Heard about the SDGs but never sure what they cover? This sustainable development goals explained guide is for you: 17 shared UN goals, adopted in 2015, aim to end poverty and protect the planet by 2030.
The goals are one part of the wider idea covered in our guide to what is sustainability.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Number of goals | 17 Sustainable Development Goals |
| Number of targets | 169 associated targets |
| Adopted | September 2015, UN Sustainable Development Summit |
| Framework name | 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development |
| Earlier plan it built on | Agenda 21, adopted in June 1992 by more than 178 countries |
Figures come from the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals page and its 2030 Agenda page. They can change, so check those sources before you rely on them.
What are the Sustainable Development Goals?
The 2030 Agenda was adopted by all UN Member States in 2015. The UN describes it as a shared blueprint for peace and prosperity for people and the planet.
At its heart are 17 goals. The UN calls them an urgent call for action by all countries, developed and developing, working in a global partnership.
The 17 goals come with 169 targets, which the Agenda calls integrated and indivisible. In plain terms, the goals are the headlines and the targets are the specific commitments underneath each one.
Where did the goals come from?
The goals did not appear from nowhere. The UN says they build on decades of work by countries and the UN itself.
A major earlier step was Agenda 21. In June 1992, at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, more than 178 countries adopted it as a plan for a global partnership on sustainable development.
The process of negotiating a new agenda ended with the 2030 Agenda, adopted at the UN Sustainable Development Summit in September 2015.
The big ideas behind the Agenda
The Agenda groups its aims into themes, each starting with a letter P. It says the goals and targets will stimulate action in areas of critical importance for humanity and the planet.
- People: the Agenda says it is determined to end poverty and hunger in all their forms and dimensions, and to ensure all human beings can fulfil their potential in dignity and equality and in a healthy environment.
- Planet: it is determined to protect the planet from degradation, including through sustainable consumption and production, managing natural resources sustainably and taking urgent action on climate change.
- Prosperity: it wants all human beings to enjoy prosperous and fulfilling lives, with economic, social and technological progress in harmony with nature.
- Peace: it is determined to foster peaceful, just and inclusive societies free from fear and violence.
- Partnership: it aims to mobilise the means to implement the Agenda through a revitalised Global Partnership for Sustainable Development.
These themes show why the goals reach beyond environmental protection alone. They treat poverty, health, peace and nature as parts of one project.
The full text is published on the UN’s page for the Agenda, which is the best place to read the original wording.
Poverty, partnership and “no one left behind”
The Agenda names a priority. It recognises that eradicating poverty in all its forms and dimensions, including extreme poverty, is the greatest global challenge and an indispensable requirement for sustainable development.
It also makes a pledge. As countries embark on this collective journey, the Agenda says, no one will be left behind.
The plan is meant to be shared work. The Agenda says all countries and all stakeholders, acting in collaborative partnership, will implement it.
The partnership theme has its own goal, Goal 17, which calls for strengthening the means of implementation. The Agenda says the partnership should focus in particular on the needs of the poorest and most vulnerable.
How the SDGs differ from the Millennium Development Goals
The SDGs were not the first global development targets. The Agenda says they seek to build on the Millennium Development Goals and complete what these did not achieve.
Two features stand out in the newer framework:
- It is universal: the UN describes the goals as a call for action by all countries, developed and developing.
- It is balanced: the Agenda says the goals balance the three dimensions of sustainable development, the economic, the social and the environmental.
That balance is the practical difference you will notice.
The 17 goals in plain language
The goals cover people, planet and prosperity at once. Here is the UN’s wording for several of them, which shows how wide the scope is:
- Goal 2: End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture.
- Goal 3: Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages.
- Goal 5: Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls.
- Goal 10: Reduce inequality within and among countries.
- Goal 11: Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable.
- Goal 12: Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns.
- Goal 13: Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts.
- Goal 17: Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development.
The remaining goals cover areas such as poverty, education, water, energy, work, industry, oceans, land and peace. You can read the full list on the UN’s goals page.
How the goals connect to each other
The goals are not a menu to pick from. The Agenda describes them as integrated and indivisible, so progress on one often depends on another.
Cleaner cities (Goal 11) depend on how we make and use things (Goal 12). Climate action (Goal 13) affects food, health and inequality too.
This mirrors the idea behind the three pillars of sustainability, where social, environmental and economic needs are balanced together. Goal 12 also links to the loop-based thinking in what is a circular economy, since reducing waste is central to responsible consumption.
Are the goals on track?
Not fully. The UN statistics division’s report page says the goals have improved millions of lives, but the current pace of change is insufficient to fully achieve all of them by 2030.
The same page notes that millions still face extreme poverty, hunger, inadequate housing and a lack of basic services. It describes the deadline as only five years away at the time of that report.
Read the latest edition of the UN’s SDG progress report for current detail, because the findings are updated regularly.
What can you do as an individual?
The goals are set by governments, but they are meant to involve everyone. A few practical starting points:
- Pick one goal that matches your daily life, such as responsible consumption.
- Reduce waste and choose products that last.
- Learn how your local area or workplace reports on the goals.
- Share clear, accurate information rather than slogans.
This site is independent and educational. It is not affiliated with the United Nations or any organisation named here.
Frequently asked questions
How many Sustainable Development Goals are there?
Show answer
There are 17 goals, with 169 associated targets, as set out in the 2030 Agenda adopted in 2015.
When were the goals adopted?
Show answer
The 2030 Agenda, with the 17 goals at its core, was adopted at the UN Sustainable Development Summit in September 2015.
Do the goals apply only to developing countries?
Show answer
No. The UN describes them as a call for action by all countries, developed and developing.
