Today, Statistics Canada is launching the Canadian Indicator Framework (CIF) for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), a foundational component for Canada to track and report on progress on its priorities for achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The agenda, adopted by all United Nations member states in 2015, is a 15-year global framework centred on an ambitious set of 17 SDGs. It is a call to action to promote prosperity while protecting the planet, and it is a holistic approach that links the three pillars of sustainable development: economic, social and environmental.

In addition to the Global Indicator Framework for measuring and monitoring progress, countries were encouraged to develop national implementation strategies and country-specific indicators that reflect national priorities related to the achievement of the goals. To this end, in February 2021, the Government of Canada released Moving forward together: Canada’s 2030 Agenda National Strategy.

To complement the global indicators, in collaboration with federal departments and agencies, Statistics Canada has developed the Canadian Indicator Framework for the Sustainable Development Goals. The CIF includes 76 indicators specific to Canada and will measure progress on the Canadian SDG ambitions identified in Canada’s 2030 Agenda National Strategy to advance the agenda.

While the 76 indicators cover the full range of SDGs, one of the ways in which the CIF can be used to measure progress can be demonstrated by looking at an example of an indicator within each of the economic, environmental and social pillars encompassed by the SDGs. You can find out more about this project here