What are the SDGs?
On August 2, 2015, 193 member countries of the United Nations (UN) adopted an ambitious program designed to transform our world by 2030: the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). These 17 goals, comprising 169 targets and measured by 244 indicators, are a roadmap for eradicating poverty, protecting the planet and ensuring prosperity and peace for all. More generally referred to as the "5Ps" (People, Planet, Prosperity, Peace and Partnerships).
Succeeding the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) for the social dimension and the Rio process for the environmental dimension, the SDGs are part of the Agenda 2030, which notably takes up the commitments of the Paris Climate Agreements. They stand out for their global reach and their commitment to "leaving no one behind".
This global program is the fruit of extensive international consultation, involving governments, civil society and the private sector, and underlines the importance of collective action. But, as we enter the decisive decade for their realization, the challenges are immense: inequalities persist, climate change is accelerating, and geopolitical tensions are complicating international cooperation.
The 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
1- No poverty
This first objective aims to eradicate poverty in all its forms, everywhere in the world.
Among its various targets are the eradication of extreme poverty, the establishment of universal social protection systems, access to basic services and protection against extreme climatic events.
2 - Zero hunger
This objective aims to end hunger, ensure food security, improve nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture.
Its targets have social, economic and environmental dimensions. They include doubling agricultural productivity by 2030, adapting agricultural production to climate change, and protecting small-scale producers. The main target is to provide everyone, especially vulnerable populations, with healthy and sufficient food.
3 - Good health and well-being
The aim is to enable everyone to live in good health and promote well-being at all ages.
Targets include reducing infant mortality, combating epidemics such as AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria, road safety, drug prevention, universal access to treatments and vaccines, and universal health coverage.
4 - Quality education
The aim is to ensure access for all to quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities.
Targets include equal access to education, accessibility of schools to all children, regardless of gender or disability, development of scholarships to facilitate access to higher education, promotion of knowledge linked to sustainable development, and vocational training.
5 - Gender equality
The aim is to achieve gender equality and empower all women.
Targets include ending discrimination against women and girls, putting an end to all forms of exploitation, providing women with the same rights as men, enabling equal educational and professional opportunities, valuing domestic work and promoting the sharing of tasks, and combating early marriage and genital mutilation.
6 - Clean water and sanitation
This objective aims to guarantee access to water and sanitation for all, and to manage water resources sustainably.
Its targets include universal access to clean, safe and affordable water for all by 2030, the fight against water pollution, universal access to sanitation services, the rational use of water by all, and the protection and restoration of water-related ecosystems.
7 - Affordable and clean energy
The aim of this objective is to guarantee access for all to reliable, sustainable and modern energy services at an affordable cost.
Targets include the development of renewable energies in the global energy mix, policies to improve energy efficiency, the development of infrastructure to enable access to energy for all, and international cooperation on clean energy technologies.
8 - Decent work and economic growth
This objective is to promote sustained, shared and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all.
Targets include the guarantee of decent work for all, equal pay policies, the fight against slavery and forced labor, access for all to banking and insurance services, economic development adapted to the needs of each country, and the efficient use of natural resources to combine economic growth and environmental protection.
9 - Industry, innovation and infrastructure
The aim here is to build a resilient infrastructure, promote sustainable industrialization that benefits everyone, and encourage innovation.
Targets include the development of high-quality, reliable and sustainable infrastructures, particularly in developing countries, access to financial services for businesses of all sizes, the promotion of sustainable industry, support for R&D, access for all to the Internet and more generally to information and communication technologies at affordable prices.
10 - Reduced inequalities
This objective aims to reduce inequalities within and between countries.
The targets of this objective include the adoption of fiscal, wage and social policies that enable progress towards greater equality, the empowerment and social, economic and political integration of all people, without discrimination, the facilitation of financial flows, particularly to the least developed countries, the regulation of financial institutions and markets, and the management and simplification of migratory flows.
11 - Sustainable cities and communities
The aim is to ensure that cities and human settlements are open to all, safe, resilient and sustainable.
Among the targets of this objective we find access for all to affordable housing and basic services, accessibility to public transport, especially for disabled people, protection of cultural and natural heritage, management of the environmental impact of cities (waste, air quality, etc.), implementation of integration and inclusion policies, development of economic links between urban, peri-urban and rural areas.
12 - Responsible consumption and production
The aim is to establish sustainable consumption and production patterns.
Targets include the fight against food waste, the responsible management of natural resources, the reduction and recycling of waste, particularly industrial chemicals, policies to develop sustainable tourism, cooperation between states on sustainable production and consumption patterns, and the promotion of sustainable practices in public procurement tenders.
13 - Climate action
The aim here is to take urgent action to combat climate change and its consequences.
Among the targets cited in this objective we find the strengthening of resilience and the capacity to adapt to climate-related hazards and natural disasters, the implementation of the Green Climate Fund and the financing of aid plans to combat climate change for developing countries, and the introduction of measures to prevent the consequences of climate change in national policies and corporate strategies.
14 - Life below water
This objective aims to conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development.
Targets include reducing marine pollution, particularly from land-based activities, regulating fishing, preserving at least 10% of marine and coastal areas, ensuring sustainable use of marine resources and combating ocean acidification.
15 - Life on land
The aim is to manage forests sustainably, combat desertification, halt and reverse land degradation and halt the loss of biodiversity.
Targets include the fight against poaching and trafficking of protected species of flora and fauna, the preservation, restoration and sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems (forests, wetlands, mountains, arid zones, etc.), the protection of biodiversity and endangered species, and the mobilization of financial resources for these actions, in particular to support developing countries in the sustainable management of their ecosystems.
16 - Peace, justice and strong institutions
The aim is to promote peaceful and open societies for sustainable development, ensure access to justice for all, and build effective, accountable and open institutions at all levels.
Among the targets we find the significant reduction of all forms of violence and associated mortality rates, the fight against child abuse and trafficking, against corruption, against arms trafficking, the transparency of institutions, access to information, to justice and the guarantee of a legal identity for all.
17 - Partnerships to achieve objectives
This objective aims to strengthen the means of implementing and revitalizing the global partnership for sustainable development.
Targets include increasing international support to developing countries for the implementation of the SDGs, ensuring that developed countries honor their commitments in this area, strengthening technology transfer and dissemination, improving the coherence of sustainable development policies between countries, establishing a fair international trade system, and establishing international sustainable development indicators.
The three pillars of the SDGs
The SDGs are anchored in the three pillars of sustainable development economic, social and environmental. While some of them cut across all 3 pillars, each goal necessarily falls within the scope of at least one of them.
Economic pillar
The SDGs recognize that sustainable economic development is crucial to eradicating poverty and reducing inequality. Among these goals, MDG 1 aims to eradicate poverty in all its forms worldwide. MDG 8, meanwhile, seeks to promote sustained but also inclusive and sustainable economic growth, with a particular emphasis on creating decent jobs for all. Finally, MDG 10 will tackle inequality by seeking to reduce disparities within and between countries.
Achieving these goals is essential to ensure shared prosperity and equitable development on a global scale. However, persistent economic disparities, exacerbated by global crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic, highlight the complex challenges the world faces in meeting these targets.
Social pillar
The social pillar of the SDGs focuses on promoting well-being for all, at all ages, and access to equal opportunities. MDG 3 aims to ensure a lifetime of good health and promote well-being for all. MDG 4 focuses on access to quality education, recognizing that education is a fundamental lever for human development. Finally, MDG 5 calls for gender equality and stresses the importance of empowering women in all aspects of social, economic and political life.
These objectives are interdependent: improving education and health, and promoting gender equality, are essential conditions for reducing poverty and fostering inclusive growth.
Environmental pillar
The SDGs also take into account the urgent need to protect our planet. SDG 13 calls for urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts, while SDG 14 and SDG 15 call for the conservation and sustainable use of oceans, seas, marine resources and terrestrial ecosystems.
These objectives highlight the need to rethink our relationship with nature, adopting more sustainable practices to preserve natural resources and biodiversity for future generations. They also highlight the need for collective action and the development of innovative solutions to drive the transition to greener economies and effectively combat climate change.
Challenges and opportunities for achieving the SDGs
Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) requires the joint mobilization of public and private players in the 193 signatory states, as well as close cooperation between them. This cooperation, essential to achieving the goals, represents both a major opportunity and a considerable challenge. Indeed, the diversity of the players involved increases the risk of the emergence of free riders, which could compromise collective efforts.
Major challenges
The implementation of the SDGs faces several major challenges. First and foremost, the financing of SDG-related initiatives is a crucial issue. UNCTAD (United Nations Conference on Trade and Development) estimates indicate that $2.5 trillion will be needed to achieve these goals, and mobilizing these resources remains a major obstacle, particularly in developing countries, which is why financing and simplifying financial flows are integral to the priority targets of many of the SDGs.
Secondly, international coordination is essential, but difficult to achieve. The SDGs require global cooperation, but geopolitical tensions and divergent interests between countries make this complex. Finally, monitoring and evaluating progress also poses challenges, whether due to reduced institutional capacity or simply a lack of coordination between the many players involved in these goals.
The opportunities offered by the SDGs
Despite these challenges, the SDGs also offer unprecedented opportunities to transform our societies. They encourage innovation and the development of new technologies, particularly in the fields of renewable energy, sustainable agriculture and water resource management.
The SDGs also encourage partnerships between the public and private sectors, and civil society. These collaborations should make it possible to mobilize varied resources, knowledge and skills to achieve common goals. Finally, from a corporate point of view, implementing the SDGs in their strategy can not only contribute to sustainable development, but also strengthen their competitiveness and resilience in the face of climate change and societal evolutions.
Implementing the SDGs
As we inexorably approach the deadline for the 2030 Agenda, it's time to take stock of how far we've come towards achieving these goals, to which many public, private and civil society players have committed themselves.
As we said, achieving the Sustainable Development Goals requires an unprecedented mobilization of financial, technical and human resources, as well as enhanced cooperation at all levels.
Who's concerned?
The SDGs are not just a matter for governments. They concern all players in society.
States: Every country, whatever its level of economic development, is invited to integrate the SDGs into its national policy. Governments must draw up ambitious plans, align their budgets with these goals and report regularly on their progress.
Business: The private sector plays a crucial role in achieving the SDGs. Companies are called upon to adopt sustainable business practices, innovate for environmentally-friendly solutions and contribute to the financing of SDG-related initiatives. Public-private partnerships are also strongly encouraged.
Civil society: NGOs, community organizations and citizens' associations are essential for monitoring implementation of the SDGs, advocating fairer policies, and raising awareness of the challenges and opportunities of sustainable development. Responsibility is also individual, and everyone is invited to make an ongoing contribution to achieving these goals.
International institutions: UN agencies, development banks and other international institutions have set up monitoring frameworks, financing systems and technical assistance to help countries, particularly developing ones, achieve their goals.
Where do we stand?
At present, the results remain mixed. While some notable progress has been made, many challenges remain:
Uneven progress: Some goals, such as access to quality education (MDG 4) and the reduction of extreme poverty (MDG 1), have seen significant advances in several regions of the world. However, progress remains largely uneven, particularly in the least developed countries where structural challenges persist due to a lack of funding and proactive policies.
Climate change: One of the greatest challenges to date remains climate change. Despite the commitments made at the Paris Accords in 2015, global greenhouse gas emissions continue to rise, jeopardizing the achievement of SDGs linked to environmental protection (SDG 13, 14, 15). While developed countries have begun to reduce their GHG emissions, this is not the case for many developing countries who, like Europe and the United States over the past two centuries, want to be able to continue growing without environmental constraints. The stakes are therefore also financial and geopolitical.
Financing: The total cost of achieving the SDGs is estimated at $2.5 trillion per year over 15 years. However, current investments remain grossly insufficient. Public funding needs to be increased, and new sources of private funding mobilized to bridge the gap. This is primarily the responsibility of developed countries, international institutions and private financial players.
TheODD Index: this index from SDSN (Sustainable Development Solutions Network), an NGO set up in 2012 by the UN, tracks each country's progress towards the goals. It shows that, while progress has been made, no country is on track to fully achieve all 17 SDGs by 2030. The Scandinavian countries are currently at the top of the ranking, but even they still face many challenges in achieving all the goals.
Conclusion
The UN's Sustainable Development Goals represent an essential framework for building a fairer, more prosperous and more sustainable future. They address the most pressing challenges of our time, from eradicating poverty to combating climate change. However, their realization depends on our collective ability to overcome financial, political and institutional obstacles, while taking advantage of the opportunities offered by innovation and international cooperation.
To achieve these goals by 2030, we need the ongoing mobilization of all players, at every level - from governments to businesses, to citizens around the world. Together, we can build a future that leaves no one behind, and preserves our planet's resources for future generations.
Sources :
- "The Sustainable Development Report 2024", SDSN, 06/17/2024
- "The Sustainable Development Goals", Novethic, 04/09/2023
- "The SDGS in action, United Nations Development Programme
- "17 Goals to Transform Our World, United Nations
