Posted on July, 11 2018

There has never been a more globally important set of aims than the ones behind the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The UN sums up their scope and ambition as ‘a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure that all people enjoy peace and prosperity.’ 

Adopted in 2015, the SDGs embody what’s become known as ‘the 2030 Agenda’  – a global commitment to a better, sustainable future for people and planet alike. 

By breaking this crucial vision down into 17 distinct goals encompassing 169 targets, the SDGs act as a roadmap to the different areas where effort and resources must be focused to bring about change on a planetary scale.

The High Level Political Forum (HLPF) 2018 provides an urgent opportunity for the global community to discuss the details of how we’re going to get to where we need to be in 2020 and 2030, to assess progress against current targets, to set new ones, and to see how the ambition can be enhanced during the next 2-12 years. 

It’s a critical phase in the lifecycle of the SDGs, as many of the initial targets expire in 2020. Now is the time to redouble collective efforts to hit this first wave, while also looking further into the future and making plans for what comes next.

A key point is that the SDGs interlink with each other: we’re not going to find a solution to one without considering the others, and nothing is going to happen in a vacuum.

Each SDG has specific aims and targets, but it’s important to understand them as part of an indivisible, interlinked package. Focused efforts to achieve each one are needed, but only under a coherent overall approach. If this is missing, progress in one area might be set back by badly planned actions in another, resulting in inefficiency, 
ineffectiveness and even long-term harm. 

Taking a holistic view of the SDGs in the spotlight at HLPF 2018 will allow stakeholders to benefit from potential synergies and advance objectives in several areas at once. This report highlights the importance of forests in achieving the Sustainable Development Agenda, with case studies showcasing how SDG 15 links with other SDGs under review at HLPF 2018 -- SDG 6 (clean water and sanitation), SDG 7 (affordable and clean energy), SDG 11 (sustainable cities and communities), SDG 12 (responsible consumption and protection) and SDG 17 (partnerships for the goals).