Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

In a world increasingly aware of environmental and social challenges, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) act as a shared roadmap towards a fairer and more sustainable future. Adopted by all United Nations Member States in 2015 as part of the 2030 Agenda, they represent a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure peace and prosperity for all by 2030.

What are the Sustainable Development Goals?

The Sustainable Development Goals are a set of 17 interconnected goals, broken down into 169 targets, designed to address the world's most pressing challenges, from poverty eradication to climate action. Agreed by the 193 UN Member States, they provide a common framework for governments, businesses, civil society and individuals to work together towards a more sustainable future.

The 17 Sustainable Development Goals

The 17 SDGs, each with a brief description, are:

1. No Poverty: end poverty in all its forms everywhere.
2. Zero Hunger: end hunger, achieve food security, improve nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture.
3. Good Health and Well-being: ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages.
4. Quality Education: ensure inclusive, equitable and quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.
5. Gender Equality: achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls.
6. Clean Water and Sanitation: ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.
7. Affordable and Clean Energy: ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all.
8. Decent Work and Economic Growth: promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all.
9. Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure: build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialisation and foster innovation.
10. Reduced Inequalities: reduce inequality within and among countries.
11. Sustainable Cities and Communities: make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable.
12. Responsible Consumption and Production: ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns.
13. Climate Action: take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts.
14. Life Below Water: conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources.
15. Life on Land: protect, restore and promote the sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, manage forests sustainably, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and biodiversity loss.
16. Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions: promote peaceful and inclusive societies, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions.
17. Partnerships for the Goals: strengthen the means of implementation and revitalise the global partnership for sustainable development.

How much progress has been made?

Progress is real but uneven, and the world is not on track to meet the goals by 2030. According to the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals Report 2025, only around 35% of targets are showing adequate progress (about 18% on track and a further 17% making moderate progress), while roughly half are advancing too slowly and around 18% have regressed compared with the 2015 baseline. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has described the situation as a development emergency.

At the same time, the report highlights gains since 2015: more than half the world's population now benefits from some form of social protection, and child marriage and maternal and child mortality have fallen. The message is that the SDGs remain achievable, but only with a significant acceleration of effort from governments, businesses and society.

The SDGs and the carbon footprint

The carbon footprint, which measures the total amount of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions produced by an entity, is directly linked to several SDGs. In particular, SDG 13 (Climate Action) focuses on the urgent need to reduce GHG emissions to combat climate change. Lowering the carbon footprint is essential to achieving this goal and protecting the planet for future generations.

Beyond SDG 13, reducing the carbon footprint also contributes to other goals, such as:

• SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy): the transition to renewable energy and improvements in energy efficiency cut emissions and widen access to clean energy.
• SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure): innovation in clean technology and more sustainable industrial processes can significantly reduce the carbon footprint.
• SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities): efficient public transport and better urban planning help cut transport emissions.
• SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production): adopting sustainable consumption and production patterns, such as reducing food waste, lowers the carbon footprint.

Measuring and reducing emissions is therefore one of the most concrete ways for a company to contribute to the SDGs. At Manglai we help companies measure their carbon footprint and prepare their sustainability reporting. Discover how Manglai can help you.