The 17 Goals

UN Sustainable Development Goals

Introduction

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a collection of 17 interlinked global goals designed to be a “blueprint to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all”. The SDGs were set up in 2015 by the United Nations General Assembly and are intended to be achieved by the year 2030.

These goals address the global challenges we face, including those related to poverty, inequality, climate change, environmental degradation, peace, and justice. The SDGs are interconnected – often the key to success in one involves tackling issues more commonly associated with another.

UN Sustainable Development Goals Guidelines

The 17 Goals

Goal 1: No Poverty

Economic growth must be inclusive to provide sustainable jobs and promote equality. Poverty eradication is a fundamental objective of the SDGs.

  • Target 1.1: By 2030, eradicate extreme poverty for all people everywhere
  • Target 1.2: Reduce at least by half the proportion of people living in poverty
  • Target 1.3: Implement social protection systems for all

Goal 2: Zero Hunger

The food and agriculture sector offers key solutions for development and is central for hunger and poverty eradication.

  • Target 2.1: By 2030, end hunger and ensure access to safe, nutritious food
  • Target 2.2: End all forms of malnutrition
  • Target 2.3: Double the agricultural productivity and incomes of small-scale food producers

Goal 3: Good Health and Well-Being

Ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all at all ages is essential to sustainable development.

  • Target 3.1: Reduce global maternal mortality
  • Target 3.2: End preventable deaths of newborns and children under 5
  • Target 3.3: End epidemics of AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria, and neglected tropical diseases

Goal 4: Quality Education

Obtaining a quality education is the foundation to improving people's lives and sustainable development.

  • Target 4.1: Ensure free, equitable, and quality primary and secondary education
  • Target 4.2: Ensure all girls and boys have access to quality early childhood development
  • Target 4.3: Ensure equal access to affordable technical, vocational, and higher education

Goal 5: Gender Equality

Gender equality is not only a fundamental human right but a necessary foundation for a peaceful, prosperous, and sustainable world.

  • Target 5.1: End all forms of discrimination against women and girls
  • Target 5.2: Eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls
  • Target 5.3: Eliminate harmful practices such as child marriage

Goal 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

Clean, accessible water for all is an essential part of the world we want to live in.

  • Target 6.1: Achieve universal and equitable access to safe drinking water
  • Target 6.2: Achieve access to adequate sanitation and hygiene for all
  • Target 6.3: Improve water quality by reducing pollution

Goal 7: Affordable and Clean Energy

Energy is central to nearly every major challenge and opportunity.

  • Target 7.1: Ensure universal access to affordable, reliable energy services
  • Target 7.2: Increase substantially the share of renewable energy
  • Target 7.3: Double the global rate of improvement in energy efficiency

Goal 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

Sustainable economic growth will require societies to create the conditions that allow people to have quality jobs.

  • Target 8.1: Sustain per capita economic growth
  • Target 8.2: Achieve higher levels of economic productivity
  • Target 8.3: Promote development-oriented policies that support productive activities

Goal 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

Investments in infrastructure are crucial to achieving sustainable development.

  • Target 9.1: Develop quality, reliable, sustainable, and resilient infrastructure
  • Target 9.2: Promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization
  • Target 9.3: Increase access of small-scale enterprises to financial services

Goal 10: Reduced Inequalities

To reduce inequalities, policies should be universal in principle, paying attention to the needs of disadvantaged and marginalized populations.

  • Target 10.1: Achieve and sustain income growth of the bottom 40% of the population
  • Target 10.2: Empower and promote social, economic, and political inclusion
  • Target 10.3: Ensure equal opportunity and reduce inequalities of outcome

Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

There needs to be a future in which cities provide opportunities for all, with access to basic services, energy, housing, transportation, and more.

  • Target 11.1: Ensure access to adequate, safe, and affordable housing
  • Target 11.2: Provide access to safe, affordable, and sustainable transport systems
  • Target 11.3: Enhance inclusive and sustainable urbanization

Goal 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

Sustainable consumption and production is about promoting resource and energy efficiency.

  • Target 12.1: Implement the 10-Year Framework of Programmes on sustainable consumption and production
  • Target 12.2: Achieve sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources
  • Target 12.3: Halve per capita global food waste

Goal 13: Climate Action

Climate change is a global challenge that affects everyone, everywhere.

  • Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards
  • Target 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies
  • Target 13.3: Improve education and capacity on climate change mitigation

Goal 14: Life Below Water

Careful management of this essential global resource is a key feature of a sustainable future.

  • Target 14.1: Prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution
  • Target 14.2: Sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems
  • Target 14.3: Minimize and address the impacts of ocean acidification

Goal 15: Life on Land

Sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, halt and reverse land degradation, halt biodiversity loss.

  • Target 15.1: Ensure conservation, restoration, and sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems
  • Target 15.2: Promote sustainable management of forests
  • Target 15.3: Combat desertification and restore degraded land and soil

Goal 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions

Access to justice for all, and building effective, accountable institutions at all levels.

  • Target 16.1: Significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death rates
  • Target 16.2: End abuse, exploitation, trafficking, and all forms of violence against children
  • Target 16.3: Promote the rule of law and ensure equal access to justice

Goal 17: Partnerships for the Goals

Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development.

  • Target 17.1: Strengthen domestic resource mobilization
  • Target 17.2: Developed countries to implement their official development assistance commitments
  • Target 17.3: Mobilize additional financial resources for developing countries

Implementation and Monitoring

The UN has established a dedicated follow-up and review mechanism for the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development that takes place annually at the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development.

Each country is expected to develop their own national strategies for implementation, and they are encouraged to conduct regular and inclusive reviews of progress.

See Also

References

  • United Nations. (2015). Transforming our world: The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
  • United Nations Development Programme. (2020). Sustainable Development Goals.
  • United Nations Statistics Division. (2020). Global indicator framework for the Sustainable Development Goals and targets of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Last updated: May 2025

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