Sustainable development

2030 Agenda

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is a global development framework adopted by World Leaders at the UN Sustainable Development Summit in September 2015. It comprises the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) which apply to all countries in order to mobilise efforts to end poverty, fight inequalities, and tackle climate change.

Our approach to the SDGs

Singapore supports the 2030 Agenda. As a small country with limited land and no natural resources, Singapore understands the challenges of sustainable development well. This is why we participated actively in the negotiations on the 2030 Agenda and continue to support efforts to implement and achieve the SDGs globally.

We also believe that the SDGs should focus on bringing concrete and substantive improvements, and that countries should be free to pursue the goals in whatever manner they choose, in accordance with their national circumstances and priorities. Despite the current challenges posed by COVID-19, we have redoubled efforts to achieve the SDGs by seizing this opportunity to pursue an inclusive and sustainable recovery.

Singapore's contribution to the SDGs

Singapore has been sharing our experience on sustainable development with fellow developing countries through technical assistance under the Singapore Cooperation Programme (SCP), which was established in 1992. Close to 150,000 officials from over 180 countries and territories have participated in SCP courses in areas such as water and sanitation (SDG 6), sustainable cities (SDG 11), and climate action (SDG 13). Nonetheless, the unprecedented scale and ambition of the 2030 Agenda requires renewed commitment and enhanced partnership from all stakeholders. Additionally, the COVID-19 pandemic threatens to stall or even reverse progress on the SDGs. Singapore and other countries will need to work together to intensify efforts as we embark on this Decade of Action.

Singapore undertook our first Voluntary National Review (VNR) of the SDGs at the 2018 UN High-Level Political Forum in July. More information on our SDG efforts and our first VNR can be found on the official UN SDGs website.

To track our progress in achieving the SDGs, the Singapore Department of Statistics (DOS) launched an SDG webpage in September 2019. Most recently, we have also collaborated with fellow ASEAN Member States through the ASEAN Community Statistical System’s Working Group on SDG Indicators to develop ASEAN-specific indicators in order to better track progress at the regional level.