Global Goals Framework

The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were established in 2015 as a bold and ambitious roadmap to address the world’s most pressing challenges, such as poverty, inequality, and climate change. While the 17 interconnected goals provide a comprehensive framework for global action, many people, from students to professionals, still struggle to grasp and remember them all, let alone act on them.

United Planet, a leading non-profit organization dedicated to creating a more peaceful, sustainable, and united world, has recently introduced an innovative educational paradigm to simplify and prioritize the SDGs. The United Planet Global Goals Framework is designed as a pyramid, based on Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, to make the SDGs more accessible and actionable.

The SDGs were adopted by all 193 United Nations member states in 2015 as a part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. These goals build on the success of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), which were established in 2000 as a set of eight targets to be achieved by 2015. While the MDGs achieved significant progress, they also highlighted the need for a more comprehensive and ambitious approach to global development.

The SDGs address the root causes of the world’s problems, emphasizing the interconnected nature of economic, social, and environmental dimensions of development. With 169 targets and over 230 indicators, the SDGs provide a detailed framework for collaborative action to ensure a better future for all.

Despite the critical importance of the SDGs, a 2019 survey conducted by Ipsos MORI found that only 29% of people across 28 countries were aware of the goals, and even fewer could name any specific goals. This lack of awareness hinders collective efforts to address global challenges, as people cannot act on what they do not understand or remember.

United Planet’s Global Goals Framework aims to address this gap by simplifying and prioritizing the SDGs in a way that is both intuitive and memorable. By connecting the goals with the familiar concept of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, the framework encourages greater understanding, commitment, and action.

The foundation of the pyramid (True Partnership) is connected to SDG:
#17 Partnerships for the Goals.

The basic needs (Health, Education and Environment) are connected to SDGs:
#3 Good Health and Well-Being, #4 Quality Education, #6 Clean Water and Sanitation, #7 Affordable and Clean Energy, #13 Climate Action, #14 Life Below Water, #15 Life on Land

Building equity and economic prosperity focuses on SDGs:
#1 No Poverty, #2 Zero Hunger, #5 Gender Equality, #8 Decent Work and Economic Growth, #9 Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure, #10 Reduced Inequalities

The top of the pyramid (Peace and Security) stands for SDGs:
#11 Sustainable Cities and Communities, #12 Responsible Consumption and Production, #16 Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions

“If the SDGs are prioritized and simplified in a way that we can also understand and remember them, then we can all come together across our communities and world to act upon and resolve them. This step is far more than a nicety to build awareness, but an essential step to ensure our survival and sustainability as a planet.”

David Santulli,
Founder & President of United Planet

United Planet’s Global Goals Framework not only simplifies the complex set of UN SDGs, but also provides a clear and actionable roadmap for global collaboration. The pyramid, like an arrow, points to a more peaceful, sustainable, and united planet, encouraging individuals, organizations, and governments to take an active role in addressing the world’s most pressing challenges.

The Global Goals Framework represents a significant step forward in making the UN Sustainable Development Goals more accessible and actionable for a wider audience. By prioritizing and simplifying the SDGs in a way that resonates with people’s understanding of human needs, United Planet aims to inspire greater engagement, collaboration, and ultimately, progress toward a more peaceful, sustainable, and united world.