Measuring Progress Towards Sustainable Development Goals

This working paper by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) argues for a principles-based approach to developing Sustainable Development Goal Indicators (SDGIs) to accompany the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) mandated by the Rio+20 Conference. It emphasizes that the technical process for creating indicators should remain separate from the political goal-setting process to ensure scientific objectivity.

• The Rio+20 outcome document mandates that Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) be accompanied by targets and indicators that are applicable to both developed and developing countries, while remaining sensitive to national contexts.
• The author argues that the identification of SDGs should be based on a conceptual framework, relevant science, and common values rather than being driven by available data.
• To maintain objectivity and scientific credibility, the paper proposes that the development of Sustainable Development Goal Indicators (SDGIs) occur through an 'arms-length' institutional arrangement separate from the political SDG process, though the two should coordinate iteratively.
• The development of SDGIs faces several challenges: political complexity due to the inclusion of developed countries (unlike the Millennium Development Goals), conceptual fluidity regarding the definition of sustainable development, the scientific need to represent complex socio-ecological systems, and technical gaps in data quality and capacity, particularly in developing countries.
• The paper recommends using a principles-based approach for SDGI development, specifically suggesting the Bellagio Sustainability Assessment and Measurement Principles (BellagioSTAMP). These eight principles cover guiding vision, essential considerations, adequate scope, frameworks and indicators, transparency, effective communication, broad participation, and continuity and capacity.
• SDGIs should integrate both traditional statistical data and remote sensing data from Earth Observation programs to address existing data gaps.

APA

International Institute for Sustainable Development (n.d.). Measuring Progress Towards Sustainable Development Goals. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/measuring_progress_sus_dev_goals.pdf

Chicago

International Institute for Sustainable Development. Measuring Progress Towards Sustainable Development Goals. n.d. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/measuring_progress_sus_dev_goals.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=International Institute for Sustainable Development |title=Measuring Progress Towards Sustainable Development Goals |url=https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/measuring_progress_sus_dev_goals.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{internationalinstituteforsustainabledevelopmentndmeasuring, author = {{International Institute for Sustainable Development}}, title = {{Measuring Progress Towards Sustainable Development Goals}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, url = {https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/measuring_progress_sus_dev_goals.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }