ETH Zurich and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
The United Nations 2030 Agenda is regarded as a milestone in international collaboration towards sustainable global development. It is centred around the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which ETH Zurich is committed to achieving.
The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, adopted by all United Nations member states in 2015, offers a global vision for a sustainable future. At its heart are the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and their 169 targets. The SDGs represent an urgent call to action by all countries in a global partnership.
Universities help promote and achieve the SDGs by educating personnel in executive roles who are responsible for sustainable development. They play an equally important role in generating knowledge, innovation and science-?based solutions. One example of this is the SDG ?Monitor. This was developed as part of the partnership between ETH Zurich and the United Nations with the aim of systematically identifying any data gaps in reporting on the SDGs and addressing the shortage of data.
SDG index for the annual report
This annual report provides an overview with practical examples of the contribution ETH Zurich makes towards achieving the SDGs. This overview is far from complete, but does highlight the important role universities play in implementing the 2030 Agenda. The index serves as a navigation aid to the information contained in this report.
Contributions to individual SDGs mentioned in the annual report:
Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all
- Sustainability: ETH Net Zero
- AI as a teaching assistant
- Building a gripper hand for exoskeletons in five days
- CAS relays knowledge of AI for leaders
- Diversity: first-generation academics at ETH Zurich
- ETH facilitates networking in medicine
- Guidelines on political engagement
- Former Swiss Federal Chancellor Thurnherr appointed ETH Professor
- ETH students accelerate innovation
- Crash course for new parliamentarians
- Energy Week @ETH: spotlight on the energy transition
- 20 years championing computer science in schools
- Diversity: “Colonial Traces” exhibition
- HIF building renovated and extended
- Sustainability: sustainable and inclusive events
- Diversity: digital accessibility
- ETH Vice Presidency to reinforce sustainability
- New structure in the Executive Board domain of Research
- Sustainability: ETH Zurich in sustainability rankings
Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all
- ETH leads Swiss chip initiative
- Sustainability: ETH Net Zero
- Diversity: percentage of women among new appointees
- Building a gripper hand for exoskeletons in five days
- CAS relays knowledge of AI for leaders
- Promising study on green electricity
- New Clarification Office for conflicts
- Appraisal interview puts participants on an equal footing
- Position paper on the future world of work
- Diversity: work-life balance
- Award-winning leadership and diversity
- Diversity: digital accessibility
Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation
- ETH leads Swiss chip initiative
- Building a gripper hand for exoskeletons in five days
- ETH reinforces 3R principles for animal experiments
- Successful funding round for ETH researchers
- Spark Award for recycling of rare earth elements
- ETH students accelerate innovation
- SDG Monitor detects data gaps
- HIF building renovated and extended
- Construction work gets under way on the new computing centre
- New structure in the Executive Board domain of Research
- Donors and talent exchange ideas and perspectives
The Annual Report is produced in German and translated into English. Only the German version is binding.
? ETH Zurich, April 2025