Transformative goals and global partnership for more sustainable development

In July 2014, after 18 months of work, the UN Open Working Group on Sustainable Development Goals presented a catalogue of sustainable development goals with sub-targets which was geared towards 2030. These goals address all three dimensions of sustainable development: social, environmental and economic. The catalogue of goals comprises ending poverty and hunger, protecting and restoring ecosystems, conserving our oceans, promoting sustainable economic growth and ensuring sustainable consumption and production patterns. These goals are aimed at improving living conditions and protecting natural resources worldwide. The German government has seen to it that among other things major challenges such as resource efficiency and environment-friendly economic practices are linked to targets for 2030.

The international community is implementing the global SDGs of the 2030 Agenda in a new global partnership. This partnership is characterised by universal goals, common responsibility of all countries, monitoring, review and involvement of all stakeholders, including from industry and civil society.

The SDGs of the 2030 Agenda are applicable to all countries regardless of whether they are industrialised countries, emerging economies or developing countries and cover all areas of policy. Countries set their national contributions in accordance with their resources and level of ambition. All countries and stakeholders hold joint responsibility for global well-being. This includes, in particular, areas which must be jointly cared for by the global community such as climate, biodiversity, protection of natural resources, peace and security.

A monitoring mechanism will show the progress made by the international community towards achieving these goals at any given point in time. Monitoring takes place regularly and in a transparent manner within the UN high-level political forum on sustainable development (HLPF). Here governments report on a voluntary basis on the progress they have achieved in implementing the 2030 Agenda. In 2016 Germany was among the first countries in the HLPF to report on the first steps taken by its government to implement the Agenda. The SDGs can only be achieved by 2030 if they are seen as a joint task by governments, industry and civil society throughout the world.