The UN SDGs: What They Are, Why They Matter, and How They Are Being Implemented (Also Me)

The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) are a set of 17 global goals that aim to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure peace and prosperity for all by 2030. They are part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which was adopted by all UN Member States in 2015 as a shared blueprint for a better future.

The UN SDGs cover a wide range of issues, such as health, education, gender equality, climate change, biodiversity, justice, and partnerships. They are interconnected and interdependent, meaning that progress in one area affects outcomes in others and that development must balance social, economic, and environmental dimensions. They also recognize that no one should be left behind and that the most vulnerable and marginalized groups should be prioritized.

The UN SDGs are important because they reflect the common aspirations and challenges of humanity in the 21st century. They provide a framework and a roadmap for global cooperation and action to achieve sustainable development, which is defined as “development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs”2 They also represent a commitment and a responsibility of all countries and all stakeholders to work together for the common good of people and the planet.

How did the UN SDGs come about?

The UN SDGs are the result of a long and inclusive process of consultation and negotiation that involves governments, civil society, academia, the private sector, and other actors. The process was guided by the principles of universality, participation, integration, and human rights.

The UN SDGs build on the achievements and lessons learned from the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), which were eight goals to reduce extreme poverty and improve human development by 2015. The MDGs were adopted by the UN in 2000 and were the first global framework for development cooperation. They made significant progress in areas such as income poverty, child mortality, maternal health, primary education, and HIV/AIDS. However, they also faced some limitations and challenges, such as uneven and unequal outcomes, insufficient attention to environmental sustainability, and lack of integration and coherence among different goals and sectors.

The UN SDGs were designed to address these gaps and shortcomings and to respond to the new and emerging challenges of the 21st century, such as climate change, inequality, conflict, and migration. The UN SDGs were also influenced by other major global agreements and processes, such as the Rio+20 Conference on Sustainable Development in 2012, the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction in 2015, the Paris Agreement on Climate Change in 2015, and the Addis Ababa Action Agenda on Financing for Development in 2015.

The UN SDGs were formally adopted by the UN General Assembly in September 2015, at the UN Sustainable Development Summit, which was attended by more than 150 world leaders and thousands of representatives from civil society, the private sector, and other groups. The UN SDGs were endorsed by a historic resolution titled “Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development”, which also contained a declaration, a set of 169 targets, and a set of means of implementation and follow-up and review mechanisms.

What is the future of the UN SDGs?

The UN SDGs have a time-bound horizon of 15 years, from 2016 to 2030. They are expected to be achieved through the collective efforts and contributions of all countries and all stakeholders, at the global, regional, national, and local levels. They are also expected to be monitored and reviewed regularly, using a set of indicators and data sources, to track progress, identify challenges, and ensure accountability and transparency.

However, the UN SDGs are not only about the end results but also about the process and the journey of transformation. They are meant to inspire and mobilize actions, initiatives, and partnerships that can bring about positive change for both humans and the planet. They are also meant to adapt and respond to the changing realities and needs of the world, especially in the face of unforeseen crises and shocks, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, which has posed unprecedented threats and challenges to the achievement of the UN SDGs.

Therefore, the future of the UN SDGs depends largely on the commitment, leadership, innovation, and collaboration of all actors and sectors, as well as on the availability and mobilization of adequate and effective resources, such as finance, technology, and capacity. It also depends on the participation and empowerment of all people, especially the youth, women, and marginalized groups, who are the agents and beneficiaries of sustainable development.

How are the UN SDGs being implemented?

The implementation of the UN SDGs is a shared responsibility and a joint endeavor of all countries and all stakeholders. It requires a holistic and integrated approach that considers the interlinkages and synergies among the different goals and targets, and that balances the social, economic, and environmental dimensions of sustainable development. It also requires a multi-level and multi-stakeholder approach that involves the participation and collaboration of actors and sectors at the global, regional, national, and local levels.

At the global level, the UN plays a key role in supporting and facilitating the implementation of the UN SDGs, by providing guidance, coordination, advocacy, and monitoring. The UN also convenes various platforms and forums for dialogue, review, and partnership, such as the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF), which is the central mechanism for follow-up and review of the UN SDGs, and the SDG Summit, which is a high-level event that takes place every four years to assess progress and mobilize action. The UN also works with other international and regional organizations, such as the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, the regional commissions, and others, to align and harmonize their policies and programs with the UN SDGs.

At the national level, each country is expected to take ownership and leadership of the implementation of the UN SDGs, by integrating them into their national development plans, policies, and strategies, and by establishing institutional and legal frameworks and mechanisms for coordination, implementation, and review. Each country is also expected to report on its progress and challenges, through voluntary national reviews (VNRs), which are presented at the HLPF, and through other means of communication and dissemination. Each country is also expected to engage and consult with all relevant stakeholders, such as civil society, the private sector, academia, media, and others, to ensure inclusiveness, transparency, and accountability.

At the local level, subnational and local governments, such as provinces, states, cities, and municipalities, play a crucial role in the implementation of the UN SDGs, as they are closer to the people and the realities on the ground, and as they have the authority and capacity to deliver public services and infrastructure, and to promote local development and innovation. Subnational and local governments are also expected to align and integrate the UN SDGs into their local plans, policies, and budgets, and to establish local mechanisms and platforms for coordination, implementation, and review. Subnational and local governments are also expected to partner and cooperate with other local actors, such as communities, civil society, the private sector, and others, to mobilize resources and capacities, and to foster local ownership and participation.

The UN SDGs are a global vision and a global mission for a better and more sustainable future for all. They are also a global challenge and a global opportunity for all countries and all stakeholders to work together and make a difference. The UN SDGs are not only about what we want to achieve but also about how we want to achieve it. They are not only about the destination but also about the journey. They are not only about the present but also about the future. They are not only about us but also about them. They are not only about me but also about you. They are not only about the UN but also about you and me. They are the UN SDGs, and they matter.

Peace Out