Knowledge of and attitudes towards Sustainable Development Goals among adults in South Africa

ABSTRACT This study used survey results to describe selected adult South Africans’ knowledge of and attitudes towards the attainment of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Results revealed that more females than males claimed to have been taught about the SDGs and that more young people than the elderly claimed to have adequate knowledge of the SDGs. Results also revealed that those with a high school education claimed not to have been taught about SDGs, whilst those with a Masters education claimed to have been taught about SDGs. Interestingly, half of the PhD graduates indicated that they had not been taught about SDGs, which may indicate that increased levels of education do not translate into a better knowledge of the SDGs. In terms of the perceived impact of COVID-19 on the attainment of SDGs, results indicated that the majority of respondents aged between 31–40, believed that the pandemic has made the SDGs less attainable by 2030, with much fewer younger respondents expressing such a sentiment. Respondents with higher levels of education were of the view that COVID-19 will have a negative effect on the attainment of the SDGs by 2030. These results are important for policy and developmental planning in the face of COVID-19.