Sustainable Development Goals
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a global agenda, adopted by countries in 2015, with a vision of ending poverty, protecting the planet and ensuring that all people enjoy peace and prosperity.
The 17 SDGs and 169 targets are part of what is known as the 2030 Agenda, which recognizes "that eradicating poverty in all its forms and dimensions, including extreme poverty, is the greatest global challenge and an indispensable requirement for sustainable development." In adopting the agenda, countries resolved to take the "bold and transformative steps which are urgently needed to shift the world onto a sustainable and resilient path. As we embark on this collective journey, we pledge that no one will be left behind."
The goals and targets are universal, meaning they apply to all countries around the world, not just poor countries. Reaching the goals requires action on all fronts – governments, businesses, civil society and people everywhere all have a role to play.
To learn more about efforts to implement the SDGs around the world, visit IISD’s SDG Knowledge Hub.
- Blog
Channeling the Flow—Rising to the Reporting Challenge for the 2030 Agenda
The plan of action set out in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development requires implementation by all countries and stakeholders, acting in collaborative partnership. That action will not happen by itself. We have less than fifteen years to transform the world, and the task is complex.
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Costing, Mapping, Financing and Mobilizing Knowledge: IISD and the Sustainable Development Goals
Ultimately, the only measure of success of the Sustainable Development Goals will be their implementation within countries. IISD is thus focusing on the architecture of SDG implementation across four key areas: costing, mapping, financing and mobilizing knowledge. This article briefly highlights work that relates to each of these areas.
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Reporting on the Sustainable Development Goals—Challenges for OECD Countries. Part 4: Finance
In part four of a blog series on the challenges that OECD countries face in reporting on their progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals, Mark Halle discusses how to to generate sufficient public and private investment.
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Reporting on the Sustainable Development Goals—Challenges for OECD Countries. Part 3: Means of Implementation
In part three of a blog series on the challenges that OECD countries face in reporting on their progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals, Mark Halle discusses financing the implementation of goals.
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Reporting on the Sustainable Development Goals—Challenges for OECD Countries. Part 2: Universality
In the second in a series of blog postings on the challenges that OECD countries face in reporting on their progress towards the Sustainable...
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Reporting on the Sustainable Development Goals—Challenges for OECD countries (Part I)
Switzerland will be one of the first countries to report back to the UN's High-Level Political Forum on progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals. In the first of a series of postings, Mark Halle highlights critical issues for Switzerland—and by extension, other OECD countries—to address in its reporting.
Read More - Briefing Note
Bottom-up Accountability for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): Are subnational indicator systems aligned?
This briefing note evaluates, as a test case, alignment between subnational sustainable development indicators and the new Sustainable Development Goal indicators.
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Follow-Up and Review for the 2030 Agenda: Bringing coherence to the work of the HLPF
IISD prepared this contribution to informal consultations going on in New York as the first step in a process leading to a resolution in the UN General Assembly on follow-up and review for the 2030 Agenda.
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Are We There Yet? Five criteria for successfully measuring progress on the SDGs
To measure progress, we need a starting point. Where are we with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)?
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Why Private Sector Reporting on the Sustainable Development Goals is Important
Goals and targets to advance corporate social responsibility (CSR) and sustainability have been widely embraced by the private sector.
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