United Nations Sustainable Development Goals

The Rio+20 Conference on Sustainable Development was held in June 2012 were consensus from international Governments was made on the decision to develop global Sustainable Development Goals. Negotiations following the Rio Conference resulted in the formation of a final Agenda package, called the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development that set a universally applicable pathway towards achieving global sustainable development. The sustainable development trajectory encompasses 17 post-2015 set goals that have, to a great extent, been integrated into global environmental policy, as well as other policy sectors (Le Blanc, 2015). These goals, set by the United Nations (UN), were designed and adopted by countries around the world, determined to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. They have been used as a blueprint to achieve a more sustainable future for the planet by addressing global challenges we face, including environmental degradation, climate change, issues relating to inequality and justice etc. To learn more about each individual goal and their targets please visit the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals website.

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development

In 2015, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development was adopted by Heads of State and Government at a special UN summit.  The Agenda aims to revise and succeed former Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in an attempt to combine them with global environmental targets that ensure developmental gains for emerging countries, while also providing security for society and the planet (Gore, 2015).  In total it is comprised of 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and 169 targets. Each of the set goals and targets are aimed for achievement by 2030. The adoption of the 2030 Agenda was considered a landmark achievement internationally as it provided a shared global vision towards sustainable development for all.

 For further information on how the Sustainable Development Goals came to be, please click here.