Also known as the SDGs, the Sustainable Development Goals have become part of today’s social discourse. But do we know what they are?

In recent years, we have all heard, either in the news or in conversations of different kinds, about the so-called Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). These have become an active part of the goals that society at a global level has set for a better and more equal world, although perhaps we would all appreciate a little context and history to understand what they are and how they aim to make this a better world. Well, today we’re going to explain it to you.

Like every story, this one begins with a compelling reason. Our world is complex, and this often translates into problems of social injustice, poverty, inequality, lack of opportunities, or climate impact… All of these problems are part of our societies and deprive millions of people of a decent life, as well as destroy our habitat, putting our future generations at risk. That, according to sources such as Intermon Oxfam, almost half of the world’s population survives on less than $5.50 a day, that more than 258 million children are out of school, or that, as the WHO points out, the atmospheric concentration of carbon dioxide has increased by more than 30% in recent years; reflects that humanity needs an action plan and the SDGs are part of this solution.

That is why, in 2015, a historic milestone occurred within the United Nations: the approval of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, an ambitious roadmap that aims to improve the lives of all people, without exception. This agenda, which we will explain later, is structured around 17 major goals, also called Sustainable Development Goals; and they include everything from eliminating poverty to combating climate change, education, women’s equality, environmental protection, and the design of our cities.

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development

If every cause has an effect, every problem has a solution. Under this premise, the United Nations sought to tackle the major problems we face today. Thus, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development set a 15-year goal to meet 17 objectives, which in turn were subdivided into 169 integrated and indivisible goals. Ambitious, right?

This strategy, framed within the economic, social, and environmental spheres, did not appear out of nowhere, but was developed over more than two years of public consultations, interaction with civil society, and negotiations among UN member countries. Thus, the agenda implies a common and universal commitment to which each country faces specific challenges in its own management.

17 Goals, 17 challenges

Now that we know how the strategy works, it is time to take a closer look at the 17 major objectives that are part of this 2030 Agenda. Let’s look at them one by one:

1. Goal 1: End of poverty (More than 700 million people live in extreme poverty)
2. Goal 2: Zero hunger (821 million people are malnourished while 1/3 of food is wasted)
3. Goal 3: Good Health and Well-being (Thanks to vaccines, measles deaths have dropped by 80% in less than two decades)
4. Goal 4: Quality Education (617 million children cannot read or add)
5. Goal 5: Gender Equality (1 in 3 women has suffered physical and/or sexual violence(
6. Goal 6: Clean Water and Sanitation (More than 40% of the world’s population is affected by the lack of water)
7. Goal 7: Affordable and Clean Energy (Three billion people do not have access to clean cooking technologies or fuels)
8. Goal 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth (20% of the young population is neither in education nor in work)
9. Goal 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure (Many developing countries do not have infrastructure)
10. Goal 10: Reduction in inequalities (The poorest 40% of the world’s population earn less than 25% of global income)
    1. Goal 11: Sustainable cities and communities (9 out of 10 people living in cities breathe polluted air)
11. Goal 12: Responsible production and consumption (By 2050, the equivalent of three planets would be needed to sustain current consumption)
12. Goal 13: Climate action (CO2 emissions have increased by 50% since 1990)
13. Goal 14: Life below water (More than 3 billion people depend on marine ecosystems for their survival)
14. Goal 15: Life on land (Forests are home to 80% of the world’s biodiversity)
15. Goal 16: Peace, justice and institutions solid (More than 70 million people displaced by conflict)
16. Goal 17: Partnerships for the Goals (Achieving the SDGs could open up $12 trillion in market opportunities and create 380 million jobs)

How is compliance with these SDGs monitored?

Formulating plans is simple, but ensuring compliance is not so much. This is why clear indicators have been established worldwide to monitor compliance. All of this is collected in an annual report published by the United Nations, where progress in different regions of the globe can be analyzed and observed. In addition, a meeting is held annually to review this progress.

Want to learn more about the SDGs? Click on the following video: