Stay curious!

These were the words of Csaba Kőrösi, Strategic Director of the Blue Planet Foundation, at the end of his presentation to the students at the American International School of Budapest (AISB) on 20 March 2024. In the presentation, entitled “Sustainable Development Goals for Crisis Management and Transformation – Where Are We Heading?” Mr Kőrösi described the slow progress in implementing the SDGs compared to the targets set, the obstacles that hinder this work, but also the promising results and processes.
Participants were able to answer a series of questions using their mobile phones. The following word cloud was drawn from the answers to the question “What does sustainable development mean to you?”

In conclusion, he asked the students to stay curious to explore the complexity of global issues and engage with multiple perspectives.
Reject the notion that our world cannot be transformed. That we are victims of something inevitable, of forces beyond our control.
We can still curb climate change and restore much of the natural wealth of our planet, and we can make our world more just and more inclusive, more stable.
The organizing students highlighted in their Weekly Update: “Some key takeaways were that currently, the SDGs are unfortunately not being met and more action has to be taken in order to keep the world developing in the right direction. Governments cannot wait for excess money to come to them while continuing their business as usual. Sustainable development has to permeate through the system, not just be added to our preexisting one. He emphasized everyone’s responsibility, especially the responsibility of the young people in shaping our future.”