Our Approach
Accelerating SDG Achievement worldwide through global cooperation, education, and science-based solutions.
Our Vision
Today, the world faces unprecedented acute, complex, and transboundary sustainable development challenges. As we progress into the second half of the 2030 Agenda, we are far off target on the sustainable development goals (SDGs) and the objectives of the Paris Agreement and have lost ground in recent years due to the rising impacts of climate change, the COVID-19 pandemic, increasing conflict, geopolitical tensions, societal fragmentation, and the shortcomings of the global governance and financial architecture.
To achieve major SDG breakthroughs by 2030 and beyond; decrease emissions to net-zero levels to curb the climate catastrophe; provide financing to vulnerable nations; and ensure a more inclusive world that leaves no one behind, we cannot continue business as usual. We need deep transformations at the global, regional, and local levels involving collaborative actions by governments, academia, civil society, and business.
Our Strategy
The SDSN approaches this challenge by:
- Mobilizing the world’s largest knowledge community for action on the SDGs through its 55 regional and national networks and 1900+ members;
- Empowering and informing societies on sustainable development via free online education and training through the SDG Academy and education initiatives;
- Translating scientific evidence, data, and ideas into solutions and accountability through the SDG Transformation Center and data initiatives;
- Catalyzing evidence-based policy action for critical thematic and geographic priorities, including climate and energy, forest biomes, food and land use; sustainable cities; health; global finance and governance for the SDGs; and happiness and well-being; and
- Engaging directly with major international processes and institutions to promote science-based transformations.
Our Influence
The SDSN works closely with key international leadership, governments, the UN, and multilateral institutions – including the International Monetary Fund, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), UNESCO, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), G-20 and T-20 leadership, among others – in their efforts to coordinate cross-sectoral, regional, and national action on the 2030 Agenda.
This includes supporting the UN’s SDG Stimulus Plan, engaging with the T-20 and G-20 leadership on a priority agenda for the Brazil G21 Presidency, and Ministers of Finance to advance the SDG Stimulus, advising the UN Secretary-General on engineering pathways to achieve comprehensive decarbonization by mid-century, and working with the FAO to develop country roadmaps for food systems pathways.
The SDSN also collaborates with multilateral development banks, including the World Bank, the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), and the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) in mainstreaming the SDGs into investment portfolios and country strategies.
At the national and subnational levels, the SDSN continues to provide direct support to numerous national governments, parliaments, and statistical offices. Efforts include working with the European Commission to strengthen SDG data and analyses, partnering with the Beninese Ministry of Economy and Finance to publish the first pilot baseline Sustainable Development Report for the country, and signing an MOU with the Members of the European Parliament SDG Alliance to partner on furthering the 2030 Agenda. The SDSN’s research has also supported dozens of countries’ voluntary national reviews, including the first EU-wide Voluntary National Review.
The organization also remains an active player in major international events and meetings, including the UN General Assembly, the High-Level Political Forum, the G20, and the UNFCCC COPs, influencing and supporting dialogue and actions on the SDGs. SDSN-organized high-level conferences, including the International Conference on Sustainable Development, further expand solutions-oriented actions for the SDGs.