The UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
The International Year of Cooperatives highlights the significant contribution of cooperatives toward achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The 17 SDGs were adopted by the United Nations in 2015 as part of the “2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.”
Global challenges such as poverty, hunger, inequality, lack of education, and the marginalization of women and youth are to be addressed through sustainable economic practices and resource-efficient living. These 17 goals serve as guiding principles for national policy decisions and international collaboration.
Cooperatives are built on values such as partnership, solidarity, and democratic participation. Their core principles of self-help, self-governance, and self-responsibility make them uniquely suited to advancing the SDGs. Recognizing this alignment, UNESCO declared the cooperative model as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2016.
UN Sustainable Development Goals and Cooperatives
Just as cooperatives are diverse, so too are their contributions toward achieving the SDGs. However, their core principle remains constant: greater collective action leads to better outcomes and improved situations for individuals and communities alike.
Unlike other business forms, cooperatives uniquely combine economic activity with sustainability. They prioritize the well-being of their members, rather than focusing solely on capital interests. This ensures that their operations are long-term and oriented toward the needs of future generations.
Cooperatives are more than economic enterprises; they are also “schools of democracy,” where all members have an equal say in fundamental decisions. This culture of partnership and trust is central to the cooperative philosophy.