How RUNWITHIT Synthetics is Addressing Sustainable Development

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Sustainable development became a global movement as a result of climate change and it can be defined as development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs (1). To achieve global sustainable development the United Nations (UN) created a framework building on decades of the organization's humanitarian efforts. This framework is known as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and is the root of the UN’s 2030 Agenda.  

The SDGs are a collection of 17 interconnected goals and 169 targets that act as a “blueprint to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all.” (2) The SDGs were established by the United Nations and in 2015 all the United Nations (UN) Member States adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The 2030 Agenda is a plan of action for people, the planet, and prosperity that seeks to support universal peace. The Agenda is a bold and transformative plan to “shift the world onto a sustainable and resilient path.” (3) The goals aim to recognize human rights for all and achieve increased gender equality. The 17 SDGs are indivisible and target the triple bottom line of people, the planet, and profit, which is needed for truly sustainable development (4). The SDGs include the following: 

  1. No Poverty

  2. Zero Hunger

  3. Good Health and Well-Being

  4. Quality Education

  5. Gender Equality

  6. Clean Water and Sanitization

  7. Affordable and Clean Energy

  8. Decent Work and Economic Growth

  9. Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure 

  10. Reduced Inequalities

  11. Sustainable Cities and Communities 

  12. Responsible Production and Consumption

  13. Climate Action

  14. Life Below Water

  15. Life on Land 

  16. Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions

  17. Partnerships for the Goals

At RUNWITHIT Synthetics, at our core is the dedication to equity, diversity, equality, and sustainable development. We are a fully certified Gender-Based Analysis Plus (GBA+) organization. GBA+ is an analytical method implemented to assess how diverse groups of women, men, and gender-diverse individuals experience various policies, programs, and initiatives (5). The plus (+) represents the multiple intersectionalities such as race, ethnicity, religion, age, and mental or physical disability that contribute to an individual's identity and how they navigate social structures, policy, infrastructure, and initiatives. GBA+ certification is a crucial component for SDGs and our Synthetic Models. With each unique Synthetic Model, RUNWITHIT uses the GBA+ framework within our research and development efforts to identify where structural, social, and cultural variations and inequalities exist. Inclusion is essential to human rights and sustainable development and we strive for our models to reflect this. 

Through the application of our Synthetic Models, we have concluded that successful societies, cities, policies, and incentives are the ones growing and understanding the links between sustainable development, health, mobility, policies, infrastructure accessibility, and economic opportunity. 

RUNWITHIT is addressing and contributing to the UN’s SDGs as follows: 

  • With each Synthetic City, we address how cities and communities can be sustainable (#11) by reducing gender inequality (#5), optimizing industry, innovation, and infrastructure for all (#9), reducing various inequalities present in areas like transportation, mobility, and energy (#10), identifying how to provide and optimize clean and affordable energy (#7) along with clean water and sanitization (#6) to their citizens, which contributes to the cities’ strength as institutions (#16), and the citizens overall health and well-being (#3). 

  • With each Synthetic Grid, RUNWITHIT provides utility and energy entities the opportunity to view varying scenarios, with Synthetic People included, before they happen. RUNWITHIT’s people-centric foresight also provides utility and energy entities with the ability to calculate the human impact of grid issues around renewables, resilience, and electrification. These calculations enable sophisticated, scenario-based, responsible investments in contributing to the ability to build innovative (#9), impactful solutions, and provide clean and affordable energy (#7) futures.

RUNWITHIT’s Synthetic Models have no bounds as to what can be modelled or how diverse the Synthetic Populations within these Models can be. We dream of a world where societies, cities, policies, incentives, and infrastructures hold no individual back. We dream of equal social and economic opportunity no matter the varying intersectionalities that contribute to an individual’s identity. Truly sustainable development, as outlined by the UN, will be achieved through active efforts to contribute and achieve each SDG. At RUNWITHIT we are attempting to make our dreams of true equality, equity, inclusion, and sustainable development a reality, one Synthetic Model at a time, and we encourage others to join us. 

For more information on SDGs you can visit the UN’s website at https://sdgs.un.org/goals. 

  1. https://www.iisd.org/about-iisd/sustainable-development

  2. https://sdgs.un.org/goals

  3. https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/post2015/transformingourworld

  4. https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/post2015/transformingourworld

  5. https://cfc-swc.gc.ca/gba-acs/index-en.html


RUNWITHIT is actively working to contribute to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s). This project has contributed to the following SDG’s:

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