The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development
Italy has made a significant contribution to shaping the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development within the framework of UN negotiations. This ambitious plan aims to eradicate poverty and promote economic prosperity, social development, and environmental protection on a global scale.
“We are determined to free humanity from the tyranny of poverty and want to heal and secure our planet for present and future generations. We are committed to taking bold and transformative steps, both urgent and necessary, to put the world on a more sustainable and resilient path. As we embark on this shared journey, we pledge that no one will be left behind.” This is the commitment that our country, alongside other UN member states, undertook in the preamble of the Declaration “Transforming Our World: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.”
The 2030 Agenda is a universal action plan built around five core principles—People, Planet, Prosperity, Peace, and Partnerships—with the goal of eradicating poverty by promoting economic, social, and environmental integration and strengthening governance for international development. All UN member states have committed to this shared development path, based on the principle that no one should be left behind.
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) aim to transform the relationship between society, production systems, and the environment at both national and global levels, with particular attention to policy coherence and coordinated actions across different levels.
Although not legally binding, the 2030 Agenda represents a major universal political commitment by all UN member states to pursue the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) defined through 169 targets to be achieved via national programs and international cooperation. The SDGs seek to overcome structural barriers to global development, including inequality, unsustainable production and consumption systems, inadequate infrastructure, lack of decent work, climate change, and loss of ecosystems and biodiversity.
The 169 targets of the 2030 Agenda are monitored through approximately 234 global indicators, developed by the UN Statistical Commission in collaboration with a dedicated expert group, the Inter-Agency and Expert Group on Sustainable Development Goal Indicators (IAEG-SDGs). A comprehensive review of the global indicator framework began in 2024 to improve progress measurement at both national and global levels. More effective monitoring through updated indicators will enable more targeted and evidence-based public policy interventions during the 2026–2030 cycle.
Progress in implementing the 2030 Agenda is verified and monitored at national, regional, and global levels by a wide range of actors, including governments, parliaments, civil society organizations (CSOs), academic institutions, and the private sector. At the national level, the National Council for Development Cooperation (CNCS) plays a key role in monitoring and verifying the application of the SDGs in development cooperation.
The United Nations High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) is responsible for monitoring and reviewing the implementation of the 2030 Agenda globally. It conducts regular in-depth analyses of progress toward achieving the SDGs, based on Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs) through which countries present their results.
Italy actively participates in ongoing processes within the UN system aimed at reforming operational methods to enhance effectiveness and accelerate the implementation of the 2030 Agenda.
Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development
From June 30 to July 3, 2025, the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development took place, during which 130 initiatives were announced to translate the Seville Commitment into action. These initiatives include concrete measures aimed at stimulating investment in sustainable development, addressing the debt crisis affecting many of the world’s poorest countries, and giving developing nations a stronger voice in the international financial architecture.
The Seville Commitment, unanimously adopted at the start of the Conference, outlines a roadmap to bridge the $4 trillion annual financing gap for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in developing countries. It is the first intergovernmental agreed framework for development financing since the 2015 Addis Ababa Action Agenda.
The Seville Commitment focuses on three key areas:
- Catalyzing large-scale investments for sustainable development;
- Addressing the debt and development crisis;
- Reforming the international financial architecture.
Italy participated in the conference, reaffirming its commitment to a more equitable global financial system aligned with the SDGs. Drawing on its experience from recent G7 and G20 presidencies, Italy emphasized the impact that public resources can have in driving sustainable development, serving as a lever to attract private investment through equal and integrated partnerships.
Italy highlighted the need to strengthen capacity-building in development finance to help partner countries mobilize increasing domestic resources. This approach aims to foster greater autonomy and effectiveness in designing and implementing financing strategies for development goals, contributing to sustainable and self-driven growth.
In this context, Italy launched an international Call to Action in Seville to promote the systematic integration of professional capacity-building activities for public administrations within multilateral and bilateral development cooperation initiatives. The Call also seeks to enhance international coordination. Presented in collaboration with Kenya, the initiative received strong support and was co-sponsored by ten other countries (Barbados, Canada, South Korea, Egypt, Indonesia, Mexico, Norway, Spain, South Africa, and Uruguay) and five international organizations (Finance in Common Summit, UNDP, UN ECLAC, UNOSSC, and AUDA-NEPAD).
The Conference also served as a key moment to present Italy’s Debt Relief for Africa initiative for 15 African countries. Announced by Prime Minister Meloni during the Mattei Plan and Global Gateway Conference, and included in the Seville Platform for Action, the initiative responds to the growing risk of unsustainable debt in many African nations. It proposes converting debt obligations from 2026 to 2035 into local development programs. For low-income countries (LDCs), the conversion will be total (100%), while for middle-income countries, it will be 50%.