The 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations present a novel approach to global governance where goal-setting features as a key strategy. ‘Governance through goals’, as exemplified by the SDGs, is new and unique for a number of characteristics such as the inclusive goal-setting process, the non-binding nature of the goals, the reliance on weak institutional arrangements, and the extensive leeway that states enjoy. While the SDGs hold a great potential, their collective success will depend on a number of institutional factors such as the extent to which states formalize their commitments, strengthen related global governance arrangements, translate the global ambitions into national contexts, integrate sectoral policies, and maintain flexibility in governance mechanisms. Research communities also have an important role to play, especially with regard to measuring genuine progress, aligning the goals with existing governance arrangements, and integrating the economic, social, and environmental dimensions.

联合国的17个可持续发展目标（SDG）提出了一种新的全球治理方法，其中目标设定是关键战略。可持续发展目标所体现的“通过目标实现治理”是新的且独特的，具有许多特征，例如包容性目标制定过程，目标的非约束性，对薄弱的体制安排的依赖以及广泛的回旋余地州享受。尽管可持续发展目标具有巨大潜力，但其集体成功将取决于许多体制因素，例如各国在多大程度上将其承诺正式化，加强相关的全球治理安排，将全球野心转化为国家背景，整合部门政策并维持治理机制的灵活性。研究社区也可以发挥重要作用，