Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs, also known as the Global Goals) are 17 goals with 169 targets that all UN Member States have agreed to work towards achieving by the year 2030.

They set out a vision for a world free from poverty, hunger and disease.

Health has a central place in SDG 3 “Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages”, underpinned by 13 targets that cover a wide spectrum of WHO’s work.

Almost all of the other 16 goals are related to health or their achievement will contribute to health indirectly.

The SDGs aim to be relevant to all countries – poor, rich and middle-income – to promote prosperity while protecting the environment and tackling climate change. They have a strong focus on improving equity to meet the needs of women, children and disadvantaged populations in particular so that “no one is left behind”.

This agenda builds on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) which were 8 goals that UN Member States signed in September 2000 to achieve targets to combat poverty, hunger, disease, illiteracy, environmental degradation and discrimination against women by 2015. 

 

3.1 By 2030, reduce the global maternal mortality ratio to less than 70 per 100 000 live births.

3.2 By 2030, end preventable deaths of newborns and children under 5 years of age, with all countries aiming to reduce neonatal mortality to at least as low as 12 per 1,000 live births and under-5 mortality to at least as low as 25 per 1000 live births.

3.3 By 2030, end the epidemics of AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria and neglected tropical diseases and combat hepatitis, water-borne diseases and other communicable diseases.

3.4 By 2030, reduce by one third premature mortality from non-communicable diseases through prevention and treatment and promote mental health and well-being.

3.5 Strengthen the prevention and treatment of substance abuse, including narcotic drug abuse and harmful use of alcohol.

3.6 By 2020, halve the number of global deaths and injuries from road traffic accidents.

3.7 By 2030, ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive health-care services, including for family planning, information and education, and the integration of reproductive health into national strategies and programmes.

3.8 Achieve universal health coverage, including financial risk protection, access to quality essential health-care services and access to safe, effective, quality and affordable essential medicines and vaccines for all.

3.9 By 2030, substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water and soil pollution and contamination.

3.A Strengthen the implementation of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control in all countries, as appropriate.

3.B Support the research and development of vaccines and medicines for the communicable and noncommunicable diseases that primarily affect developing countries, provide access to affordable essential medicines and vaccines, in accordance with the Doha Declaration on the TRIPS Agreement and Public Health, which affirms the right of developing countries to use to the full the provisions in the Agreement on Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights regarding flexibilities to protect public health, and, in particular, provide access to medicines for all.

3.C Substantially increase health financing and the recruitment, development, training and retention of the health workforce in developing countries, especially in least developed countries and small island developing States.

3.D Strengthen the capacity of all countries, in particular developing countries, for early warning, risk reduction and management of national and global health risks.

1  End poverty in all its forms everywhere

2  End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture

3  Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages

4  Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all

5  Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls

6  Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all

7  Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all

8  Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all

9  Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation

10  Reduce inequality within and among countries

11  Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable

12  Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns

13  Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts

14  Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development

15  Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss

16  Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels

17  Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development