Despite the ambition of the 2030 Agenda, the OECD area as a whole has met or is close to meeting only 28 out of 112 measurable SDG targets – a finding prominently featured on the OECD SDGs Hub. This underlines persistent gaps in data as well as across Goals, notably related to inclusion, environmental sustainability, and institutional trust. The Hub’s country-by-country assessments provide a practical tool for governments and other stakeholders to identify where acceleration is most urgent and help them design or adjust their implementation strategies accordingly.
Measuring distance to SDGs
The 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) incorporate 169 targets. National strategies to hit the targets need reliable data to structure approaches and commit resources efficiently. OECD work on Measuring Distance to the SDG Targets provides a high-level overview of strengths and weaknesses in national performance, helping countries navigate the SDGs’ complexity and identify priorities.
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Key messages
Gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls are universal goals in their own right, with 102 of the 247 indicators in the UN Global Indicator Framework being gender related. Similarly, many of the SDG targets concern infants and children, such as those relating to poverty reduction or education. Addressing gender inequalities and improving children’s well-being is also key to achieving a number of other SDGs, as shown by OECD analysis.
A special edition of the OECD Measuring Distance to the SDG Targets study revealed that gender equality is still far from achieved in education, employment, politics, business and innovation. In addition, OECD countries still have a long way to go to achieve many SDG targets for children and young people.
Transboundary impacts are the impacts of one country beyond their borders on other countries and on global common goods. The OECD has defined a typology of five types of transboundary impact: financial flows, trade flows, movements of people, environmental flows, and knowledge transfers. Greenhouse gases are an example of transboundary impacts since the gases spread globally, and some emissions only exist because they are linked to production for export. Developing a comprehensive framework for measuring transboundary impacts is essential for monitoring progress on the SDGs.
China, the United States and Canada are the countries with the largest transboundary flows (trade, environment and knowledge; and finance, trade and environment respectively). Europe has large transboundary impacts in finance and trade, while Japan and Korea have large impact for knowledge. Latin America and South Asia have large impacts in terms of movements of people.
Context
Based on recent trends, OECD countries are on track to achieve 26 additional targets by 2030
Progress is visible in areas of Good Health and Well-being (SDG 3), Quality Education (SDG 4) and Climate Action (SDG 13), where at least half of the targets are on track. However, progress remains insufficient in many other areas, including Affordable and Clean Energy (SDG 7) and Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure (SDG 9), and is stagnating or reversing for critical goals such as Zero Hunger (SDG 2), Responsible Consumption and Production (SDG 12), Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions (SDG 16) and Partnerships for the Goals (SDG 17). Accelerating progress will require stronger action by OECD countries to restore trust in institutions, promote prosperity, and protect the planet.
Population well-being and child well-being are closely linked
The OECD carried out a comprehensive overview of performance on progress towards achieving the SDGs for children and young people, spanning 57 indicators covering 43 targets and 11 goals. The results show that across OECD countries, there is generally a strong correlation between the distance to travel to reach SDG targets for children and that for the total population. Children tend to fare better in those countries where the total population fares better.
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Related policy issues
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The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development sets out 17 Sustainable Development Goals, with concrete targets like ending child marriage everywhere, or ensuring everyone has access to affordable and reliable electricity. These goals are universal, meaning that all countries have committed to strive towards them. They aim to improve people’s lives all over the world, foster prosperity and protect the planet. To support this global endeavor, the OECD helps countries devise strategies, strengthen governance frameworks and measure progress towards achieving the Goals.Learn more