Read more about Australia's commitment to Sustainable Development in the 2017 Foreign Policy White Paper

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is made up of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) – a roadmap for global development efforts to 2030 and beyond and the Addis Ababa Action Agenda on Financing for Development – a global plan for financing the Sustainable Development Goals.

While non-binding, the 2030 Agenda will be highly influential, shaping development cooperation and finance flows from a range of sources, including nation states, multilateral organisations, the private sector and philanthropic entities.

Australia and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development

On 25 September 2015 the Hon Julie Bishop MP, Minister for Foreign Affairs, joined 193 Leaders and Ministers from across the globe at the United Nations in New York, to welcome and endorse the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (the 2030 Agenda). Australia actively participated in international discussions to design the 2030 Agenda and supported the involvement of all development actors, including civil society organisations, the private sector, philanthropic organisations and academia.

The 2030 Agenda is both a domestic and international agenda. It is well-aligned with Australia's foreign, security, development and trade interests - especially in promoting regional stability, security and economic prosperity. It also helps Australia in advocating for a strong focus on economic growth and development in the Indo-Pacific region and in promoting gender equality, governance and strengthening tax systems.

Australia will deliver its first Voluntary National Review (VNR) on the 2030 Agenda at the UN High Level Political Forum (HLPF) in July 2018.

• More information on Australia's Voluntary National Review
• More information on business and the 2030 Agenda
• More information on civil society and the 2030 Agenda

Closing data gaps

The 2030 Agenda cannot be achieved without good data on the problems we face and the effectiveness of our actions. Without good gender data, for example, it is difficult to devise policy and programs that respond to the differential experiences of men's and women's lives.

Australia is supporting a number of initiatives to close data gaps. The Individual Deprivation Measure (IDM) is an individual, gender-sensitive and multi-dimensional measure of poverty. The kNOwVAWdata program aims to strengthen regional and national capacities to measure violence against women in Asia and the Pacific, in line with existing global methodological, ethical and safety standards. The UN Women's flagship program – Making Every Woman and Girl Count – will support the monitoring and implementation of the SDGs through better production and use of gender statistics.

Find out more about THE 17 GOALS.