The UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) came into force at the start of 2016. The Sustainable Development Goals are 17 overarching sustainability that apply to all countries, with the aims of ending poverty, protecting the planet and ensuring prosperity for all by 2030 as part of a new sustainable development agenda. The SDGs cover key challenges including climate change, environmental degradation, and socio-economic issues including health and wellbeing, inequality, and justice. The ultimate aim is to realise a better, more sustainable world.

Alongside the wider family of BREEAM standards, BREEAM Infrastructure (formerly CEEQUAL) supports the SDGs, providing guidance and incentives for organisations to contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals. Indeed, as part of its mission to deliver better outcomes in infrastructure and engineering sustainability, BREEAM Infrastructure is well placed to provide strategic support to the SDGs and sustainable development agenda.

Explore the interactive graphic below to discover how BREEAM Infrastructure aligns with the SDGs.

 

 

 

Goal 1: End poverty in all its forms everywhere

 

Target 1.4 By 2030, ensure that all men and women, in particular the poor and the vulnerable, have equal rights to economic resources, as well as access to basic services, ownership and control over land and other forms of property, inheritance, natural resources, appropriate new technology and financial services, including microfinance.

BREEAM Infrastructure issues ensure the provision of basic services.

Target 1.5 By 2030, build the resilience of the poor and those in vulnerable situations and reduce their exposure and vulnerability to climate-related extreme events and other economic, social and environmental shocks and disasters.

BREEAM Infrastructure issues help to improve resilience to natural disasters and extreme weather.

 

 

Goal 2: End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture

 

Target 2.4 By 2030, ensure sustainable food production systems and implement resilient agricultural practices that increase productivity and production, that help maintain ecosystems, that strengthen capacity for adaptation to climate change, extreme weather, drought, flooding and other disasters and that progressively improve land and soil quality.

 

 

Goal 3: Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages

 

Target 3.4 By 2030, reduce by one third premature mortality from non-communicable diseases through prevention and treatment and promote mental health and well-being.

BREEAM Infrastructure issues mitigate the effects projects have on the surrounding environment helping to reduce the effects on peoples’ health and wellbeing.

Target 3.6 By 2020, halve the number of global deaths and injuries from road traffic accidents.

BREEAM Infrastructure schemes promote safe access for all potential users as well as responsible construction practices with regards to transport.

Target 3.9 By 2030, substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water and soil pollution and contamination.

BREEAM Infrastructure issues mitigate a projects pollution contribution to the air and the surrounding environment from construction and operational practices.

 

 

Goal 4: Ensure inclusive and quality education for all and promote lifelong learning

 

Target 4.a Build and upgrade education facilities that are child, disability and gender sensitive and provide safe, non-violent, inclusive and effective learning environments for all.

 

 

Goal 5: Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls

 

The Indicators for this goal are not influenced by the criteria from this scheme.

 

 

Goal 6: Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all
BREEAM Infrastructure ensures the provision of water services and water management where applicable, during construction and operation.

 

Target 6.2 By 2030, achieve access to adequate and equitable sanitation and hygiene for all and end open defecation, paying special attention to the needs of women and girls and those in vulnerable situations.

BREEAM Infrastructure ensures the provision of water services and water management where applicable, during construction and operation.

Target 6.3 By 2030, improve water quality by reducing pollution, eliminating dumping and minimizing release of hazardous chemicals and materials, halving the proportion of untreated wastewater and substantially increasing recycling and safe reuse globally.

BREEAM Infrastructure encourages the use of greywater to limit waste.

Target 6.4 By 2030, substantially increase water-use efficiency across all sectors and ensure sustainable withdrawals and supply of freshwater to address water scarcity and substantially reduce the number of people suffering from water scarcity.

The water related issues within BREEAM Infrastructure work towards improving water-use efficiency of each project.

Target 6.5 By 2030, implement integrated water resources management at all levels, including through transboundary cooperation as appropriate.

The water issues within BREEAM Infrastructure aim for better resource management with regards to water use.

Target 6.6 By 2020, protect and restore water-related ecosystems, including mountains, forests, wetlands, rivers, aquifers and lakes.

Control measures within BREEAM Infrastructure help to mitigate the pollution of surrounding watercourses.

Target 6.a By 2030, expand international cooperation and capacity-building support to developing countries in water- and sanitation-related activities and programmes, including water harvesting, desalination, water efficiency, wastewater treatment, recycling and reuse technologies.

BREEAM Infrastructure ensures the provision of water efficient measures.

Target 6.b Support and strengthen the participation of local communities in improving water and sanitation management.

BREEAM Infrastructure ensures the provision of water efficient measures in developments, with continued consultation with community members.

 

 

Goal 7: Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all
Target 7.1 By 2030, ensure universal access to affordable, reliable and modern energy services

 

Energy issues within BREEAM Infrastructure promote the implementation of efficient energy systems and energy consumption reductions.

Target 7.2 By 2030, increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix.

Specific Energy issues within BREEAM Infrastructure promote the implementation of low and zero carbon technologies and efficient energy systems.

Target 7.3 By 2030, double the global rate of improvement in energy efficiency.

Energy issues within BREEAM Infrastructure promote the implementation of efficient energy systems and energy consumption reductions.

Target 7.a By 2030, enhance international cooperation to facilitate access to clean energy research and technology, including renewable energy, energy efficiency and advanced and cleaner fossil-fuel technology, and promote investment in energy infrastructure and clean energy technology.

Energy issues within BREEAM Infrastructure promote the implementation of Low to zero carbon technologies and efficient energy systems.

Target 7.b By 2030, expand infrastructure and upgrade technology for supplying modern and sustainable energy services for all in developing countries, in particular least developed countries, small island developing States, and land-locked developing countries, in accordance with their respective programmes of support.

Energy issues within BREEAM Infrastructure promote the implementation of efficient energy systems and energy consumption reductions.

 

 

Goal 8: Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all

 

Target 8.3 Promote development-oriented policies that support productive activities, decent job creation, entrepreneurship, creativity and innovation, and encourage the formalization and growth of micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises, including through access to financial services.

BREEAM Infrastructure contains issues that work to provide benefits outside the project to wider society.

Target 8.4 Improve progressively, through 2030, global resource efficiency in consumption and production and endeavour to decouple economic growth from environmental degradation, in accordance with the 10-year framework of programmes on sustainable consumption and production, with developed countries taking the lead.

BREEAM Infrastructure helps to reduce the built environment’s footprint with regards to raw materials.

Target 8.7 Take immediate and effective measures to eradicate forced labour, end modern slavery and human trafficking and secure the prohibition and elimination of the worst forms of child labour, including recruitment and use of child soldiers, and by 2025 end child labour in all its forms.

Ethical labour plans and policies are a key part to issues within CEEQUAL.

Target 8.8 Protect labour rights and promote safe and secure working environments for all workers, including migrant workers, in particular women migrants, and those in precarious employment.

Monitoring Health and safety during construction falls under the ethical labour plans and policy issues within BREEAM Infrastructure.

Target 8.10 Strengthen the capacity of domestic financial institutions to encourage and expand access to banking, insurance and financial services for all.

Not applicable to BREEAM Infrastructure.

 

 

Goal 9: Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation

 

Target 9.1 Develop quality, reliable, sustainable and resilient infrastructure, including regional and transborder infrastructure, to support economic development and human well-being, with a focus on affordable and equitable access for all.

Transport sections of BREEAM Infrastructure promote improvement of the transport network and services.

Target 9.4 By 2030, upgrade infrastructure and retrofit industries to make them sustainable, with increased resource-use efficiency and greater adoption of clean and environmentally sound technologies and industrial processes, with all countries taking action in accordance with their respective capabilities.

BREEAM Infrastructure promotes the reduction in CO2 equivalent emissions through sustainable construction practices and increased energy efficiency.

Target 9.5 Enhance scientific research, upgrade the technological capabilities of industrial sectors in all countries, in particular developing countries, including, by 2030, encouraging innovation and substantially increasing the number of research and development workers per 1 million people and public and private research and development spending.

BREEAM Infrastructure encourages innovation through the awarding of extra, innovation credits where applicable.

Target 9.a Facilitate sustainable and resilient infrastructure development in developing countries through enhanced financial, technological and technical support to African countries, least developed countries, landlocked developing countries and small island developing States.

BREEAM Infrastructure can help to drive the facilitation of sustainable and resilient infrastructure development. This includes all areas within the scheme, as BREEAM Infrastructure is about sustainable and resilient infrastructure, with a select few below.

 

 

Goal 10: Reduce inequality within and among countries

 

The Indicators for this goal are not influenced by the criteria from this scheme.

 

 

Goal 11: Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable

 

Target 11.1 By 2030, ensure access for all to adequate, safe and affordable housing and basic services and upgrade slums.

BREEAM Infrastructure promotes access to basic services like water and electricity during construction and operation.

11.3 By 2030, enhance inclusive and sustainable urbanization and capacity for participatory, integrated and sustainable human settlement planning and management in all countries.

Specific BREEAM Infrastructure criteria encourages responsible land use and land management as well as land use efficiency.

Target 11.5 By 2030, significantly reduce the number of deaths and the number of people affected and substantially decrease the direct economic losses relative to global gross domestic product caused by disasters, including water-related disasters, with a focus on protecting the poor and people in vulnerable situations.

BREEAM Infrastructure issues help to improve resilience to natural disasters and extreme weather.

Target 11.6 By 2030, reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, including by paying special attention to air quality and municipal and other waste management.

Construction and operational waste management is an important part of BREEAM Infrastructure.

Target 11.7 By 2030, provide universal access to safe, inclusive and accessible, green and public spaces, in particular for women and children, older persons and persons with disabilities.

Specific BREEAM Infrastructure criteria encourages responsible land use and land management as well as land use efficiency, and ensuring access for all community members.

Target 11.a Support positive economic, social and environmental links between urban, peri-urban and rural areas by strengthening national and regional development planning.

BREEAM Infrastructure issues help to address the social, economic and environmental issues in urban and peri-urban areas and facilitates the sustainable management of resources within infrastructure projects.

Target 11.b By 2020, substantially increase the number of cities and human settlements adopting and implementing integrated policies and plans towards inclusion, resource efficiency, mitigation and adaptation to climate change, resilience to disasters, and develop and implement, in line with the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030, holistic disaster risk management at all levels.

BREEAM Infrastructure issues help to improve resilience to natural disasters and extreme weather.

Target 11.c Support least developed countries, including through financial and technical assistance, in building sustainable and resilient buildings utilizing local materials.

BREEAM Infrastructure can facilitate the move towards the construction of sustainable, resilient and resource-efficient infrastructure.

 

 

Goal 12: Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns

 

Target 12.1 Implement the 10-Year Framework of Programmes on Sustainable Consumption and Production Patterns, all countries taking action, with developed countries taking the lead, taking into account the development and capabilities of developing countries.

BREEAM Infrastructure promotes the efficient consumption of resources and raw materials through increased efficiency and alternative transport measures.

12.2 By 2030, achieve the sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources.

BREEAM Infrastructure helps to reduce the built environment’s footprint with regards to raw materials and procurement.

Target 12.4 By 2020, achieve the environmentally sound management of chemicals and all wastes throughout their life cycle, in accordance with agreed international frameworks, and significantly reduce their release to air, water and soil in order to minimize their adverse impacts on human health and the environment.

Responsible and sustainable management of hazardous and non-hazardous waste during construction and operation are key issues within CEEQUAL.

Target 12.5 By 2030, substantially reduce waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling and reuse.

Responsible and sustainable management of hazardous and non-hazardous waste during construction and operation through material and waste recycling are key issues within BREEAM Infrastructure.

Target 12.6 Encourage companies, especially large and transnational companies, to adopt sustainable practices and to integrate sustainability information into their reporting cycle.

Certain issues within BREEAM Infrastructure require the monitoring and constant reporting on particular areas within the scheme.

Target 12.7 Promote public procurement practices that are sustainable, in accordance with national policies and priorities.

Criteria within BREEAM Infrastructure require the responsible and sustainable procurement of timber and other construction products.

Target 12.a Support developing countries to strengthen their scientific and technological capacity to move towards more sustainable patterns of consumption and production.

BREEAM Infrastructure’s promotion of Low and zero carbon technologies, energy efficient equipment, increased water use efficiency and sustainable material consumption helps to strengthen a countries capacity to move towards more sustainable patterns of consumption.

 

 

Goal 13: Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts

 

Target 13.1 Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries.

BREEAM Infrastructure issues help to improve resilience to natural disasters and extreme weather.

Target 13.2 Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies and planning.

BREEAM Infrastructure issues help to improve resilience to natural disasters and extreme weather and facilitate increasing a country’s adaptive capacity to such events. Certain issues also help to mitigate carbon equivalent emissions, through low and zero carbon technologies and increased energy efficiency.

Target 13.3 Improve education, awareness-raising and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction and early warning.

BREEAM Infrastructure issues help to improve resilience to natural disasters and extreme weather and facilitate increasing a country’s adaptive capacity to such events. Certain issues also help to mitigate carbon equivalent emissions, through low and zero carbon technologies and increased energy efficiency.

 

 

Goal 14: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development

 

Target 14.1 By 2025, prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds, in particular from land-based activities, including marine debris and nutrient pollution.

Control measures within BREEAM Infrastructure help to mitigate the pollution of surrounding watercourses.

Target 14.2 By 2020, sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems to avoid significant adverse impacts, including by strengthening their resilience, and take action for their restoration in order to achieve healthy and productive oceans.

The ecology issues within BREEAM Infrastructure maintain ecosystems and reduce land degradation in the surrounding area.

Target 14.3 Minimize and address the impacts of ocean acidification, including through enhanced scientific cooperation at all levels.

By promoting the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, BREEAM Infrastructure can help to minimise the built environment’s contribution to increased marine acidification.

 

 

Goal 15: Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss

 

Target 15.1 By 2020, ensure the conservation, restoration and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems and their services, in particular forests, wetlands, mountains and drylands, in line with obligations under international agreements.

The ecology issues within BREEAM Infrastructure maintain ecosystems and reduce land degradation in the surrounding area, while the pollution measures help to minimise any pollution to surrounding watercourses.

Target 15.2 By 2020, promote the implementation of sustainable management of all types of forests, halt deforestation, restore degraded forests and substantially increase afforestation and reforestation globally.

The responsible and sustainable procurement of timber and certain building materials will facilitate the progression towards sustainable forest management.

Target 15.3 By 2030, combat desertification, restore degraded land and soil, including land affected by desertification, drought and floods, and strive to achieve a land degradation-neutral world.

The ecology issues within BREEAM Infrastructure maintain ecosystems and reduce land degradation in the surrounding area with the pollution issues minimising any damage from pollution.

Target 15.5 Take urgent and significant action to reduce the degradation of natural habitats, halt the loss of biodiversity and, by 2020, protect and prevent the extinction of threatened species.

The ecology issues within BREEAM Infrastructure protect and maintain ecosystems and reduce land degradation in the surrounding area.

Target 15.9 By 2020, integrate ecosystem and biodiversity values into national and local planning, development processes, poverty reduction strategies and accounts.

The ecology issues within BREEAM Infrastructure protect and maintain ecosystems and reduce land degradation in the surrounding area.

 

 

Goal 16: Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels

 

Target 16.2 End abuse, exploitation, trafficking and all forms of violence against and torture of children.

Ethical labour plans and policy issues within BREEAM Infrastructure can ensure all workers are treated fairly and ethical sourcing of materials ensures procurement from legally acting bodies.

Target 16.5 Substantially reduce corruption and bribery in all their forms.

Ethical labour plans and policy issues within BREEAM Infrastructure can ensure all workers are treated fairly and ethical sourcing of materials ensures procurement from legally acting bodies.

 

 

Goal 17: Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalise the global partnership for sustainable development

 

The Indicators for this goal are not influenced by the criteria from this scheme.

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