Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) - UPSC

 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

• The United Nations (UN) General Assembly in its 17th session in September 2015 announced a set of 17 SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals) & 169 targets which will stimulate action over the next 15 years.

• This set of goals replaces the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) which were coming to an end in 2015 & will try to work in the areas which could not be completed earlier.

• The SDGs were adopted after one of the largest consultations exercises in UN history.

• The goals were proposed in the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20) in June 2012.

• The SDGs will be effective between 2016-2030.

Mission: "A blueprint to achieve a better & more sustainable future for all by 2030".

Major highlights of the Sustainable Development Growths are as given below 17 Goals to transform our world: 

• Poverty eradication or No Poverty;
• Zero hunger;
• Good health & well-being;
• Quality education;
• Gender equality or promoting women & girl empowerment;
• Clean water & sanitation;
• Affordable & clean energy;
• Decent work & economic growth;
• Industry, Innovation & Infrastructure;
• Reduced inequalities or combating inequalities
• Sustainable cities & communities;
• Responsible consumption & production;
• Climate actions;
• Life below water;
• Life on land;
• Peace, justice & strong institutions;
• Partnership for the goals

Fig: Sustainable Development Goals

In comparison to the MDGs, the SDGs are very comprehensive with provisions of indicators for all of its 169 targets which need a proper monitoring mechanism- a challenge for the countries of the world. Financing the goals will be another challenge in this regard.

Fig: World map showing countries that are closest to meeting the SDGs (in dark blue color) & those with the greatest remaining challenges (in the lightest shade of blue color)