Sustainable development goals
Sustainable development goals
Understand how the environmental SDGs are measured,
the progress being made and the current gaps that exist
In September 2015, the United Nations Sustainable Development Summit adopted an international framework to guide development efforts, entitled ‘Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development’. The SDG framework has a total of 17 goals, 169 targets and 247 indicators— 92 of which are environment related. The SDGs aim to measure the most pressing issues facing the planet, including the interactions between topics. In terms of the environmental dimension of development, the SDGs cover natural resource management, climate change, water-related issues, marine issues, biodiversity and ecosystems, circular economy, environmentally sound management of chemicals and waste, and many other topics. UNEP is the Custodian for 25 of these SDG indicators – across SDG Goals: 6, 8, 12, 14, 15 and 17. For these, UNEP has the specific mandate to develop their methodologies, training materials for countries and SDG data reporting mechanisms.
UN’s Environmental Events Calendar
UNEP thrives to build coordination in the environment field among UN organizations and stakeholders. The SDG and Environment Statistics Unit has the pleasure to present to you this collaborative tool. The objective of this tool is to share events that are happening, or will happen around us in regard to environmental capacity building, or specific environmental events. An additional objective is to ensure information sharing to promote, enhanced collaboration and avoid duplication of events. UNEP’s Calendar of Events
Measuring Progress
Progress toward the achievement of the environmental dimension of the SDGs is the first step in helping governments and other stakeholders assess where related actions and governance arrangements are working. The United Nations Environment Programme’s (UNEP) Measuring Progress reports aim to improve the understanding of where interlinkages exist between the indicators of the SDG framework, as well as of the types: reinforcing or competing, and strengths of these interlinkages, based on available data. They also provide information on the progress made to achieve the 92 environment-related SDG indicators and identify data gaps and opportunities to close those gaps.
This report builds upon insights and lessons learned from the Measuring Progress: Towards Achieving the Environmental Dimension of the SDGs, the first publication of the series.
National Scorecard
The National Scorecard is a tool developed by UNEP to showcase the progress of countries in realizing the 92 environment-related SDG indicators. Users can select any country and navigate by goal or indicator levels. Data is presented by table and charts to facilitate the visualization of the progress made. The Scorecards are automatically updated once new data is published. National Scorecards assists UN Country Teams and national stakeholders in their Common Country Analysis (CCA) and the SDG Voluntary National Reviews (VNR).
Regional and Global Scorecard
The Regional and Global Scorecard is a tool developed by UNEP to showcase the progress made at regional and global levels in realizing the 92 environment-related SDG indicators. Users can select any region and navigate by goal or indicator levels. Data is presented by table and charts to facilitate visualization of the progress made. The Scorecards are automatically updated once new data is published.
Projects
UNEP’s work is made possible by partners who fund and champion our mission. The Environment Fund is our core source of flexible funds, in addition to earmarked funds that enable us to expand and replicate our Programme in more countries and with more partners. UNEP works in partnerships with governments, the scientific community, the private sector, civil society and other United Nations entities and international organizations. More details on our past and current projects can be accessed here.
| Project Title | Funding Source | Start Date | End Date | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 715.1 Output A: High quality monitoring and reporting on the environmental dimension of development, including the SDGs, at the international level | a. Environment Fund b. Regular Budget activity Fund c. Extra Budgetary Fundind |
April 2019 | Match 2023 | Ongoing |
| Enhancing capacity for measuring progress towards the Environmental Dimension of the SDGs | a. European Commission | October 2020 | December 2022 | Ongoing |
| Agile national statistical systems for accelerated responsiveness to demands for statistics related to climate change and disasters | UNDA 14 | April 2022 | June 2025 | Forthcoming |
| Integrating economic and environmental data to guide Circular Economy Policy Planning to accelerate post-COVID-19 Sustainable Recovery | UNDA 14 | April 2022 | June 2025 | Forthcoming |
| Using geospatial data to inform specific needs in the environmental area | UNDA 14 | April 2022 | June 2025 | Forthcoming |
National Activities
As part of UNEP’s role in enhancing the technical and statistical capacities of Member States in environment statistics, UNEP organizes national capacity building activities to strengthen national capacities in specific areas related to the environment. More details on the assistance provided by UNEP at national level can be accessed here.
| Activity | Location | Date | SDG Indicators | Partners | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Completed UN Environment led Capacity Building in Countries | |||||
| Introduction to Measuring the Environmental Dimension of the SDGs: The case of Afghanistan | Afghanistan | 2nd - 5th October 2017 | 6.6.1, 15.3.1 | ESCAP | Fresh water and land accounting |
| Second National Workshop on Chemicals and Waste SDG Indicators in Bosnia and Herzegovina | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 5th - 8th February 2019 | 11.6.1, 12.4.2, 12.5.1 | Bosnia and Herzegovina Agency for Statistics, United Nations University | Chemicals and Waste |
| National Workshop on Chemicals and Waste Statistics | Cameroon | 14th - 15th November 2018 | 11.6.1, 12.3.1.b, 12.4.1, 12.4.2, 12.5.1 | Chemicals and Waste | |
| National Validation Workshop on the Chemicals and Waste Statistics Data Report in Cameroon | Cameroon | 17th - 18th June 2019 | 11.6.1, 12.3.1, 12.4.2, 12.5.1 | The Ministry of Environment, Protection of Nature, and Sustainable Development (MINEPDED) | Chemicals and Waste |
| National Workshop on Waste Statistics in Costa Rica / Taller Nacional de Estadísticas de Residuos en Costa Rica | Costa Rica | 17th - 18th June 2019 | 11.6.1, 12.3.1.b, 12.4.1, 12.4.2, 12.5.1 | Chemicals and Waste | |
| Second National Workshop on the Chemicals and Waste Statistics in Costa Rica | Costa Rica | 14th - 15th November 2018 | 11.6.1, 12.3.1, 12.4.2, 12.5.1 | The Ministry of Health of Costa Rica, Directorate of Environmental Health | Chemicals and Waste |
| Atelier régional de renforcement des capacités sur les statistiques de l'Environnement en Afrique de l'Ouest | Guinée | 27 - 29 novembre 2018 | 6.4.2, 6.6.1, 15.1.1, 15.3.1 | Environmental resources and their use | |
| National Workshop on Shared Environmental Information Systems (SEIS) and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Kazakhstan | Kazakhstan | 25th - 28th April 2017 | 6.1.1, 6.2.1, 6.3.1, 6.4.2, 12.4.1, 12.4.2 | UNECE | Water, Waste Statistics |
| Kazakhstan National Workshop on Material Flow Accounts and Waste Statistics for SDGs | Kazakhstan | 16th - 18th July 2018 | 6.1.1, 6.2.1, 6.3.1, 6.4.2, 8.4.1, 8.4.2, 12.1.1, 12.2.1, 12.2.2 | UNECE | Water, Waste Statistics, Material Flow Accounts |
| National Marine Litter Data Collection Training Workshop in Kenya | Kenya | 13 - 22 August 2019 | 14.1.1 | National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) of Kenya, Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute (KMFRI), Western Indian Ocean Marine Science Association (WIOMSA), Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO) | Marine litter |
| Kyrgyzstan National Workshop on Shared Environmental Information Systems (SEIS) and Environmental Statistics for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) | Kyrgyzstan | 11th - 14th June 2018 | 7.1.2, 7.2.1, 7.3.1, 7.a.1, 7.b.1, 15.1.2, 15.4.1, 15.9.1, 15.a.1, 15.b.1 | UNECE, UNDP | Forest & Energy accounts |
| Capacity Building Workshop on Satellite Accounts of the Environment in Malawi | Malawi | 17th – 19th December 2018 | 6.3.2, 6.6.1, 14.4.1, 15.1.1, 15.2.1, 15.3.1 | UNECA | Physical Accounts of Water, Land and Forests |
| Joint Workshop on environment-related SDG Indicators in the Russian Federation | Russian Federation | 19th – 21st March 2019 | 11.6.1, 12.4.2, 12.5.1, 9.4.1, 11.6.2, 8.4.2/12.2.2, 8.4.1/12.2.1, 12.c.1, 14.5.1, 15.1.2, 15.4.1, 15.3.1, 15.4.2, 15.a.1, 6.3.2, 6.6.1, 6.5.1, 6.3.1, 6.4.1, 6.4.2, 6.a.1, 6.b.1 | ROSSTAT, UNECE, OECD | Environment-related SDGs |
| Renforcement des capacités sur les comptes satellites de l'environnement/Capacity building on satellite accounts of the environment | Senegal | 10th - 13th April 2018 | 6.4.2, 6.6.1, 15.1.1, 15.3.1 | ECA, ANSD | Environmental resources and their use |
| Senegal | 5th – 6th December 2018 | 6.3.2, 6.6.1, 14.4.1, 15.1.1, 15.2.1, 15.3.1 | UNECA | Physical Accounts of Water, Land and Forests | |
| Workshop on Marine Litter National Source Inventories in Seychelles | Seychelles | 5 September 2019 | 11.6.1 and 14.1.1 | Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, Seychelles, Western Indian Ocean Marine Science Association (WIOMSA), Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) | Marine Litter |
| National Marine Litter Data Collection Training Workshop in Seychelles | Seychelles | 26 August - 4 September 2019 | 14.1.1 | Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, Seychelles, Western Indian Ocean Marine Science Association (WIOMSA), Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) | Marine Litter |
| National Workshop on Shared Environmental Information Systems (SEIS) and Environmental Statistics for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in istanikistan | Tajikistan | 16th - 18th October 2017 | 6.3.1, 6.3.2, 12.4.1, 12.4.2, 15.1.1, 15.2.1 | UNECE, UNDP | Forest, Water |
| Environmental Statistics Capacity Building Workshop in Tajikistan | Tajikistan | November 2018 | All SDGs | UNECE, Zoï Environment Network | Cross-cutting elements of environmental statistics, partnerships, data and accountability |
| Environment Statistics Workshop-Tanzania | Tanzania | 13th - 14th January, 2020 | 17.14.1 | Physical Accounts of Forests and Timber Resources, Water, Land, and Forest Accounts | |
| Completed UN Environment led Pilot Testing in Countries | |||||
| National Workshop in Bosnia and Herzegovina on Waste SDG Indicators 11.6.1, 12.3.1, 12.4.2, and 12.5.1 | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 9th - 10th May 2018 | 11.6.1, 12.3.1, 12.4.2, and 12.5.1 | The Resource and Waste Advisory Group (RWA Group), Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) | Chemicals and Waste Indicators |
| Country Visit to Chile to discuss the UN Global Manual on Material Flow | Chile | 27th - 29th December 2017 | 8.4.1, 8.4.2, 12.1.1, 12.2.1, 12.2.2 | IRP | Material Flow Accounting |
| Case study on assessing the availability of data and indicators for a compilation of best practices in measuring the oceans in Colombia | Colombia | 18th - 21st September 2017 | 14.1.1, 14.2.1, 14.5.1 | WCMC | Ocean Statistics |
| Monitoring the fossil fuel subsidies indicator SDG 12.c.1 in Egypt case study - mission report | Egypt | December 2017 | 12.c.1 | IISD-GSI | Fossil fuels |
| Fiji | 1st - 3rd of November 2017 | 14.1.1, 14.2.1, 14.5.1 | WCMC | Ocean Statistics | |
| Strengthening the environmental dimension of the SDGs: Guyana´s Green State Development Strategy | Guyana | 7th - 8th February 2019 | 17.14.1 | Guyanese Department of Environment (DoE), Midsummer Analytics’ | Policy Coherence and Environment-related SDGs |
| Guyana | 6 - 8 August 2019 | 6.3.2, 6.6.1, 14.4.1, 15.1.1, 15.2.1, 15.3.1 | Guyanese Department of Environment (DoE), Midsummer Analytics’ | FDES, Land accounts and Environment-related SDGs | |
| Monitoring the fossil fuel subsidies indicator SDG 12.c.1 in India | India | September 2017 | 12.c.1 | IISD-GSI | Fossil fuels |
| Country mission to Kenya - Measuring Gender-Environment Statistics | Kenya | 26th February – 2nd March 2018 | 1.4.2, 5.a.1, 5.a.2, 11.2.1 | UN Environment, IUCN Gender, Environment Statistics | Gender and Environment Statistics |
| Consultation workshop on SDG Indicator 17.14.1: The case of Kenya | Kenya | 7th January 2020 | 17.14.1 | National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) of Kenya | Policy Coherence |
| Country mission to Lao PDR - Measuring Gender-Environment Statistics | Lao People's Democratic Republic | 12th - 16th February 2018 | 1.4.2, 5.a.1, 5.a.2, 11.2.1 | UN Environment, International Union for Conservation of Nature | Measuring Gender-Environment Statistics |
| Workshop on Material Flows Accounting in Lao PDR | Lao People's Democratic Republic | 13th - 16th November 2017 | 8.4.1, 8.4.2, 12.1.1, 12.2.1, 12.2.2 | IRP | Material Flows Accounting |
| National level workshop on Gender and Environment Statistics | Mexico | 23rd – 24th April 2018 | 1.4.2, 5.a.1, 5.a.2, 11.2.1 | IUCN | Gender and Environment |
| Workshop on Material Flows Accounting in Philippines | Philippines | 20th - 22nd November 2017 | 8.4.1, 8.4.2, 12.1.1, 12.2.1, 12.2.2 | IRP | Material Flow Accounts |
| Pilot work on material flow accounting in South Africa | South Africa | 28th - 29th of November 2017 | 8.4.1, 8.4.2, 12.1.1, 12.2.1, 12.2.2 | IRP | Material Flow Accounts |
| Monitoring the fossil fuel subsidies indicator SDG 12.c.1 in Zambia | Zambia | 5th - 10th November 2017 | 12.c.1 | IISD-GSI | Fossil fuels |
| Other Completed entity led Activities in Countries | |||||
| Multi-stakeholder consultations and workshop on Sustainable Development Goals in Bosnia and Herzegovina | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 29th - 30th May 2018 | All SDGs | UNDP, UNECE, WHO, ILO, UNFPA, PBSO, UNRISD, UNICEF, UNWOMEN | Cross-cutting elements of partnerships, data and accountability |
International and Regional Expert Group Meetings
As part of UNEP’s role in enhancing the technical and statistical capacities of Member States in environment statistics, UNEP, in collaboration with various partners, organize Expert Group Meetings at international and regional levels to strengthen capacities in specific areas related to the environment. More details on UNEP’s work at international and regional levels can be accessed here.
| Activity | Location | Date | Partners | SDG Indicators | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Expert consultation on Gender-Environment Statistics | - | 30th January, 2018 | IUCN | 1.4.2, 5.a.1, 5.a.2, 11.2.1 | Gender and Environment Indicators |
| Second Expert Group Meeting on Chemicals and Waste SDG Indicators | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 11th - 13th February 2019 | UN Habitat | 11.6.1, 12.4.1, 12.4.2, 12.5.1 | Chemicals and Waste |
| Contribución a la implementación de los indicadores ODS 6.3.2 (Calidad del Agua) y 6.6.1 (extensión de ecosistemas acuáticos continentales)/ Contribution to the implementation of SDG indicators 6.3.2 (Water Quality) and 6.6.1 (extension of continental aquatic ecosystems) | Colombia | 24th - 25th April, 2018 | ONU Medio Ambiente Colombia, DANE, UNFPA | 6.3.2 and 6.6.1 | Calidad del agua y ecosistemas relacionados con el agua/ Water quality and water-related ecosystems |
| Expert Group Meeting for SDG Indicator 17.7.1: Environmentally Sound Technologies | France | 28th - 29th March 2018 | 17.7.1 | Global Methodology | |
| Expert Group meeting on SDG 14.1, Coastal Eutrophication and Marine Pollution | France | 12th - 13th September 2018 | IOC-UNESCO | 14.1.1 | Coastal eutrophication and floating plastic debris density |
| Expert Group Meeting on measuring Food Waste | France | 18 October 2019 | International Solid Waste Association (ISWA), UN-Habitat |
12.3.1.b, 11.6.1, 12.5.1 |
Food Waste Index |
| Expert Group Meeting on SDG indicator 12.C.1 on Fossil Fuel Subsidies | Italy | 29th September 2017 | OECD, IISD-GSI and Italy | 12.C.1 | Fossil fuel subsidies |
| Expert Consultation on Marine Litter National Source Inventories | Kenya | 25th - 26th March 2019 | 14.1.1 | Marine Litter | |
| Expert Consultation - Measuring Progress: Nature and the SDGs | Online | 21-22 April 2020 | University College London and Chinese Academy of Science |
14.5.1, 15.1.2, 15.4.1, 14.2.1, 15.2.1, 6.5.1, 6.6.1, 15.1.1 and 15.3.1 |
|
| 2nd Expert Consultation – Measuring Progress: Nature and the SDGs | Online | 23 - 24 September 2020 | University College London and Chinese Academy of Science | ||
| Joint UN Environment & UN-Habitat Expert Group Meeting on waste SDG indicators | Switzerland | 22nd - 24th January 2018 | UN Habitat | 11.6.1, 12.4.2, 12.5.1 | Global methodology |
| The value of Gender-Environment Statistics to propel SDG Action | United States of America | 12th March 2018 | IUCN | 1.4.2, 5.a.1, 5.a.2, 11.2.1 | Gender-Environment indicators |
| 50th Session of the United Nations Statistical Commission | United States of America | 5th - 8th March 2019 | UNSD | All SDGs | Better data, better lives |
Publications
The United Nations Environment Programme offers a wide variety of reports. The Environment and SDG unit spearheads the UN-wide monitoring and reporting on the environmental dimension of the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs. The unit publishes methodological documents, in-depth guidelines and progress reports on waste, gender and the environment, material flow accounts and many SDG indicators.
Online Trainings and Tools
UNEP’s Environment and SDG unit spearheads the UN-wide monitoring and reporting on the environmental dimension of the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs. Online trainings and tools are developed to assist member countries and users in accessing self-paced training courses on the environmental dimension of the SDGs and policy tools that assist in better understanding the data.
The Environmental SDG Indicators Online Course is a self-paced course with individual 10 modules developed by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the United Nations Statistical Institute for Asia and the Pacific (UNSIAP), and the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR). This course provides an overview of the importance of monitoring the environmental dimension of development, the linkage with existing statistical frameworks (FDES and SEEA), and how to use environment statistics in decision making. The modules will also provide a brief overview on all 25 SDG indicators under UNEP custodianship. Environmental SDG Indicators Online Course Russian Version:- coming soon
The Hot Spot Analysis Tool for Sustainable Consumption and Production provides three modules to analyse hotspot areas of sustainable consumption and production. In addition, the new standard reports provide more comprehensive information tailored to your needs regarding selected countries, specific sectors, or climate change impact hotspots.
The SDG 12 HUB is a one-stop-shop for governments, businesses, civil society and the public for tracking progress on the achievement of Goal 12 of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development: ensuring sustainable consumption and production patterns.
The SDG Global Database gives you access to data on more than 210 SDG indicators for countries across the globe by indicator, country, region or time period.
UNEP Learning Management System. Home to courses, workshops and seminars offered by different divisions in the organization.
UN SDG:Learn is a United Nations initiative that aims to bring relevant and curated learning solutions on sustainable development topics to individuals and organizations. Through the collaborative efforts of the United Nations, multilateral organizations, and sustainable development partners from universities, civil society, academia and the private sector, UN SDG:Learn provides a unique gateway that empowers individuals and organizations through an informed decision when selecting among a wealth of SDG-related learning products and services that are currently available.
Explore Environmental SDG Statistics and Trends
UNEP is custodian agency for 25 Sustainable Goals Indicators, of these 10 are tier I and tier II and where data is reported to the Secretary General Global database.
Currently UNEP reports data for the following tier I and tier II indicators:
- 6.3.2 Proportion of bodies of water with good ambient water quality
- 6.5.1 Degree of integrated water resources management implementation (0-100)
- 6.6.1 Change in the extent of water-related ecosystems over time
- 8.4.2 Domestic material consumption (DMC) and DMC per capita, per GDP
- 12.1.1 Number of countries with sustainable consumption and production (SCP) national action plans or SCP mainstreamed as a priority or target into national policies
- 12.2.2 Domestic material consumption (DMC) and DMC per capita, per GDP
- 12.4.1 Number of Parties to international multilateral environmental agreements on hazardous waste, and other chemicals that meet their commitments and obligations in transmitting information as required by each relevant agreement
- 12.c.1 Amount of fossil-fuel subsidies per unit of GDP (production and consumption).
- 14.5.1 Coverage of protected areas in relation to marine areas
- 15.1.2 Proportion of important sites for terrestrial and freshwater biodiversity that are covered by protected areas, by ecosystem type
- 15.4.1 Coverage by protected areas of important sites for mountain biodiversity
SDG Global reporting:
We also coordinate our contribution of data and storylines on the SDG indicators presented in the SDG global reports. The yearly report contains Sustainable Development Goals Report and the Statistical Annex report. Click on each year to access report.
| 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
SDG Global Database:
Global Synergies
Statistics Explorer
View SDG Policy Briefs
| # | Title |
|---|---|
| Issue 001 | Oceans: Marine Pollution |
| Issue 002 | Gender and Environment: Empowering Rural Women |
| Issue 003 | Global Biodiversity Loss |
| Issue 004 | Fresh water under threat |
| Issue 005 | Lifecycle Approaches to waste |
| Issue 006 | Sustainable Food systems and Food security |
| Issue 007 | Innovative solutions for the environmental dimension of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development |
About
The Sustainable Development Goals Policy Briefs highlight a hotspot of environmental change. The evidence provided builds on the scientific data and information hosted on Environment Live and is complemented by stories from the regions.
A significant lack of data has corresponded to a lack of investment toward achieving the environmental dimension of the SDGs. Currently, 68% of the environment-related SDGs do not have sufficient data at the global level to assess progress. If current trends continue, the world is on track to meet only 17% of the environment-related SDGs.
UNEP has identified 92 environment related SDG Indicators. Of these 92, UNEP is the custodian agency for 25 SDG Indicators
Of the 92 environment-related SDGs indicators, 38% are Tier I (A methodology exists and data is available for more than half of countries), 37% Tier II (A methodology exists, but data are available for less than half of countries) and 25% Tier III (No methodology exists).
UN’s Environmental Events Calendar
UNEP thrives to build coordination in the environment field among UN organizations and stakeholders. The SDG and Environment Statistics Unit has the pleasure to present to you this collaborative tool. The objective of this tool is to share events that are happening, or will happen around us in regard to environmental capacity building, or specific environmental events. An additional objective is to ensure information sharing to promote, enhanced collaboration and avoid duplication of events. Use below link to access Calendar of Events:
UNEP’s Calendar of Events
Contact: unep-science-sdgs@un.org