Sustainable Development Goals

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Sustainable Development Goals

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) provide a common platform where organisation, civil society and government representatives can contribute to solving the world’s biggest sustainable development challenges.

The SDGs were agreed by all countries at the United Nations in September 2015 and came into effect in January 2016. The 17 goals, 169 targets and 232 indicators are part of a broad agenda that provides a set of clear measurable targets to improve sustainability performance globally. These goals were developed based on the pillars of: protecting our natural resources and climate for future generations; ensuring dignity, equality and prosperity; fostering peace and inclusive societies; and promoting partnerships.

RMIT's SDG journey

The education sector has a vital role to play in addressing the critical global sustainable challenges. RMIT recognises the important role the education sector can play in promoting, supporting and contributing to the SDGs agenda. To express our commitment to transform RMIT into an organisation that models institution-wide excellence in response to calls for education to play an influential role in shaping a sustainable future, we made a public commitment in 2017 through the Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) to support, promote and contribute to the SDGs.

As the governing body responsible for sustainability at the University, the RMIT Sustainability Committee ensures RMIT delivers on our commitment to the objectives of the SDGs, through supporting and encouraging collaboration, innovation and engagement across the RMIT community. To ensure the ongoing priority of the SDGs across the University, RMIT’s Sustainability Committee reports directly to the Vice Chancellor's Executive (VCE) . As part of this, in 2018 RMIT employed a dedicated Sustainable Development advisor to oversee an institution-wide approach to maximise RMIT's contribution to the SDGs and improve accountability and collaboration. In 2019 the Vice-ChanceIlor's Executive agreed to demonstrate global leadership by embedding the SDGs into relevant processes, policies, practices and the next five-year strategy.

RMIT employs the SDGs as its sustainability framework to demonstrate our global leadership and genuine sustainability commitments. Which means that, since becoming a signatory of the SDGs agenda in 2017, RMIT has been embedding the SDGs into its strategies, processes policies and practices including curriculum, research, governance and operations. RMIT is currently using the SDGs to guide RMIT’s strategy development in 2023 and has made the SDGs the overarching focus of its strategic plan.

RMIT's SDG Ranking

RMIT continues its sustainability leadership, ranking in the top five global institutions in the 2024 Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Rankings for impact against the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

RMIT came third in the overall ranking of Australian universities and remains first in the world for Reducing Inequalities (SDG10). The University also achieved strong results in other areas, including ranking fifth globally for Decent Work and Economic Growth (SDG 8), and tenth globally for Clean Water and Sanitation (SDG 6).

RMIT also ranked eleventh globally for Partnerships for the Goals (SDG 17), in recognition of its strong connections with government and industry to advance sustainability.

Ranking in 2024

RMIT’s Impact on the SDGs

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Sustainable Development Goals

RMIT recognises the important role the education sector can play not only supporting the SDGs agenda, but actually promoting and contributing to the achievement of all 17 Goals.

We support, promote and contribute to the SDGS through:

Learning and Teaching - Equipping the next generation with skills, knowledge and understanding of sustainability challenges and opportunities.
Governance and Operations - Making sustainability an organisational priority, incorporating best practices of sustainability management into our business and regularly monitoring and reporting on our contributions to the SDGS.
Research - Progressing research that advances the sustainable development agenda.
Leadership - Use our expertise, leadership and capabilities to promote the SDGs and drive change to achieve them.

Select a goal to discover examples of our contributions to the SDGs:

sustainable development goal 1 icon no poverty

sustainable development goal 2 icon zero hunger

sustainable development goal 3 icon good health and wellbeing

sustainable development goal 4 icon quality education

sustainable development goal 5 icon gender equality

sustainable development goal 6 icon clean water and sanitation

sustainable development goal 7 icon affordable and clean energy

sustainable development goal 8 icon decent work and economic growth

sustainable development goal 9 icon industry, innovation and infrastructure

sustainable development goal 10 icon reduced inequalities

sustainable development goal 11 icon sustainable cities and communities

sustainable development goal 12 icon responsible consumption and production

sustainable development goal 3 icon climate action

sustainable development goal 14 icon life below water

sustainable development goal 15 icon life on land

sustainable development goal 17 icon partnerships for the goals

sustainable development goals circle icon

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Get in touch

For more information or to discuss partnership and collaboration opportunities, email us at SDGs@rmit.edu.au.

For more information about RMIT’s sustainability commitments and activities visit www.rmit.edu.au/sustainability

Subscribe to the RMIT Sustainability Newsletter to keep up to date with the latest sustainability news, articles, events and research

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Acknowledgement of Country

RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business - Artwork 'Sentient' by Hollie Johnson, Gunaikurnai and Monero Ngarigo.

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aboriginal flag

torres strait flag

Acknowledgement of Country

RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business.

More information