Are The Un S Sustainable Development Goals On Track World Economic For

Leo Migdal
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are the un s sustainable development goals on track world economic for

The United Nation’s Food and Agriculture Organization was quite clear in the release of its nutrition flagship report earlier this week that it is far off from reaching the organization’s goal of ending world... In fact, the subtarget of undernourishment and food insecurity is currently listed as backsliding by the UN, as its status is worse now than when the goals were adopted in 2015. This is sadly a reality for much of the 2030 SDG agenda, as a report on its progress shows. Sticking with the example of hunger, the UN’s target number 2 out of 17, the inception of the Sustainable Development Goals came at a time when progress on the topic was good and only... An end to world hunger might have seemed palatable at the time given these successes, but even when 2015 numbers were released the following year, world hunger had already risen due to conflicts intensifying... Undernourishment took another leap up in 2020 when the coronavirus pandemic shook the world and has been slow to recover since as global crises and instability persist.

Wars, political instability, climate change effects and economic woes have affected many of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals in the past years and progress on them is poor overall. Out of 167 subtargets, only 25 were listed as on track to reach their 2030 aims (or having already done so). These highlights include providing equal access to education for boys and girls, reducing death and illness due to pollution, supplying modern green energy tech to developing countries, giving people access to the internet, widespread... Overall, 15 percent of subtargets were expected to be reached, with some progress on around 40 percent and stagnation or backsliding for another 30 percent. The rest lacked data. Progress was most advanced for target 7, Affordable and Clean Energy, with 40%—or two out of five—subtargets on track.

This was followed by Responsible Consumption and Production (target 12) at 36%, as many programs on research and development as well as sustainable production and procurement are being successfully implemented (four out of 10... Industry Innovation, Climate Action, protecting aquatic life, Sustainable Cities as well as Partnerships were on track to meet at least 20% of goals as of the latest report. On the flipside, progress has been negative for many crucial targets aiming to save and improve the lives of people all over the world. The worst overall progress was attested to No Poverty, Clean Water and Sanitation as well as Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions, with no subtargets on track. While data was sometimes missing, this included backsliding and stagnation on topics like discrimination and inclusivity, fair justice systems, increasing water treatment and government spending on essential services. Following are UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ remarks to the 2025 Economic and Social Council Operational Activities for Development Segment, in New York today:

Thank you for taking part in this important forum in an important year. We’re celebrating the eightieth anniversary of the United Nations. But, this milestone is tempered by a stark, undeniable reality that resonates on every page of the report I am presenting today. With less than five years to go to the 2030 deadline, we are facing nothing short of a development emergency. The Sustainable Development Goals are alarmingly off-track. And some of the hard-won gains made in recent years are getting derailed.

Progress is too slow in the fight against poverty, hunger, inequality, the climate crisis, decaying infrastructure and under-resourced education, health and social-protection systems. We must never forget that a development emergency is, at its root, a human emergency. The lives and futures of millions of people hang in the balance. This development emergency is also a funding emergency. Resources are shrinking across the board — and have been for some time. For example, as detailed in my report, total financial contributions to the UN development system dropped by $9 billion — or 16 per cent — in 2023 from the year before.

We can imagine the number of 2024 taking into account what we have witnessed in the recent decisions. Our organization is increasingly asked to do more with less — a trend that will continue for the foreseeable future. This year, donors are pulling the plug on aid commitments and delivery at historic speed and scale. With only six years remaining to implement the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the world is on track to achieve only 17 per cent of targets, requiring urgent action to correct that trajectory for... Yongyi Min, Chief of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Monitoring Section of the Statistics Division of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs, introduced the Secretary-General’s report on “Progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals”... She cited the COVID-19 pandemic, escalating conflicts, geopolitical tensions, climate change impacts and systemic economic shortcomings as threats, with an additional 23 million people in extreme poverty in 2022 compared to 2019, and 383...

Education remains gravely threatened in many countries, with one in five young people not in employment, education or training. While official development assistance (ODA) hit another new high of $223.7 billion in 2023, foreign direct investment (FDI) to developing countries fell by 7 per cent. Debt levels remain unprecedentedly high, and the annual SDG investment gap for developing countries stands at $4 trillion. “And we are failing to protect our planet,” she said. Noting that ongoing conflicts contributed to a record 120 million forcibly displaced people worldwide by May, she called for bolder action in three key areas. “First, we need peace,” she stated, resolving ongoing armed conflicts through dialogue and diplomacy, and preventing future conflicts by upholding the principles and values of the Charter of the United Nations.

On finance, developing countries urgently require more resources and fiscal space, reforming the outdated, dysfunctional and unfair international financial architecture, and advancing a $500 billion SDG Stimulus. Further, massive investment and more effective partnerships are needed to drive critical transitions across food, energy, digital connectivity, climate change and more. James Grabert, Director of the Mitigation Division, United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), introduced the progress report of the Executive Secretary of the Convention UNFCCC (document A/79/273), which summarizes the United Nations... End poverty in all its forms everywhere. End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture. Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages.

Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all. Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls.

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