Meeting the Sustainable Development Goals: Who, What, When, Where, Why, and How?

Editor's Notes

1. Need for transformation, different world than we live in today
2. Who: who is it we are trying to transform? Leaders doing the practical work, society at large as part of the political, and us as researchers representing the personal.  Framing question (all framing questions drawn from Karen O’Brien): Can we transform in a participatory way?
3. What: We are trying to reach the goals set by Paris Agreement + SDGs (net zero GHGs, zero poverty and zero hunger). framing question: Do we have enough knowledge to inform equitable, ethical, sustainable transformation with the scope, scale, speed, and depth needed? 
4. When: will 2015 turn out to have been a global inflection point? I mentioned 2030 for SDG targets and fast-approaching dates for decarbonization according to the carbon budget.  Framing question: Can we transform fast enough? 
5. Where: everywhere, local to global! Though especially national in the context of international agreements as countries are the signatories to them.  Framing questions included: What scale of action is most effective, what’s the interaction between scales, where to focus resources? 
6. Why? This is a question of the personal sphere. Recognize plurality and individuality of every person on Earth having their own answer to this (a world that still has coral reefs, a world my grandchildren will recognize, a world where the worst impacts of climate change never happen, and we manage those that do…  Framing question: What kind of a world do we want to live in? 
7. How? This is a question of practical and political spheres (though of course research happens in a particular context of who, where, when). How do we manage land and water, generate and deliver energy, increase equality and health and resilience, while achieving the global goals? Researchers can quantify options and outcomes, help understand context and values.  Some framing questions: How do we as researchers contribute to meeting the Paris/SDG goals (and help avoid unintended consequences, acknowledge tradeoffs). How do we shape personal beliefs, paradigms, and values? (students through education, society through outreach and in our work as citizens, through reflection for ourselves. 
8. Role of Nordics: Moral compass Example of equality Convening diverse groups Setting a path Lagom
9. Personal: hearts and minds, beliefs and values, causality, legitimacy, identity, leadership, assumptions Practical: financial, transportation, energy, food system change, reproductive choices Political: norms, rules, institutions, regulations, incentives, agreements