The SDGs and related MEAs provide a long-term vision for sustainable development to influence policies at the global, regional, national and local levels. This chapter makes a selection of SDG targets, linked to targets from related MEAs and the scientific literature (science-based targets) where relevant, accompanied by clear indicators and quantitative target values, at the global level. The resulting target set provides an integrated perspective on the environmental dimension of the SDGs, focusing on the GEO-6 environmental themes in Part A (air, biodiversity, oceans, land and fresh water) and related multidimensional poverty (access to food, water and energy, and under-five mortality). Unlike the SDGs and related MEAs, the science-based targets selected when there are no globally agreed quantitative targets - are not politically
endorsed. They provide a proxy for the related SDG ambitions. Finally, for some selected targets no quantitative globally agreed or science-based target is currently available.
The selection of targets is analysed further in subsequent chapters: Chapter 21 discusses the implementation gap if no new policies are formulated, and Chapter 22 discusses pathways towards achieving the targets, including relevant interrelations (synergies and trade-offs) between different measures and targets. The two chapters do not address regional, national or local differences in developments for these targets and the implementation of measures for achieving them. Chapter 23 discusses implementation from a bottom-up perspective, thereby explicitly taking into account the local situation, different actors and cultural perspectives.