Long, Graham --- "Underpinning commitments of the Sustainable Development Goals: indivisibility, universality, leaving no one behind" [2018] ELECD 519; in French, Duncan; Kotzé, J. Louis (eds), "Sustainable Development Goals" (Edward Elgar Publishing, 2018) 91

Book Title: Sustainable Development Goals

Editor(s): French, Duncan; Kotzé, J. Louis

Publisher: Edward Elgar Publishing

ISBN: 9781786438751

Section: Chapter 5

Section Title: Underpinning commitments of the Sustainable Development Goals: indivisibility, universality, leaving no one behind

Author(s): Long, Graham

Number of pages: 26

Abstract/Description:

Early academic analysis of the SDGs has focused on the goals and targets themselves. This chapter aims to broaden this focus by identifying three distinctive and significant normative commitments to be found within the goals but also beyond them, in the wider framework of ‘Agenda 2030’ and its institutions. These are (i) that the goals are universal, but should be differentiated in country contexts; (ii) that the goals and targets are interconnected and indivisible; and (iii) that ‘no one should be left behind’. This chapter outlines the content, context and import of these three principles, arguing for their importance in implementation and analysis of the goals.