Sustainable Development Goals

In 2 Corinthians 5:19, the apostle Paul reminds us that God will reconcile all to him through Christ. We serve a God that seeks the restoration of all creation. CBM believes this happens through the body of Christ, present in the communities and context that the Spirit has planted them. That means in local churches around the world! We are witnesses to real and sustained transformation through word and deed.

The world recognizes the need for change. In 2000, the United Nations proposed eight Millenium Development Goals to be achieved by 2015. These goals were revised to create the new Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in 2015. All 17 goals propose a universal call to action to protect the planet, eradicate poverty and improve the lives of all people. The goals were adopted by all UN Member States as part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

CBM’s projects share many of the same goals. We work to accomplish them through local churches who are doing the work on the ground. Mainstream media often does not report on the work of local churches, but we recognize their importance in reaching communities, by working in partnership with them. As they serve communities holistically in word and deed, with the help of the Holy Spirit, together the local church has made a lasting impact in the work that CBM does. Let’s embrace compassion and work together to care for the least of these, through the local church.

It is defined as development that meets present needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs as well.

Eradication of poverty is the first marker towards sustainable development. It requires a joint effort of all participating countries, governments, organizations, and individuals to build an inclusive, resilient and sustainable future. A harmony of economic growth, social inclusion, and environmental protection is crucial for the well-being of our planet and its people.

The goals represent a compass for countries to align with their global commitments. Its implementation and success rely upon individual countries to strategize, mobilize and contribute to meeting those goals.

They are broader in scope, focus on implementation, address climate change as a major contributing factor, and are universally applied to all countries instead of in developing countries only.