Primer on the Sustainable Development Goals Summary Booklet

This United Nations Sustainable Development Group booklet introduces the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It explains the principles underpinning the Agenda, including universality, integration and the commitment to leave no one behind.

The booklet presents sustainable development as an interconnected challenge requiring coordinated action across economic, social and environmental dimensions. It highlights the relationships between poverty, inequality, health, education, climate change, environmental protection and institutional cooperation.

Developed as a summary of the United Nations' foundational SDG primer, the resource provides an accessible introduction to the Agenda's purpose and the importance of collaboration between governments, organisations and wider society. It supports understanding of how the SDGs provide a shared framework for addressing global challenges and informing sustainable development policies and practices.

Access requirements: Free, publicly accessible PDF. No registration, login or payment required. Available in English and French.

Citation: United Nations Sustainable Development Group. Primer on the Sustainable Development Goals: A Basic Guide to the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs. New York: United Nations Sustainable Development Group; 2020. Available from: https://unsdg.un.org/resources/primer-sustainable-development-goals-summary-booklet