No Poverty

Some 670 million people live in extreme poverty.45 Demographic and non-traditional data, combined with machine learning, can help to identify poverty risks and inform policy. Targeted nudges can promote financial inclusion in communities at risk, with particular benefits in lifting women out of poverty and into labour markets.

No Hunger

Around 900 million people are severely food-insecure.46 Satellite data on soil and weather conditions can help with picking better crops and improving harvests. Gender-sensitive data ensure the consideration of the needs of women, the largest category of subsistence farmers. Digital tools improve market access.

Good Health

Half of the world’s population has no access to basic health care.47 In remote communities, mobile apps can connect doctors to patients, and drones can support the delivery of blood transfusions and vaccines. Globally, artificial intelligence and genomic data can boost the discovery of new drugs.

Quality Education

Some 244 million children and young people are out of school.48 Digital platforms can offer accessible, inclusive and affordable learning. Insights into their job aspirations help to tailor content. Foresight of the future of work can help to reshape curricula.

Gender Equality

Gender equality remains distant. UN 2.0 approaches can help to address the scarcity of gender-disaggregated data; inclusion gaps in science, technology, engineering and mathematics education; divides and risks in digital spaces; lack of diversity in foresight and analysis; and social norms or behaviours according to which women are perceived as unequal.

Clean Water Sanitation

Approximately 2.2 billion people lack access to safe water.49 Internet of thingsbased sensors can enable quality and leakage monitoring in water systems. Innovations such as solar-powered water pumps or desalination can help to improve access in fragile settings.

Renewable Energy

Some 675 million people are not connected to the grid.50 Artificial intelligence-powered data models can forecast energy needs. Behavioural science can help to foster norms around energy conservation. Smart grids, with sensors, can enable predictive maintenance to reduce outages.

Good Jobs and Economic Growth

Around 60 per cent of the global workforce is hidden in informal sectors, including care work provided by women.51 Better data can help to value their contributions more accurately. Digital platforms can unlock access to formal markets and jobs and match suppliers with clients.

Industry Innovation and Infrastructure

Some 23 per cent of global emissions come from industry.52 New technologies, such as carbon capture and storage and electrification, as well as measures to optimize designs, can reduce the carbon footprint of steel and cement producers.

Reduced Inequalities

Sending remittances still costs more than twice the Sustainable Development Goal target of 3 per cent per $200.53 Better data can help users to compare prices. Better digital public infrastructure can lower costs. Behavioural science can help to optimize apps and prevent fraud.

Sustainable Cities and Communities

Approximately 1.1 billion people live in urban slums.54 Three-dimensional printing can enable rapid and cost-effective construction using sustainable materials. Foresight tools help to better plan city layouts to account for possible changes in climate – ensuring resilient housing infrastructure.

Responsible Consumption

At least 1 billion tons of food are wasted every year. 55 Internet-of-things sensors can provide real-time data on demand, reducing overproduction. Artificial intelligence predictions guide harvest planning. Gamification incentivizes waste reduction. Innovative packaging increases shelf life

Climate Action

At least 3.3 billion people live in contexts highly vulnerable to climate change.56 Foresight techniques can help with supporting communities threatened by rising sea levels, anticipating areas prone to flooding and adjusting land management and infrastructure accordingly.

Life Below Water

The ocean is 30 per cent more acidic today than in pre-industrial times.57 Remote sensing can monitor marine ecosystems and changes in temperature, acidity and biodiversity in real time. Innovative solutions, such as the large-scale cultivation of seaweeds, can help to mitigate acidification.

Life on Land

Around 100 million hectares of forest have been lost in the past 20 years.58 Satellite imagery and analytics can track changes in forest cover, wildlife populations and fragmentation – which, coupled with scenario analysis, can help to inform conservation action plans.

Peace and Justice

One in four children are unregistered at birth.59 Mobile registration systems can increase access. Predictive modelling can be used to anticipate unregistered populations. Behavioural nudges encourage registration. Biometrics assure identity, reducing exploitation risks.

Partnership for the Goal

Only 45 per cent of Sustainable Development Goal data series at the global level are complete.60 Clear dashboards with gender-disaggregated data can clarify Goal data gaps – informing priorities and resource mobilization. Digital platforms enable best-practice sharing and foster collaboration. Behavioural science helps with designing effective campaigns.