Established in 1945 as nations across the globe reeled from World War II, the United Nations is the result of 50 representatives from different countries coming together to reach an agreement that would prevent another war like the one they just lived through.
Over the last 75 years, the UN has worked to, “maintain international peace and security, give humanitarian assistance to those in need, protect human rights, and uphold international law.”
Since its inception, the UN has achieved many incredible things, including proclaiming the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and working tirelessly to support displaced families and individuals.
However, the global landscape has shifted dramatically since 1945, which is why the UN has shifted its focus to other important issues, adopting 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
What are the 17 UN sustainable development goals?
Sustainability is mainly about meeting today’s needs without sacrificing future needs. It has three pillars that need to be balanced:
- Economic
- Societal
- Environmental
The concept of sustainability is sometimes interchangeable with the United Nations sustainable development goals, which the UN has adopted in 2015.
The key difference between the concepts of sustainability and sustainable goals is the focus. The former has a broader purpose, and the latter is more specific. Sustainability is the long-term, overarching objective. The UN sustainable development goals are the different specific and interconnected pathways of achieving sustainability.
The UN SDGs are 17 specific goals that are geared towards balancing the economic needs, societal justice, and environmental sustainability. Each of these goals has corresponding programs and projects that various UN organizations and countries are working on.
The 17 UN sustainable development goals
The UN created the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) - or Global Goals, as they’re also known - in 2015 with the joint aims of ending poverty, protecting the planet, and ensuring that by 2030 everyone can enjoy peace and prosperity.
The 17 SDGs are interrelated. That means action in one of the goals will affect outcomes in others, and all developments must balance social, economic, and environmental sustainability.
The SDGs are:
- No poverty - Although the number of people living in extreme poverty dropped by 50% between 1990 and 2015, eradicating poverty completely is still one of the biggest challenges we face.
- Zero hunger - As recently as 2017, it was estimated that 821 million people were chronically undernourished, often as a result of environmental degradation and biodiversity loss. In fact, undernourishment and severe food insecurity are on the increase almost everywhere in Africa and South America.
- Good health and well-being - While we have made amazing progress in turning the tide on diseases such as HIV and malaria, there are still discrepancies between the life expectancy between developed and less-developed countries.
- Quality education - The amount of children being able to attend school, especially girls, has never been better. However, there are still a large number of children out of school due to armed conflict, high levels of poverty, and other issues.
- Gender equality - It is vital that all females around the world have the same access to land, property, education, technology, and the internet. Encouraging more women leaders can help end gender inequality.
- Clean water and sanitation - Water scarcity affects around 40% of all people. While 2.1 billion people have better water sanitation than they had in 1990, water supply issues are present to some degree on every continent.
- Affordable and clean energy - Our economies rely on fossil fuels, and that’s creating drastic climate changes. Investing in renewable energy is vital for the future of our planet.
- Decent work and economic growth - Encouraging entrepreneurship and creating jobs are effective measures to take in ending forced labor, slavery, and human trafficking.
- Industry, innovation, infrastructure - Crucial for economic growth and development, investing in infrastructure and innovation will create technological progress, putting us on the path to solving economical and environmental challenges.
- Reduced inequalities - We must improve how we regulate and monitor financial markets and institutions to improve income equality, and invest in those locations that need it most.
- Sustainable cities and communities - By 2050, two-thirds of us will live in urban areas. We won’t achieve sustainable development unless we build and manage our urban spaces more effectively.
- Responsible consumption and production - We must efficiently manage our shared natural resources and actively encourage recycling.
- Climate action - Greenhouse gas emissions are more than twice what they were in 1990. Global warming threatens irreversible consequences to our planet.
- Life below water - The world’s oceans contribute to making our planet habitable. This SDG aims to protect and sustainably manage coastal and marine ecosystems from exploitation and acidification.
- Life on land - Forests are essential for providing clean air, protecting us against climate change, and providing natural habitats as well as invaluable resources. Urgent action must be taken to combat the alarming rate of deforestation.
- Peace, justice, and strong institutions - All goals set out above will not be possible without these things.
- Partnerships for the goals - SDGs can only be realized through strong global partnerships, collaboration, and cooperation.
What is the purpose of the UN sustainable development goals?
The purpose of the 17 UN sustainable development goals is to achieve sustainability by the year 2030. This means achieving the balance among the three pillars of sustainability. It is about achieving global prosperity, social justice and peace while protecting the planet.
It is about eradicating many of the socio economic ills that have been plaguing the world for the past centuries. Achieving the 17 SDGs of the UN will ensure that people around the world will meet their basic needs and have adequate opportunities to achieve prosperity.
How does the UN plan on accomplishing its SDGs?
The UN is accomplishing its interrelated sustainable goals through various programs and projects in cooperation with sovereign countries, private organizations, businesses, indigenous peoples, and other stakeholders.
Each of the 17 SDGs has one or more corresponding UN organizations that focus on implementing the programs and projects. International treaties and regional agreements are also signed by participating countries.
For example, goal 13 is in the process of being accomplished by the UN through the UN Environment Programme (UNEP). At its core, it is the programme that addresses the issue of climate change in various fronts: agriculture, building designs, forestry, energy, industries, and transportation.
How will meeting the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals transform the world?
All of the SDGs set out above will each transform the world in their own unique way and ultimately champion the development of everything from education to equality. This will provide new opportunities for everyone, allowing some of the brightest minds across geolocations and generations to achieve success and fulfillment.
The aim is to create a better world for everyone.