“The SDGs provide us with a globally-recognized framework and common language for collaboratively addressing global challenges.”
-Joanna Regulska, vice provost and dean of Global Affairs
UC Davis Sustainable Development Leadership Initiative
Areas of Focus
- Student Leadership and Engagement
- Integration into Research and Teaching
- Voluntary Reviews
- Professional Development on the SDGs
- Global and Local Collaboration
The Sustainable Development Leadership Initiative (SDLI) catalyzes and supports involvement by the campus community and partners around the world to accelerate progress on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
This initiative helps UC Davis units, faculty, staff and students in aligning the SDGs with their areas of work, and developing connections, collaborations and projects to advance this global agenda.
Student Leadership and Engagement
The UC Davis Sustainable Development Leadership Initiative seeks to expand opportunities for improved pedagogy, scholarship, learning, and action to advance the SDGs.
SDG Intern Blogs
Integration into Research and Teaching
The UC Davis Sustainable Development Leadership Initiative supports the incorporation of the SDGs into Research and Teaching programs and projects across campus. Current programs for faculty to incorporate the SDGs:
We also provide information and resources to administrators, faculty, staff and students to identify opportunities and approaches for integration of this global agenda. This includes guest lectures, presentations and workshops to support faculty, visiting scholars, students and staff in developing SDG-related initiatives.
Voluntary Reviews
The UC Davis Sustainable Development Leadership Initiative designs and voluntary reviews, including Voluntary University Reviews (VURs), and Voluntary Local Reviews (VLRs) to collect and share approaches to the SDGs.
Voluntary Local Review
The 2024 Voluntary Local Review (VLR) on the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for the City of Sacramento maps Sacramento’s 2040 General Plan and Climate Action & Adaptation Plan to the 17 SDGs and its underlying principles. This is a collaborative project between the City of Sacramento and UC Davis.
Voluntary University Review
Aligning with its mission as a public, land-grant, and comprehensive research university, UC Davis completed a campuswide SDG Voluntary University Review (VUR) in 2021. UC Davis Global Affairs, Sustainability, and the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion spearheaded this Voluntary University Review effort.
All 17 SDGs are represented in UC Davis research, teaching, service and operations. According to surveys conducted for this VUR, research, teaching and service activities are distributed across 82 countries, and about 50 percent of respondents indicated that their SDG-relevant work takes place in the U.S., demonstrating the local and international relevance of the SDGs.
Professional Development on the SDGs
The UC Davis Sustainable Development Leadership Initiative offers training and resources for higher education leaders and professionals to learn how they can incorporate SDGs into their areas of responsibility. We offer virtual and in-person workshops, trainings, and convening opportunities to support best practices and knowledge-sharing globally.
Global and Local Collaboration
The UC Davis Sustainable Development Leadership Initiative offers opportunities to reflect, discuss, generate ideas, co-create and share across the campus and with external partners. We provide an incubation space to develop activities that connect campus, local, state and global partners on specific SDG projects.
Membership in networks, including UN Academic Impact, UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network, University Global Coalition and United Nations Association of the USA (UNA-USA), signify UC Davis’ commitment to solving some of today’s most pressing social and environmental challenges—near and far. The networks also generate opportunities for matching the expertise at UC Davis with funding, partnerships and collaborations.
UN Academic Impact SDG 2: Zero Hunger Hub Co-Chair
UC Davis and Earth University were appointed as the new United Nations Academic Impact (UNAI) Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Hub Co-Chairs for SDG 2: Zero Hunger by the United Nations Academic Impact (UNAI) initiative. United Nations Academic Impact (UNAI), an intiative that has engaged institutions of higher education since November 2010 in supporting and contributing to the realization of the Organization’s purposes and principles, including the promotion and protection of human rights, access to education, sustainability (including the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) since 2015) and conflict resolution.
University Global Coalition SDG 2: Zero Hunger
The SDG 2: Zero Hunger Consortium began in 2020 as part of the University Global Coalition Decade of Action Initiative. EARTH University and UC Davis co-chair the consortium.
University of California, Davis (USA) and EARTH University (Costa Rica) co-chair the consortium. Other members include ARUA-SFS, University of Pretoria (South Africa), McGill University (Canada), Newcastle University (United Kingdom) and the University of São Paulo (Brazil)
Partners within UC Davis include Global Affairs, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences' Global Engagement Office and the Agricultural Sustainability Institute.
