins for recycling in every class, and bins for bottle caps so they can be melted and reused to make something else out of them. In Italy we are promoting recycling by putting more bins in open spaces and supporting volunteering acts like cleaning the streets from all the dirt thrown. In italy I think the percentage of pollution went down, but it is still there and i can see it clearly, all the bottles on the floor, all the chemical pollution in rivers or lakes are proof of my statement, but I can also see some hope thanks to the few people that are actually trying to save the planet.

GOAL 4 – Quality education

Estonia has good opportunities for acquiring education as it is equally accessible to all groups in society and is of good quality (as shown by the PISA survey). Education is equally accessible to women and men.

To ensure quality education, Estonia has aims to establish a state upper secondary school with a modern study environment and study organisation in each county centre. In the academic year 2019/2020, Estonia opened up 15 state upper secondary schools in 13 counties. In 2018 Estonia changed the organisation of studies for students with special educational needs and increased state budget support for local governments and private general education providers.

There are quite a number of non-governmental organisations, which help to improve the quality of Estonia’s education system. For instance organisations which deal with bullying, the key issues in Estonian general education and so on. To ensure international cooperation in education, Estonia awards scholarships to students from developing countries to study in various Estonian universities.

There are also problems regarding Estonia’s education system. Firstly, Estonia should provide a better support system for students with Russian as their mother tongue, who tend to go to vocational school instead of gymnasium because of the language barrier. Estonia should offer better ways for Russian students to learn Estonian so they could acquire the best education possible.

Secondly, the teachers salaries do not correspond to the work put in by the teachers. This underfunding leads to a situation where in many schools the implementation of the national curricula is no longer taking place.

In conclusion, Estonia’s education system is effective and accessible. However, our education system still has its flaws and ways to improve.

After learning about the sustainable development goals, one that really stood out to me was goal number 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities. I believe that it is really important that cities provide opportunities for all. This includes basic services, energy, housing and transportation.
Inflation is unbelievable here and more people are struggling to pay for necessities everyday. Gas, food and electricity prices are high and there is not much we can do about it right now. However, even though there is a long way to go I am very lucky to live in Tallinn, where public transportation is free to all people who live in the city. Because I am sixteen, I can not yet drive a car by myself and I use public transportation everyday. If I had to buy a ticket for a bus to get to school, trainings and back home every day, it would cost a fortune and I believe that not everyone would be able to afford it. Thankfully that is not the case. However I am aware that it is not like that everywhere.
I believe that it should change, because if public transport was more accessible everywhere people might not have to drive cars so much and eventually that would lead to less pollution and cities that overall have less cars, traffic jams and more greenery.

In Poland we have a lot of industries that poorly affect the environment. Especially the air pollution is a really bad result of the way we conduct society. In the past years we have made strives to improve the quality of our air, and the overall environment. We have built many green spaces, created a new garbage sorting system, banned the usage of fireplaces, and have made our public transportation system more reliant on sustainable energy sources. I am a big believer in everyone doing a little everyday to make the world a better place(shout out to Micheal Jackson), and being able to sort my trash correctly has made me more conscience of the materials I use and how I dispose of them.

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Even though Bosnia and Herzegovina is not one of the most developed countries, our country is working on achieving visions and developments of Good Governance and Public Sector Management. In addition to that, here are some of the achievements from Ministry of Labour, Social Policy, Displaced Persons and Refugees of Sarajevo Canton that are helping in SDGS framework;

-The Strategic Platform of the Demographic Development Strategy of the Canton of Sarajevo has been prepared - the Ministry of Labour, Social Policy, Displaced Persons and Refugees of the Canton of Sarajevo invites the interested public to participate in the consultation process.

-Payment of social benefits for beneficiaries in Sarajevo Canton begins. The aforementioned funds were allocated to 4,445 beneficiaries of permanent financial assistance, namely: financial compensation for assistance and care from another person, one-time assistance, exceptional assistance, compensation for placement in another family, as well as for placement in social protection institutions, compensation for health care , for training for life and work, and for reimbursement of medical examinations.

Payment of compensation to civilian victims of the war in Sarajevo Canton has begun. As they state, compensation has been paid for 3,127 beneficiaries with the status of civilian victims of war. A total of KM 1,106,090.88 was allocated for this purpose from the KS Budget.

With all of these statements, we can see that our country is being very responsible with the money from the Public Sector and that the well being of people can improve in the long term.

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Diversity is an asset of every society or a stumbling block for ensuring equality. An inclusive, tolerant and equal society respects and and appreciates diversity, improves existing ones and provides new opportunities. People with disabilities in Bosnia and Herzegovina are faced with numerous obstacles to equal participation in society, but with the joint efforts of associations and individuals and the dedicated support of the European Union, positive developments and successful results are visible.

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Learning about SDG interested me into doing my research on development of my country, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
In response to development challenges three broad directions of sustainable development in Bosnia and Herzegovina were determined. Good governance and managment of the public sector, smart growth, a society of equal opportunities. As for smart growth the basic prerequisite for sustainable economic growth and development is a competitive and innovative economy that adapts to the global market, striving to be included in global value chains. The easiest way to global and regional competitiveness is innovation, both technological and organizational. Such an economy creates higher-income jobs and career opportunities for young and educated people who are just entering the labor market.
As for myself, I've done a lot of voulonteering in the past with hopes it will have an affect on general development of my country. Smart growth has a lot of affect on young people planning to stay in our country and they should definetly be introduced do the SDG. Together, we can make this World a better place for all of us.

Bosnia and Herzegovina

When we are talking about my local area there is a lot of litter there. Because there are 3 schools in that area and kids are the ones that usually throw it. When I was in primary school we would occasionally clean up the litter in those local areas so we could prevent pollution. When we talk about smart growth Bosnia has reached its peak. There is a online marketing site called monetize ad and its reaching new heights every day. I know a lot of people that work there and they all say they get paid good and they enjoy working there. That's when we are talking about online marketing. There are a lot of more sectors in which Bosnia is improving rapidly. That's why I think that by 2030 Bosnia has a high chance achieving all SDG goals.

Bosnia and Herzegovina

A SOCIETY OF EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES!
The best way to develope our country is by raising awareness about our people and making rights for them. Everyone has their rights in voting and there should not be any difference between men and woman. Everyone should be able to have an education and the best way is if our schools are not expensive so that everyone can afford it. Not just education, but work positions as well. There needs to be insurance included and a stable job. Therefore, every person has right in everything and we need to make sure that everyone gets it. I had one exhibition where I soled my drawing and that money went to charity. There are also many other charities like “Pomozi.ba” for helping other people in need. That way we increase our country and make it stronger!

My name is Aminata Chipembere and I’m from the American International School of Costa Rica. I have lived in Costa Rica for the last nine years. During this time, I have seen Costa Rica become one of the pioneers of sustainability in Latin America. Over the last 50 years, Costa Rica has worked towards creating a cleaner environment. Costa Rica is currently one of the most sustainable countries in the world. Since the early 1990s, Costa Rica has created countless projects to promote climate action and clean energy. Costa Rica has since established national parks, promoted ecotourism, and worked towards organic farming. In 2019, Costa Rica received the Champions of the Earth award from the United Nations. This award was given in recognition of all the work the country has done to protect the environment and combat climate change. Currently, Costa Rica is working on protecting its diverse ecosystem and creating a completely green economy by limiting fossil fuels. These projects have become a major part of everyday life. My school is currently working in cooperation with UNESCO to help push Costa Rica’s promise to educate the country about the environment. In our school, we have been working on an eco-bricks project. This project directly correlates with UNESCO's goal to fight climate change and limit pollution. The eco-brick project requires students to collect plastics to create reusable building blocks. I am currently part of another project that is meant to improve the quality of education for orphan kids in Costa Rica. We are currently working with students from around the country who need help learning English and are tutoring them. These projects have been an amazing learning experience. I have been able to see the impact the UNESCO development goals can have on the world. I want to help to create a cleaner and more sustainable environment for future generations.

A perfect country is not likely to occur, but there are thousands of way to improve the living conditions for citizens. One SDG is to end poverty, a county at which every person has or at least had a source of income to provide at least for the basic standard limits of life. Having more workers is not only going to have an economic impact, it will have a big social impact since homeless people will not be homeless and they would have the chance to interact and be part of society. Many other SDG goals are similar to the first one, for example "zero hunger", "Good health and well-being", "quality education" and many more, these are related because when a person has a source of income they can provide their families and themselves, food, education, medical health and more. Gender equality is another goal that has to be solved, nowadays there is many people, men as well as females that believe that their gender should deserve more respect but the truth is that both genders should be treaded equally. This country will be liberal, where each individual has the opportunity to chose their religion, creating peace and justice.

The UN SDG I mostly help out with is responsible consumption, specifically at home. Some of the things we do in our household to help achieve this are turning off lights when they're not being used to save electricity as well as using water in conscious ways. We try to generate the least amount of trash possible by composting and trying to buy products that won't only have one use, we also have solar panels that provide some of the house with clean energy. I'd say Costa Rica struggles the most with poverty and consumption. Almost everywhere you go, on the road or on sidewalks, you'll find at least a wrapper or a bottle since there aren't enough trash cans on the street and mostly in our capital, San José, there are people without a home that don't have any money to be able to buy food or any of their basic necessities, they resort to looking for food in trash or asking' for money on the street.

To help achieve one of the UN SDGs Cost Rica is still supporing and promoting Human Rights. Costa Rica has supported actions to sensitize the population about the adoption of equal marriage. In Costa Rica disabled people aren't really inserted into it's society since a lot of palces don't even have ramps for example, so a person in a wheel chair could not be able to come into these places without the help of someone. Cost Rica is contributing to the national strategy for the insertion of people with disabilities and the elimination of child labour. Costa Rica just like most of the world has a big problem with femicides but with the UN's accompaniment Cost Rica has reduced femicides by nearly 50% in the last coupl e of years. The United Nations has also supported the country's historical vision in terms of the environment, energy, and adaptation to climate change, through actions like protectecting areas such as national parks and biological reserves, sanitation and water, electric mobility, and also help change to a decarbonized economy.

South Africa has faced and continues to face numerous struggles. One of the major problems in our country today is the lack of water leading to a lack of sanitation. South Africa is facing a water scarcity crisis, with many areas experiencing severe droughts and water shortages, which has a significant impact on agriculture, industry, and households. In order to achieve the SDG of clean water and sanitation, our country and its government is trying to solve this water insecurity problem by engineering dams and 'importing' water through inter-basin transfer schemes.

My name is Samuel Clunies-Ross and I’ve lived in Canada for 15 years of my life. Where I lived in Canada there were many industries based on the extraction of resources and so sustainability was a major point of discussion when it came to development where I lived. Trees and lumbar are a good example of how we deal with extraction because if we don’t extract wood from a region it becomes vulnerable to a forest fire and if we overharvest then we risk turning our home into a swamp. There were also rich deposits of coal however, the majority of the power generation is hydro where I lived. There were also laws and regulations on sustainable harvest of the land, like hunting and fishing. In the case of hunting, hunting itself was used as a means to keep a population healthy by culling a herd before it could reach an infected herd. Where I lived we used extraction and harvest as a means to make extraction and harvest more sustainable. Of course there are resources that don’t replenish themselves and in those cases they aren’t sustainable but, the problem in those cases is the damage done to the environment.

Great thing about Estonia is free and good quality healthcare. It's allowing all people to get the help they need and make good decisions without worrying about money. In my opinion mental health is more acknowledged and talked about in the society. For example, nonprofit organisation called Peaasi gives lot of free information and counselling on mental health to the public. Every school has a psychologist or supporting personnel and there are free help lines working 24/7. Mental health is also talked about in the media.
One of the biggest struggles we're facing right now are the long cues to see medical specialists, such as surgeons, dermatologists. To overcome this we need to train more specialists but also focus on educating people how to live a healthy lifestyle.

One of the goals of SDG is to ensure quality education for all and to promote and inspire people to lifelong learning.  The Estonian education system is at a very good level. Children's education begins already in kindergarten, they learn through playful activities and projects. The school promotes diverse learning: in addition to regular lessons, there are many practical activities, participations in international events and competitions, visits to museums and other foundations. Estonia is very innovative in the field of education, in addition, technical tools are also used in schools, almost all educational institutions are equipped with laptops and touch-sensitive boards. It is amazing that everyone in Estonia can take part in such an education system. Education is free for all. This is precisely because it is very important to the state and the state makes its constant contribution to the financing of the education system. However, this whole system is overshadowed by one problem: there are not enough teachers in the small rural areas of Estonia. People want to develop themselves, but due to the lack of teachers, these opportunities are becoming fewer and fewer. This is definitely one issue that Estonia could and should pay more attention to in the future.