What are the 17 Sustainable Development Goals?

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a call for action by the United Nations General Assembly to promote global development. Set up in 2015, the 17 SDGs were designed as a blueprint to achieving a more sustainable future, spanning across environmental, social and economic issues, with the intention to be achieved by 2030.

Also known as the Global Goals, the goals were designed to be integrated - action in one area will affect the outcomes in another - and as such must be tackled as a whole by the global community.

A summary of the 17 SDGs:

  1. No Poverty: End poverty in all forms, everywhere.
  2. Zero Hunger: End hunger, achieve food security and improve nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture.
  3. Good Health and Well-being: Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages.
  4. Quality Education: Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.
  5. Gender Equality: Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls.
  6. Clean Water and Sanitation: Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.
  7. Affordable and Clean Energy: Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all.
  8. Decent Work and Economic Growth: Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all.
  9. Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure: Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialisation and foster innovation.
  10. Reduced Inequality: Reduce inequality within and among countries.
  11. Sustainable Cities and Communities: Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable.
  12. Responsible Consumption and Production: Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns.
  13. Climate Action: Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts.
  14. Life Below Water: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development.
  15. Life On Land: Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss.
  16. Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions: Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all, and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels.
  17. Partnerships for the Goals: Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalise the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development.

    Learn more about the SDGs at https://www.undp.org/sustainable-development-goals