Unit 8 Sustainability and the Future
Project Overview:
This project aims to explore sustainable development within the country of
your choice, focusing on its current challenges, progress towards the United
Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and proposing solutions at
both local and national levels. Students will investigate the country's position
in the global context, analyze data, and develop strategies to address specific
SDGs. Your country must be considered “developing” by Geographic
measures.
Project Objectives:
Define sustainable development and its relevance in addressing global
challenges.
Understand and analyze the seventeen Sustainable Development Goals
(SDGs) set by the United Nations.
Investigate at least one SDG in-depth, crafting a plan of action to achieve
a specific target at a local level within [Selected Country].
Develop a comprehensive public awareness campaign plan to promote
one of the SDGs.
Explain and evaluate policy changes necessary within [Selected Country]
to achieve selected SDGs by 2030.
Predict the potential impact on the standard of living in [Selected
Country] if the SDGs were achieved.
Identify the major obstacles hindering the achievement of the SDGs by
2030 within [Selected Country].
Compare costs and benefits of different solutions for human-caused
environmental problems within [Selected Country].
Project Tasks:
Define sustainable development and its significance in addressing global
challenges.
Discuss the importance of sustainable development in the context of the
country you selected’s socioeconomic status.
Exploring the Sustainable Development Goals
Study and understand the seventeen SDGs and their relevance to your
selected country.
Analyze data to determine your selected country's progress towards
achieving the SDGs.
Investigating Specific SDGs:
Choose at least one SDG to investigate in-depth, focusing on its
relevance and challenges within your selected country.
Develop a detailed plan of action to achieve a specific target related to
the chosen SDG at a local level.
Constructing a Public Awareness Campaign:
Create a comprehensive public awareness campaign plan to promote
understanding and support for one of the SDGs.
Utilize various media platforms to disseminate information and engage
the community.
Policy Analysis and Evaluation:
Evaluate existing policies within selected country and propose new ones
to support the achievement of selected SDGs by 2030.
Assess the potential impact of these policy changes on society, economy,
and environment.
Predicting Impact on Standard of Living
Predict how achieving the SDGs would impact the standard of living in
selected country.
Discuss potential social, economic, and environmental benefits and
challenges.
Identifying Obstacles:
Identify and analyze the major obstacles hindering the achievement of
the SDGs by 2030 within selected country
Brainstorm potential strategies to overcome these obstacles.
Cost-Benefit Analysis of Solutions :
Compare the costs and benefits of different solutions for human-caused
environmental problems within selected country.
Consider long-term sustainability and ethical implications.
Assessment:
Research presentations on the chosen SDGs and action plans.
Evaluation of the public awareness campaign plan.
Analysis of proposed policy changes and their potential impact.
Predictions and discussions on the standard of living and obstacles to
SDG achievement.
Cost-benefit analysis of environmental solutions.
TSW- B level A level
*1. I follow the Inquiry ARC by demonstrating mastery of at least In my application of the Inquiry ARC, I can do at least 3♦
4 of the following: of the following:
construct supporting questions to help answer the analyze the strength of supporting evidence.
compelling question. demonstrate that I have considered evidence from
identify and evaluate evidence from multiple perspectives. differing viewpoints.
make an argument supported by evidence-based claims include counterclaims or address possible conflicting
that responds to the compelling question. claims.
communicate the response through a product of learning. make a clear and well-defended argument with
take informed action based on student findings. strong supporting evidence that answers the
reflect on their product of learning and thoughtfully compelling question.
critique the work of others. make connections between my learning and its
significance for the world today.
♦ See Course Outcome for A level expectations.
2. I can define sustainable development.
3. I can outline the seventeen Sustainable Development
Goals (SDGs).
4. I can investigate at least one SDG in depth, creating a My plan of action includes an analysis of the
plan of action to reach a goal target at a local level. desired impact of the goal target for a specific
place.
5. I can construct a plan for a public awareness campaign
for one of the SDGs.
6. I can explain and evaluate policy changes to be made My evaluation includes specific evidence/examples
within a country to reach some of the SDGs by 2030. and/or makes comparisons to similar policy
changes in other times/places.
7. I can predict what would happen to the standard of My prediction is applied to a particular country
living in a country if the SDGs were achieved. and considers the current conditions and challenges
in reaching the SDGs.
8. I can identify the biggest obstacles the world faces in
achieving the SDGs by 2030.
9. I can compare the costs and benefits of alternative My comparison includes an evaluation of the
solutions for human-caused environmental problems. alternative solution which has the greatest benefit
and least cost.
General Understanding of Sustainable Development and SDGs
1. United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Official Website
https://sdgs.un.org/goals
o Authoritative descriptions of all 17 goals, targets, indicators, and
global progress updates.
2. Our World in Data – SDGs and Global Development
https://ourworldindata.org
o Offers data visualizations, country comparisons, and in-depth
articles on sustainable development issues.
3. World Bank – What is Sustainable Development?
https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/sustainabledevelopment
o Explains the concept and offers resources on global efforts,
strategies, and challenges.
Country-Specific Research and Data Tools
4. UNDP Human Development Reports
https://hdr.undp.org
o Find your country’s development index, inequality metrics, and
sustainability efforts.
5. World Bank Country Profiles
https://data.worldbank.org/country
o Use for country-specific stats on poverty, education, health,
infrastructure, and environment.
6. SDG Tracker – Country Progress
https://sdg-tracker.org
o Interactive visualizations of country progress on each SDG with
downloadable data.
7. CIA World Factbook
https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/
o Useful for background on economic and environmental conditions of
your selected country.
Data Analysis & Policy Evaluation
8. OECD iLibrary – Development Data and Country Policy Reviews
https://www.oecd-ilibrary.org
o Search for country evaluations, especially for middle-income and
developing nations.
9. Environmental Performance Index (Yale/Columbia)
https://epi.yale.edu
o Offers environmental health and ecosystem vitality indicators by
country.
10. UN Environment Programme – Policy and Environmental Governance
Reports
https://www.unep.org/resources
o Research tools and reports to evaluate environmental policies and
proposals.
Gapminder Tools
Data visualization to model life-expectancy, GDP per capita, education trends
under different scenarios.
https://www.gapminder.org/tools
Public Awareness Campaign Tools
11. UN SDG Media Zone
https://www.un.org/sdgmediazone/
o Examples of past campaigns, messages, and media engagement
strategies.
12. Global Goals Communication Toolkit
https://sdgactioncampaign.org/toolkit/
o Offers ready-made icons, social media messages, videos, and
storytelling guides.
Cost-Benefit Analysis & Obstacle Identification
14. International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD)
https://www.iisd.org
o Research papers and briefs on economic/environmental trade-offs
and policy impact.
15. UN DESA Policy Briefs
https://www.un.org/development/desa/publications/policy-briefs
o Discuss global and local barriers to SDG implementation and
strategies to overcome them.
16. Google Scholar
https://scholar.google.com
oGreat for finding academic articles on obstacles, success stories,
and innovative approaches in your country.
FAO State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World
Annual flagship report on hunger pockets, climate risk, conflict zones.
https://www.fao.org/publications/sofi
Transparency International Corruption Perceptions Index
To gauge governance and corruption risks affecting policy implementation.
https://www.transparency.org/en/cpi
Possible Countries to Choose From
| Country | Strong SDG Focus Areas | Key Challenges |
| ------------------ | ---------------------------------------------------------------------- | -----------------------------------------
1. Bangladesh| SDG 3 (Health), SDG 13 (Climate), SDG 4 (Education) | Climate change, urban density, poverty
2. Kenya | SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), SDG 6 (Water), SDG 7 (Energy) | Food insecurity, drought, infrastructure
|3. Vietnam | SDG 8 (Decent Work), SDG 9 (Industry), SDG 13 (Climate) | Pollution, rural-urban divide
|4. Peru | SDG 15 (Life on Land), SDG 1 (Poverty), SDG 4 (Education) | Deforestation, inequality
5. Nepal | SDG 13 (Climate Action), SDG 3 (Health), SDG 4 (Education| Natural disasters, health access
6. Ghana | SDG 4 (Education), SDG 6 (Water), SDG 8 (Decent Work) | Youth unemployment, water quality
7. Ethiopia | SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), SDG 3 (Health), SDG 6 (Water) | Drought, health care gaps
8. Philippines | SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities), SDG 13 (Climate), SDG 5 (Gender Equality) | Typhoons, urban
sprawl
9. Rwanda | SDG 3 (Health), SDG 5 (Gender), SDG 9 (Infrastructure) | Post-conflict recovery, tech access
10. Cambodia | SDG 4 (Education), SDG 8 (Work), SDG 1 (Poverty) | Poverty, rural isolation
11. Nigeria | SDG 3 (Health), SDG 6 (Water), SDG 16 (Peace & Justice) | Corruption, regional conflict
12. Haiti | SDG 1 (No Poverty), SDG 3 (Health), SDG 6 (Water) | Political instability, disaster recovery
13. Indonesia | SDG 13 (Climate), SDG 7 (Energy), SDG 12 (Consumption) | Deforestation, island development
14. Bolivia | SDG 10 (Inequality), SDG 15 (Land), SDG 2 (Hunger) | Rural poverty, land rights
15. Pakistan | SDG 4 (Education), SDG 5 (Gender), SDG 6 (Water) | Education access, gender equity
16. Uganda | SDG 3 (Health), SDG 2 (Hunger), SDG 4 (Education) | Refugee management, health
systems
17. Morocco | SDG 7 (Energy), SDG 13 (Climate), SDG 9 (Innovation) | Water scarcity,
unemployment |
18. Myanmar | SDG 16 (Peace & Justice), SDG 4 (Education), SDG 3 (Health) | Political conflict, access to
education
19. Senegal | SDG 14 (Life Below Water), SDG 2 (Hunger), SDG 6 (Water) | Coastal erosion, food security
20. Zambia | SDG 3 (Health), SDG 1 (Poverty), SDG 8 (Work) | Economic diversification, rural development
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