Introduction to the United Nations 2030 Sustainable Development Goals

This Commonwealth Association of Architects (CAA) CPD lecture provides a comprehensive introduction to the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, with particular emphasis on the role of built environment professionals in achieving the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Delivered by sustainability expert Mina Housman, the session contextualizes the urgent climate crisis, explains the interconnected framework of international agreements including the Paris Agreement and Sendai Framework, and demonstrates how each SDG can be directly influenced by design decisions. Through global case studies from diverse contexts, the lecture illustrates the practical application of SDG principles in real projects, from affordable housing to climate-adaptive infrastructure, emphasizing that architects and designers have an enormous responsibility as creators of future cities.

Outline 

• Global climate change context: examining the triple planetary crisis, population growth projections (2.4 billion additional urban dwellers by 2050), and the buildings sector’s contribution of nearly 40% of global greenhouse gas emissions
• International commitments and frameworks: overview of the Paris Agreement, IPCC Special Report on 1.5°C warming, UN Environment Programme Emissions Gap Report, Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, and Addis Ababa Action Agenda
• Detailed exploration of all 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals, with specific focus on how built environment professionals can contribute to each goal through design decisions
• Global case studies demonstrating practical applications of SDG principles across diverse contexts, from mud houses in India to climate-adaptive infrastructure in China
• Pathways to implementation through World Green Building Council’s Net Zero roadmap and Global Alliance for Buildings and Construction’s coordinated approach across urban planning, new and existing buildings, operations, systems, materials, resilience and clean energy

Learning Outcomes

The sessions learning outcomes were:

• Understand the urgency of the climate crisis recognizing that global temperatures have reached 1.1°C above pre-industrial levels, that limiting warming to 1.5°C requires unprecedented changes across society, and that the buildings sector must reach net zero carbon well before the 2050 global economy target
• Comprehend the scale of rapid urbanization with projections of 2.4 billion additional urban dwellers by 2050 (mostly in Asia and Africa), requiring over 230 billion square meters of new construction – equivalent to rebuilding the entire current global building stock
• Recognize the interconnected nature of international agreements including how the Paris Agreement, IPCC reports, Sendai Framework, and SDGs work together to address climate change, disaster risk reduction, and sustainable development holistically
• Understand that all 17 SDGs can be influenced by built environment decisions, both directly and indirectly, making architects and designers critical actors in achieving the 2030 Agenda across goals from poverty reduction to climate action
• Learn the mission of each SDG and the specific questions architects should ask themselves when designing to contribute to goals including no poverty, zero hunger, good health, quality education, gender equality, clean water, affordable energy, decent work, innovation, reduced inequalities, sustainable cities, responsible consumption, climate action, life below water, life on land, peace and justice, and partnerships
• Gain exposure to diverse global case studies demonstrating how SDG principles manifest in real projects across different scales, contexts, and typologies, from individual buildings to masterplans and urban infrastructure
• Understand the pathway to net zero carbon buildings including the four key principles of measuring and disclosing emissions, reducing energy demand, generating balance from renewables, and improving verification rigor
• Recognize the need for coordinated action across multiple scales including urban planning, new and existing buildings, operations, systems, materials, resilience, and clean energy, with engagement across public and private sectors
• Appreciate that sustainable development requires multisectoral, rights-based, and gender-sensitive approaches that address not only environmental challenges but also social inequality, health, education, and economic opportunity
• Understand the decade of action concept recognizing that the 2020s represent the most critical period for accelerating sustainable solutions and achieving the transformational change needed at unprecedented speed and scale

Core Curriculum Topics

• Sustainable Architecture
  This is the primary focus of the entire lecture, providing comprehensive coverage of climate change science, international sustainability frameworks, carbon reduction pathways, SDG principles, and the buildings sector’s critical role in achieving global climate and development targets. The session establishes the urgency and context for all sustainable architecture practice.
• Inclusive Environments
  The lecture emphasizes how architects must think holistically about the broader impacts of their design decisions across environmental, social, and economic dimensions. It demonstrates how to frame design questions through the lens of SDG missions and communicate the value of sustainable design in addressing global challenges.
• Legal, Regulatory & Statutory Compliance
  The session positions architects as standard bearers in the fight for the planet’s future, with collective professional responsibility to drive meaningful change. It emphasizes the need for bold leadership, collaboration across disciplines and sectors, and advocacy for systemic transformation in the built environment sector.

SDG Learning Outcomes

All 17 SDGs are covered comprehensively in this lecture, with particular emphasis on:

• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
  Identified as the goal with the most direct relevance to built environment professionals, focusing on making cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable – core to architectural practice.
• SDG 13: Climate Action
  Central to the lecture’s focus on urgent action to combat climate change, with detailed coverage of the Paris Agreement targets, IPCC warnings, and the buildings sector’s pathway to net zero carbon by 2050.
• SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
  Addresses the need to transform production and consumption patterns in the construction sector, particularly regarding materials selection, waste reduction, and circular economy principles.
• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals
  Emphasises that achieving all goals requires strengthened global partnerships, cross-disciplinary collaboration, and coordination between governments, organizations, and private sector actors – exemplified by initiatives like the Global Alliance for Buildings and Construction.

The following CPD questions forms part of the learning guide for this session. As different Institutions of Architecture across the Commonwealth have different CPD reporting requirements, it is suggested that you retain a copy of your responses to these questions for your records.

1. Personal SDG Awareness: Which of the 17 SDGs are you most familiar with, and which are least understood in relation to your architectural practice? How might you deepen your knowledge of those less familiar goals?
2. Project SDG Assessment: Consider a recent or current project. Which SDGs does it positively contribute to, and which might it negatively impact? How could you redesign or reframe the project to better align with multiple SDG missions?
3. Climate Action Integration: Given that the buildings sector must reach net zero carbon before 2050, what are the three most impactful changes you could make in your practice to reduce embodied and operational carbon in your projects?
4. Design Questions Framework: Select three SDGs most relevant to your typical project types. What specific questions could you routinely ask during design development to ensure your work contributes to these goals?
5. Global to Local Translation: How do the universal principles of the SDGs need to be adapted or interpreted for your local context, considering specific cultural, climatic, economic, and social conditions?
6. Collective Professional Action: What role can you play individually and through professional associations in accelerating the decade of action? How might you contribute to raising ambition and driving transformation across the broader profession?

To discover more about this project, please feel free to visit:

• https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/sustainable-development-goals/
• https://unfccc.int/process-and-meetings/the-paris-agreement 
• https://www.unep.org/resources/emissions-gap-report-2019
• https://www.undrr.org/publication/sendai-framework-disaster-risk-reduction-2015-2030