GREEN LEXICON 3 -SDGs - WHAT ARE THEY? FEB 23, 2026
- Ana Cunha-Busch
- Feb 22
- 3 min read
SDGs - WHAT ARE THEY?
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a global agenda adopted by the 193 UN member countries in 2015 as part of the 2030 Agenda. They consist of 17 goals, ranging from eradicating poverty (SDG 1) to climate action (SDG 13) and life on land (SDG 15). The purpose of the SDGs is to ensure a more just, equitable, and sustainable future by 2030, integrating social, economic, and environmental dimensions.
Since their adoption, the SDGs have guided public policies, private initiatives, and community actions. However, their implementation has faced challenges, including resource constraints, global inequality, and the need for rigorous monitoring. However, there is an ongoing review and studies aimed at strengthening the agenda, including debates on the creation of new SDGs.
An emerging theme is the proposal for a specific SDG for animal welfare. Several research groups and NGOs, such as World Animal Protection and academics from the University of Cambridge, have explored whether the SDGs could be expanded to include animal welfare, arguing that respect for animals is fundamental to more ethical and sustainable societies. Although there is still no global consensus, the debate is growing, driven by the understanding that animal welfare is interconnected with planetary health and harmony between humans and nature.
Thus, in answering "what are the SDGs?", we realize that they are more than goals: they are a commitment of humanity to the future, a guide to balancing progress with social justice, environmental protection, and inclusion, and possibly a space for new priorities, such as animal welfare, should humanity so decide.
Here is the list of the 17 SDGs with a summary of each, which can be placed at the end of the text:
1. No Poverty: End poverty in all its forms everywhere.
2. Zero Hunger: End hunger, achieve food security, 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 and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities.
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.
9. Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure: Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive industrialization, 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 sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, combat desertification, and halt biodiversity loss.
16. Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions: Promote peaceful and inclusive societies, ensure access to justice, and build effective institutions.
17. Partnerships for the Goals: Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the global partnership for development.
These 17 goals are a compass for global transformation, integrating human development with the protection of the planet, and the pursuit of a more just, balanced, and sustainable future.
The Green Amazon News – International
This text was compiled using public data, scientific reports, and information from meteorological institutions.
The Green Amazon News — All rights reserved.
Related:
Comments