Introduction of the SDGs

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), also known as the Global Goals, adopted by all United Nations Member States in 2015, are the foundation to achieving a better and more sustainable world for all by 2030.

The overall aims of the SDGs are, among other things, to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure that by 2030 all people can enjoy peace and prosperity. The 17 SDGs are an urgent call for action by all UN countries including developed- and developing countries. Therefore, global partnership is at the heart of the SDGs.

These are the 17 SDGs:

The SDGs can be categorized as follows:

• SDGs 1, 2 and 3 are focused on life
• SDGs 11, 16 and 17 are focused on social development
• SDGs 6, 7 and 12 are focused on resources
• SDGs 8 and 9 are focused on economic and technological development
• SDGs 4, 5, and 10 are focused on equality (i.e., SDGs 4, 5 and 10)
• And finally, SDGs 13, 14, and 15 are focused on natural environment

Despite this categorization, there are overlaps between the SDGs. For example, the SDGs 11 and 12 are also closely related to the natural environment.

Do you want to learn more?

This page gives you an overall perspective about the 17 SDGs: https://sdgs.un.org/goals

United Nations has also provided a progress chart for all SDGs, which shows the extent to which each SDG has progressed, throughout the regions of the world (e.g., Sub-Saharan Africa, Eastern and South-Eastern Asia, Pacific Island countries, Developed countries, etc.). The progress chart can be seen on this page: https://unstats.un.org/sdgs/report/2022/progress-chart/