The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), also known as the Global Goals, are a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure that all people enjoy peace and prosperity.

There are 17 Goals that are an internationally agreed set of goals focusing on elements of sustainable development. Each government has signed up to, and are responsible for, taking action to achieve them both nationally and internationally.  Each month we be canvassed the views of students on a number of issues related to each goal as well as tracking opinions on the most pressing issues linked to the goals facing the UK and the world today.

We found...

• Between January 2018 and February 2019 awareness of the SDGs significantly increased from 28% to 34%
• So too did the desire to learn more about the SDGs, from 61% in January 2018 to 70% in February 2019, after respondents were introduced to the SDGs during the survey
• The UK government was most commonly identified as needing to actively lead and support achievement of the SDGs
• Goal 13, climate action, is seen as the most important goal, and climate change is reported as being the most important issue facing the world today
• Inequality (in terms of income and discrimination) is the most important issue facing the UK today.  Government accountability and transparency, a lack of healthcare services and a lack of economic opportunity and employment make up the top three most important issues across the 18 months of research

Read the full report to find out student perspectives on each of the 17 goals.