United Nations 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals

From: Employment and Social Development Canada

In 2015, all United Nations member states came together and adopted Transforming Our World: The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. At its heart are 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that encompass the social, economic, and environmental challenges of today.

Below are some examples of how programs and initiatives at Employment and Social Development Canada support or contribute to advancing specific global and domestic targets or ambitions.

UN Sustainable Development Goal 1: End poverty in all its forms everywhere

Planned initiative: Opportunity for All: Canada’s First Poverty Reduction Strategy

Global or domestic targets and/or global or domestic indicators: This poverty reduction strategy contributes to:

• Global target 1.2: By 2030, reduce at least by half the proportion of men, women, and children of all ages living in poverty in all its dimensions according to national definition
• Canadian Indicator Framework target: “50% reduction in the poverty rate for 2015, by 2030”

Planned initiative: Old Age Security

Global or domestic targets and/or global or domestic indicators: The Old Age Security program contributes to:

• Global target 1.2: “By 2030, reduce at least by half the proportion of men, women and children of all ages living in poverty in all its dimensions according to national definitions”
• Global target 1.3: “Implement nationally appropriate social protection systems and measures for all, including floors, and by 2030 achieve substantial coverage of the poor and the vulnerable”
• Canadian Indicator Framework target “50% reduction in the poverty rate for 2015 by 2030”

UN Sustainable Development Goal 4: Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all

Planned initiatives: Canada Student Loan Program and Canada Apprentice Loan

Global or domestic targets and/or global or domestic indicators: The Canada Student Loans Program and the Canada Apprentice Loan contribute to:

• Global target 4.3: “By 2030, ensure equal access for all women and men to affordable and quality technical, vocational and tertiary education, including university.”
• Global target 4.4: “By 2030, substantially increase the number of youth and adults who have relevant skills, including technical and vocational skills, for employment, decent jobs and entrepreneurship.”
• The Canada Student Loan Program also contributes to Canadian Indicator Framework ambition: “Canadians have access to inclusive and quality education throughout their lives”.

Planned initiatives: Early Learning and Child Care and Indigenous Early Learning and Child Care

Global or domestic targets and/or global or domestic indicators: The Early Learning and Child Care and Indigenous Early Learning and Child Care initiatives contribute to:

• Global target 4.2: “By 2030, ensure that all girls and boys have access to quality early childhood development, care and pre-primary education so that they are ready for primary education”

Planned initiative: Sectoral Initiatives

Global or domestic targets and/or global or domestic indicators: Sectoral Initiatives contribute to:

• Global target 4.4: “By 2030, substantially increase the number of youth and adults who have relevant skills, including technical and vocational skills, for employment, decent jobs and entrepreneurship.”

Planned initiative: Canada Education Savings Program

Global or domestic targets and/or global or domestic indicators: Canada Education Saving Program contribute to:

• Global target 4.3: “By 2030, ensure equal access for all women and men to affordable and quality technical, vocational and tertiary education, including university.”

Planned initiative: Supports for Student Learning Program

Global or domestic targets and/or global or domestic indicators: Supports for Student Learning Program contribute to:

• Global target 4.5: “By 2030, eliminate gender disparities in education and ensure equal access to all levels of education and vocational training for the vulnerable, including persons with disabilities, Indigenous peoples and children in vulnerable situations.”

UN Sustainable Development Goal 5: Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls

Planned initiatives: Employment Insurance parental and caregiving benefits

Global or domestic targets and/or global or domestic indicators: These programs contribute to the following:

• Global target 5.4: “Recognize and value unpaid care and domestic work through the provision of public services, infrastructure and social protection policies and the promotion of shared responsibility within the household and the family as nationally appropriate”
• Canadian Indicator Framework ambition: “Canadians share responsibilities within households and families”

UN Sustainable Development Goal 8: Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all

Planned initiative: Youth Employment and Skills Strategy

Global or domestic targets and/or global or domestic indicators: This strategy contributes to:

• Global target 8.6: By 2030, substantially reduce the proportion of youth not in employment, education or training
• Canadian Indicator Framework ambition: “Canadians have access to quality jobs”

Planned initiatives: Opportunities Fund for Persons with Disabilities

Global or domestic targets and/or global or domestic indicators: The Opportunities Fund contributes to:

• Global target 8.5: “By 2030, achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all women and men, including for young people and persons with disabilities, and equal pay for work of equal value”
• Canadian Indicator Framework ambition: “Canadians have access to quality jobs”

Planned initiative: Canada Service Corps

Global or domestic targets and/or global or domestic indicators: Canada Service Corps contribute to:

• Global target 8.5: “By 2030, achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all women and men, including for young people and persons with disabilities, and equal pay for work of equal value”
• Global target 8.6: “By 2030, substantially reduce the proportion of youth not in employment, education or training”
• Canadian Indicator Framework: “Proportion of youth (aged 18 to 24 years) not in education, employment or training” and associated target: “Reduced by 15% the number of low-skilled Canadian youth Not in Employment and Education of Training (NEETs) by the year 2025”

Planned initiative: Apprenticeship Incentive Grant for Women

Global or domestic targets and/or global or domestic indicators: This grant contributes to:

• Global target 8.5: “By 2030, achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all women and men, including for young people and persons with disabilities, and equal pay for work of equal value”
• Canadian Indicator Framework ambition: “Canadians have access to quality jobs”

UN Sustainable Development Goal 10: Reduce inequality within and among countries

Planned initiatives: Enabling Accessibility Fund and Indigenous Skills and Employment Training

Global or domestic targets and/or global or domestic indicators:

• These initiatives contribute to global target 10.2: “By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status”

UN Sustainable Development Goal 11: Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable

Planned initiative: Reaching Home: Canada’s Homelessness Strategy

Global or domestic targets and/or global or domestic indicators: This Strategy contributes to:

• Global target 11.1:“By 2030, ensure access for all to adequate, safe and affordable housing and basic services and upgrade slums”
• Canadian Indicator Framework target: Reduce chronic homelessness by 50% by fiscal year 2027 to 2028

UN Sustainable Development Goal 16: Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development. Provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels

Planned initiative:Government of Canada’s Internet presence

Global or domestic targets and/or global or domestic indicators: This work contributes to:

• Global target 16.6: “Develop effective, accountable and transparent institutions at all levels”
• Global target 16.10: “Ensure public access to information and protect fundamental freedoms, in accordance with national legislation and international agreements”
• Canadian Indicator Framework ambition: “Canadians are supported by effective, accountable, and transparent institutions”