Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), officially known as "Transforming Our World: The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development," are a set of 17 goals established by the United Nations (UN). These goals were mentioned in the UN General Assembly resolution on September 25, 2015. They officially came into effect on January 1, 2016, as part of the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda.
Although these broad goals are interconnected, each has its own specific targets—a total of 169 sub-targets collectively. The SDGs cover a wide range of social and economic development issues, including:
- Poverty
- Hunger
- Health
- Education
- Climate change
- Gender equality
- Water and sanitation
- Energy
- Environment
- Social justice
Although the SDGs are not legally binding, governments take ownership and develop national frameworks to achieve them. Countries bear the primary responsibility for tracking progress and conducting reviews, which requires accessible, timely, and high-quality data collection. These national-level analyses contribute to regional and global follow-up and review processes.
On July 19, 2014, the UN Open Working Group on SDGs submitted a proposal to the UN General Assembly, which included 17 goals and 169 targets covering various aspects of sustainable development. These goals aim to:
- Eradicate poverty and hunger
- Improve health and education
- Make cities more sustainable
- Combat climate change
- Protect oceans and forests
On December 5, 2014, the UN General Assembly Secretary approved the Post-2015 Development Agenda report, based on the proposals of the Open Working Group. Intergovernmental negotiations on the Post-2015 Development Agenda began in January 2015 and concluded in August 2015. Following these negotiations, the final document on sustainable development was adopted at the UN Summit in New York from September 25–27, 2015, under the title:
"Transforming Our World: The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development."
Paragraph 54 of UN resolution A/RES/70/1, dated September 25, 2015, outlines the goals and targets. The UN-led process involved 193 member states and global civil society, making this decision a comprehensive intergovernmental agreement that serves as the global post-2015 development plan. The SDGs are built on the principles outlined in the resolution titled "The Future We Want."
