Opportunities for improving the social determinants of health in the Australian Capital Territory through the sustainable development goals

In 2018, Australia submitted its first voluntary national review to the High-Level Political Forum on the implementation of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).1 Despite the achievements articulated, Australia is ranked below average in sustainability progress compared to other countries in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, dropping annually and now in 37th place overall.2, 3 To date, there has been little commitment from the Australian government to endorsing these goals, particularly, domestically.4 The SDGs are a set of 17 goals, each with its own specific targets and indicators, that aim to improve the health and sustainability of humans, society and the environment by 2030.5 The SDGs, unlike the Millennium Development Goals that focussed on developing nations, cannot be achieved unless they are also embraced as domestic agenda within wealthy nations. They aim for intergenerational and global equity within environmental (and planetary) limits. As such, the SDGs represent important agenda to address 21st century social and environmental determinants of health.6 They have been described as an intersectoral and international platform to promote health for all.7