2
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a
universal set of goals, targets and indicators
2 that
UN member states have committed to use, to frame
both domestic and international development policies over the […period 2015–2030]. They build
upon the progress of the Millennium Development
Goals (MDGs), which were agreed by governments in 2001 and expired in 2015. While the
MDGs focused on reducing extreme poverty in all
its forms, the SDGs pursue a broader agenda that
encompasses the social, environmental and economic aspects of sustainable development, which
is relevant for all countries worldwide.
The SDGs are at the core of the 2030 Agenda for
Sustainable Development,
3 which was ratified by
all UN member states at the 2015 United Nations
General Assembly. Their 17 goals and 169 targets
address critical issues facing the world today,
including the eradication of extreme poverty, tackling global inequality and climate change, promoting sustainable urbanization and industrial
development, protecting natural ecosystems, and
fostering the growth of peaceful and inclusive
communities and governing institutions (p. 8).
The SDG framework addresses five key
themes, referred to as the Five Ps of Sustainable
Development:
People – The commitment to ending extreme
poverty, hunger, and economic and gender
inequality
Planet – The commitment to protect the planet
from degradation through sustainable development, production, consumption, and natural
resources management practices and to
address the causes and effects of climate
change
Prosperity – The adoption of consumption and
production patterns that are sustainable for
future generations and result in equitable economic growth and participation for all members of society
Peace – The promotion of good governance, rule
of law, anti-corruption, human rights, and
equal protection under the law for all members of society
2 A complete list of the SDGs and their targets is available
at https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/sdgs
3 United Nations Resolution A/RES/70/1 of 25 September
2015 (2).
Partnerships – The coordination of a multitude of
stakeholders, including national and local
governments, multinational corporations,
NGOs, and other members of global civil
society to implement the SDG agenda with
accountability and transparency
4
The SDG framework is also designed to reflect
advancements in the field of development since
the advent of the MDGs, as it promotes key
opportunity areas for improved outcomes by
applying these five principles in development
strategies:
Inclusivity – The SDG agenda stands on the principle that no one is to be left behind and therefore requires the engagement of stakeholders
across all levels of society in order to effectively account for and respond to the needs
and interests of all.
Universality – In order to achieve global targets
for development, the involvement of developed and developing countries is required.
Understanding that development contexts
vary worldwide, the SDGs are designed to be
adapted as they are applied to local
situations.
Integration – The SDG agenda addresses the
complexity of long-term solutions, by recognizing the interconnectivity of development
policies and investments and building on
existing relationships between stakeholders
across the three dimensions of sustainable
development: economy, environment, and
society.
Technologically driven – Advances in ITC and
data availability inform sustainable development policy and investment as they improve
global communication and interconnectedness and bring to light a range of data that
illustrate and measure development needs,
challenges, and progress.
4 For more information on the “5 Ps,” see: SDSN, “Getting
Started with the Sustainable Development Goals – A
Guide for Stakeholders”, (New York: SDSN, 2015), 8–9.
Available
at:
http://unsdsn.org/wp-content/
uploads/2015/12/151211-getting-started-guide-FINALPDF-.pdf
D. B. Abraham and S. D. Iyer
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a
universal set of goals, targets and indicators
2 that
UN member states have committed to use, to frame
both domestic and international development policies over the […period 2015–2030]. They build
upon the progress of the Millennium Development
Goals (MDGs), which were agreed by governments in 2001 and expired in 2015. While the
MDGs focused on reducing extreme poverty in all
its forms, the SDGs pursue a broader agenda that
encompasses the social, environmental and economic aspects of sustainable development, which
is relevant for all countries worldwide.
The SDGs are at the core of the 2030 Agenda for
Sustainable Development,
3 which was ratified by
all UN member states at the 2015 United Nations
General Assembly. Their 17 goals and 169 targets
address critical issues facing the world today,
including the eradication of extreme poverty, tackling global inequality and climate change, promoting sustainable urbanization and industrial
development, protecting natural ecosystems, and
fostering the growth of peaceful and inclusive
communities and governing institutions (p. 8).
The SDG framework addresses five key
themes, referred to as the Five Ps of Sustainable
Development:
People – The commitment to ending extreme
poverty, hunger, and economic and gender
inequality
Planet – The commitment to protect the planet
from degradation through sustainable development, production, consumption, and natural
resources management practices and to
address the causes and effects of climate
change
Prosperity – The adoption of consumption and
production patterns that are sustainable for
future generations and result in equitable economic growth and participation for all members of society
Peace – The promotion of good governance, rule
of law, anti-corruption, human rights, and
equal protection under the law for all members of society
2 A complete list of the SDGs and their targets is available
at https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/sdgs
3 United Nations Resolution A/RES/70/1 of 25 September
2015 (2).
Partnerships – The coordination of a multitude of
stakeholders, including national and local
governments, multinational corporations,
NGOs, and other members of global civil
society to implement the SDG agenda with
accountability and transparency
4
The SDG framework is also designed to reflect
advancements in the field of development since
the advent of the MDGs, as it promotes key
opportunity areas for improved outcomes by
applying these five principles in development
strategies:
Inclusivity – The SDG agenda stands on the principle that no one is to be left behind and therefore requires the engagement of stakeholders
across all levels of society in order to effectively account for and respond to the needs
and interests of all.
Universality – In order to achieve global targets
for development, the involvement of developed and developing countries is required.
Understanding that development contexts
vary worldwide, the SDGs are designed to be
adapted as they are applied to local
situations.
Integration – The SDG agenda addresses the
complexity of long-term solutions, by recognizing the interconnectivity of development
policies and investments and building on
existing relationships between stakeholders
across the three dimensions of sustainable
development: economy, environment, and
society.
Technologically driven – Advances in ITC and
data availability inform sustainable development policy and investment as they improve
global communication and interconnectedness and bring to light a range of data that
illustrate and measure development needs,
challenges, and progress.
4 For more information on the “5 Ps,” see: SDSN, “Getting
Started with the Sustainable Development Goals – A
Guide for Stakeholders”, (New York: SDSN, 2015), 8–9.
Available
at:
http://unsdsn.org/wp-content/
uploads/2015/12/151211-getting-started-guide-FINALPDF-.pdf
D. B. Abraham and S. D. Iyer