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This site gathers examples of initiatives from publishers and their associations around the world who are playing their part in achieving  the Sustainable Development Goals. 
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Quality education

Sustainable Development Goals Book Club for Children of Ukraine

The “Sustainable Development Goals Book Club for Children of Ukraine” project is a public initiative of Olena Ivanchenko as part of the UN SDG Book Club project in cooperation with Ranok publishing house and CF Ranok-Ukraine which aims to regularly acquaint children with books in their native language on the topics of the 17 Global Goals.
It aims to help libraries and communities create their own SDG Book Clubs with support from SDG-implementing organizations in Ukraine.

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Climate action

Blue-White Dot Short Story Writing Competition

The Blue-White Dot Short Story Writing Competition by Sunway University Press is a competition aimed at encouraging creative exploration of global challenges. The resulting anthology, ‘The Pathbreakers,’ showcases diverse narratives addressing specific SDGs—environmental conservation, gender equality, education, and poverty alleviation. This literary initiative transforms storytelling into a dynamic tool for advocacy and change, making the SDGs relatable and accessible to diverse readers.

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Partnerships for the goals

SDG Roadmap Level 1

STM, the leading voice for academic publishers, has created a roadmap that contains suggested concrete steps for all publishers, both big and small. From those just at the start of their journey, to others who already advanced and looking to accelerate. Design to inspire and support, it will equip colleagues across our sector by matching the practical steps with a dedicated toolkit of resources and examples to get everyone to take action towards achieving the SDGs today. 

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Partnerships for the goals

SDG Book club Netherlands local chapter

The SDG Book club, an annotated reading list of children’s books, plays a vital role in inspiring children, aged 6-12, to embrace and take action on the principles behind the 17 Sustainable Development Goals. In the Netherlands, a local chapter of the UN and IPA SDG Book club has just launched. The project of a collaboration between NDB-Biblion/Skillsdojo, GAU (Groep Algemene Uitgevers), and the IPA (International Publishers Association).

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Climate action

Sustainable publishing knowledge platform

In response to the growing number of sustainability initiatives in the publishing world, GAU and MEVW have created the online knowledge platform as a central hub for publishers to access valuable information. The platform offers resources on sustainable products, such as different types of paper and cover materials, as well as information on emerging laws and regulations related to sustainability. The goal of the platform is to support publishers in their transition towards a sustainable future.

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Climate action

BIC Environmental Accreditation and Standards Map

In pursuit of a more sustainable future, industries are increasingly seeking ways to incorporate environmental and social responsibility into their operations. The book industry is no exception, and the BIC Environmental Accreditation Badges and Standards Map aims to make progress in this area. Developed as part of the BIC Green Supply Chain Committee, this project offers a comprehensive overview of sustainability accreditation badges and standards relevant to the book industry supply chain.

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Climate action

Designed for Recycling Project Part 1 – Life Cycle Assessment

The purpose of this project was to assess the recycling and waste programs that are used in the UK book industry and report on the materials being disposed of vs recycled, the carbon footprint impact of books etc. The project report will help identify the points in the UK book industry supply chain lifecycle
where recycling/waste occurs and list the materials involved at these stages.

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Climate action

RISE Industry Insights Returns

Launched at London Book Fair in 2023, the RISE bookselling have produced a publishing sector study that features seven case studies of how book returns work in European and international countries. The study seeks to understand the returns systems and how this impacts the environment.

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Climate action

Tree To Me

An awareness raising campaign that helps authors discuss the sustainability of their books with publishers, with the help of ten questions about their book’s production and supply chain. A key aim is to drive traffic towards Publishing Declares, which is prominently signposted.

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Climate action

Carbon Label Prototype

The carbon-label project, the first output from the Publishing 2030 Accelerator, fast-tracked established carbon calculators and combined this with a customized web page for a particular book, that gives users a glimpse into how carbon labels and reporting might look like for book production. Now, this is only a prototype. Far more work is needed to make this a reality, and the Accelerator group are now working on new pilots for 2023.

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Climate action

Carbon Calculator

The Publishers Association (UK) has launched its bespoke Carbon Calculator, part of a suite of tools, designed to support its members in acting on the Publishing Declares pledge. The tool will allow members to monitor their carbon outputs across various aspects of their business, including different sites. Members will be able to use the Carbon Calculator to review how they are performing from a sustainability perspective. Over time, with further data, publishers will be able to be benchmark

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Climate action

ASCE Library Climate Action Collection

Civil engineers play a critical role in combating climate change. Engineers are actively studying and planning for an increase in extreme weather events (rising sea levels, hurricanes, flooding, tornados, etc.) to ensure our infrastructure is resilient and sustainable for future generations. This curated content from the ASCE Library contains key journal papers, books, and proceedings papers that address the United Nations Sustainability Development Goal 13 for Climate Action.

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Sustainable cities and communities

ASCE Library Sustainable Cities and Communities Collection

The UN reports that over half the global population now reside in cities. This growing urbanization puts a strain on the existing infrastructure and increases the importance of sustainability. Civil engineers are exploring ways to make our urban infrastructure more resilient and sustainable for future generations. This curated content from the ASCE Library contains key journal papers, books, and proceedings papers that address the UN SDG 11 for Sustainable Cities and Communities.

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Industry, innovation and infrastructure

ASCE Library Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure Collection

Safe and sustainable infrastructure is critical for society. Civil engineers are tasked with finding solutions to minimize risks arising from aging, deterioration, and natural and human-made hazards. This curated content from the ASCE Library contains key journal papers, books, and proceedings papers that address the United Nations Sustainability Development Goal 9 for Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure.

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Affordable and clean energy

ASCE Library Affordable and Clean Energy Collection

Energy is a leading contributor to climate change due to its part in greenhouse gas emissions. Finding alternative and renewable energy sources, like wind, solar, thermal, and hydro power, will help the global community combat climate change. This curated content from the ASCE Library contains key journal papers, books, and proceedings papers that address the United Nations Sustainability Development Goal #7 for Affordable and Clean Energy.

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Clean water and sanitation

ASCE Library Clean Water and Sanitation Collection

Access to clean and safe water is critical to public health and economic prosperity. This curated content from the ASCE Library contains key journal papers, books, and proceedings papers that address the United Nations Sustainability Development Goal #6 for Clean Water and Sanitation. ASCE is committed to publishing books and journals that will help inform, develop, and inspire sustainable practices.

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Partnerships for the goals

Connecting Research With Practice: Emerging Trends and Recommended Actions

Our urgent sustainability challenges demand changes in research paper protocols. To encourage practical applications of your research, abstracts can highlight implications for practitioners and policymakers while referring to specific Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The SDG Publishers Compact Fellows have released some top action tips for authors and researchers to assist in responding to these emerging trends.

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Climate action

Environmental sustainability and scientific publishing: a manifesto

The Manifesto was officially published in full in the EASE journal, European Science Editing, in October 2021. It includes a quick check table for editors, publishers, or any interested individuals, to assess their activities and identify possible changes to their daily practices which would lead to more sustainable habits. The Manifesto is a work in progress, with new initiatives being added in regular reviews, including examples of good practice from EASE members.

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