Global level

The 2030 Agenda represents a programme of development for the international community until 2030 in the area of sustainable development. The 2030 Agenda goals are the result of a three-year negotiation process initiated at the 2012 UN Conference on Sustainable Development in Rio de Janeiro (Rio + 20) in continuity with the agenda Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

All UN member states, representatives of the business, civil society, as well as the academic community were involved in the formulation of the 2030 Agenda. On 25^th-27^th September 2015, the UN General Assembly approved the document Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (pdf 436 kB) in which UN member states called for a joint coordinated approach to addressing global challenges.

The UN Economic and Social Council on 7^th June 2017 and the UN General Assembly in July 2017 adopted a resolution on the final set of the 2030 Agenda indicators by which the progress in achieving the 2030 Agenda goals is measured. In 2017, the final set of indicators consisted of 244 indicators, of which 232 were unique. After the refinement in March 2020 the final set of indicators consists of 247 indicators, of which 231 are unique. Indicators per country are published on the UN website, along with metadata.

The UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs has set up a Sustainable Development Knowledge Platform to support the implementation of the 2030 Agenda goals.

The Sustainable Development Agenda comprises 17 sustainable development goals and 169 related targets that balance three aspects of sustainable development – economic, social and environmental:

• GOAL 1: End poverty in all its forms everywhere
• GOAL 2: End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture
• GOAL 3: Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages
• GOAL 4: Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all
• GOAL 5: Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls
• GOAL 6: Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all
• GOAL 7: Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all
• GOAL 8: Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all
• GOAL 9: Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation
• GOAL 10: Reduce inequality within and among countries
• GOAL 11: Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable
• GOAL 12: Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns
• GOAL 13: Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts
• GOAL 14: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development
• GOAL 15: Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss
• GOAL 16: Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels
• GOAL 17: Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development

European level

Sustainable development goals have been in the centre of the European policy for a long time, firmly enshrined in the European Treaties and incorporated into key cross-cutting projects, sectoral policies and initiatives. The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals adopted by the UN have given new impetus to global efforts for achieving sustainable development. The EU in cooperation with the Member States commit themselves to support the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and strive for a sustainable future for everybody. The EU’s response to the 2030 Agenda is the European Commission’s Communication of 22^nd November 2016 Next Steps for a Sustainable European Future – European Action for Sustainability.

Comprehensive information on “Sustainable Development” is available on Eurostat’s official website for Sustainable Development.

National level

The Government of the Slovak Republic sees the 2030 Agenda as an opportunity and means to identify national priorities for the development of Slovakia. The National implementation of the 2030 Agenda required the establishment of the institutional framework that integrates all relevant actors and gives an adequate opportunity to express an opinion to the various segments of society. Due to the seriousness of the sustainable development agenda, besides the involvement of a wide range of experts from the state, academic, non-governmental and private spheres, the key role also plays the high level of the engagement of political leaders. Competences, responsibilities and a framework of evaluation are clearly defined.

To achieve the capability for assessing the progress made towards national priorities, there will be needed to set out specific measurable strategic goals with quantified target values. Another necessary step is to set out indicators that will allow to monitor the fulfilment of the strategic goals. Last but not least, there also have to be identified concrete measures for achieving strategic goals and through them the implementation of the 2030 Agenda as well. The most important tool for the implementation of Agenda 2030 will be cross-cutting cross-sectoral strategies and policies of the Slovak Government.

In line with the “One World” principle, the 2030 Agenda has to be integrated into all public policies at each level of management. Sustainability must become a fully-fledged cross-cutting theme and a criterion when any public measures are adopted.