The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
In September 2015, the United Nations set an ambitious agenda, adopting the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Since then, this Agenda has been seen as the roadmap for addressing the major societal challenges of our time, presented under five major themes: People, Prosperity, Planet, Peace and Partnerships. The 17 SDGs set targets to be reached by 2030, while ensuring that no one is left behind.
The SDGs are interdependent and cover three essential aspects of sustainable development: the economic, social and ecological dimensions.
To measure progress, the UN has developed 242 indicators. Countries can supplement these indicators with national measurement methods to better identify specific challenges.
Click on the icons below to learn more about the SDGs and their targets.
SDGS in Belgium
In Belgium, sustainable development is a shared responsibility, enshrined in the Constitution. Cooperation between authorities, from local to federal level, is essential in this respect.
International cooperation is also crucial. Organisations such as the United Nations (UN), the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the European Union (EU) support countries in their efforts. The SDGs bring together people and communities from all over the world to build a better future.
There are various publications providing more information on how Belgium is implementing the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs.
On this site, you'll find information on the Voluntary National Reviews that Belgium has submitted to the United Nations, as well as references to additional documents.
In addition to official reports, other initiatives have also been taken within the federal authority, such as:
- Work on the sustainable development indicators under the direction of the Federal Planning Bureau;
- Gap analysis to measure the gap between the current situation and the targets to be reached by 2030;
- Biennial barometers to measure the status of SDG implementation within all organisations in Belgium.
For Belgium's contribution via its external policies, please see the website of the FPS Foreign Affairs and Development Cooperation.