17 Sustainable Development Goals and 169 Targets: to transform the world in the name of People and the Planet
On the 1st January, 2016, the United Nations (UN) resolution entitled "Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development", consisting of 17 goals, broken down into 169 targets, which was approved by world leaders on 25th September, 2015, in a memorable summit at the UN headquarters in New York (USA).
"The 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are our common vision for humanity and a social contract between world’s leaders and the people", said Ban Ki-moon, the UN Secretary-General to date. "They are a list of things to do on behalf of the people and the planet, and a plan for success", he added.
The 17 SDGs, unanimously approved by 193 UN member states, meeting in General Assembly, aim to address the needs of people in both developed and developing countries, emphasizing that no one should be left behind.
The SDGs were designed based on the success of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), between 2000 and 2015, and aim to go further then it and end all forms of poverty.
The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is a broad and ambitious agenda that addresses several dimensions of sustainable development (social, economic, environmental) and promotes peace, justice, and strong institutions.
Mobilizing the resources for implementation - from financial resources to development technologies and capacity transfer - is also recognized as critical.
Turning this vision into reality is primarily the responsibility of the countries' governments, but it will also require new partnerships and international solidarity. Everyone has a role to play.
Assessment of progress will need to be carried out regularly, by country, involving governments, civil society, businesses and representatives of the different stakeholders. A set of global indicators will be used, whose results will be compiled in an annual report.
