The Sustainable Development Goals or SDGs are 17 objectives of the world that the United Nations set in 2015 and are included in the 2030 Agenda on Sustainable Development. They act as a worldwide call to action to stop poverty, safeguard the earth and secure prosperity and peace among the entire human race. The SDGs officially took effect on 1st January 2016, replacing the previous Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), which had been used to guide the development activities in the world between 2000 and 2015.

All these goals are interrelated, meaning that development in one field will tend to develop in the other. They deal with the most topical issues in the world, such as inequality, environmental degradation, economic development, and justice. Every goal has particular objectives and indicators to measure progress, and the target year is 2030.

The 17 Goals

Goal 1. No Poverty: End poverty in all its forms everywhere.

Goal 2. Zero Hunger: Achieve food security, improve nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture.

Goal 3. Good Health and Well-being: Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all ages.

Goal 4. Quality Education:  Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.

Goal 5. Gender Equality: Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls.

Goal 6. Clean Water and Sanitation: Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.

Goal 7. Affordable and Clean Energy: Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy.

Goal 8. Decent Work and Economic Growth: Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all.

Goal 9. Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure: Build resilient infrastructure, promote sustainable industrialization and foster innovation.

Goal 10. Reduced Inequalities: Reduce inequality within and among countries.

Goal 11. Sustainable Cities and Communities: Make cities inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable.

Goal 12. Responsible Consumption and Production: Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns.

Goal 13. Climate Action: Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts.

Goal 14. Life Below Water: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas, and marine resources.

Goal 15. Life on Land: Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss.

Goal 16. Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions: Promote peaceful and inclusive societies and ensure access to justice.

Goal 17. Partnerships for the Goals: Strengthen global partnerships to support and achieve the SDGs.

Importance and Progress

The SDGs are a common global approach to having a better and more sustainable future. They focus on the trade-off between economic development, social inclusion and the environment. The SDGs have been adopted in the policies and development plans of many countries over the years. Nonetheless, the improvement has been disproportionate. Climate change, conflict and economic inequality, among other issues, have been factors that have curtailed progress in various areas.

Nevertheless, even though difficult, the SDGs are an important model of collaboration between governments, businesses, and civil society. Since the year 2030 is only a few years off, the world must put in a renewed effort in order to speed up the process and not leave anyone behind.

Conclusion

The Sustainable Development Goals are a guide to development around the world and it is meant to strike a balance between economic, social, and environmental development. Even though issues such as inequality and climate change will continue to exist, the realization of these 17 goals by the year 2030 will be based on global collaboration, creativity, and collective responsibility to create a fair, peaceful, and sustainable world which all people will live.