Achieving the SDGs remains elusive

The report reveals that only 17 per cent of the SDG targets are currently on track, with nearly half showing minimal or moderate progress, and over one-third stalled or regressing. The lingering impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, escalating conflicts, geopolitical tensions and growing climate chaos have severely hindered progress.

According to the report, an additional 23 million people were pushed into extreme poverty and over 100 million more were suffering from hunger in 2022 compared to 2019. The number of civilian deaths in armed conflict skyrocketed in 2023. That year was also the warmest on record, with global temperatures nearing the critical 1.5°C threshold.

A moment of choice and consequence
 

“This report highlights the urgent need for stronger and more effective international cooperation to maximise progress starting now,” said UN Secretary-General António Guterres. “With more than six years left, we must not let up on our 2030 promise to end poverty, protect the planet and leave no-one behind.”

Urgent priorities for achieving the SDGs are:

1. Financing development: The SDG investment gap in developing countries now stands at four trillion US dollars per year. Developing countries require more financial resources and fiscal space. Reforming the global financial architecture is crucial to unlocking the volume of financing required to spur sustainable development.
2. Peace and security: The number of forcibly displaced people has reached an unprecedented level, nearly 120 million by May 2024. Civilian casualties spiked by 72 per cent between 2022 and 2023 amid escalating violence, highlighting the urgent need for peace. Resolving ongoing conflicts through dialogue and diplomacy is essential.
3. Implementation surge: Massive investment and effective partnerships are needed to drive critical transitions in food, energy, social protection, digital connectivity and more.

Key moments for the SDGs
 

The Summit of the Future, taking place on the 22^nd to 23^rd September at UN Headquarters in New York/USA, will be pivotal to getting the world back on track to achieving the SDGs. Deliberations at the Summit will include addressing the debt crisis that is holding so many developing countries back and the urgent need for reform of the international financial architecture.

According to the report, both the Financing for Development Conference and the World Summit for Social Development in 2025 will be key moments to drive SDG momentum.

(UN / pas)

Read more and download the report on the UN website.