The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, adopted by all United Nations Member States in 2015, provides a shared blueprint for peace and prosperity for people and the planet, now and into the future. Through this agenda, nations will work to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The SDGs represent a global action plan to eliminate extreme poverty and hunger, provide quality education throughout life for everyone, protect the planet, and promote peaceful and inclusive societies by 2030. The commitments are based on areas of care for children and adolescents, poverty, nutrition, health, education, water and sanitation, and gender equality as set forth in the SDGs' predecessors, the Millennium Development Goals.
Among these objectives, there are also new goals and targets related to child and adolescent protection, early childhood education, and reducing inequalities. This new agenda presents a historic opportunity to improve the rights and well-being of every child and adolescent, especially the most disadvantaged, and to ensure a healthy planet for today's girls and boys and future generations. UNICEF welcomes this 'plan of action for people, planet, and prosperity,' both ambitious and universal, and is committed to doing everything possible to achieve the goals.
The SDGs consist of 17 goals and 169 targets. Not all of them refer directly to children and adolescents, but all are relevant to their lives. Together, the goals represent an integrated approach to addressing the needs of boys and girls and protecting their rights.
THE HISTORY BEHIND
In June 1992, at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, over 178 countries adopted Agenda 21, a plan of action aimed at building a global partnership for sustainable development to improve human lives and protect the environment. The Member States unanimously approved the Millennium Declaration at the Millennium Summit held in September 2000 at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. The summit led to the development of eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) to reduce extreme poverty by 2015.
The Johannesburg Declaration on Sustainable Development and the Plan of Implementation, crafted at the World Summit on Sustainable Development in South Africa in 2002, reaffirmed the global community's commitments to poverty eradication and environmental protection. They were based on Agenda 21 and the Millennium Declaration, with a greater emphasis on multilateral partnerships.
During the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20), held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in June 2012, Member States adopted the final document "The Future We Want," which initiated the launch of a process to develop a set of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to build on the MDGs and establish the United Nations High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development. The outcomes of Rio+20 also contained other measures for implementing sustainable development, including mandates for future work programs on development financing, small island developing states, and much more.
In 2013, the General Assembly established an Open Working Group of 30 members to develop a proposal on the SDGs. In January 2015, the General Assembly began the process of negotiating the post-2015 development agenda. This process culminated in the subsequent adoption of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, with its 17 SDGs at its core, at the United Nations Sustainable Development Summit in September 2015.
2015 was a pivotal year for multilateralism and international policymaking, with the adoption of several significant agreements:
The Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (March 2015),
The Addis Ababa Action Agenda on Financing for Development (July 2015),
Transforming our World: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, with its 17 SDGs, was adopted at the United Nations Sustainable Development Summit held in New York in September 2015,
The Paris Agreement on Climate Change (December 2015).
The 17 SDGs
No Poverty: The goal is to end poverty in all its forms everywhere. This includes reducing the number of people living in extreme poverty and implementing measures to protect vulnerable populations against economic, social, and environmental risks.
Zero Hunger: The purpose of this goal is to end hunger and ensure food security. This involves improving nutrition, promoting sustainable agriculture, and supporting small-scale farmers, especially in rural areas.
Good Health and Well-Being: SDG 3 seeks to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all. It involves reducing infant and maternal mortality, preventing communicable and non-communicable diseases, and promoting universal access to health services.
Quality Education: This goal aims to ensure inclusive and equitable education for everyone and to promote lifelong learning opportunities. The targets include universalization of primary and secondary education, as well as increased access to higher education.
Gender Equality: SDG 5 aims to achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls. This includes ending gender-based violence, eliminating discriminatory practices, and promoting equal opportunities at all levels.
Clean Water and Sanitation: The goal is to ensure the availability and sustainable management of water for everyone. It involves universal access to clean drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene, as well as the sustainable management of water resources.
Affordable and Clean Energy: This SDG aims to ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for everyone. It includes increasing the share of renewable energy sources and improving energy efficiency.
Decent Work and Economic Growth: The goal is to promote sustained, inclusive, and sustainable economic growth, as well as decent work for everyone. The targets include reducing youth unemployment, promoting safe working conditions, and eradicating child labor.
Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure: SDG 9 seeks to build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization, and encourage innovation. The targets include increased access to technology and the construction of sustainable industries.
Reduced Inequalities: This goal aims to reduce inequalities within and between countries. The targets include promoting social, economic, and political inclusion and reducing wage disparities.
Sustainable Cities and Communities: SDG 11 seeks to make cities and communities inclusive, safe, and sustainable. It involves access to adequate housing, affordable public transportation, and the protection of cultural heritage.
Responsible Consumption and Production: The goal is to ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns. It includes reducing waste, promoting efficient use of resources, and adopting sustainable practices by businesses and consumers.
Climate Action: This SDG aims to take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts. The targets include reducing greenhouse gas emissions and promoting climate mitigation and adaptation measures.
Life Below Water: The goal is to conserve and sustainably use oceans, seas, and marine resources. This includes reducing marine pollution, protecting marine ecosystems, and combating overfishing.
Life on Land: SDG 15 aims to protect, restore, and promote the sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems. It involves biodiversity protection, combating deforestation, and restoring degraded areas.
Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions: This goal seeks to promote peaceful, just, and inclusive societies. The targets include reducing violence, strengthening institutions, and providing access to justice for everyone.
Partnerships for the Goals: SDG 17 aims to strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize global partnerships for sustainable development. This involves increasing international cooperation, promoting partnerships across sectors, and strengthening capacity to achieve the other SDGs.
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