Mobilising civil society awareness on the United Nations sustainable development goals with focus on energy and buildings

Abstract

The term ‘sustainable development’ has become one of the latest buzzwords among scientists and policy makers alike, but if one had to utilise it in the right context, it would be defined as present generations meeting their needs without jeopardising the needs of future generations. This ‘future’ combines economic viability, social equity and environmental protection in harmony with one another to aid in improving the quality of life. This project has considered the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) with a focus on raising awareness on SDG 7 and 11 which address energy and sustainable cities, respectively. Through the use of qualitative and quantitative data, benchmarking for the level of awareness for these two SDGs has been carried out locally. The qualitative data included research carried out on awareness raising and the quantitative data involved the use of online questionnaires to understand people’s perception of the SDGs and the related issues that the Maltese public and environmental groups are facing. The data collected was utilised in innovative approaches such as designing posters, participating in a television programme and organising an online event called ‘Building a more Sustainable Future.’ One of the predominant outcomes of the questionnaire was lack of greenery and green spaces which was mitigated by relevant solutions such as biophilic design and walkable cities. This is not only beneficial for one’s health, but also for one’s well being. This study also concluded that giving importance to environmental issues varied with age and gender of the participants. All in all, while the level of awareness on the SDGs among the public is high, the implementation of measures and policies favouring these SDGs is often lacking or limited, which calls for a more proactive approach at all levels including sharing of experiences and learning from other good practice examples from around the world.