The Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) is an agreement between 193 nations; a blueprint for a better future that needs to be implemented largely at the local level.

Since 2007, the percentage of people living in urban centres has been steadily increasing. More than 80% of global GDP is generated in cities and, at the same time, cities around the world are responsible for more than 70% of greenhouse gas emissions. The concentration of people, resources and consumption in our cities is a clear indicator of the level of responsibility that cities have in addressing the world’s pressing sustainability challenges.

Local action is crucial. Many of these challenges are shared around the world, but each city must use their own metrics to find solutions. At the local level there resides a more holistic knowledge, stronger social ties, and a deeper connection to specific issues.

Guest Speaker: Luis Patricio (he/him) Project Co-Lead, SDG Cities | Pillar Nonprofit Network
Luis has been working with the UN Sustainable Development Goals since 2018. Currently, he is one of the co-leads of SDG Cities and a part-time professor at Huron University College. In a previous life, Luis lived in Brazil (Sao Luis and Curitiba). In 2016 he chose to become Canadian and moved to London, Canada. Luis holds an M.A. in Urban Management, a B.S. in Computer Science and he is now pursuing a Ph.T. researching Urban Literacy.