Apr 23 2025 By Evelyne Hoffman Agriculture Documents Ecology Economy Education Finance Health Most Popular Nature Other news Social and Cultural Values Sports Technology Tourism 0 Comments

The 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were launched by all 193 Member States of the United Nations when the UN General Assembly adopted the resolution “Transforming our World: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development” on 25 September 2015 at the UN Sustainable Development Summit in New York.

The agenda was stewarded by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and grew out of a multi-year, global consultation that involved governments, civil-society groups, scientists and millions of citizens.

The resolution distils the world’s most urgent social, economic and environmental priorities into 17 global sustainability development goals (SDGs) and 169 targets. They provide a shared framework for governments, businesses, NGOs and citizens to:

• Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger
• Protect the planet’s climate, oceans and forests
• Promote peace, justice and strong institutions
• Foster inclusive, sustainable economic growth

Unlike previous development frameworks, the Sustainable Development Goals break down complex, interlocking challenges – climate change, inequality, health crises, and more – into clear, measurable targets that governments, businesses, NGOs, and citizens can rally behind. Each goal comes with a set of indicators that allow us to track progress in real time, focus investments where they matter most, and hold decision-makers accountable.

This article gives you a practical, roadmap to all 17 Sustainable Development Goals including a concise yet comprehensive overview of each of the SDGs. For every SDG we provide:

• A real-world example of the SDG in action
• Key problems hindering progress
• Actionable solutions that work in multiple contexts
• Positive outcomes the world can expect when the SDG is achieved

Also included is a compact reference guide to all 169 official targets that sit beneath the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

What are The 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Goal 1 – No Poverty: End Poverty in All Its Forms Everywhere

Ending poverty in all its forms is the foundation for sustainable development. Goal 1 focuses on guaranteeing that every person has the resources, opportunities, and resilience to meet basic human needs and withstand economic or climate-related shocks.

Example

Kenya’s Inua Jamii mobile cash-transfer scheme supports 1.2 million elderly and vulnerable households, raising average consumption by ~23 %.

Problems

• Informal and precarious employment
• Fragile and conflict-affected settings
• Climate-related shocks that reverse gains

Solutions

• Universal, digital social-protection floors
• Resilience funds for disaster-prone regions
• Micro-enterprise loans that create decent jobs

Positive Outcome

Fewer households skip meals or withdraw children from school; greater economic participation boosts local markets.

Targets

• 1.1 Eradicate extreme poverty (< US $1.25 a day).
• 1.2 Halve the proportion of people living in all dimensions of poverty.
• 1.3 Introduce nationally appropriate social-protection systems and floors.
• 1.4 Ensure equal rights to economic resources, basic services, land and finance.
• 1.5 Build resilience of the poor to climate-related and other shocks.
• 1.a Mobilise resources to end poverty in all its forms.
• 1.b Create pro-poor, gender-sensitive policy frameworks.

Goal 2 – Zero Hunger: Achieve Food Security & Improved Nutrition

A world without hunger means everyone can reach their full physical and cognitive potential. Goal 2 promotes sustainable agriculture, equitable food systems, and nutrition-sensitive policies so that every community enjoys year-round access to safe, nutritious food.

Example

India’s PM-Poshan school-meal programme supplies fortified lunches to 118 million pupils, cutting malnutrition rates.

Problems

• Yield gaps in smallholder farming
• Post-harvest food loss (~14 %)
• Conflict-driven famine pockets

Solutions

• Climate-smart agriculture (drought-resilient seeds, precision irrigation)
• Farmer-led cold-chain cooperatives
• Early-warning systems for food crises

Positive Outcome

Better child growth, higher farmer incomes and more stable food prices.

Targets

• 2.1 End hunger and ensure year-round access to safe, nutritious food.
• 2.2 End all forms of malnutrition, including stunting and wasting.
• 2.3 Double the productivity and incomes of small-scale food producers.
• 2.4 Ensure sustainable, climate-resilient food-production systems.
• 2.5 Maintain genetic diversity of seeds, plants and animals.
• 2.a Boost investment in rural infrastructure and agricultural R&D.
• 2.b Correct and prevent trade restrictions and export subsidies.
• 2.c Improve the functioning and transparency of food-commodity markets.

Goal 3 – Good Health & Well-Being: Ensure Healthy Lives for All

Good health underpins productivity, learning, and prosperity. Goal 3 aims to prevent disease, expand universal health coverage, and strengthen preparedness so people of all ages can thrive mentally and physically.

Example

Rwanda’s community-based health insurance covers 90 % of citizens for < $8 per year.

Problems

• Shortage of trained health workers
• Rising non-communicable diseases (NCDs)
• Pandemic threats

Solutions

• Task-shifting to nurses and community health workers
• Sugar-sweetened-beverage and tobacco taxes
• One-Health surveillance linking human, animal and environmental health

Positive Outcome

Longer life expectancy and fewer households pushed into poverty by medical costs.

Targets

• 3.1 Cut global maternal mortality to <70 per 100 000 live births.
• 3.2 End preventable deaths of newborns and under-fives.
• 3.3 End epidemics of AIDS, TB, malaria and neglected diseases.
• 3.4 Reduce premature NCD deaths by one third; promote mental health.
• 3.5 Strengthen prevention & treatment of substance abuse.
• 3.6 Halve global road-traffic deaths and injuries.
• 3.7 Ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive healthcare.
• 3.8 Achieve universal health coverage (UHC).
• 3.9 Reduce deaths from hazardous chemicals and pollution.
• 3.a–3.d Implement WHO FCTC; support vaccine & medicine R&D; increase health financing & workforce; improve early-warning and risk-reduction for health emergencies.

Goal 4 – Quality Education: Ensure Inclusive & Equitable Education

Education breaks the cycle of poverty and fuels innovation. Goal 4 commits to inclusive, lifelong learning – ensuring that every learner acquires the knowledge, skills, and values needed for decent work and engaged citizenship.

Example

Uruguay’s Plan Ceibal gave every student a free laptop and trained teachers, narrowing the digital divide.

Problems

• “Learning poverty” (70 % of 10-year-olds in low-income countries cannot read a simple text)
• Teacher absenteeism in remote areas

Solutions

• Adaptive, remedial tutoring platforms
• Incentives and housing for rural teachers

Positive Outcome

Higher earning potential, stronger civic participation and innovation capacity.

Targets

• 4.1 All children complete free, quality primary and secondary education.
• 4.2 All children access quality early-childhood development and pre-primary.
• 4.3 Equal access to affordable technical, vocational and tertiary education.
• 4.4 Boost youth/adult skills for decent jobs and entrepreneurship.
• 4.5 Eliminate gender and vulnerability gaps in education.
• 4.6 Increase youth and adult literacy and numeracy.
• 4.7 Ensure learners acquire knowledge for sustainable development and global citizenship.
• 4.a–4.c Upgrade education facilities; expand scholarships for developing countries; increase supply of qualified teachers.

Goal 5 – Gender Equality: Achieve Gender Equality & Empower All Women and Girls

Societies flourish when women and girls enjoy equal rights and opportunities. Goal 5 tackles discrimination, violence, and unpaid care burdens to unlock the full economic and social potential of half the world’s population.

Example

Rwanda’s parliamentary quota system delivers 61 % female representation—the world’s highest.

Problems

• Gender-based violence
• Wage and leadership gaps
• Unpaid care burden

Solutions

• Enforce equal-pay legislation
• Expand quality childcare infrastructure
• Cash-plus programmes pairing transfers with women’s leadership training

Positive Outcome

Closing gender gaps could add $12 trillion to global GDP by 2030 and create more resilient societies.

Targets

• 5.1 End all discrimination against women and girls.
• 5.2 Eliminate violence and exploitation of women and girls.
• 5.3 Eliminate harmful practices (child marriage, FGM).
• 5.4 Recognise and value unpaid care and domestic work.
• 5.5 Ensure full participation and equal leadership opportunities for women.
• 5.6 Ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive rights.
• 5.a–5.c Reform to give women equal economic rights; enhance ICT for empowerment; adopt and enforce gender-equality policies.

Goal 6 – Clean Water & Sanitation: Ensure Availability & Sustainable Management of Water

Safe water and sanitation are prerequisites for health, dignity, and ecosystem integrity. Goal 6 drives investment in efficient water use, pollution control, and equitable services so no one suffers from preventable waterborne disease or scarcity.

Example

Cambodia’s Community-Led Total Sanitation campaign halved open defecation in ten years.

Problems

• Ageing water infrastructure
• Aquifer depletion
• Fecal-sludge mismanagement

Solutions

• Blended financing for urban water utilities
• Circular sanitation (waste-to-fertiliser)
• Watershed-level governance agreements

Positive Outcome

Lower diarrhoeal disease, reduced healthcare costs and time savings – especially for women and girls.

Targets

• 6.1 Universal access to safe, affordable drinking water.
• 6.2 Universal access to adequate sanitation and hygiene; end open defecation.
• 6.3 Improve water quality; halve untreated wastewater; increase recycling.
• 6.4 Boost water-use efficiency; ensure sustainable withdrawals.
• 6.5 Implement integrated water-resources management.
• 6.6 Protect and restore water-related ecosystems.
• 6.a–6.b Expand international cooperation and community participation in water management.

Goal 7 – Affordable & Clean Energy: Ensure Access to Sustainable Energy

Energy powers development, but fossil fuels imperil the planet. Goal 7 accelerates the transition to reliable, modern, renewable energy systems that support economic growth while cutting emissions and household costs.

Example

Morocco’s Noor solar complex powers two million homes and cuts CO₂ emissions by 760 kt annually.

Problems

• High upfront capital costs
• Fossil-fuel subsidies
• Grid unreliability in rural areas

Solutions

• Feed-in tariffs that attract private capital
• Public-guarantee funds for renewables
• Modular mini-grids and battery storage

Positive Outcome

Cheaper electricity, new green jobs and cleaner air.

Targets

• 7.1 Universal access to modern energy services.
• 7.2 Substantially increase renewable energy share globally.
• 7.3 Double the global rate of energy-efficiency improvement.
• 7.a–7.b Enhance international cooperation on clean energy tech; upgrade energy infrastructure.

Goal 8 – Decent Work & Economic Growth: Promote Inclusive & Sustainable Economic Growth

Jobs that are productive, safe, and fairly paid create inclusive prosperity. Goal 8 promotes entrepreneurship, worker protections, and sustainable tourism to ensure economic expansion benefits everyone – especially youth and small businesses.

Example

Vietnam’s SME-led electronics boom lifted per-capita GDP 2.7× between 2008 and 2023.

Problems

• Skill mismatches and informal labour
• Automation-related job displacement

Solutions

• Active labour-market policies and apprenticeships
• Lifelong digital upskilling programmes
• Social-enterprise certification that rewards impact

Positive Outcome

Inclusive growth strengthens the tax base, enabling further social investment.

Targets

• 8.1–8.10 Sustain per-capita growth; raise productivity; promote SMEs, decent jobs, resource-efficiency & sustainable tourism; cut youth NEET; protect labour rights; expand financial services.
• 8.a–8.b Increase Aid-for-Trade; develop a global youth-employment strategy.

Goal 9 – Industry, Innovation & Infrastructure: Build Resilient Infrastructure

Resilient infrastructure and frontier innovation make economies competitive and crisis-proof. Goal 9 champions quality transport, digital connectivity, and clean technology to spur productivity and close the digital divide.

Example

Kenya’s M-PESA mobile-money platform drove financial inclusion from 26 % to 83 % in a decade.

Problems

• SME financing gaps
• Digital divides (rural vs urban, male vs female)
• Carbon-intensive industrial processes

Solutions

• Development-bank blended capital
• Open-access broadband infrastructure
• Clean-tech industrial clusters

Positive Outcome

Competitive industries, resilient supply chains and more inclusive digital economies.

Targets

• 9.1–9.5 Develop resilient infrastructure; promote inclusive industrialisation; increase SME access to finance; retrofit industries for sustainability; boost R&D.
• 9.a–9.c Facilitate infrastructure finance; support domestic tech development; expand affordable ICT & internet access.

Goal 10 – Reduced Inequalities: Reduce Inequality Within & Among Countries

Unequal societies waste talent and fuel instability. Goal 10 seeks to narrow income gaps, remove discriminatory laws, and empower marginalized groups, creating more cohesive communities and robust economies.

Example

Brazil’s Bolsa Família cash transfer cut extreme poverty by 50 % and reduced Gini inequality by 6 points.

Problems

• Discriminatory laws and practices
• Regressive tax systems
• Limited social-benefit portability for migrants and refugees

Solutions

• Progressive taxation and targeted transfers
• Inclusive urban planning and accessible transport
• Regional agreements on benefit portability

Positive Outcome

More cohesive societies with lower crime and social tension.

Targets

• 10.1–10.7 Faster income growth for bottom 40 %; empower inclusion; ensure equal opportunity; improve regulation of financial markets; enhance developing-country voice; facilitate safe migration.
• 10.a–10.c Implement special trade treatment; encourage ODA & FDI where most needed; cut remittance costs below 3 %.

Goal 11 – Sustainable Cities & Communities: Make Cities Inclusive, Safe & Resilient

By 2050 two-thirds of humanity will live in urban areas. Goal 11 aims to make every city inclusive, safe, climate-resilient, and resource-efficient, with affordable housing and ample green public space.

Example

Paris’s “15-minute-city” plan reallocates road space to bikes and converts 170 schoolyards into micro-parks.

Problems

• Rapid slum growth and overcrowding
• Traffic congestion and poor air quality
• Housing unaffordability

Solutions

• Transit-oriented development and mixed land-use zoning
• Climate-resilient public housing
• Participatory budgeting for local projects

Positive Outcome

Cleaner air, shorter commutes, vibrant public spaces and higher quality of life.

Targets

• 11.1–11.7 Access to housing and transport; inclusive urbanisation; protect heritage; reduce disaster losses and environmental impact; provide safe green public spaces.
• 11.a–11.c Strengthen rural-urban links; integrate climate-resilient policies; support least-developed-country buildings with local materials.

Goal 12 – Responsible Consumption & Production: Ensure Sustainable Consumption Patterns

Our “take-make-waste” model exceeds planetary boundaries. Goal 12 advances circular-economy practices, transparent supply chains, and consumer awareness so growth decouples from resource use and pollution.

Example

The EU’s Right-to-Repair directive extends electronics lifespans, set to cut 3.7 Mt CO₂e annually by 2030.

Problems

• “Take-make-waste” linear economy
• Green-washing and misleading labelling
• Plastic leakage – 11 Mt of waste enter oceans each year

Solutions

• Circular-economy incentives (reuse, refurbish, recycle)
• Verified ecolabelling standards
• Extended producer-responsibility schemes

Positive Outcome

Resource savings, cost-efficient businesses and new jobs in the circular economy.

Targets

• 12.1–12.8 Implement SCP 10-YFP; sustainable resource use; halve food waste; sound chemicals management; cut waste generation; corporate sustainability reporting; sustainable procurement; raise awareness.
• 12.a–12.c Strengthen developing-country science & tech; measure sustainable-tourism impacts; rationalise fossil-fuel subsidies.

Goal 13 – Climate Action: Combat Climate Change & Its Impacts

Unchecked climate change threatens every SDG. Goal 13 calls for urgent mitigation, adaptation, and finance—steering economies toward net-zero emissions and safeguarding communities from escalating climate hazards.

Example

Chile will retire all 28 coal plants by 2040 while adding 10 GW of solar and wind capacity.

Problems

• Political short-termism
• Adaptation finance gap for vulnerable nations
• Unequal emissions responsibilities

Solutions

• Legally binding net-zero targets
• Carbon pricing and emissions trading
• Nature-based solutions (mangrove and peatland restoration)

Positive Outcome

Reduced disaster losses, healthier ecosystems and long-term economic stability.

Targets

• 13.1–13.3 Strengthen resilience; integrate climate into policies; improve education & capacity.
• 13.a–13.b Mobilise $100 bn climate finance; build planning capacity in least-developed & small-island states.

Goal 14 – Life Below Water: Conserve Oceans, Seas & Marine Resources

Oceans regulate climate, provide protein, and sustain livelihoods, yet they face overfishing and pollution. Goal 14 protects marine ecosystems to secure food security, coastal resilience, and a thriving blue economy.

Example

Palau’s National Marine Sanctuary protects 80 % of its Exclusive Economic Zone—500 000 km²—from commercial fishing.

Problems

• Overfishing and illegal, unreported, unregulated (IUU) fishing
• Coral bleaching from ocean warming
• Micro-plastic pollution

Solutions

• Science-based catch limits and enforcement tech (satellite tracking)
• Blue-carbon credits for mangroves and seagrass
• Wastewater-to-river filtration systems

Positive Outcome

Restored fish stocks, thriving coral reefs and sustainable tourism revenue.

Targets

• 14.1–14.7 Reduce marine pollution; protect ecosystems; address ocean acidification; end over-fishing; conserve 10 % coastal areas; prohibit harmful fisheries subsidies; increase SIDS benefits from marine resources.
• 14.a–14.c Increase marine science and tech; secure artisanal fisher access; implement UNCLOS.

Goal 15 – Life on Land: Protect, Restore & Promote Sustainable Use of Terrestrial Ecosystems

Forests, wetlands, and biodiversity are life-support systems. Goal 15 combats deforestation, desertification, and wildlife loss, promoting restoration and sustainable land management to preserve crucial ecosystem services.

Example

Costa Rica doubled its forest cover (21 % → 54 %) via payment for ecosystem services funded by a fuel-tax-backed trust.

Problems

• Deforestation for commodity crops
• Invasive species and wildlife trafficking
• Soil and land degradation

Solutions

• Zero-deforestation supply-chain commitments
• Community forest tenure and stewardship
• Regenerative agriculture and agro-forestry

Positive Outcome

Biodiversity conservation, improved soil health and robust carbon sinks.

Targets

• 15.1–15.9 Conserve terrestrial ecosystems; sustainably manage forests; combat desertification; protect mountains; halt biodiversity loss; share benefits of genetic resources; end wildlife trafficking; curb invasives; integrate biodiversity values in planning.
• 15.a–15.c Mobilise biodiversity finance; finance sustainable forest management; support anti-poaching & community livelihoods.

Goal 16 – Peace, Justice & Strong Institutions: Promote Just, Peaceful & Inclusive Societies

Development cannot endure without peace, justice, and accountable governance. Goal 16 works to reduce violence, curb corruption, and ensure that all people have legal identity and equal access to impartial institutions.

Example

Colombia’s 2016 peace accord slashed conflict deaths by 95 % and created a transitional-justice court.

Problems

• Weak rule of law and judicial backlogs
• Corruption (≈ $1 trillion in bribes annually)
• Shrinking civic space

Solutions

• Open-data anti-corruption portals
• Inclusive, victim-centred peace processes
• Publicly funded legal-aid services

Positive Outcome

Stable investment climates, protected human rights and resilient communities.

Targets

• 16.1–16.10 Reduce violence; end child abuse & trafficking; promote rule of law; cut illicit flows; reduce corruption; build accountable institutions; inclusive decision-making; legal identity for all; ensure access to information & protect freedoms.
• 16.a–16.b Strengthen institutions to prevent violence and terrorism; enforce non-discriminatory laws.

Goal 17 – Partnerships for the SDGs: Revitalise the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development

No single actor can achieve the Sustainable Development Goals alone. Goal 17 galvanizes global finance, technology transfer, capacity-building, and data sharing, forging the inclusive partnerships needed to turn collective ambition into real-world progress.

Example

COVAX pooled resources from 190 countries to deliver 2.1 billion COVID-19 vaccine doses to low-income nations.

Problems

• Fragmented development-aid architecture
• $4 trillion annual SDG financing gap
• Unequal access to technology and data

Solutions

• South-South and Triangular knowledge exchange
• Blended-finance vehicles to crowd-in private capital
• Interoperable, open SDG data platforms

Positive Outcome

Co-ordinated, faster progress across all 17 goals—no single country or sector left behind.

Targets

• Finance (17.1–17.5) Improve domestic resource mobilisation, ODA, finance and debt sustainability, and investment promotion.
• Technology (17.6–17.8) Enhance cooperation & tech transfer; operationalise the Technology Bank.
• Capacity-building (17.9) Boost targeted international support.
• Trade (17.10–17.12) Promote a rules-based multilateral trading system and increase exports of developing countries.
• Systemic issues (17.13–17.19) Improve macro-economic stability, policy coherence, multi-stakeholder partnerships, and data for SDG monitoring.

From SDGs to Action

The Sustainable Development Goals are interlinked: Renewable energy (Goal 7) cuts emissions (Goal 13) and improves health (Goal 3); ending hunger (Goal 2) empowers girls to stay in school (Goal 4), bolstering gender equality (Goal 5).

Scaling the proven solutions above – while forging new partnerships and harnessing innovation – is a must to transform these global SDGs from aspirational headlines into everyday reality by 2030.

Whether you are a policymaker, entrepreneur, educator or concerned citizen, pick one goal, and adopt a solution.