Global Goals That Work

Over the last decade, there has been a proliferation of sustainability indexes and frameworks. This report attempts to bring greater alignment between actors and better ways to measure progress using our planet's health and people's well-being as the yardstick, rather than Gross Domestic Product (GDP) or profit alone. Read the report to learn how sustainability is measured at government, business, and societal levels, and how it can be aligned to the triple bottom line (people, planet, profit) and the SDGs.

Next steps

The Measure What Matters partnership will continue its work to promote coherent deployment, development, alignment and adoption of the SDGs. We invite you to join us.

  • The GEC is committed to forging even stronger connections between 'the what of goals and their measurement'; and 'the how of green economy policy and practice', piloting this initially, in seven countries. We shall work to increase the links between SDGs and the 'capitals framework', working closely with accountancy professions, the UN, and trailblazing governments.
  •  A4S is working with the finance and accounting community around the world to support the integration of sustainable development into decision making by companies, governments, and investors. Members of its Accounting Bodies Network, who collectively represent over two thirds of the world's accountants, are undertaking outreach activities to build awareness of the Global Goals. Members of the CFO Leadership Network are developing practical toolkits and guidance that enables opportunities and risks represented by the SDGs to be incorporated into finance function activities. We will continue to bring together leaders from public and private sectors to share insights, build alignment and create practical solutions.
  • SEI is a founding member of the Independent Research Forum (www.irf2015.org) and has been active in the consultations leading up to the Global Goals framework.
    As an institute, we are committed to developing tools, frameworks, and critical analysis which respond to leading research and policy questions around the implementation, governance, and measurement of the Global Goals. We will continue to bridge science and policy around the challenges and opportunities the Global Goals pose to national government, business, and civil society, and where possible offer new avenues for decision-making which guarantee a sustainable future for all.

"Arguably the biggest transformative intervention to secure the future we want is to redefine the purpose of our economies - and hardwire this purpose into government and market performance systems. Measure what matters is our contribution to this challenge".

Oliver Greenfield, Convenor of the Green Economy Coalition.

  • GRI's vision is to create a future where sustainability is integral to every organization's decision-making process. GRI is committed to help companies enhance their contribution to sustainable development and offers the GRI standards for both companies and governments to understand and capture private sector contribution to sustainable development.
  • After 43 years of working on sustainable development, MED has a strong appetite to work on a clear universal language that connects stakeholders in a common purpose. IIED will take the thinking forward through its project and country work with our southern partners including: WAVES work on natural capital accounting; in-country green economy diagnosis and planning; and pro-poor environmental and climate mainstreaming in development plans and budgets.