The 2030 Agenda, with its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), 169 targets, and 232 indicators, agreed by all countries, are intended to “transform the world”. This report examines the ability of the SDGs to actually trigger this transformation and to suggest some key actions to make the SDGs more transformative.

Despite considerable hope and enthusiasm raised by the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and some quick initial efforts, many governments and stakeholders are uncertain about how to proceed concretely.

This briefing note examines the implications of the Asia-Pacific Ministerial Summit on the Environment (the Summit) held in Bangkok, Thailand, on 5-8 September 2017 on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), air pollution, and resource efficiency.