What are the sustainable development goals?
In 2015 all UN member states adopted the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), also known as the Global Goals, as a global call to action to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure all people enjoy peace and prosperity by 2030.
The 17 Sustainable Development Goals are complementary - that is, they recognize that action in one area will affect results in others, and that development must balance social, economic and environmental sustainability.
By pledging not to leave anyone behind, countries have committed to accelerating progress for those behind. This is why the Sustainable Development Goals are designed to make the world go down to zeros in many aspects of life-changing, including extreme poverty, hunger, AIDS, and discrimination against women and girls.
Everyone needs to reach these ambitious goals. Creativity, knowledge, technology and financial resources from all of society are essential to achieving the SDGs in every context
What is the role of the United Nations Development Program?
As the lead development agency in the United Nations system, the United Nations Development Program is uniquely positioned to help implement the Goals through our work in nearly 170 countries and territories.
United Nations system support countries in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals through integrated solutions. The complex challenges we face today - from stopping the spread of disease to preventing conflict - cannot be addressed rigorously in isolation. For UNDP, this means focusing on systems, root causes and relationships between challenges - not just thematic sectors - to build solutions that respond to people's daily realities.
The track record of achieving the goals provides us with valuable experience and proven policy expertise to ensure that we all reach the goals set out in the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.
Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals requires a partnership between governments, the private sector, civil society and citizens alike to ensure that we leave a better planet for future generations.

What are the sustainable development goals?