With only five years to go until 2030 – the global deadline countries have set themselves for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) – governments around the world continue to grapple with a confluence of pressing challenges that impact every aspect of society, from climate change and environmental degradation to wars and persistent socio-economic inequalities. Out of 169 SDG targets, only 17% are on track, according to The United Nations Global Sustainable Development Report 2024.
Overcoming these challenges requires immediate and integrated responses that transcend traditional policy silos and bring about transformative change. Effective multilateral co-operation will be key. By working together, OECD countries and partner economies can advance towards a more resilient and sustainable future in which holistic governance frameworks and global partnerships enhance policy coherence for sustainable development (PCSD) across sectors, levels of government, and countries.
While Belgium is taking steps to implement this global vision at all levels of government – federal, community and regional – this report focuses on Belgium’s federal legislation, institutional mechanisms, policy tools and processes for promoting sustainable development. Belgium is currently developing its next five-year Federal Plan for Sustainable Development (FPSD). In this context, this report identifies strengths and weaknesses and suggests areas for improvement, serving both as a reflection on Belgium’s achievements to date and as a call to action for continued progress. It reinforces the message that achieving the SDGs is not a task for governments alone but a shared responsibility that requires the engagement of all sectors of society.
Belgium’s initiative in promoting PCSD can be a source of inspiration and learning for policymakers, stakeholders and the broader international community.
This report is part of the EU-funded project “Building Policy Coherence for Sustainable Development (PCSD) across the federal government in Belgium”. The project originates from a request from Belgium’s Federal Institute for Sustainable Development under the European Commission’s Technical Support Instrument. It is being implemented as a multi-country project, together with Ireland and Portugal, which are pursuing similar efforts to accelerate SDG implementation through the greater application of policy coherence principles. This collaborative approach highlights the value of international co-operation in addressing shared challenges and amplifies the impact of individual national efforts.
The project is delivered by the OECD Public Governance Directorate as part of its work to deliver targeted country support.