The SDGs involve a large number of actors at all levels – local, regional, national and global.
THE BENEFITS OF RESEARCH
Understand the issues Researchers analyse the contexts that justify the need to meet the goals and discuss the foundations.
Produce data Scientists collect data that can be used in particular to evaluate progress on goals.
Provide innovative solutions Research provides knowledge, new technologies and innovations suitable for supporting our societies and economies in achieving the SDGs.
Inform and mobilize support from actors The outcomes and solutions proposed by research provide the various actors with a shared basis for discussions aimed at achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.
LIFE ON LAND
Life in natural environments is precious but fragile. Forests cover 30% of the Earth’s surface and are home to 80% of the planet’s species of animals, plants and insects. More than 1.6 billion people depend on them for their livelihood. 52% of the land used for agriculture has been moderately or severely affected by soil degradation, with a risk of desertification. Protecting all of the land ecosystems threatened by substantial environmental changes and the development of human activities lies at the heart of this goal. Researchers analyse and measure the impact of these changes on the most vulnerable ecosystems: forests, mountains, wetlands and arid areas. Specifically, they propose solutions to minimise the impact, based on sustainable farming techniques, which are focused in particular on carbon sequestration in soils, limiting soil degradation and mitigating climate change and its effects.

NO POVERTY
In the last quarter of a century, the number of people living in extreme poverty has been cut by more than half, going from 1.9 billion in 1990 to 836 million in 2015. Despite this progress, one in eight people, mainly in developing regions, still live in extreme poverty. However, poverty is more than just a lack of income and resources. Its manifestations include hunger and malnutrition, limited access to education, healthcare services and social welfare, discrimination and exclusion, etc. Researchers strive to understand the causes so that policies aimed at reducing poverty are more effectively targeted. Furthermore, new threats are appearing (climate change, wars, etc.) and the poorest populations (isolated groups, minorities and migrants) are often more difficult to reach. Scientists work in to improving their knowledge of the characteristics of these groups, understand the limits of current policies and propose new forms of intervention
ZERO HUNGER
Almost 800 million people are chronically malnourished. In other words, they do not have sufficient intake of food to provide the energy required for a healthy, active life. More than two billion people are undernourished. Women and children are disproportionately affected. Researchers are working to highlight the causes of the various forms of malnutrition to define, apply and evaluate sustainable solutions at various levels, from local to international. There are many proposed solutions: improved nutritional value of food, especially of traditional foodstuffs, enrichment of foods with micronutrients, promotion of food diversification linked to agricultural production more geared to producing healthy, balanced food, support for public policies (fight against poverty, economic, agricultural and public health measures, educational policies), etc.
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