The United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) represent a global framework adopted in 2015, comprising 17 interconnected objectives designed to address pressing environmental, social, and economic challenges. These goals provide a shared blueprint for peace and prosperity for people and the planet, now and into the future. Each goal has specific targets to be achieved by 2030, ranging from eradicating poverty and hunger to promoting gender equality, quality education, and climate action. In the context of AP Human Geography, understanding these goals is crucial for analyzing spatial patterns and processes related to development, inequality, and environmental sustainability. For example, examining access to clean water and sanitation (SDG 6) allows students to analyze disparities across different regions and understand the factors influencing water resource management.
The significance of this global framework within the AP Human Geography curriculum lies in its capacity to contextualize and analyze various geographical phenomena. Analyzing progress toward these goals helps students understand the complexities of globalization, urbanization, and population dynamics. Furthermore, it provides a framework for evaluating the effectiveness of different development strategies and policies. The historical context is rooted in the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), which preceded the SDGs and focused primarily on poverty reduction. The SDGs build upon the MDGs by broadening the scope to include environmental sustainability, good governance, and reduced inequalities. The inherent interconnectedness recognizes that progress in one area often influences outcomes in others.
