In September 2015, Canada and all United Nations Member States adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (the 2030 Agenda), a shared blueprint for partnership, peace and prosperity for all people and the planet, now and into the future. The 2030 Agenda focuses on the commitment to leave no one behind. At the heart of this agenda lies the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that aim to address today’s social, economic and environmental challenges. These goals recognize that ending poverty must go hand in hand with strategies that improve health and education, reduce inequality and spur economic growth—all while tackling climate change and working to protect and preserve the environment.

The 2030 Agenda is universal in nature and applicable to every country; the 2030 Agenda and its SDGs are as relevant in Canada as everywhere else in the world.

The 2030 Agenda is ambitious and aspirational. It acknowledges the requirement to move beyond conventional actions to seek transformative solutions.

The SDGs are interlinked and indivisible. The achievement of any goal is linked to the achievement of others.

The 2030 Agenda can only be achieved when no one is left behind ensuring that every person can participate in, contribute to and benefit from sustainable development.