The 2030 agenda for sustainable development

The EU made a positive and constructive contribution to the development of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

The Millennium Declaration and Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), which expired at the end of 2015, have made an enormous contribution in raising public awareness, increasing political will and mobilising resources for the fight to end poverty.

Indeed some of greatest progress in recent years has been in precisely those where the MDGs have helped to focus attention. For example:

• global poverty has been halved five years ahead of the 2015 timeframe;
• 90% of children in developing regions now enjoy primary education,
• and disparities between boys and girls in enrolment have narrowed.

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development(link is external) builds on this experience. At the core of the Agenda are the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), but there are also important elements on the Means of Implementation and Follow-Up and Review. The concerns of the MDGs are part of the new framework, but it also goes further. The 2030 Agenda incorporates follow up from the Rio+20 Conference on Sustainable Development(link is external). It addresses both poverty eradication and the economic, social and environmental dimensions of sustainable development in a balanced and integrated manner.

The 2030 Agenda also addresses issues which were reflected in Millennium Declaration but not the MDGs; including issues such as effective institutions, good governance, the rule of law and peaceful societies.

A new departure is the universality of the 2030 Agenda – meaning that it applies to all countries at all levels of development, taking into account their different capacities and circumstances. Implementation will be driven by a new Global Partnership characterised by shared responsibility, mutual accountability, and engagement by all. The Means of Implementation for the new Agenda are outlined in the SDGS and the Addis Ababa Action Agenda(link is external).

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (link is external) includes a stronger follow-up and review framework than existed for the MDGs to help ensure the Agenda is implemented for all, leaving no-one behind.

The EU has played an important role in shaping the 2030 Agenda, through public consultations, dialogue with our partners and in-depth research. The EU will continue to play a leading role as we move into the implementation of this ambitious, transformative and universal Agenda that delivers poverty eradication and sustainable development for all.