Click the icons above to read more about how A Rocha is working to meet these ambitious goals by 2030.

On 25 September 2015, the United Nations General Assembly adopted A/RES/70/1, Transforming Our World: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) laid out in this Agenda is a plan of action for people, planet, prosperity, peace and partnership, which all countries and stakeholders, acting in collaborative partnership, will implement.

A Rocha’s work is part of the global effort to meet these ambitious goals by 2030.

The SDGs are the outcome of numerous discussions across public and private fora, including participation by faith communities and NGO representatives. Faith communities are key actors in implementing the SDGs. We are part of the effort to place people and planet on a safer, more equitable and sustainable path.

All of A Rocha’s scientific research, environmental education and community conservation projects relate to at least one SDG.

Take the example of climate action:

In Ghana, A Rocha is working in partnership with the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research – Crop Research Institute to build the capacity of farmers around Lake Bosumtwe to adapt to climate change and mitigate its impacts.

A Rocha Switzerland, in partnership with other faith NGOs within the Swiss Climate Alliance, has issued a ‘Declaration for Christian Action in the face of Climate Emergency’, a call to unite Christians and demonstrate their commitment to push back against inertia in the face of climate change.

Almost every reef in the world has experienced bleaching as the world warms up, including the reefs of Watamu Marine National Park. Reefs can recover from bleaching, especially when protected in national parks like Watamu, if given enough time. A Rocha Kenya’s research on the reefs shows some hopeful signs of limited recovery but time – and further research – will tell.

A Rocha Peru trains local residents to make fuel-efficient cookstoves, cutting fuel consumption in half, reducing the need to cut down trees, offering better air quality and resulting in lower greenhouse gas emissions.

The pictures here show a cook stove area prior to and post installation of a fuel-efficient cookstove.

Rachel Mander works for A Rocha International as part of the Theology and Churches team. She also coordinates the Young Christian Climate Network and works for Hope for the Future, helping UK churches build relationships with their Member of Parliament and take political action on climate change. Hear directly from Rachel herself in Episode 8 of A Rocha’s podcast, Field Notes.

Climate Stewards, A Rocha’s carbon offsetting programme, has created a carbon calculator, as well as a ‘Seal of Approval’ framework to enable organizations to assess the carbon mitigation potential of community projects in the developing world.

And the example of education:

Education is another area where multiple SDGs weave together to make an impact: for example, A Rocha Kenya’s ASSETS programme offers secondary school bursaries for local students whose families commit to making lifestyle changes which lower their everyday impact on the forest (e.g. creating community tree nurseries of indigenous species, stopping illegal logging, committing to sustainable fishing, etc.). This is a win-win for everyone: children have access to schooling (Quality Education), girls are encouraged to stay in school (Gender Equality), families change the way they treat the forest and the sea (Life on Land and Life below Water), and people have an opportunity to develop sustainable livelihoods (No Poverty and Zero Hunger).

A Rocha International plays an active role in convening in-person and virtual conferences to help staff stay on top of their game. In 2019 and 2020, education staff from several A Rocha Organizations gathered in Uganda, along with local teachers, to share resources and learn best practices in environmental education. In 2021, the conference moved to a virtual format and brought 26 delegates together from 15 countries over four days to explore the impact of COVID-19 on each A Rocha organization, discuss nature’s benefits for health and wellbeing, and share environmental education stories and resources.

Click on the following links to read more about how A Rocha’s work is part of the global effort to meet these ambitious goals by 2030.

Gender Equality • Climate action • Life below water • Life on land