Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
17 interlinked global goals set by the UN in 2015, aiming for a better and sustainable future.
How the laws define this
Both guidance documents agree that the Sustainable Development Goals are a set of 17 global goals established in 2015 through the United Nations to serve as a blueprint for achieving a better, more sustainable future by the year 2030 as part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. They concur on the UN origin and the 2030 target timeline for these interlinked objectives. The primary divergence lies in how the instruments connect these goals to practical policy and regional strategy. The instrument Seizing the opportunities of safe, secure and trustworthy artificial intelligence systems for sustainable development maintains a general definition focused on global sustainability. Conversely, the Continental Artificial Intelligence Strategy connects the global targets directly to regional policy, stating that the African Union AI Strategy aligns artificial intelligence development with these goals to ensure contributions to specific objective areas, namely poverty eradication, improved health, and quality education.
Synthesised from the 2 statutory definitions below. Each one is quoted in full, with its source.
Definitions (2)
A collection of 17 interlinked global goals designed to be a 'blueprint to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all.' The SDGs were set in 2015 by the United Nations General Assembly and are intended to be achieved by the year 2030.
The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals are a set of 17 global goals adopted by all UN Member States in 2015 as part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The African Union AI Strategy aligns with these goals, ensuring AI development contributes to global objectives like poverty eradication, improved health, and quality education.