ABSTRACT

In September 2015, at the United Nations, world leaders agreed on seventeen Sustainable Development Goals or SDGs. This book extrapolates the SDGs into the idea of a purposeful world. In this context, the purpose for humanity is to thrive sustainably alongside other life forms and to consciously celebrate the process. The SDGs serve as a powerful vision, time-stamped at the 2030 time horizon, not just for world leaders but for us all. However, faced with the challenges of implementing the SDGs, we (including business leaders, government leaders and anyone wishing to make a difference) can feel overwhelmed.

Wilson takes the reader on a journey of thought and invites them to work out their personal role in sustainability as well as their collaborative role alongside others in their communities and organisations. Written in a very accessible style, the book celebrates some of the many achievements made by ordinary people as a catalyst for hope, sets out a number of achievable goals and provides exercises to enable the reader to adopt practices that help to make a difference. It is the perfect book to help turn the SDGs into action at every level – governmental, organisational and personal.

chapter 1|16 pages

Introduction

Why any one of us can make a difference

chapter 2|19 pages

Reasons for hope

Building on the thoughts of Al Gore

chapter 3|6 pages

A personal story

The author’s journey to now

chapter 4|6 pages

Designing purposeful organisations

A synopsis of the necessary conditions for change

chapter 5|9 pages

Several fractal leaps of scale

From single cells to humanity

chapter 6|9 pages

The purpose of humanity

chapter 7|8 pages

A shared vision

How the SDGs define our future in a way we can all accept

chapter 8|13 pages

Engaging absolutely everyone in the SDGs

chapter 9|9 pages

Building the structures for change

chapter 11|8 pages

Measuring results and defining success

chapter 12|10 pages

Playing to the strengths of humanity

chapter 13|5 pages

In closing