What are the UN Sustainable Development Goals?

In 2015, the UN set an ambitious 15-year plan to achieve by 2030, which addresses some of the most pressing issues the world is facing.

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a call for action by all countries – poor, rich and middle-income – to promote prosperity while protecting the planet. They recognize that ending poverty must go hand-in-hand with strategies that build economic growth and address a range of social needs including education, health, social protection, and job opportunities, while tackling climate change and environmental protection.

What are the UN Sustainable Development Goals?

There is a strong relationship between the GSTC Criteria and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). By uptaking the GSTC Criteria, you are helping to meet the UN SDGs. Economic, environmental and societal dimensions are all addressed by the GSTC Criteria. Organizations and companies looking to contribute to the SDGs will find that the GSTC Criteria and other GSTC-Recognized Standards provide effective tools to help them rise to the challenge.

See each corresponding criterion of the GSTC Criteria and SDGs

Below you will find each corresponding criterion (GSTC Destination Criteria) to each SDG.

Also available is a list of corresponding SDGs to each criterion of the GSTC Destination Criteria.

B8 Support for community

B8 Support for community

B6 Tourism awareness and education

A8 Access for all

A10 Visitor satisfaction

B3 Public participation

B7 Preventing exploitation

C3 Visitor behavior

C4 Cultural heritage protection

A11 Sustainability standards

B8 Support for community

D1 Environmental risks

D6 Water Management

D7 Water security

D8 Water quality

D9 Wastewater

D10 Solid waste reduction

A1 Sustainable destination strategy

A9 Property acquisitions

B8 Support for community

C1 Attraction protection

C5 Site interpretation

D1 Environmental risks

D4 Greenhouse gas emissions

D5 Energy conservation

D6 Water Management

D7 Water security

D8 Water quality

A1 Sustainable destination strategy

A9 Property acquisitions

B8 Support for community

C1 Attraction protection

C5 Site interpretation

D1 Environmental risks

D4 Greenhouse gas emissions

D5 Energy conservation

D6 Water Management

D7 Water security

D8 Water quality

A1 Sustainable destination strategy

A2 Destination management organization

A5 Climate change adaptation

A6 Inventory of tourism assets and attractions

A9 Property acquisitions

A11 Sustainability standards

A13 Crisis and emergency management

B5 Local access

B8 Support for community

C1 Attraction protection

C4 Cultural heritage protection

C5 Site interpretation

D2 Protection of sensitive environments

D4 Greenhouse gas emissions

D5 Energy conservation

D10 Solid waste reduction

D11 Light and noise pollution

D12 Low-impact transportation

A8 Access for all

A10 Visitor satisfaction

B2 Local career opportunities

B3 Public participation

B5 Local access

B7 Preventing exploitation

C3 Visitor behavior

C4 Cultural heritage protection

A1 Sustainable destination strategy

A5 Climate change adaptation

A6 Inventory of tourism assets and attractions

A9 Property acquisitions

A11 Sustainability standards

B1 Economic monitoring

B8 Support for community

C1 Attraction protection

C5 Site interpretation

D1 Environmental risks

D2 Protection of sensitive environments

D4 Greenhouse gas emissions

D5 Energy conservation

D9 Wastewater

D10 Solid waste reduction

D11 Light and noise pollution

D12 Low-impact transportation

A2 Destination management organization

A3 Monitoring

A10 Visitor satisfaction

A11 Sustainability standard

A14 Promotion

B4 Local community opinion

B5 Local access

B9 Supporting local entrepreneurs and fair trade

C1 Attraction protection

C2 Visitor management

C3 Visitor behavior

C4 Cultural heritage protection

C5 Site interpretation

C6 Intellectual property

D2 Protection of sensitive environments

D3 Wildlife protection

D9 Wastewater

D10 Solid waste reduction

D11 Light and noise pollution

A4 Tourism seasonality management

A5 Climate change adaptation

A1 Sustainable destination strategy

A6 Inventory of tourism assets and attractions

A11 Sustainability standards

C1 Attraction protection

C2 Visitor management

C3 Visitor behavior

D1 Environmental risks

D2 Protection of sensitive environments

D3 Wildlife protection

D6 Water Management

D7 Water security

D8 Water quality

D9 Wastewater

D10 Solid waste reduction

A1 Sustainable destination strategy

A6 Inventory of tourism assets and attractions

A11 Sustainability standards

C1 Attraction protection

C2 Visitor management

C3 Visitor behavior

D1 Environmental risks

D2 Protection of sensitive environments

D3 Wildlife protection

D6 Water Management

D10 Solid waste reduction

D12 Low-impact transportation

A8 Access for all

A12 Safety and security

A13 Crisis and emergency management

B6 Tourism awareness and education

B7 Preventing exploitation

A2 Destination management organization

A7 Planning Regulations

B6 Tourism awareness and education