Safe Water Solutions/Sustainability
Objective
Increase your knowledge around the concept of sustainability. Sustainability has many definitions, but is
frequently defined using the Brundtland Report, “Sustainable development is development that meets the
needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.”
Choose one of the UN Sustainable Development Goals and research one of its related targets; ensure that
the target relates to one of the major topics covered in this course. Your essay should explain what the UN
Sustainable Development Goals are, the goals of your specific Sustainable Development Goal and target,
and the importance of your topic to achieving your specific Sustainable Development Goal target.
This website will prove useful: https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/sdgs
Outline
Essay length – 1600 words ± 10%
o this does not include: title, name, figure title, chart title or contents, works cited
Formatting:
? Font – Times New Roman – size 12
? Double spaced
? At least five independent sources in MLA format
o separate Works Cited page at the end of the essay
? title page with a unique “title”
o title page must include name, date, student number, class name and section number, and
word count
? Figures must be centred and titled below the image
Figure 2: United Nations Sustainable Development Goals linkages
Geog 1170 Summer 2016
Langara College Essay Assignment
? Charts or tables must be centred and labelled above the chart
Chart 1: UN Sustainable Development Goals and Global Competitiveness Index equivalents
Submission Details
? This assignment is weighted at 20% of your final grade.
? The due date is July 26th, 2016 @ 23:30.
o A late penalty of 10% per day will be applied, the final day of submission Aug 1, 2016
? Upload your essay in .pdf format to dropbox on D2L
Helpful hints:
I suggest surveying the UN Sustainable Development Goals and related targets. Select a specific goal and
research the various targets looking for a specific issue that relates to the target. Ensure that the target
and course curriculum align.
After selecting the Sustainable Development Goal and target create an outline:
Example:
Sustainable Development Goal: GOAL 15 – Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial
ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation
and halt biodiversity loss
Target: 15.5 – Take urgent and significant action to reduce the degradation of natural habitats, halt the
loss of biodiversity and, by 2020, protect and prevent the extinction of threatened species
Topic and thesis: Sea turtles have existed for millions of years and act as an important regulator of
marine habitats, ensuring the maintenance of biodiversity in Earth’s oceans; however, the recent decline
in global sea turtle populations is indicative of human-induced environmental change and an indicator of
the decreasing health of marine environments.
Goals Proposed by the UN’s Open Working Group on
Sustainable Development Goals
Equivalent in the Global Competitiveness
Index
Goal 3: Attain healthy lives for all 4
th pillar (health pillar)
Goal 4: Provide quality education and life-long learning
opportunities for all
4
th pillar (primary education subpillar) and
5
th pillar (higher education and training
Goal 8: Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable
economic growth, full and productive4 employment and
decent work for all
7
th pillar (labour market efficiency)
Goal 8: Promote sustainable infrastructure and
industrialization and foster innovation
2
nd pillar (infrastructure) and 12th pillar
(innovation)
Goal 16: Achieve peaceful and inclusive societies, access
to justice for all, and effective and capable institutions
1
st pillar (institutions)
https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/sdg6
