The framework
The 17 Sustainable Development Goals
The Sustainable Development Goals are a set of 17 global goals designed to be an actionable blueprint for creating a more sustainable future. Engineering has a central role in turning that blueprint into lasting change.
“A shared blueprint for peace and prosperity for people and the planet, now and into the future.”
A plan for people and planet
The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development was adopted by all UN Member States in 2015. It provides a shared blueprint for peace and prosperity for people and the planet, now and into the future. At its heart are the 17 Sustainable Development Goals.
The goals recognise that ending poverty and other deprivations must go hand in hand with strategies that improve health and education, reduce inequality and spur economic growth, while tackling climate change and working to preserve oceans and forests.
UN75 follows that agenda through the eyes of engineers, UN agencies and international partners. Each goal below links to the official United Nations page for the goal.
All 17 goals
The global goals
The goals are integrated and indivisible. The book explores how engineering connects them in practice, from clean water and energy to cities, climate and partnership.
No Poverty
End poverty in all its forms everywhere.
Read goal 1 at the UN 02Zero Hunger
End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture.
Read goal 2 at the UN 03Good Health and Wellbeing
Ensure healthy lives and promote wellbeing for all at all ages.
Read goal 3 at the UN 04Quality Education
Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.
Read goal 4 at the UN 05Gender Equality
Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls.
Read goal 5 at the UN 06Clean Water and Sanitation
Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.
Read goal 6 at the UN 07Affordable and Clean Energy
Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all.
Read goal 7 at the UN 08Decent Work and Economic Growth
Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all.
Read goal 8 at the UN 09Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialisation and foster innovation.
Read goal 9 at the UN 10Reduced Inequalities
Reduce inequality within and among countries.
Read goal 10 at the UN 11Sustainable Cities and Communities
Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable.
Read goal 11 at the UN 12Responsible Consumption and Production
Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns.
Read goal 12 at the UN 13Climate Action
Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts.
Read goal 13 at the UN 14Life Below Water
Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development.
Read goal 14 at the UN 15Life on Land
Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss.
Read goal 15 at the UN 16Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels.
Read goal 16 at the UN 17Partnerships for the Goals
Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalise the global partnership for sustainable development.
Read goal 17 at the UNThe UN system
The agencies behind the goals
The goals are delivered through a wide network of UN agencies, funds and programmes. These official destinations are a useful starting point for readers who want to follow the work behind the book.
- United Nations Development Programme
- United Nations Children’s Fund
- World Health Organization
- UNESCO
- United Nations Environment Programme
- Food and Agriculture Organization
- International Labour Organization
- UN Women
- UN Habitat
- UNHCR
- World Food Programme
- UNCTAD
- UNIDO
- UNOPS
- UN Climate Change
- UN Water
- International Organization for Migration
- United Nations Population Fund
- UN Office on Drugs and Crime
- International Fund for Agricultural Development
Engineering the response
From global goals to practical solutions
In order to achieve these goals, engineering can play a key role. UN75 shows how rigorous, long term solutions are developed across health and sanitation, human rights, the climate, urban growth, economic development and agriculture.
Contributions from UN agencies, WaterAid, Oxford University and a host of international partners show what the goals look like when they are translated into infrastructure, services and better outcomes for communities.
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Explore the publication, the institution behind it and the publisher who brought the book together.