Sustainable Development Goals Caucus

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Spring SDG Speaker Series

From January to April 2023, we had the pleasure of hosting an SDG Speaker Series with four incredible presenters on topics including UNESCO biosphere reserves, natural asset management, the intersection between environmental issues and human rights, and youth climate activism.

You can access the Speaker Series meeting recordings and resources on the Members Only page of RCEN’s website. Thank you to everyone who joined us for these important conversations. We look forward to connecting with you again soon!

Learn more about the SDG Caucus!

Vision

The United Nations 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are the world’s guidebook to address the most pressing environmental, social, economic, and security challenges by 2030. The SDGs are interconnected and indivisible, and they balance economic, social and environmental needs.

The SDG Caucus will work toward a mission, set of values, and work plan that will create a renewed dialogue among our communities about best practices for achieving the SDGs by 2030. We're developing resources on incorporating the SDGs as a tool for engagement and action.

SDG Caucus Themes

  1. Knowledge: Developing resources for organizations to integrate the SDGs, facilitating information flow between network members, sharing stories of success and learning from others and also enabling stakeholders, public engagement and education.

  2. Activism: Leave no one behind (LNOB) by amplifying the BIPOC, indigenous, minority and youth voices; By advocating for SDG financing and divestment, advocating for Canadas National Strategy and supporting policies and government responses through policy jams and social media campaigns.

  3. Multi-level: An umbrella term for localizing the SDGs in cities, municipalities, universities and regions and finally balancing personal and community level responsibilities for change and engaging provincial networks and affiliates.

  4. Dialogues: Encompasses the development of a community of practice and learning by mentoring and intergenerational ties and building a safe, collaborative space where values align.

Steering Committee

  • Rosalind Warner (Interim Chair)

    British Columbia Council for International Cooperation, BC

  • Ashley Anthony

    Climate Reality Project

  • Nicole Fernando Mills

    Imagine Canada, ON

To get involved in the SGD Caucus, please contact: sdg@rcen.ca.

Caucus Updates & Submissions

The federal government asked the public for input on the Federal Sustainable Development Strategy. The SDG caucus collectively submitted a document to provide input on sustainable development.

Federal Sustainable Development Strategy

Canada and SDG’s: State of Law

This report assesses the legal implications of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Canada. It finds that the SDGs have little binding legal effect on Canada, either as a component of international law or as domestic Canadian law. The SDGs have not been formally incorporated into Canadian law. However, Canada has accepted the SDGs and the present government has committed to their implementation. As such, there is moral and political force to the SDGs which, when aligned with the powers of the federal government, can be used to as an opportunity for advocacy and action.