UN Sustainable Development Goals

The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were adopted by all UN member states in 2015 as a global 15-year project to achieve progress in 17 key areas related to improving life on planet Earth for everyone. Since 2019, the UN has been curating “UN SDG Book Club” booklists, to encourage children to understand and embrace the principles of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). IBBY (International Board on Books for Young People) had partnered with the International Publishers Association (IPA) in this SDG Book Club project. The selection of books related to each SDG are in the six official UN languages (Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian, and Spanish) – (#GlobalGoals / #SDGBookClub). On their blog the UN SDG Book Club encourages groups around the world to share information about local book club initiatives. 

UN SDG Book Club – Reading List Catalogue (March 2023) (in English, Chinese, Arabic, Russian, Spanish, French)

This AFCC booklist is the start of our contribution, which we hope can be used as a springboard for engagement and action by inspiring reading our world, from picture books to books for young adults, with a focus on Asia and making a difference. In addition to identifying titles to support learning about the 17 UN SDGs, each title is tagged according to the five interconnected key competencies of Social Emotional Learning (SEL): self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship management, and responsible decision-making.

You can help build on this online resource by recommending titles. Please use the link below. The booklist will be updated every few months.

There are other online resources with SDG booklists. 

UN SDGs

Sub-themes:

UN SDGs

1 No Poverty

End poverty in all its forms everywhere. Goal Details

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UN SDGs

2 Zero Hunger

End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture. Goal Details

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3 Good Health and Well-being

Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages. Goal Details

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4 Quality Education

Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all. Goal Details

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5 Gender Equality

Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls. Goal Details

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6 Clean Water and Sanitation

Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all. Goal Details

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7 Affordable and Clean Energy

Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all. Goal Details

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8 Decent Work and Economic Growth

Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all. Goal Details

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9 Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation. Goal Details

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10 Reduced Inequalities

Reduce inequality within and among countries. Goal Details

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11 Sustainable Cities and Communities

Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable. Goal Details

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12 Responsible Consumption and Production

Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns. Goal Details

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13 Climate Action

Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts. Goal Details

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14 Life Below Water

Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development. Goal Details

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15 Life on Land

Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss. Goal Details

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16 Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels. Goal Details

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UN SDGs

17 Partnership for the Goals

Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development. Goal Details

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