Introduction to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and planetary boundaries

Key question: What are the UN Sustainable Development Goals and Planetary Boundaries? Think about the interplay between the goals and boundaries and synergies, tensions and trade-offs we have to consider in sustainable development.

The UN Sustainable Development Goals and Planetary Boundaries are two key frameworks designed to guide global action towards sustainability.

The UN Sustainable Development Goals framework addresses social, economic and environmental goals aiming to achieve balance between human well-being, economic growth and environmental protection. The Planetary Boundaries framework focuses on Earth’s capacity to handle changes to its systems induced by human activities.

The UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a set of 17 interconnected global goals designed to address a wide range of challenges facing the world, including poverty, inequality, climate change, environmental degradation, peace and justice. They were adopted by all United Nations Member States in 2015 as part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Do you know the 17 SDGs?

• No Poverty – End poverty in all its forms everywhere.
• Zero Hunger – End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture.
• Good Health and Well-being – Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages.
• Quality Education – Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.
• Gender Equality – Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls.
• Clean Water and Sanitation – Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.
• Affordable and Clean Energy – Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all.
• Decent Work and Economic Growth – Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all.
• Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure – Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation.
• Reduces Inequalities – Reduce inequality within and among countries.
• Sustainable cities and Communities – Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable.
• Responsible Consumption and Production – Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns.
• Climate Action – Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts.
• Life Below Water – Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas, and marine resources for sustainable development.
• 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.
• 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.
• Partnerships for the Goals – Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development.

Read more about the history of the SDGs and implementation progress here.

Planetary Boundaries

Planetary Boundaries is a scientific framework developed by a group of Earth system and environmental scientists, led by Johan Rockström from the Stockholm Resilience Centre. The framework identifies nine critical Earth system processes and associated thresholds or “boundaries.” Crossing these boundaries could lead to catastrophic environmental change. The goal is to define a “safe operating space” for humanity to ensure the stability and resilience of our planet.

What are the Planetary Boundaries?

Currently nine critical Earth system processes, each with specific boundaries, are considered as planetary boundaries. Of the nine boundaries assessed in the most recent update in 2023, six have been transgressed. Pressure is deemed to be increasing on all boundaries except ozone depletion.

• Climate change – This boundary is related to the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. We need to control global warming to avoid extreme climate impacts. This boundary is crossed.
• Novel entities – This refers to chemical pollution of our environment with synthetic chemicals, plastics, heavy metals and radioactive materials. This boundary is crossed.
• Stratospheric ozone depletion – the thinning of the ozone layer due to chemicals such as chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) increases UV radiation.
• Atmospheric Aerosol Loading – Particulate pollution from human activities can affect climate and human health.
• Ocean acidification – The oceans absorb carbon dioxide making them more acidic. This affects marine ecosystems and biodiversity.
• Biogeochemical flows – This boundary is related to the disruption of the nitrogen and phosphorus cycles by human activities. This boundary is crossed.
• Freshwater change – Human activities and consumption are affecting the water cycle. This boundary is crossed.
• Land-system change – Human activities such as deforestation, urbanisation and agricultural expansion cause loss of natural habitats. This boundary is crossed.
• Biosphere integrity – This boundary is related to the rate of species extinction and loss of ecosystems. This boundary is crossed.

Read more about the Planetary Boundaries framework here

The interplay between the planetary boundaries, between the SDGs and indeed between the frameworks must be considered. For example, achieving SDG2: Zero hunger has the potential to put pressure on other goals such as SDG15: Life on Land due to the increased need for agricultural production.

Achieving SDG2: Zero hunger could also put pressure on planetary boundaries such as Land-system change due to agricultural expansion and Biogeochemical flows due to increased need for fertilizer use. Keeping sustainability at the core of development is essential to ensure balance between environmental protection, economic growth and social equity.