17 Sustainable Development Goals

With their 169 targets, the 17 Sustainable Development Goals shape the core of the 2030 Agenda. They aim to fight against poverty and sustainable development in one agenda for the first time by balancing sustainable development's economic, social and ecological dimensions.

The SDGs are to be achieved globally and by all United Nations member states by 2030. All states are called upon equally to play their part in finding solutions to the world's urgent challenges. Hence, all states are equally responsible for finding shared solutions to the world's pressing problems.

The Sustainable Development Goals identify global challenges, including poverty, inequality, climate, environmental degradation, prosperity, peace, and justice. To secure a just transition that leaves no one behind, the Goals interconnect and acknowledge that ending poverty and other deprivations are closely associated with strategies that promote education and health, reduce inequality, and stimulate economic growth – all while fighting climate change and working to preserve our oceans and forests.

Each Goal consists of a set of sub-targets. Moreover, each has a set of indicators to assess the progress, jointly known as the global indicator framework. The Inter-Agency and Expert Group developed and agreed to the framework on SDG Indicators (IAEG-SDGs) at the UN Statistical Commission in March 2016.

The United Nations Secretary-General presents an annual SDG Progress report based on the global indicator framework and data collected at the regional level and produced by national statistical systems.

Furthermore, the Global Sustainable Development Report informs the quadrennial SDG review deliberations once every four years at the General Assembly. It is written by an Independent Group of Scientists appointed by the Secretary-General.

The 17 Sustainable Development Goals are:

1. No poverty– ending poverty globally in all its forms
2. Zero hunger– ending hunger while achieving food security, improving nutrition and agriculture
3. Good health and well-being– ensuring healthy lives at all ages and promoting well-being globally,
4. Quality education– ensuring inclusive, equitable, and quality education and promoting lifelong learning opportunities for everybody
5. Gender equality– achieving gender equality and empowering all girls and women
6. Clean water and sanitation– ensuring the sustainable management and availability of sanitation and water globally
7. Affordable energy– ensuring access to affordable, reliable, modern, and sustainable energy globally
8. Decent work and economic growth– promoting sustained, sustainable, and inclusive economic growth, productive and full employment, and proper work globally
9. Industry innovation and infrastructure– building resilient infrastructure, promoting inclusive and sustainable industrialization, and fostering innovation
10. Reduced inequalities– reducing inequality within and among nations.
11. Sustainable cities and communities– making human settlements and cities safe, inclusive, sustainable, and resilient
12. Responsible consumption and production– ensuring sustainable production patterns and consumption
13. Climate action– taking immediate action to fight climate change and its effects
14. Life below water– conserving and sustainably using the seas, oceans, and marine resources for sustainable development
15. Life on land– protecting, restoring, and promoting sustainable use of sustainably managed forests and terrestrial ecosystems, fighting desertification, reversing and halting land degradation, and stopping biodiversity loss
16. Peace, justice, and strong institutions– promoting inclusive and peaceful societies for sustainable development, providing equal justice, and building effective, accountable institutions at all levels
17. Partnerships for the goals– revitalizing the global partnership for sustainable development and strengthening the means of implementation