Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) applied to Mechanical Engineering

Abstract

In 2015, the United Nations approved the 2030 Agenda on Sustainable Development, an opportunity for countries and their societies to face the challenge of successfully addressing the transition to a more sustainable future for people and the planet, leaving no one behind. The agenda defines a total of 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of universal application to promote economic growth, a commitment to social needs and the protection of the environment. For the successful achievement the ambitious and demanding SDGs, individuals, businesses, governments, and higher education institutions should work collaboratively. This paper aims to contribute to the implementation of the SDGs in the mechanical engineering subjects, and to define appropriate indicators and validation processes to assess their level of fulfillment as established in the 2030 Agenda. As a result, better decisions can be made regarding the efforts that universities - including students, academics and researchers and professional services staff - must invest to incorporate the SDGs into their initiatives, structures, and policies.