Sustainable Development Goals and Australia
The "Sustainable Development Goals and Australia" describe how Australia participates in the Sustainable Development Goals process. The SDGs are a collection of 17 global goals designed to be a "blueprint to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all". The SDGs, set in 2015 by the United Nations General Assembly and intended to be achieved by the year 2030, are part of a UN Resolution called "The 2030 Agenda". The targets and indicators for the SDGs are included in the UN Resolution adopted by the General Assembly two years later on 6 July 2017.
The Commonwealth of Australia was one of the 193 countries that adopted the 2030 Agenda in September 2015. Implementation of the agenda is led by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet with different federal government agencies responsible for each of the goals.
In November 2020, the Transforming Australia: SDG Progress Report stated that while Australia was performing well in health and education it was falling behind in the reduction of emissions, waste and environmental degradation, and addressing economic inequality.
Australia is not on-track to achieve the SDGs by 2030. Four modelled scenarios based on different development approaches found that the 'Sustainability Transition' scenario could deliver "rapid and balanced progress of 70% towards SDG targets by 2020, well ahead of the business-as-usual scenario ". In 2020, Australia's overall performance in the SDG Index is ranked 37th out of 166 countries.
Background
Role in the SDGs creation
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade led Australia's contribution to the development of the 2030 Agenda, which comprises the SDGs and the Addis Ababa Action Agenda. In its 2015-2016 Annual Report, DFAT said its actions successfully ensured that Australia's national interest and existing aid, trade and foreign policy priorities, and those of its development partners, were reflected in the outcome. DFAT was active in securing standalone SDGs for economic growth, gender equality and peace and good governance. In doing so, helps strengthen "existing international frameworks, such as the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women".National co-ordination and governance
To co-ordinate Australia's domestic and international efforts to advance the 2030 Agenda, the Australian Government formed an Interdepartmental Committee of senior officials. Co-chaired by PM&C and the DFAT, the committee collaborates with domestic stakeholders to promote and monitor Australia's progress.Responsibility for each goal is allocated to an Australian Government agency and each department is responsible for making the latest available data on the SDG data platform.
| Goal | Lead Agency | Supporting agencies |
| SDG 1 | Social Services | PM&C; Australian Bureau of Statistics; Home Affairs |
| SDG 2 | Agriculture and Water Resources | Health |
| SDG 3 | Health | |
| SDG 4 | Education and Training | |
| SDG 5 | PM&C | DSS |
| SDG 6 | Agriculture and Water Resources | Environment and Energy |
| SDG 7 | Environment and Energy | Industry, Innovation and Science |
| SDG 8 | Treasury | Jobs and Small Business, ABS |
| SDG 9 | Infrastructure, Regional Development and Cities | Industry, Innovation and Science; Communications and the Arts |
| SDG 10 | Treasury | Social Services; Home Affairs |
| SDG 11 | Infrastructure, Regional Development and Cities | Communications and the Arts; Home Affairs |
| SDG 12 | Environment and Energy | Agriculture and Water Resources; Finance |
| SDG 13 | Environment and Energy | Home Affairs |
| SDG 14 | Environment and Energy | Agriculture and Water Resources; Home Affairs ; Infrastructure Regional Development and Cities |
| SDG 15 | Environment and Energy | Agriculture and Water Resources |
| SDG 16 | Attorney-General's Department | Defence |
| SDG 17 | DFAT | Treasury; AB |
Reporting platforms
National Government's Data Reporting Platform on the SDG indicators
In June 2018, the Australian Government launched a data platform to centralise its available datasets on SDG Indicators and provide a single point of access for anyone interested in SDG data.The platform was part of a comprehensive package of reporting on SDG progress that included the VNR and the Australian SDGs website.
In addition to providing the status of Australia's data collection against all 232 SDG indicators, as progress is made over time on identifying data-sets or the SDG indicators are refined, other datasets can be uploaded to the platform. It will also assist with streamlining SDG reporting for other purposes as it can interact with other reporting instruments like the Sendai Framework.
The "data community" was interested in seeing what actions the Australian Government has taken to plug existing data gaps to monitor progress on the SDGs. The launch of a new platform for SDG data, in addition to the VNR, was very welcome. The platform provides an incentive to improve its ability to report and by taking on this task in 'its own right', Australia "is best able to support neighbouring countries to meet their own data challenges".
National SDGs Website
In June 2018, the Global Compact Network Australia launched a website that allowed organisations to share their SDG aligned projects and activities in one location.The Australian SDGs website was part of a comprehensive package of reporting on SDG progress to the that included the VNR and the Australian Government's Data Reporting Platform on the SDGs Indicators.
With the support of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the site was developed in response to industry and key stakeholders keen to have a centralised platform where knowledge and examples of action could be shared openly. Any organisation can upload a SDG action or case-study and interact with others on the website. The platform includes a resources section, a news and events feature, additional information on what the SDGs are and their contact within the Australian market.
Before the Australian SDGs website, the GCNA had established an online Australian SDGs Hub for Business. The Hub explained the relevance of each of the 17 SDGs to Australian business practices, and suggests ways that companies could contribute to achieving the SDGs.
Performance
Voluntary National Reviews
Voluntary National Review in 2018
In July 2018, the Australian Government released its first Voluntary National Review of its SDG implementation to the UN High Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development. The VNR was part of a comprehensive package of reporting on SDG progress in that included the Australian Government's Data Reporting Platform on the SDGs Indicators and the Australian SDGs website.In the review's foreword, the Australian Prime Minister, Malcolm Turnbull said: "At the heart of the Goals is the belief in ‘a fair go for all’— nothing could be more Australian."
Australia chose to take a narrative, case-study style approach to show the SDGs are a part of government policy and services delivery, and its broad support in the Australian community.
On the SDGs Knowledge platform, Australia listed six key messages from its review.
- The SDGs reflect Australia’s values and belief in a ‘fair go’.
- This is a ‘whole of Australia’ endeavour, across the whole Agenda.
- Australia is committed to the 2030 Agenda.
- Australia's response to the SDGs is shaped by the environment, governance systems, institutions, economy and society.
- The SDGs contain long-standing, complex policy challenges with no simple solutions. They require a joint effort.
- Australia has substantial expertise, innovation and experience to share.
SDG Progress Reports
In November 2020, the Transforming Australia: SDG Progress Report stated that while Australia was performing well in health and education it was falling behind in the reduction of emissions, waste and environmental degradation, and addressing economic inequality.Of the 56 SDG indicators applied in the report, 12 were considered on track to meet the 2030 targets, 23 were determined to be off track, 11 required a breakthrough and 10 need to improve.
The 2020 report built on the targets and measures of progress developed in 2018, where that report scored Australia's overall performance at 6.5 out of 10 - an average of Australia's performance across all 17 goals.
SDG Index
In 2020, Australia's overall performance in the SDG Index is ranked 37th out of 166 countries.| Year | Ranking / No. of countries | Score | Reference |
| 2015 | Equal 18th /34 | 6.65 / 10 | |
| 2016 | 20/ 149 | 74.5 / 100 | |
| 2017 | 26 / 157 | 75.9 / 100 | |
| 2018 | 37 /156 | 72.9 / 100 | |
| 2019 | 38 / 162 | 73.9 / 100 | |
| 2020 | 37 / 166 | 74.9 / 100 |
| SDG | Status | SDG Trends |
| SDG 1 | Challenges remain | Moderately improving |
| SDG 2 | Major challenges | Moderately improving |
| SDG 3 | Achieved | On track and maintaining SDG achievement |
| SDG 4 | Challenges remain | Moderately improving |
| SDG 5 | Significant challenges | On track and maintaining SDG achievement |
| SDG 6 | Challenges remain | Moderately improving |
| SDG 7 | Major challenges | Moderately improving |
| SDG 8 | Significant challenges | On track and maintaining SDG achievement |
| SDG 9 | Significant challenges | Moderately improving |
| SDG 10 | Significant challenges | Stagnating |
| SDG 11 | Challenges remain | Stagnating |
| SDG 12 | Major challenges | Information unavailable |
| SDG 13 | Major challenges | Stagnating |
| SDG 14 | Significant challenges | Stagnating |
| SDG 15 | Significant challenges | Stagnating |
| SDG 16 | Challenges remain | Moderately improving |
| SDG 17 | Significant challenges | Stagnating |