Based on 123 available indicators allowing a coverage of 97 of the 169 SDG targets, Australia has currently achieved 15 of the 2030 targets, and many of the remaining distances to targets are small (Figure 2.1). For example, schools in Australia are connected to the internet (target 4.a), water stress is low (target 6.4), and exposure to air pollution is among the lowest in the OECD (target 11.6). However, some challenges remain; Australia is still very far (i.e. more than 3 standardised distances away) from meeting 2% of the targets. Targets that are further away include obesity (target 2.2), CO2 intensity (target 9.4) and feelings of safety (target 16.1).
Measuring Distance to the SDG Targets 2019
An Assessment of Where OECD Countries Stand
Note: The chart shows current level of achievement on each available target. The longer the bar, the shorter the distance still to be travelled to reach 2030 target (dotted circle). Targets are clustered by goal, and goals are clustered by the “5Ps” of the 2030 Agenda (outer circle).
Source: See www.oecd.org/sdd/OECD-Measuring-Distance-to-SDGs-Targets-Metadata.pdf for detailed metadata.
The Measuring Distance to the SDG Targets Study is intended as an analytical tool to assist countries in identifying strengths and weaknesses across the goals and targets of the 2030 Agenda, and as such differs in nature from Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs) or other reporting processes. To ensure international comparability, indicators used in the Study are based on the UN Global List of Indicators on SDGs and are sourced from the UN SDG Database and OECD databases. VNRs typically use national indicators that reflect national circumstances and can be more up-to-date.
Figure 2.2, Panel A shows that Australia is on average closest to reaching goals on Health, Oceans and Cities (goals 3, 14 and 11), and further from reaching goals on Food and Reducing Inequality (goas 2 and 10). Relative to the OECD average, Australia outperforms on goals such as Health, Gender Equality, Oceans, Economy and Cities (goals 3, 5, 14, 8 and 11). Conversely, Australia is relatively further away on goals such as water, Climate and Infrastructure (goals 6, 13 and 9). However, considerable effort by the international statistical community will be key to fill the data gaps and allow a more accurate assessment (see Figure 2.2, Panel B). For example, if missing data were available on Sustainable production, Oceans and Reducing Inequality (goals 12, 14 and 10), Australia’s performance on Planet and Prosperity could change from current assessments.
Note: Panel A shows the average distance the country needs to travel to reach each SDG. Distances are measured in standardised units (see Chapter 3 for details) with 0 indicating that the level for 2030 has already been attained: and 3 is the distance most OECD countries have already travelled. Bars show the average country performance against all targets under the relevant Goal for which data are available, and diamonds show the OECD average. Whiskers show uncertainties due to missing data, ranging from assuming that missing indicators are all 3 standardised distances from the 2030 target level to assuming that they are already at the target level. Panel B shows the share of targets covered by at least one indicator out of the 169 targets of the 2030 Agenda, according to the 17 goals and 5Ps.
Source: See www.oecd.org/sdd/OECD-Measuring-Distance-to-SDGs-Targets-Metadata.pdf for detailed metadata.