Which Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) under 17 global goals given by United Nations specifically focuses on “Life on Land”, aiming to protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems ?

Correct — option (3), SDG 15.

Goal 15 of the UN Sustainable Development Goals, titled Life on Land, reads: "Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss."

The stem's phrase "protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems" is the opening of that goal. SDG 15 has 12 targets: 15.1 to 15.9 and 15.a to 15.c.

The neighbouring goals in the options cover other ground: SDG 13 is Climate Action, SDG 14 is Life Below Water, and SDG 16 is Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions.

The idea to remember: SDG 14 is life below water; SDG 15 is life on land.

Why the others are wrong

• (1)
  SDG 13 — SDG 13 is Climate Action: "Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts." It has 5 targets.

  Climate change affects land ecosystems, but the goal worded around protecting and restoring terrestrial ecosystems, forests and biodiversity is SDG 15.

• (2)
  SDG 14 — SDG 14 is Life Below Water: "Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development." It has 10 targets.

  It is the marine counterpart of SDG 15. The stem's "terrestrial ecosystems" moves the answer from 14 to 15.

• (4)
  SDG 16 — SDG 16 is Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions: "Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels."

  It deals with peace, justice and governance rather than ecosystems. It has 12 targets.

The Sustainable Development Goals are 17 global goals in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, adopted by UN member states in 2015. Each goal has targets, and progress on each target is measured through indicators.

SDG 15 covers forests, desertification, land degradation, mountain ecosystems and biodiversity. Target 15.3, for example, aims by 2030 to combat desertification and restore degraded land and soil.

Its indicators include forest area as a proportion of total land area (15.1.1) and the IUCN Red List Index (15.5.1), which tracks species' extinction risk.

Key facts

• SDG 15, Life on Land, aims to protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, manage forests, combat desertification, and halt land degradation and biodiversity loss.
• SDG 13 is Climate Action, SDG 14 is Life Below Water, and SDG 16 is Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions.
• SDG 15 has 12 targets: 15.1 to 15.9 and 15.a to 15.c.
• Indicator 15.5.1 under SDG 15 is the Red List Index.
• The 17 SDGs belong to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, adopted by UN member states in 2015.

Common traps

• SDG 14 and SDG 15 form a pair: life below water, then life on land. The stem's "terrestrial ecosystems" rules out 14.
• Desertification appears in the wording of SDG 15, not SDG 13. Climate change and land degradation are linked, but the land goal is 15.
• "Life on Land" is the short title; the full goal names forests, desertification, land degradation and biodiversity loss. A question can quote either form.

UnlockIAS will link similar questions from RAS Pre 2021 and 2016 here once those papers are published on this site.

• practice — not a real PYQ

  Which Sustainable Development Goal is titled "Life Below Water"?

  • (a)SDG 12
  • (b)SDG 13
  • (c)SDG 14
  • (d)SDG 15
  Answer(3) — SDG 14 is Life Below Water, on oceans, seas and marine resources. Option (1), SDG 12, is about sustainable consumption and production; option (2), SDG 13, is Climate Action; option (4), SDG 15, is Life on Land.
• practice — not a real PYQ

  The Red List Index, which tracks the extinction risk of species, is an indicator under which Sustainable Development Goal?

  • (a)SDG 3
  • (b)SDG 13
  • (c)SDG 14
  • (d)SDG 15
  Answer(4) — The Red List Index is indicator 15.5.1 under SDG 15, Life on Land. Option (1), SDG 3, is about health and well-being; option (2), SDG 13, is Climate Action; option (3), SDG 14, is Life Below Water.