The Global Goals, explained
Plain guides to the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals, and what businesses, teams and people can do about each one.
Goal 1: No poverty
Goal 2: Zero hunger
Goal 3: Good health and well-being
Goal 4: Quality education
Goal 5: Gender equality
Goal 6: Clean water and sanitation
Goal 7: Affordable and clean energy
Goal 8: Decent work and economic growth
Goal 9: Industry, innovation and infrastructure
Goal 10: Reduced inequalities
Goal 11: Sustainable cities and communities
Goal 12: Responsible consumption and production
Goal 13: Climate action
Goal 14: Life below water
Goal 15: Life on land
Goal 16: Peace, justice and strong institutions
Goal 17: Partnerships for the goalsWhat the goals are
The Sustainable Development Goals, or SDGs, are 17 shared goals for ending poverty, protecting the planet and improving lives everywhere. Together they set 169 targets, from clean water and quality education to climate action and fair institutions, with a deadline of 2030.
All UN Member States adopted them in September 2015, at a summit in New York, as the core of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The goals apply to every country, rich or poor, and progress is tracked through a global framework of 234 unique indicators, last refined by the UN Statistical Commission in March 2026.
They matter beyond governments. For businesses, the SDGs are a common language that customers, investors, lenders and partners recognise, and a practical checklist of the risks and opportunities in a supply chain or product. For people, they show where help is needed most and how everyday choices, jobs and votes connect to global problems.
The latest UN Sustainable Development Goals Report, published on 7 July 2026, finds that progress is real but too slow. Of the 139 targets with enough trend data, just over a third (36%) are on track or making moderate progress, 49% are moving too slowly, and 15% have slipped below their 2015 baselines. Internet use has risen from 40% to 74% of the world's population since 2015, but aid from the main donor countries fell by a record 23% in 2025 and the annual SDG financing gap in developing countries stands at about $4 trillion. Source: United Nations, The Sustainable Development Goals Report 2026 (published July 2026), https://unstats.un.org/sdgs/report/2026/
Pick a goal below to see what it covers in plain English, its most important targets, a few verified facts, and practical things businesses and individuals can do. Each goal page links to five articles: an explainer, a guide for businesses, a technology angle, a look at progress around the world, and ideas for young people. Every figure is linked to its source, usually the UN or a specialist agency, with the year it refers to. Emberoot is a consulting and development studio; this section is our independent explainer and is not endorsed by or affiliated with the United Nations.
Latest on the goals
Sources and use of the goal icons
- United Nations, Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development
- UN DESA, The 17 Goals
- UN Statistics Division, Global indicator framework (indicator list)
- United Nations, The Sustainable Development Goals Report 2026
- United Nations, SDG Report 2026 key messages
- United Nations, SDG logo and communications guidelines
The goal icons are the official United Nations icons, used for information under the UN guidelines for the use of the SDG logo and icons. The content of this section has not been approved by the United Nations and does not reflect the views of the United Nations or its officials or Member States. Emberoot is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the UN.