UC Davis Student Guide to the UN SDGs

The UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) or 2030 Agenda, are a set of goals focused on addressing major issues including poverty, inequality, climate change, economic growth, improved health and education and peaceful institution building. These collections of goals are also called the 2030 Agenda because they are meant to be achieved by 2030. The 2030 Agenda, based off of the former UN Millennium Goals, was adopted by all UN member states in 2015 with the objective of creating a shared partnership to tackle global challenges. The SDGs are broad in scope, addressing the root causes of poverty, and the universal need for development that works for all people. The 17 SDGs and 169 targets that are included in this agenda seek to mobilize all UN member states to take concrete steps to achieve sustainable development across economic, social and environmental dimensions.

Explore the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals

Classes on the SDGs

*ARE 115A: Microeconomic Development: SDGs 1, 8
*ARE 166: Economics of Global Poverty Reduction: What Works and Why: SDG 1
*ANT 126B: Women and Development: SDG 5
*ANT 129: Health and Medicine in a Global Context: SDG 3
*ECI 123: Urban Systems and Sustainability: SDG 6, 7, 9, 11, 12
*ESP 165: Climate Policy: SDG 13
*ESP 171: Urban and Regional Planning: SDGs 11, 9
GEL 18: Energy and the Environment: SDGs 7, 12
*NUT 199A: Global Nutrition: SDG 2
*POL 122: International Law: SDGs 16, 17
*POL 124: The Politics of Global Inequality: SDGs 10, 17
SAS 8: Water Quality at Risk: SDG 6
SAS 121: Global Poverty: Critical Thinking and Taking Action: SDG 1

*Asteriks indicate prerequisites.

Internships and Volunteering

Many on-campus centers and local organizations have opportunities for volunteering. This is a small selection of some of them.

Center for Advocacy, Resources and Education: SDGs 3, 5
AB540 and Undocumented Student Center: SDGs 10, 16
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, Asexual Resource Center: SDGs 5, 10
Disability Rights Advocacy Committee: SDGs 4, 10
The Green Initiative Fund: SDGs 1-17
Student Farm: SDGs 2, 4, 13, 15
Arboretum: SDGs 3, 4, 11, 13, 15
Global Affairs: SDG 17

Center for Advocacy, Resources and Education:
SDG 3: Good Health and Well-Being, SDG 5: Gender Equality

AB540 and Undocumented Student Center:
SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities, SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, Asexual Resource Center:
SDG 5: Gender Equality, SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

Disability Rights Advocacy Committee:
SDG 4: Quality Education, SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

The Green Initiative Fund:
SDG 1: No Poverty, SDG 2: Zero Hunger, SDG 3: Good Health and Well-Being, SDG 4: Quality Education, SDG 5: Gender Equality, SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation, SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy, SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth, SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure, SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities, SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities, SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production, SDG 13: Climate Action, SDG 14: Life Below Water, SDG 15: Life on Land, SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions, SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

Student Farm:
SDG 2: Zero Hunger, SDG 4: Quality Education, SDG 13: Climate Action, SDG 15: Life on Land

Arboretum:
SDG 3: Good Health and Well-Being, SDG 4: Quality Education, SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities, SDG 13: Climate Action, SDG 15: Life on Land

Global Affairs:
SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

Global Affairs

SDG Internship

The Global Affairs SDG Internship provides an opportunity for UC Davis undergraduate students to actively contribute to campus engagement on the SDGs, gaining knowledge of organizational strategy, campus and external coordination, and communications and analytical skills to support this global agenda.

Global Impact Fellows

The Global Impact Fellows Program is a one-year commitment to leading or assisting a student-led initiative that addresses a global and local issue where students can hone project management, leadership and specific technical skills in an environment where they have real autonomy. All participants are assigned to project teams while learning about and applying the Theory of Change and the UN SDG Framework. This program is a one-academic-year, unpaid commitment.

Universitas 21 (U21) Sustainable Micro-internships

The U21 Sustainable Micro-Internships Program is a free, virtual two-week project-based internship for undergrad and grad students. Work with students from across the globe, sharing knowledge and expertise while providing solutions to a challenge related to one of the SDGs. The program is offered multiple times per year and the SDG focus areas change each cycle.

Sign up for the latest global learning news and activities from the Global Affairs Global Learning Hub. Students can also sign up for the SDG opportunities email that is distributed quarterly. Contact [email protected].

Research

As a comprehensive research university, UC Davis is home to centers and institutes conducting research across all 17 SDGs. We’ve included a list below of just some of these centers. View the UC Davis Voluntary University Review for a more detailed list of centers and institutes conducting SDG-relevant research.

Center for Poverty and Inequality Research: SDGs 1, 8, 10
World Food Center: SDGs 1, 2, 12
Center for Reducing Health Disparities: SDGs 1, 3, 10
Center for Applied Policy in Education: SDG 4
Feminist Research Institute: SDG 5
Center for Watershed Sciences: SDGs 6, 13
Energy and Efficiency Institute: SDGs 7, 9, 13
Western Center for Agricultural Health and Safety: SDGs 3, 8, 9
Center for Nano-Micro Manufacturing: SDG 9
Center for Regional Change: SDGs 4, 8, 10, 11, 13
Institute for Transportation Studies : SDGs 7, 9, 11, 13
UC Postharvest Technology Center: SDGs 2, 8, 12
UC Davis Institute of the Environment: SDGs 6, 13, 15
Coastal and Marine Sciences Institute: SDGs 6, 13, 14
UC Davis One Health Institute: SDGs 3, 13, 15, 17
UC Violence Prevention Research Program: SDGs 3, 16
Global Affairs: SDG 17

Clubs

There are dozens of student clubs and organizations that are focused on issues related to the SDGs. Below are just some of these clubs. We’ve also compiled a longer list of opportunities.

CalPIRG: SDGs 2, 4, 11, 13
Zero Waste and Sustainability Club: SDGs 2, 10, 11, 12, 13
Engineers Without Borders: SDGs 1, 4, 6, 9
American Red Cross Club at UC Davis: SDG 3
SEEDS - Ecological Society of America: SDGs 11, 15
The Wildlife Society at UC Davis: SDGs 6, 15
Cub Support: SDGs 4, 10
Davis Rewilding Society: SDG 15
Homeless Outreach through Prevention and Education (HOPE) at Davis: SDGs 2, 3, 10
Sustainable Environmental Design Club at UC Davis: SDGs 7, 9, 11
Students in VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance): SDGs 4, 8, 10
Environmental Project at UC Davis: SDGs 6, 9
Bhagat Puran Singh Health Initiative: SDGs 3, 10
Marine Science Club at UC Davis: SDG 14
Scholars Promoting Education Awareness and Knowledge: SDGs 10, 16
Model United Nations at UC Davis: SDG 17
Students for Reproductive Freedom: SDG 5

Additional SDG Opportunities for UC Davis Students

Carbon Neutrality Fellows

Carbon Neutrality Fellows develop and implement a wide variety of projects that support the UC system’s goal to produce zero-net greenhouse gas emissions by 2025.

The Green Initiative Fund (TGIF)

Become part of the TGIF community in one of two ways:

Join the TGIF Committee and become part of the student team administering the TGIF grant fund; reviewing proposals, managing awarded projects, and supporting dozens of sustainability projects impacting the UC Davis community.
Be the lead on your own sustainability project! Apply for a $200 - $20,000 and make your goal of making the UC Davis community a more sustainable place a reality.

Additional Opportunities

Student Farm offers volunteer and internship opportunities.

Arboretum and Public Garden offers various internship opportunities through the Learning by Leading Program

The Pantry

My State of Mind

Whole Earth Festival

What are some everyday actions I can take?

There are lots of ways you can contribute! One way is by starting a discussion about the SDGs with your classmates and professors!

Try visiting your professor’s office hours to ask them about the SDGs.
Think of ways that you can relate the SDGs to your classes and how you can raise the awareness of these issues.
Ask your professors about research related to the SDGs and how you can get involved.
Encourage your professors to include SDGs in their curriculum.
Start doing some of the everyday sustainable actions listed in the next section, this will encourage the people around you to also do the same

Small Changes Lead to Big Changes!

Community Support and Volunteering

Donate old clothes or household items to those in need.
Get involved in your local association that helps homeless and people living in poverty, such as Empower Yolo, Fourth and Hope, and the H Street Shelter run by Davis Community Meals and Housing.
Donate or volunteer at food banks such as the ASUCD Pantry, the Yolo Food Bank, or the Short Term Emergency Aid Committee (STEAC).

Food and Diet

Minimize red meat and dairy consumption. It contributes greatly to deforestation, which displaces and forcefully evicts many species from their livelihoods.
Eat seasonal fruit and vegetables and bottle, can, or freeze your summer foods for winter.
Try to buy fish or seafood coming from a sustainable source.

Waste Reduction and Recycling

Compost any food scraps or biodegradable items.
Reduce, reuse, recycle, refuse, and rot.
Use a reusable water bottle to avoid plastic waste.
Reduce purchasing plastic products.
Recycle your recyclables rather than putting them in the trash.
When upgrading your technology or appliances, donate your old devices because their parts may still be of use.

Transportation and Movement

Use the stairs instead of the elevator or escalator.
Take public transport whenever possible.

Energy and Water Conservation

Conserve water! Turn off running taps and fix them if they leak.
Replace incandescent lights with LEDs because they are more energy efficient.

Awareness and Mindset

Be curious and stay informed!

What do UC Davis students think about the SDGs?

During spring quarter 2022, the SDG interns conducted a survey to track knowledge and interests about the SDGs among fellow UC Davis students. The survey was intended to help us raise awareness on the SDGs and to create opportunities for students to get involved.

Three of the SDGs resonated most with the students who responded: The SDG cited most often as “the most important” was SDG 13: Climate Action, followed by SDG 1: No Poverty and SDG 2: Zero Hunger. Which goal do you feel is most important?

Advocacy

There are also ways to get involved through advocacy groups or through local political organizations, either by volunteering or campaigning, or simply by researching the candidates and casting your vote for the one you believe will take action on these issues.

You can also attend public City Council meetings for the city of Davis and make your voice heard, including by advocating for a Voluntary Local Review by the city of Davis. Dozens of cities, including Los Angeles, have already undertaken such a process! Students from local universities were heavily involved in their process.