In 2015, all member states of the United Nations adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its seventeen Sustainable Development Goals, ranging from ending poverty and hunger to climate action and strong institutions.
For Model UN, the goals are unusually good material. They come with agreed targets and published indicators, which means delegates can argue from evidence rather than impression.
Shared goals, different priorities
Agreement on the destination does not mean agreement on the route. Delegations differ on financing, on how to balance growth with emissions, and on who should bear the costs. Those differences are exactly what a committee needs.
Research that rewards depth
Progress on each goal is reported regularly, country by country. A delegate who knows how their own country is tracking on the relevant targets arrives with something concrete to offer — and something to defend.
The UN’s own Sustainable Development Goals site (opens in a new tab) is the best starting point for any topic built around the goals.
