In September 2015 Heads of State and Government agreed to set the world on a path towards sustainable development through the adoption of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development[1.1].

This agenda includes 17 Sustainable Development Goals, or SDGs, which set out quantitative objectives across the social, economic, and environmental dimensions of sustainable development — all to be achieved by 2030. The goals provide a framework for shared action “for people, planet and prosperity,” to be implemented by “all countries and all stakeholders, acting in collaborative partnership.”

As articulated in the 2030 Agenda, “never before have world leaders pledged common action and endeavour across such a broad and universal policy agenda.”[1.2] 169 targets accompany the 17 goals and set out quantitative and qualitative objectives for the next 15 years.

These targets are “global in nature and universally applicable, taking into account different national realities, capacities and levels of development and respecting national policies and priorities.”[1.3]

A set of indicators and a monitoring framework will also accompany the goals. The indicators are defined by the Inter-Agency and Expert Group on SDG Indicators (IAEG-SDGs), which will present its recommendations to the UN Statistical Commission in March 2016.

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