Best + Free UN Sustainable Development Courses 2024

Learn about sustainable development with free online courses that cover environmental, social, and economic sustainability.

Key Takeaways:

• Free courses from top universities and platforms.
• Covers core sustainability topics.
• Suitable for all learning levels.
• Helps you understand and contribute to global sustainability.

Where can I find free sustainable development courses?

You can find free sustainable development courses on platforms like Coursera, edX, and FutureLearn, offering comprehensive insights into environmental, social, and economic sustainability.

UN Sustainable Development Courses Evaluation & Selection Criteria

Courses were selected based on their relevance to global sustainability goals, the credibility of the institutions offering them, and user reviews. We prioritized courses that offer comprehensive coverage of environmental, social, and economic sustainability, ensuring they are free and accessible to learners of all levels.

Online Courses related to All SDGs:

Goal 1 – No Poverty:

Meaning, the goal is to remove extreme poverty by the year 2030. This includes people who are living under $1.25 a day. With that, there is also a hope to reduce the number of men, women, and children living in poverty to half at least. This goal also strives to implement different social protections and measures for all such people. This also includes making sure that there is equal economic and social access for all people. Moreover, this No Poverty goal will also try to reduce vulnerability of the poor to different situations like shocks, disasters, and climate-related events.

Sustainable Development Goal 1 Courses

Goal 2 – Zero Hunger:

With this goal, it is expected to end hunger and make sure that all people are given access to safe and nutritious food. This shall be implemented by 2030. This goal also strives to eliminate malnutrition problems which are found particularly in children under the age of five, pregnant women, older individuals, and adolescent girls. The hope is to double the agriculture and incomes for farmers and producers. And thus this will ensure sustainable and resilient food production systems thereby maintaining genetic diversity in seeds, plants, and animals as well.

Sustainable Development Goal 2 Courses

Goal 3 – Good Health and Well-being:

The third goal is all hoping to reduce the maternal mortality rate to a significant number. The aim is to end all kinds of preventable deaths for newborns and children under five. With that, this goal also hopes to end the disease epidemics for not only AIDs but many other diseases like hepatitis, tuberculosis, malaria, tropical and water-borne diseases. Furthermore, the goal also strives to reduce premature mortality from communicable diseases and provides treatment for substance abuse. To halve the number of deaths and injuries from traffic accidents is also a part of this goal.

Sustainable Development Goal 3 Courses

Goal 4 – Quality Education:

Now this goal has multiple targets and the first one is to make sure all children get to complete free, equitable, and high-quality primary and secondary education. The goal also focuses on making sure that all the children have access to quality care and making sure affordable vocational training is made accessible to all people. To increase the number of youth and adults who have relevant skills for employment is also a part of this plan. With that, other targets include striving to eliminate gender disparity in education and making sure to eliminate a significant portion of illiteracy in youth and adults.

Related: Online Learning Resources for Kids

Sustainable Development Goal 4 Courses

Goal 5 – Gender Equality:

With this goal, it is expected to end global discrimination of women and girls. To end all forms of violence against them and remove all kinds of harmful practices against women and girls such as childhood marriage and female genital mutilation. Similarly, this goal also strives to offer services to all those women who are doing unpaid care and domestic work. Next, this goal hopes to make sure women get to participate fully in all political, economic, and public levels of decision-making. With that, this goal also makes sure to offer universal access to sexual and reproductive healthcare to women.

Sustainable Development Goal 5 Courses

Goal 6 – Clean Water and Sanitation:

With a serious issue of providing clean drinking water to everyone, this goal will make sure to give access to safe and affordable drinking water to all people. With that, an adequate sanitation and hygiene level will be maintained. The goal will strive to improve water quality by reducing pollution and increasing water-use efficiency. Similarly, this goal will also help implement water resource management and increase the protection and restoration of water-related ecosystems.

Sustainable Development Goal 6 Courses

Goal 7 – Affordable and Clean Energy:

This goal makes sure to give access to affordable, reliable, and modern energy sources to all the people and increase the share of renewable energy resources. With that, this goal also hopes to double the rate of improvement in energy efficiency through the enhancement of international cooperation in access to clean energy research and technology. This will be done through the expansion of infrastructure and technology.

Explore our resources to discover renewable energy education options that empower you to make a meaningful impact in the transition towards clean energy.

Sustainable Development Goal 7 Courses

Goal 8 – Decent Work and Economic Growth:

The focus of this goal is on sustaining per capita economic growth and growing gross domestic product. This goal is especially aimed at the least developed countries. With that, the goal strives to help countries achieve higher levels of economic productivity with the help of technological upgrades and diversity. Similarly, the goal also comes with a hope to promote development-oriented policies and support productive activities, decent job creation, innovation, entrepreneurship, and creativity.

Sustainable Development Goal 8 Courses

Goal 9 – Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure:

To support economic development and human well-being, this goal strives to increase and improve the infrastructure. It also focuses on increasing access to financial services for small-scale industrial enterprises and making sure to increase the use of clean technology and industrial processes. Increasing research, innovation, and upgraded technologies is also a part of this goal.

Sustainable Development Goal 9 Courses

Goal 10 – Reduced Inequalities:

Meaning; to increase and sustain the income growth of the entire bottom 40% of the population. It also promotes global inclusion and makes sure to provide equal opportunities and reduce inequalities in legislation and policies. This goal wants to improve the regulation of and strengthen the financial markets globally thereby increasing the representation of developing countries in global decision-making processes.

Sustainable Development Goal 10 Courses

Goal 11 – Sustainable Cities and Communities:

The target of this goal is to provide safe access and affordable housing for all. With that, safe and affordable access to transportation will also be provided to everyone. Other targets include inclusive and sustainable urbanization, planning, and management. The goal also hopes to achieve strengthened efforts for protecting cultural and natural heritage and reduce the number of deaths and economic losses caused by disasters. With that, reducing the adverse environmental impact on cities which is caused by poor air quality and waste management is also included. Lastly, it also hopes to offer global access to safe and inclusive green spaces.

Sustainable Development Goal 11 Courses

Goal 12 – Responsible and consumption and production:

This goal involves the implementation of a 10-year framework for sustainable consumption and production. It hopes to achieve sustainable management of natural resources as well. With that, the goal strives to reduce global food waste by half. Next, it hopes to achieve environmentally sound management of chemicals and wastes and reduce the overall waste. This goal will also promote sustainable procurement practices and work to increase information and awareness on sustainable development and lifestyles.

Sustainable Development Goal 12 Courses

Goal 13 – Climate Action:

With this goal, it is a hope to deal with climate-related hazards and natural disasters as well in addition to improve education and awareness surrounding climate change and its impact. The hope is to integrate climate change measures into national policies.

Sustainable Development Goal 13 Courses

Goal 14 – Life Below Water:

This goal comes with a target to prevent and reduce marine pollution and manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems as well. Minimize the effects of ocean acidification is also a part of this goal. With that, the goal strives to regulate harvesting and end overfishing. Conserving at least 10% of marine and coastal areas and prohibiting certain types of fisheries from overfishing and overcapacity is also the goal. Lastly, it hopes to increase the economic benefits of Small Island Developing states and other developing countries as well through sustainable use of marine resources.

Sustainable Development Goal 14 Courses

Goal 15 – Life on Land:

The focus of this goal is to ensure the conservation and restoration of all terrestrial ecosystems. This includes promoting the implementation of sustainable management of forests and combating desertification. With that, this goal also ensures the conservation of mountain ecosystems. Further, this goal will work to reduce the degradation of natural habitats and promote equal sharing of genetic resources and eliminate poaching and trafficking of protected species.

Sustainable Development Goal 15 Courses

Goal 16 – Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions:

The purpose of this goal is to reduce all kinds of violence and violent deaths as well. With that, there is hope to end abuse, trafficking, and exploitation of children. To ensure access to justice, rule of law will be made accessible at all levels. What more is included in this goal is the reduction of illegal financial and arms flow. Next, the goal is to reduce corruption and bribery and ensure responsive, inclusive, and participatory decision-making at all levels.

You can also Checkout Public Policy Courses here: ‎

Sustainable Development Goal 16 Courses

Goal 17 – Partnerships for the goals:

This goal usually targets specified areas of finance, technology, systemic issues, trade, and capacity-building. The plan is to work towards strengthening domestic resource mobilization in the area of finance. With that, it is expected to fully implement development assistance commitments in developing countries. And as technology is concerned then the goal strives to enhance the regional and international cooperation and access to science, innovation, and technology.

Sustainable Development Goal 17 Courses

Sustainable Development Courses FAQs:

Which country is best for studying Sustainable Development?

Well, there are many countries that are environment friendly and thus suitable for studying Sustainable Development.

• Sustainability in America.
• Sustainability in Canada.
• Sustainability in the United Kingdom.
• Sustainability in Austria.
• Sustainability New Zealand.
• Sustainability Sweden.
• Sustainability in Finland.

Final Thoughts:

The only purpose to develop these goals was to help combat the urgent environmental, political, and economic challenges which our world is facing. And that is why it is important to understand what the UN Sustainable Goals are and how they are working towards the benefit of the poor and unprivileged.