The SDGs themselves include 169 targets and 240 indicators, which creates complexities in operationalizing them practically. However, despite the well-known limitations of composite indices overall, in policy making contexts, they do allow us to synthesize complex information representing multidimensional views. Moreover, they can be an effective tool to stimulate debate compared to individual scores that could result in selective and one-dimensional policy responses. Used as a policy instrument, these metrics can be combined with other future data instruments and qualitative methods, to guide action on key SDGs transformations.
The real value of the Index, dashboard and individual country profiles included in this report lies in their capacity to inform local action, at thematic and sectoral levels, within each country. Moreover, by presenting the data through a regional lens, the report can help identify regional trends and serve regional collaborative efforts, an important element in achieving the SDGs.
The findings of this report come at a point when the Arab region hosts the 28th United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Conference of Parties (COP) in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which follows another COP hosted regionally, the 27th COP in Egypt. Therefore, this edition of the Arab Index, includes a section dedicated to highlighting findings related to environmental sustainability and climate action.