At the Sustainable Development Summit on 25 September, 2015, UN Member States adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, including a set of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), otherwise known as the Global Goals. The SDGs are a new, universal set of goals, targets and indicators that UN Member States are expected to use to frame their agendas and political policies over the next 15 years.
The SDGs follow and expand on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), which were agreed by governments in 2001 and expire at the end of 2015. The SDGs will now finish the job of the MDGs, and ensure that no one is left behind.
The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), as a specialized agency of the UN that promotes industrial development for poverty reduction, inclusive globalization and environmental sustainability, is determined to take its part in facilitating with the successful implementation of the SDGs in the globe.
The mandate of the Organization, as described in the Lima Declaration adopted at the fifteenth session of the UNIDO General Conference in 2013, is to promote and accelerate inclusive and sustainable industrial development (ISID) to achieve shared prosperity and environmental sustainability around the world. The concept of ISID is included in the Sustainable Development Goals, namely Goal 9: Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation.
The targets of Goal 9 include:
• Develop quality, reliable, sustainable and resilient infrastructure, including regional and transborder infrastructure, to support economic development and human well-being, with a focus on affordable and equitable access for all
• Promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and, by 2030, significantly raise industry’s share of employment and gross domestic product, in line with national circumstances, and double its share in least developed countries
• Increase the access of small-scale industrial and other enterprises, in particular in developing countries, to financial services, including affordable credit, and their integration into value chains and markets
• By 2030, upgrade infrastructure and retrofit industries to make them sustainable, with increased resource-use efficiency and greater adoption of clean and environmentally sound technologies and industrial processes, with all countries taking action in accordance with their respective capabilities
• Enhance scientific research, upgrade the technological capabilities of industrial sectors in all countries, in particular developing countries, including, by 2030, encouraging innovation and substantially increasing the number of research and development workers per 1 million people and public and private research and development spending
• Facilitate sustainable and resilient infrastructure development in developing countries through enhanced financial, technological and technical support to African countries, least developed countries, landlocked developing countries and small island developing states
• Support domestic technology development, research and innovation in developing countries, including by ensuring a conducive policy environment for, inter alia, industrial diversification and value addition to commodities
• Significantly increase access to information and communications technology and strive to provide universal and affordable access to the Internet in least developed countries by 2020
UNIDO’s mission echoes SDG-9, but also aligns with all other development goals, including those related to poverty eradication, creating full and productive employment, protecting the environment, achieving gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls, etc.
Download UNIDO brochure: The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development: Achieving the industry-related goals and targets