Measuring distance to the SDG targets – Switzerland
Based on 119 available indicators allowing a coverage of 94 of the 169 SDG targets, Switzerland has currently achieved 26 of the 2030 targets, and many of the remaining distances to targets are small (Figure 2.65). For example, Switzerland has a low death rate due to road traffic accidents (target 3.6), has a high participation rate in formal and non-formal education (target 4.3) and has among the best results in the OECD on CO2 intensity (targets 9.4 and 13.2). However, some challenges remain; Switzerland is still very far (i.e. more than 3 standardised distances away) from meeting some 2% of the targets. For instance, there is a high share of unsentenced detainees among the prison population (target 16.3) and tobacco consumption is relatively high (target 3.a).
The Measuring Distance to the SDG Targets Study is intended as an analytical tool to assist countries in identifying strengths and weaknesses across the goals and targets of the 2030 Agenda, and as such differs in nature from Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs) or other reporting processes. To ensure international comparability, indicators used in the Study are based on the UN Global List of Indicators on SDGs and are sourced from the UN SDG Database and OECD databases. VNRs typically use national indicators that reflect national circumstances and can be more up-to-date.
Figure 2.66, Panel A shows that Switzerland is on average closest to reaching some goals on Climate (13), Energy (7), Infrastructure (9), Cities (11) and Eradicating Poverty (1), and is further away on Economy (8), Gender Equality (5) and Health (3) goals. Relative to the OECD average, Switzerland outperforms on goals such as Institutions and Implementation (goals 16 and 17), as well as on all goals relating to People, on some goals relating to Planet (in particular goals 6 on Water, 12 on Sustainable Production and 13 on Climate) and on all goals relating to Prosperity. However, considerable effort by the international statistical community will be key to fill the data gaps and allow a more accurate assessment (see Figure 2.66, Panel B). For example, if missing data were available on Gender Equality (5), Sustainable Production (12) and Reducing Inequality (10), Switzerland’s performance on People, Planet and Prosperity could change from current assessments.