Spain updated its national framework with the approval of the Revised Sustainable Development Strategy 2030 (RSDS) in 2026 by the Council of Ministries, as a continuation of the Strategy adopted in June 2021.

The RSDS provides an updated and strengthened roadmap for implementing the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), adapting to the current socio-economic and environmental context. It is structured around four challeges and a cross-cutting governance dimension, with improved targets and indicators aligned with national statistics and European frameworks. These are:

1. A strong and universal welfare state to end poverty and inequality

2. A circular economic system that generates welfare and social, labour and environmental justice

3. Sustainable territorial structuring to improve social cohesion and address climate emergency

4. Free, equal and communal lives

The Strategy reinforces policy coherence for sustainable development (PCSD), intergenerational equity and territorial cohesion, and strengthens governance, monitoring and accountability mechanisms. This is captured in the cross-cutting challenge: Integral System for PCSD.

Conceived as a prospective national roadmap to 2030, the RSDS includes 100 national targets, agreed through an interministerial coordination process and discussed within multilevel coordination bodies involving Autonomous Communities and local authorities. Each strategic axis includes specific targets and policy measures, supported by a system of quantitative and qualitative indicators to ensure effective monitoring, evaluation and follow-up of progress. The Strategy includes measurable targets in areas such as poverty reduction, affordable housing, the energy transition, gender equality, territorial cohesion and policy coherence for sustainable development.

The RSDS was developed through a participatory, multi-level and multi-stakeholder process, involving national administrations, Autonomous Communities, local authorities, civil society, academia and the private sector.

National Sustainable Development Strategy (English & Spanish)

Ministry of Social Rights, Consumption and 2030 Agenda

General Directorate for the 2030 Agenda: dgagenda2030@dsca.gob.es

The RSDS strengthens Spain’s approach to Policy Coherence for Sustainable Development (PCSD) through the development of an Integrated PCSD System, structured around eight key tools designed to mainstream sustainability across public policymaking. 

These include:

1. regulatory coherence, led by the Ministry of the Presidency, Justice and Relations with Parliament;

2. budget alignment, coordinated by the Ministry of Finance;

3. strategic planning coordination and public policy impact assessment, carried out by the Institute for the Evaluation of Public Policies;

4. intergenerational impact analysis, developed by the National Statistics Institute (INE) and the Ministry of Youth and Children;

5. sustainable public procurement, coordinated by the Ministry of Finance in collaboration with other ministries;

6. training of public employees, mainly promoted by the National Institute of Public Administration (INAP); 

7. external coherence, coordinated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation; 

8. accountability, coordinated by the Directorate-General for the 2030 Agenda.

Multilevel governance is reinforced through the Sectoral Conference, ensuring coordination with Autonomous Communities and local authorities. Stakeholder participation is channelled through the Sustainable Development Council (Consejo de Desarrollo Sostenible), involving civil society, academia and the private sector. The international dimension of PCSD is further strengthened through the implementation of Law 1/2023 on Sustainable Development Cooperation.

Spanish National Strategy for Sustainable Development (Spanish version)

Sustainable Development Council

Mechanisms fostering PCSD

• The RSDS includes a strengthened monitoring and evaluation framework, combining quantified national targets with official indicators and qualitative follow-up mechanisms. Of the 100 national targets, 80 are quantifiable and linked to official indicators, baseline years and 2030 target values, allowing progress to be measured over time. These indicators rely primarily on official statistical sources, including the National Statistics Institute (INE), Eurostat and sectoral information systems.

• The monitoring framework combines quantitative and qualitative indicators, enabling both statistical measurement of progress and the assessment of governance, coordination and policy coherence processes. Quantified targets cover areas such as poverty reduction, affordable housing, education, energy transition, biodiversity, sustainable mobility and gender equality, while non-quantified targets mainly relate to Policy Coherence for Sustainable Development (PCSD) and governance mechanisms.

• According to the initial monitoring assessment of the revised Strategy, among the 67 quantified targets for which sufficient time series data are currently available, 13 have already been achieved, 14 show progress above 50% towards their 2030 objective, 26 show positive but still limited progress (below 50%), and 14 show no measurable progress or setbacks compared with the baseline year. More significant challenges remain in areas such as severe child material deprivation, childhood overweight and obesity, food waste and demographic decline in rural municipalities, where further coordinated policy efforts will be required to remain on track towards 2030.

• The system supports regular monitoring, evaluation and evidence-based policymaking, strengthening transparency and accountability in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Strategy.

Participation and Transparency

• The RSDS was developed through a broad participatory and multi-level process, and ongoing stakeholder engagement remains a core element of implementation. Participation and coordination are ensured through Spain’s governance architecture for the 2030 Agenda, including the Government Delegate Commission for the 2030 Agenda, the Sectoral Conference for the 2030 Agenda (bringing together national, regional and local levels of government), and the Sustainable Development Council (Consejo de Desarrollo Sostenible), which channels the participation of civil society, academia and the private sector.

• Transparency is ensured through public access to data and reports.

Reporting and review on progress towards sustainable development

Spain reports regularly on progress towards sustainable development through Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs) and periodic national progress reports.

VNRs were presented in 2018, 2021 and 2024, while national progress reports have been published in 2019, 2021, 2022 and 2023 to monitor implementation, assess achievements and identify remaining challenges in relation to the SDGs and national targets.

The main institutions involved in the reporting process include:

• National Statistics Institute (INE): 

  • Provides official data for monitoring progress on the SDGs.

  • Maintains the national SDG indicator system aligned with the UN framework.

• Ministry of Social Rights, Consumption and 2030 Agenda: overall coordination

  • Leads the political and strategic direction of the Agenda 2030 implementation.

  • Coordinates with autonomous communities and local entities.

• Sustainable Development Council: stakeholder participation and consultation

  • A participatory body including civil society, academia, and private sector.

  • Provides input and oversight on the strategy’s implementation and revisions.

• Spanish Parliament (Cortes Generales): democratic oversight

  • Receives periodic reports on progress.

  • Plays a role in democratic oversight and legislative alignment with the SDGs.

• Court of Auditors (Tribunal de Cuentas)

  • May audit public spending related to SDG implementation, ensuring transparency and accountability.

Indicadores de la Agenda 2030 para el Desarrollo Sostenible

2024 Spanish Voluntary National Report (English version)

2021 and 2018 Voluntary National Reviews, including VNR presentations and annexes to the national statistics inputs

Spain .:. Sustainable Development Knowledge Platform