In September 2015, all United Nations Member States agreed to commit to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development – a plan to promote global partnership towards all 17 Sustainable Development Goals. This 2030 Agenda, which came to effect on 1 January 2016 refers Sustainable Development to the most quoted definition given by Our Common Future of the 1987 Brundtland Report:
Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
These 17 UN SDGs were built on eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) to halve extreme poverty by 2015 as a midpoint towards completely eradicating poverty. As compared to MDGs, UN SDGs offer a more holistic framework which integrates and interconnects the SDGs into 5 themes: People, Planet, Prosperity, Peace and Partnership. The 17 UN SDGs consist of 169 targets and 232 indicators. UN SDGs serve as a universal call that cannot be ignored nor neglect to ensure a holistic development across the globe.
Source: http://www.oneworldcentre.org.au/global-goals/agenda-2030-and-the-sdgs/
The follow-up and review of UN SDGs implementation in terms of support and capacity-building are done annually during the UN’s High-level Political Forum (HLPF) on Sustainable Development. All UN members are encouraged to conduct regular and inclusive national and sub-national reviews and then submit a voluntary and state-led review that involves multiple stakeholders of the UN. Malaysia being one of the members of Agenda 2030 submitted its first Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs) in 2017.
As we embark on this great collective journey, we pledge that no one will be left behind. Recognising the dignity of every human is fundamental, we wish to see the goals and targets meet for all nations as well as the people and for all segments of society. And we will endeavour to reach the furthest behind first.
(2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development)
Ownership in fulfilling UN SDGs’ targets, however, should not stop at the state-led level. Every citizen has an equal responsibility to sustain and maintain the eco-system of our planet while we flourish and that we “Leave No One Behind” as the UN SDGs theme goes.
End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture
Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all
Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all
Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation
Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts by regulating emissions and promoting developments in renewable energy
Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development
Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss
Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels
Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development