North America, home to top global economies, faces high expectations and resource demands. It's a hub for innovative projects tackling the toughest UN SDG challenges.

North America is one of the most highly resourced regions in the world, with Canada and the United States ranking among the top 12 global economies, based on GDP. But strong economies also tend to strain systems — they are resource intensive, and expectations are high that these countries will shoulder responsibilities that reflect their prominence. North America, then, is fertile ground for innovative projects that are tackling the world’s most challenging problems across UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). 

Let’s look at the projects transforming North America that are helping elevate our world.

Connected Chef  For incorporating food sovereignty with food aid  UN SDGs: 2, Zero Hunger; 8, Decent Work and Economic Growth; 15, Life on Land   United States

Connected Chef was founded by husband-wife team Omar Bravo, a Mexican immigrant who worked as a chef in Manhattan prior to COVID, and Kim Calicchio, an American citizen who also worked as a chef. After having his responsibilities increased (with no salary increase) as colleagues were laid off during COVID, Bravo decided to quit the restaurant business and, alongside Calicchio, start a food aid organization in 2020 that could help colleagues — especially undocumented migrants working in New York’s kitchens — impacted by COVID.

The organization expanded its scope in 2023, launching a series of ambitious community-based projects in Queens, New York with the goal of achieving full food sovereignty for hundreds of stakeholders and neighbors. Connected Chef has focused on all of the key areas of UN SDG 2: Zero Hunger in its community — ending hunger, achieving food security, improving nutrition, and promoting sustainable agriculture.

In 2023, Connected Chef turned the traditional charitable model on its head by distributing no-fee, Community Supported Agriculture (CSA)-style boxes of fresh vegetables, fruits, and staples like rice, eggs, and milk to 150 families that remained impacted by job insecurity caused by COVID. The food sovereignty project sought to make deep connections among neighbors, launching fresh food pick-up hubs at local schools and meeting community members where they live and work.

In May 2023, the distribution of more free food boxes was launched at the organization’s community farm stand. The food is sourced almost exclusively by farmers within a 200-mile radius, and all of their partner farmers are people of color who use sustainable ancestral farming practices, a commitment that addresses UN SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth and UN SDG 15: Life on Land.

TREK’s Climate Audit  For using a climate audit to control emissions  UN SDG: 13, Climate Action  United States

A 2020 full-scale, company-wide emissions audit led bicycle manufacturer TREK to take on a second, more in-depth audit in 2022, focusing on three primary areas: (1) owned or controlled sources that cause direct emissions; (2) indirect emissions caused by purchased energy generation; and (3) indirect emissions that occur in the TREK value chain. The 2022 audit results showed the company exactly where it needed to adjust in 2023 operations to achieve its near-term and long-range emissions goals. Specific objectives included: (1) reducing Scope 3 emissions by 30% by 2032; (2) reducing Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 68% by 2032; and (3) sourcing all electricity from renewable sources by 2030.

One of the main priorities revealed by the climate audit project was fleet operations, and in 2023, TREK initiated a pilot program that will transition the company’s fleet from gas-powered vehicles to electric vehicles. And even more impressive: TREK established itself as an industry trailblazer by committing to not purchase carbon offsets, as many companies do. But the climate audit project didn’t end there. TREK also evaluated its packaging and the non-reusable waste it produces. They began a phase-out of plastic zip ties and achieved a goal set in 2022 to eliminate all single-use poly bags in their packaging. On just one of their bike models, its top-selling “Marlin”, TREK managed to reduce 100,000 pounds (about 45359 kg) of plastic waste in one year. They have also eliminated foam tubes, avoiding 19,000 pounds (about 8618 kg) of landfill waste. In every case where they can, they have switched to using strong paper/cardboard sourced from certified sustainably managed forests.

The company is a role model for the industry when it comes to thoughtful solutions that produce quantitative, impactful outcomes. The supply chain/value chain is where most modern companies are most likely to achieve the greatest reductions in their carbon emissions, and TREK is showing them the way.