Finland ranks top in implementing SDGs

Finland has been ranked number one in an international comparison of sustainable development, according to a report published on Monday by the UN and the Bertelsmann Foundation.

The comparison assesses countries’ progress on implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its Sustainable Development Goals.

Sweden ranked second in the list followed by Denmark, Germany, Belgium, Austria, Norway, France, Slovenia and Estonia.

Central African Republic was at the bottom in the list of 165 countries followed by South Sudan, Chand, Somalia, Liberia and Nigeria.

According to the ranking, Finland has achieved or is close to achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals related to poverty alleviation, health, education, water, energy, reducing inequality, peace, and the rule of law.

Finland’s greatest challenges are related to the fight against climate change, the need for more sustainable consumption and production patterns and halting biodiversity loss.

The Sustainable Development Report (formerly the SDG Index & Dashboards) is a global assessment of countries' progress towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. It is a complement to the official SDG indicators and the voluntary national reviews

Prime Minister Sanna Marin, who also chairs the Finnish National Commission on Sustainable Development, emphasised that Finland’s first place ranking is the result of long-term work and the contribution of all of Finnish society.

“Credit for this recognition is due to all Finns, who work persistently to build a more sustainable society. We are proud of our ranking, but we still have a lot to do in order to achieve all of the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. The most crucial thing now is figuring out how we can safeguard our wellbeing within the limits of our planet’s carrying capacity in the future,” said Marin.