The Sustainable Development Goals

What are the Sustainable Development Goals?

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), also known as the Global Goals, are a set of 17 interconnected objectives designed to address the world’s most pressing social, economic, and environmental challenges. Adopted by all United Nations Member States in 2015, these goals provide a shared blueprint for peace and prosperity for people and the planet, now and into the future.

Why were the SDGs created?

The SDGs were created to build upon the progress made by the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) while addressing their limitations. The MDGs were eight international development goals established following the Millennium Summit of the United Nations in 2000, set to be achieved by 2015. They focused primarily on reducing extreme poverty and hunger in developing countries. While significant progress was made, it became clear that a more comprehensive and universal approach was needed to tackle global challenges.

Engineering the SDGs

Engineering is about the knowledge and practice of solving problems. Engineers as a profession play a vital role in addressing basic human needs, alleviating poverty, promoting secure and sustainable development, responding to emergency situations, reconstructing infrastructure, bridging the knowledge divide, and promoting intercultural cooperation. They connect social needs with appropriate technological innovation and commercial applications.

As such, engineering is a major driver for sustainable socio-economic development. It has contributed to our ability to survive disasters and public health challenges, to secure food and water, to communicate and transport, and to innovate and create new products and services. Wherever there is a problem, there is a need for engineering solutions.

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development presents a blueprint for action, and engineers are now at the forefront to deliver on the SDGs using their scientific knowledge and experience to turn innovative ideas into sustainability projects for the benefit of all.

"While progress has been made in some areas, the world is not on track to achieve the SDGs by 2030."

Who created the Sustainable Development Goals?

The SDGs were the result of a collaborative effort involving:

The United Nations
All 193 UN Member States
Civil society organizations, such as:

Academic institutions, including:

- Harvard University
- University of Cambridge
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
- Private sector entities, such as:

This inclusive process ensured that diverse perspectives were considered, resulting in a truly global agenda. The Open Working Group (OWG) of the General Assembly, consisting of 30 members representing various regions, was tasked with preparing a proposal on the SDGs.

When were the SDGs established?

The SDGs were officially adopted on September 25, 2015, at the United Nations Sustainable Development Summit in New York. This historic agreement set out a 15-year plan to achieve the goals by 2030.