The 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals

The United Nations 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals or SDGs have become the benchmark for sustainability and are ubiquitous today: we find them integrated into government development plans in countries around the world and in the strategies of many companies. But do we really know what these famous SDGs are and where they come from?

In its efforts to protect the environment and improve people’s lives, the United Nations established an action plan in 1992 at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro and later at the Millennium Summit in 2000. The SDGs have their origins in the Millennium Development Goals, eight goals that were set at the 2000 summit to eradicate extreme poverty and hunger, reducing child mortality rates and improving access to education, among other things. This milestone was the first international agreement to confront global problems, serving as a worldwide framework for collective action to improve living conditions at a global level. Unfortunately, these goals did not materialize: out of the eight, the only one that was partially achieved was to reduce the rate of extreme poverty.

In 2015, all United Nations Member States came together again to adopt the 2030 Agenda: a common 15-year plan to achieve peace and prosperity for all people and the planet for today and the future. Seventeen Sustainable Development Goals were adopted, after two years of public consultations and negotiations.

These 17 goals are based on 5 main features or 5Ps:

• People: leave no one behind and ensure dignity for all human beings.
• Planet: protect our environment and act urgently to address climate change.
• Prosperity: transforming the economy to ensure prosperity for all in harmony with nature.
• Peace: promoting equitable, peaceful and inclusive societies.
• Participation: building partnerships among stakeholders to achieve the goals.

For each one of the 17 SDGs there are a series of indicators and targets, and annual reports are generated to monitor their evolution. Below, we detail the 17 Sustainable Development Goals, you can click to learn more details about each of them:

1. No poverty: End poverty in all its forms everywhere.
2. Zero hunger: End hunger.
3. Good health and well-being: Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages.
4. Quality education: Ensure inclusive, equitable and 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 access to water and sanitation for all.
7. Affordable and clean energy: Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy.
8. Decent work and economic growth: Promote inclusive and sustainable economic growth, employment and decent work for all.
9. Industries, innovation and infrastructure: Build resilient infrastructure, promote sustainable industrialization and foster innovation.
10. Reduced inequalities: Reduce inequality within and among countries.
11. Sustainable cities and communities: Make cities 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.
15. Life on land: Sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, halt and reverse land degradation, halt biodiversity loss.
16. Peace, justice and strong institutions: Promote just, peaceful and inclusive societies.
17. Partnerships for the goals: Revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development.

The 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals, or SDGs, represent a common horizon for humanity and clear goals on sustainability issues. They also mean an agreed definition of what sustainability means, and how it encompasses not only the environment, but also other issues such as gender equality, social justice or decent work and innovation. They are, in short, a list of pending tasks for a sustainable planet and to guarantee a better future for future generations.

It is worth noting that it is everyone’s responsibility and that each one of us can contribute to the fulfillment of the 17 SDGs. In fact, from the United Nations they give us ideas on how to do it, publishing material such as the 170 actions to transform our world.  From Pax#, we also suggest reading our post on how companies can contribute to the SDGs. If you want us to advise you on how to integrate the goals of the 2030 Agenda in the context of your company or organization, contact us and we will be happy to help you and generate strategies tailored to your needs.