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The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Ranked by Difficulty to Accomplish

Updated: Jun 30

The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a set of 17 global objectives established to address urgent environmental, political, and economic challenges by 2030. They were officially adopted by all UN member states in September 2015 as part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, following years of negotiation and groundwork laid at the 2012 UN Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20)(2,4,6,8).


The 17 SDGs

Goal Number

Goal Name

1

No Poverty

2

Zero Hunger

3

Good Health and Well-being

4

Quality Education

5

Gender Equality

6

Clean Water and Sanitation

7

Affordable and Clean Energy

8

Decent Work and Economic Growth

9

Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

10

Reduced Inequalities

11

Sustainable Cities and Communities

12

Responsible Consumption and Production

13

Climate Action

14

Life Below Water

15

Life on Land

16

Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions

17

Partnerships for the Goals

History and Conception

  • Origins: The SDGs build on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), which ran from 2000 to 2015 and focused mainly on poverty, health, and education in developing countries.


  • Development: The SDGs were conceived at the 2012 Rio+20 Conference, with input from an open working group of 70 countries, civil society, and experts, making them more inclusive and comprehensive than the MDGs.


  • Adoption: Officially adopted in 2015 by 193 UN member states, the SDGs include 169 specific targets and 232 indicators to track progress (2,4,6,8).

Ranking the SDGs by Difficulty (Easiest to Hardest)

While all SDGs are ambitious, their difficulty varies due to differing technical, political, and economic barriers. Based on global progress and expert analysis, a general ranking (from relatively easier to most difficult) is as follows:


  1. Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure (Goal 9)

  2. Clean Water and Sanitation (Goal 6)

  3. Quality Education (Goal 4)

  4. Good Health and Well-being (Goal 3)

  5. Affordable and Clean Energy (Goal 7)

  6. Sustainable Cities and Communities (Goal 11)

  7. Decent Work and Economic Growth (Goal 8)

  8. Reduced Inequalities (Goal 10)

  9. No Poverty (Goal 1)

  10. Zero Hunger (Goal 2)

  11. Gender Equality (Goal 5)

  12. Responsible Consumption and Production (Goal 12)

  13. Climate Action (Goal 13)

  14. Life Below Water (Goal 14)

  15. Life on Land (Goal 15)

  16. Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions (Goal 16)

  17. Partnerships for the Goals (Goal 17)


Note: This ranking is based on the complexity of the issues, the level of international coordination required, and current progress. For example, climate action, peace and justice, and responsible consumption are among the most difficult due to entrenched economic systems, political conflict, and global coordination challenges (3,4,7).


Barriers to Achieving the SDGs

  • Financial Constraints: Many developing countries face high debt burdens, spending more on debt servicing than on health, education, or social protection1.

  • Political Will: "Development fatigue" among donor countries and lack of political commitment slow progress and implementation1.

  • Data Gaps: Many countries lack the capacity to report progress on all SDGs, making monitoring and targeted intervention difficult5.

  • Conflicting Economic Systems: Current global production and consumption patterns often conflict with climate and sustainability goals3.

  • Global Crises: COVID-19, armed conflict, food insecurity, and inflation have reversed progress on several goals, especially poverty and hunger (1,3).


Solutions to Improve Achievability

  • Reform International Financial Systems: Reduce borrowing costs, restructure debt, and allocate new financial resources (e.g., Special Drawing Rights) to developing countries (1).

  • Enhanced Data Collection: Invest in statistical capacity to monitor progress and identify gaps (5).

  • Systemic and Regional Approaches: Tailor strategies to regional contexts and recognize synergies and trade-offs among goals (3).

  • Strengthen Partnerships: Foster collaboration among governments, civil society, and the private sector to mobilize resources and expertise (4).

  • Policy Integration: Align national policies with SDG targets and integrate them into development planning (3).


Progress Towards the SDGs

  • No country is on track to meet all 17 SDGs by 2030 (3).

  • On average, countries have reported data on only about 55% of SDG indicators (5).

  • Progress varies by goal and region: For example, African and Asian countries show better progress on climate action and responsible consumption but lag on poverty, health, and gender equality (3).

  • Some goals, such as poverty eradication and zero hunger, have seen reversals in progress due to recent global crises (1,3).


Estimated Overall Progress: While precise percentages vary by goal and country, many analyses suggest that, globally, progress is less than 50% towards achieving the SDGs by 2030, with some goals (like climate action) even regressing (3,7).


Why Some Countries Aren't Committed

  • Resource Limitations: Developing countries often lack the financial and institutional capacity to implement SDG targets (1).

  • Political Priorities: Domestic priorities may not align with SDG targets, especially in times of crisis or political instability (1,3).

  • Lack of Data and Monitoring: Inadequate data prevents effective planning and accountability (5).

  • Development Fatigue: Donor countries may reduce support due to competing priorities or economic challenges (1).


In summary: The SDGs represent an ambitious, universal agenda, but progress is uneven and hampered by financial, political, and systemic barriers. Achieving them requires urgent reforms, increased investment, better data, and stronger international cooperation (1,3,4,5,6,8).


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