On September 25th 2015, countries around the world, under the aegis of the United Nations, adopted a set of goals to End Poverty, Protect the Planet and Ensure Prosperity for All as part of a new sustainable development agenda.
Each goal has specific targets to be achieved over the next 15 years (2015-2030) and these are now known as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). There are a total of 17 SDGs as listed below:
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No Poverty: End poverty in all its forms everywhere.
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Zero Hunger: End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture.
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Good Health and Well-Being: Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages.
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Quality Education: Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.
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Gender Equality: Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls.
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Clean Water and Sanitation: Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.
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Affordable and Clean Energy: Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all.
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Decent Work and Economic Growth: Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all.
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Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure: Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation.
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Reduced Inequalities: Reduce inequality within and among countries.
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Sustainable Cities and Communities: Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable.
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Responsible Consumption and Production: Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns.
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Climate Action: Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts.
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Life Below Water: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development.
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Life on Land: Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss.
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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.
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Partnership for the Goals: Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development.