UNICEF and the Sustainable Development Goals
This year marks the halfway point to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the world’s 17-point plan to radically improve the lives of people and the planet by 2030. But with just seven years to go, we’ve fallen behind. Climate change, conflict, COVID-19 and economic crises are cutting children off from their chance to thrive. If we…, What progress have we made for children?, The 17 Goals, No poverty 1. No poverty, End poverty in all its forms, everywhere. Poverty denies children their fundamental rights to health, protection, education and much more. Without global action, Child poverty child poverty is likely to entrench social inequality and cut off the most vulnerable girls and boys from the services they need to survive and thrive. An estimated 1…, Zero hunger 2. Zero hunger, End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture. Good nutrition is the bedrock of child development. Well-nourished children are better able to grow and learn, to participate in their communities, and to be resilient in the face of disease, disaster and other emergencies. UNICEF works to lower the…, Good health and well-being 3. Good health and well-being, Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all, at all ages. Tremendous progress in child and maternal health has been achieved over the past decades. More babies today live to celebrate their fifth birthday, while fewer mothers lose their lives during pregnancy and childbirth. But millions of women and children are still dying from causes…, Quality education 4. Quality education, Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all. The right to education means the right to learn. But children worldwide are unable to attend school, or to develop basic reading and math skills, for various reasons. Poverty remains one of the most obstinate barriers. Children living through…, Gender equality 5. Gender equality, Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls. Gender-based violence, female genital mutilation, child marriage, an education denied ─ gender inequality takes many harmful forms. Gender equality Gender equality is a fundamental human right. It's also a precondition for economic growth and prosperity. UNICEF works across the world so…, Clean water and sanitation 6. Clean water and sanitation, Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all. Contaminated water and poor sanitation are among the leading causes of death for children under 5. Without safe water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), children face an increased risk of preventable diseases and malnutrition. They're also less likely to attend school.…, Affordable and clean energy 7. Affordable and clean energy, Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all. Children worldwide face a host of environmental hazards related to unclean energy, like polluted air, contaminated water and toxic fumes. Access to clean, affordable energy is critical to a child's health. But renewable energy can also improve access to water through…, Decent work and economic growth 8. Decent work and economic growth, Promote inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment, and decent work for all. Some 1.8 billion young people are on the brink of adulthood. And nearly 60 per cent of them are projected to lack the skills they need to work and thrive by 2030. UNICEF and partners, through Generation Unlimited , are on a mission to skill…, Industry, innovation and infrastructure 9. Industry, innovation and infrastructure, Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation. UNICEF has a long history of innovating in humanitarian and development contexts. Whether it's deploying drones to deliver life-saving vaccines, using cryptocurrencies to hook schools to the internet, harnessing solar power to bring water to…, Reduced inequalities 10. Reduced inequalities, Reduce inequality within and among countries. Around the world, children are cut off from essential care and services on the basis of race, gender, disability, language, religion and ethnicity. Without investments to shield children from the lifelong consequences of discrimination and exclusion, progress towards equality will stall. UNICEF helps…, Sustainable cities and communities 11. Sustainable cities and communities, Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable. More than half of the world’s population live in urban areas , with hundreds of millions confined to slums or informal settlements. Children living in slums are often cut off from essential services like health care, education and sanitation. UNICEF partners with urban…, Responsible consumption and production 12. Responsible consumption and production, Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns. Global consumption and production trends deplete valuable natural resources and create toxic waste. Children are the least responsible for climate change environmental degradation , yet they'll bear the greatest burden of its impact – mostly in the form of health and developmental issues.…, Climate action 13. Climate action, Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts. Virtually every child on the planet is already affected by climate change . Natural disasters, environmental degradation and biodiversity loss cut children off from nutritious foods, clean air and safe water. They lead to dangerous disease outbreaks, and destroy the shelter, health care…, Life below water 14. Life below water, Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development. The impacts of climate change are being felt around the world. And for many children, a change in climate is felt through a change in water. In times of drought or of flood, in areas where the sea level has risen or where snow has unseasonably melted…, Life on land 15. Life on land, Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems; sustainably manage forests; combat desertification; halt and reverse land degradation; and halt biodiversity loss. The widespread destruction of the natural world threatens the food we eat, the water we drink and the air we breathe. Across the globe, children are standing up…, Peace, justice and strong institutions 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. No child should be exposed to violence, abuse or neglect. Yet millions of children worldwide face violence at home or at school, in their communities or online.…, Partnerships for goals 17. Partnerships for the Goals, Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development. Partnerships are critical to achieve results for every child. Everyone has a role to play in advancing the SDGs. UNICEF’s ability to support and empower children and their families depends on our partners , who provide critical resources that…, Learn more about the SDGs, The Sustainable Development Goals were adopted by all United Nations Member States in 2015 to end poverty, reduce inequality and build more peaceful, prosperous societies by 2030. Also known as the Global Goals, the SDGs call for a world where no one is left behind. UNICEF works with governments, partners and other UN agencies to help…
