Global Survey on Familiarity with Sustainable Development Goals

on July 23, 2020

Under the leadership of our partners from ICoRSA a global survey was launched. The survey was open from 1 October 2019 to 20 December 2019.

Variables covered demographic Information such as: Age; Gender; Nationality; Native Language; Level of Education & Subject of Schooling; Location of Schooling & Professional Career; Time in current position of career. Five RRING World Regions were included in the analysis (following UNESCO regions of the world): European and North American States; Latin-American and Caribbean States; Asian and Pacific States; African States; Arab States.

The survey resulted in 2198 responses with a completion rate of 70% or more; 539 responses with a completion rate of less than 70%. The average completion rate of the survey was 97%. Respondents on average took 33 minutes to complete the survey.

What are the Sustainable Development Goals(SDGs)?

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), also known as the Global Goals, were adopted by all United Nations Member States in 2015 as a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure that all people enjoy peace and prosperity by 2030. The 17 SDGs are integrated—that is, they recognize that action in one area will affect outcomes in others, and that development must balance social, economic and environmental sustainability.

Through the pledge to Leave No One Behind, countries have committed to fast-track progress for those furthest behind first. That is why the SDGs are designed to bring the world to several life-changing ‘zeros’, including zero poverty, hunger, AIDS and discrimination against women and girls.

Results of the survey

Respondents from India reported much stronger familiarity with the SDGs than the global average. Indian respondents were also much more positive in their attitudes about the utility, relevance and value of SDGs. This indicates that these results may be very possible a very good basis for future development of Responsible Research and Innovation and that these things could be valuable, useful, central, relevant and beneficial for the development of this idea.