The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are goals designed by a long, multisectoral and participatory process led by the United Nations (UN). The SDGs aim to end poverty, ensure human rights, fight social inequality, achieve gender equality, act against climate change and address other social, environmental and economic challenges by 2030.
The SDGs are part of Agenda 2030, the “global action plan” adopted in 2015 during the UN General Assembly. In addition to the 17 SDGs, the plan defines sustainable development based on the 5Ps: People, Planet, Prosperity, Partnerships and Peace. Each SDG also has specific goals.
Altogether, the document establishes 169 goals. “These are clear goals and targets, for all countries to adopt according to their own priorities and act in the spirit of a global partnership that guides the necessary choices to improve people's lives, now and in the future”, explains the Agenda 2030 website.
1.No poverty: end poverty in all its forms everywhere.
2. Zero hunger and sustainable agriculture: end hunger, achieve food safety and improved 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 and equitable 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 industrialization, and foster innovation.
10. Reduced inequality: reduce income 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 for sustainable development.
15. Life on land: protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, combat desertification, halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss.
16. Peace, 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.
17. Partnership for the goals: strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development.
Brazil's situation in relation to the SDGs
As shown in the image below, if the country does not commit to complying with the SDGs, only goals 6 (Clean water and sanitation) and 7 (Affordable and clean energy) will be achieved by 2030.
Brazil's progress towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals can be followed on the official ODS Brazil website.
Why does joining the Net Zero movement help achieve the SDGs?
Like the Government and the third sector, companies play a fundamental role in achieving the 17 Sustainable Development Goals. They are holders of economic power and promote innovations and technologies that serve different audiences, from suppliers to consumers.
More and more companies are engaged with the SDGs in Brazil and worldwide. After all, incorporating sustainable goals into business is good both for the planet and for the company itself in the social, environmental and governance spheres.
One of these goals is to reduce net carbon emissions and use renewable energy sources to achieve Net Zero – an ambitious and transformative goal that fits into SDG #13, “Action against Global Climate Change”.
This SDG can be seen transversally to the others. See some correlations of ODS 13 with the other SDGs:
Among the numerous benefits of the Net Zero movement to the planet are: environmental preservation, improved air quality, conservation of biodiversity, lower risk of disease, use of clean energy sources, better work opportunities based on ESG principles, more sustainable cities, conscious consumption, better quality of life for all species, among others.
By joining Net Zero, the business sector can still implement and achieve several other SDGs. Click here to learn more about Net Zero.
