The 17 Global Goals: A Shared Plan for a Better Future

The 17 Global Goals, formally known as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), are a shared plan for tackling some of the world’s biggest challenges. Adopted by all United Nations Member States in 2015 as part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, they aim to improve people’s lives, protect the planet and support peace and prosperity.

The goals are intended for every country. They recognise that poverty, inequality, environmental damage and conflict are connected, and that progress in one area often depends on progress in others. The 2030 Agenda also emphasises that no one should be left behind.

The 17 Sustainable Development Goals

1. No Poverty: End poverty in all its forms everywhere.
2. Zero Hunger: End hunger, improve nutrition, achieve food security and promote sustainable agriculture.
3. Good Health and Well-being: Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for people of all ages.
4. Quality Education: Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and lifelong learning opportunities for all.
5. Gender Equality: Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls.
6. Clean Water and Sanitation: Ensure the availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.
7. Affordable and Clean Energy: Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all.
8. Decent Work and Economic Growth: Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, productive employment and decent work for all.
9. Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure: Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialisation, and foster innovation.
10. Reduced Inequalities: Reduce inequality within and among countries.
11. Sustainable Cities and Communities: Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable.
12. Responsible Consumption and Production: Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns.
13. Climate Action: Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts.
14. Life Below Water: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources.
15. Life on Land: Protect, restore and promote the sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, forests and biodiversity.
16. Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions: Promote peaceful and inclusive societies, provide access to justice for all, and build effective, accountable institutions.
17. Partnerships for the Goals: Strengthen the means of implementation and renew the global partnership for sustainable development.

Why the goals are interconnected

The goals are designed to work together, rather than as separate tasks. Expanding access to education, for example, can support better health, reduce inequality and improve employment opportunities. Creating more sustainable cities can help cut emissions while improving access to housing, public transport and green spaces.

This interconnected approach also highlights the importance of making choices that do not solve one problem by creating another. Economic development, for instance, needs to be pursued in ways that respect human rights, use resources responsibly and protect the natural world.

Turning goals into action

Governments have a central role in putting the goals into practice, but responsibility is shared. Local authorities, businesses, community organisations, researchers and individuals can all contribute. Their actions might include improving public services, developing cleaner technologies, supporting fair employment, reducing waste or helping to protect local habitats.

Progress depends on more than good intentions. It requires practical plans, reliable data, investment and cooperation across communities and countries. Measuring progress helps identify where action is working and where more effort is needed.

A continuing global commitment

The 17 Global Goals offer a common framework for building a fairer, healthier and more sustainable world. Reaching them is a major challenge, and progress is not guaranteed. But the goals provide a shared direction and a reminder that lasting change depends on collective effort—across borders, sectors and generations.

 

Six Simple Ways to Support the 17 Global Goals

1. Learn about all 17 Sustainable Development Goals.
2. Choose reusable items to reduce waste.
3. Save water and energy at home.
4. Support fair work and equal opportunities.
5. Protect wildlife and local green spaces.
6. Share the goals and encourage community action.

Learn about all 17 Sustainable Development Goals.

Learning about all 17 Sustainable Development Goals is a simple first step towards understanding the challenges shaping our world. Explore how the goals—from ending poverty and improving health to protecting nature and building sustainable cities—are connected, and consider what progress could mean for your community. Knowing what each goal aims to achieve can help you make informed choices, join local initiatives and encourage others to take action.

Choose reusable items to reduce waste.

Choosing reusable items is a simple way to help reduce waste and support the 17 Global Goals, particularly Responsible Consumption and Production. Carrying a reusable water bottle, coffee cup or shopping bag can reduce reliance on single-use plastics and other disposable products. Small everyday choices, repeated over time, help conserve resources and reduce the amount of rubbish sent to landfill or ending up in nature.

Save water and energy at home.

Saving water and energy at home is a simple way to support the 17 Global Goals, particularly those focused on clean water, affordable and clean energy, responsible consumption and climate action. Turn off taps when they are not in use, fix leaks, choose water-efficient appliances and switch off lights and electronics when you leave a room. Small changes in everyday habits can reduce household bills, conserve valuable resources and help lower emissions.

Support fair work and equal opportunities.

Supporting fair work and equal opportunities means helping everyone access safe, secure employment, fair pay and decent working conditions, without discrimination. Employers can promote inclusive recruitment, equal pay, training and progression, while governments and communities can uphold workers’ rights and address barriers faced by under-represented groups. These actions advance the Global Goals by reducing inequality, supporting decent work and building stronger, more inclusive communities.

Protect wildlife and local green spaces.

Protecting wildlife and local green spaces helps support biodiversity, improve air quality and make neighbourhoods healthier and more enjoyable. You can help by planting native flowers, creating habitats for pollinators, keeping parks and waterways free of litter, and respecting wildlife when outdoors. Small, local actions can contribute to the Global Goals, particularly those focused on sustainable cities and communities, climate action, and life on land.

Share the goals and encourage community action.

Sharing the 17 Global Goals helps more people understand the challenges they address and the part everyone can play in creating a fairer, more sustainable future. Start conversations with friends, neighbours, local groups or schools, and highlight practical ways to take action together—such as reducing waste, supporting local initiatives or improving community green spaces. Small, collective steps can build awareness, inspire others and turn shared ambitions into meaningful change.