Multiple global crises continue to put the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals 'in peril'

The Urgent Need for Collective Action to Achieve 
the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals

John Kamiloglu

In 2015, world leaders came together at the United Nations General Assembly to adopt the seventeen Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with the ambitious aim of transforming our world for the better by 2030. However, as we approach the halfway mark to this deadline, it is evident that the promises enshrined in the SDGs are in peril.

The recent global crises, from the COVID-19 pandemic to the escalating climate emergency, have pushed us further off track in achieving these vital goals. The world is experiencing unprecedented challenges, with extreme weather events, rising conflicts, and a widening economic gap between developed and developing nations exacerbating the already pressing issues of poverty, inequality, and environmental degradation.

“By making the transformative changes enshrined in the 2030 Agenda, we can weather the global shocks, build resilience, and emerge stronger.”

In the words of UN Secretary General
António Guterres

Secretary-General Briefs Reporters with Prime Minister of Nepal in Kathmandu UN Photo/Narendra Shrestha

A 2023 report highlighted concerning trends in key areas such as child vaccination rates and income inequality, signaling a need for urgent action. Despite some progress in certain areas, only 15 percent of the SDGs are currently on track, underscoring the need for a concerted effort to reignite progress towards a more sustainable future.

It is clear that dramatic changes are needed not only in our energy sources and consumption patterns but also in our values, hearts, and minds. We must shift towards a more sustainable reality by embracing innovative solutions and collective action to address the root causes of these challenges.

While the decline in SDG progress is a universal concern, it is the poorest and most vulnerable populations that are bearing the brunt of these crises. Without adequate representation on the global stage, these countries are facing a resurgence in extreme poverty, with projections indicating a rise to 575 million people by 2030 if current trends persist. At the recent UN SDG Summit, governments pledged to redouble their efforts, including setting more ambitious targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. However, achieving these targets will require significant financial investment, estimated at $4 trillion.

As we reflect on the urgency of the situation, it is crucial for all stakeholders, from governments to civil society and the private sector, to come together in a spirit of collaboration and shared responsibility. The SDGs represent a shared vision for a better future, and it is incumbent upon all of us to work towards realizing this vision for the benefit of current and future generations.

In the words of UN Secretary-General António Guterres, “By making the transformative changes enshrined in the 2030 Agenda, we can weather the global shocks, build resilience, and emerge stronger.” It is time for action, solidarity, and a renewed commitment to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals before it is too late.

Former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said the SDGs are organized around six essential elements: dignity, people, prosperity, the planet, justice, and partnerships.

Many development experts have noted the ambitious sweep of the goals, which include:

-ending poverty in all forms everywhere;

-ending hunger;

-achieving gender equality;

-ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all at all ages; and

-ensuring access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all.

According to a UN review of thirty-six targets with sufficient data for analysis, only two were on track to be completed by 2030: increased access to mobile networks and increased internet usage. Fourteen targets showed “fair” progress, meaning they are attainable if global efforts ramp up. Twelve showed limited or no progress, including those on ending poverty and conserving ecosystems, and eight were evaluated as still deteriorating, including the target for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

What are the Sustainable Development Goals?
Also known as the 2030 Agenda, the SDGs are a set of seventeen overarching goals comprising 169 specific targets for reducing poverty and improving environmental sustainability. Conceived of at the 2012 UN Conference on Sustainable Development, the SDGs received the unanimous commitment of all 193 members of the United Nations and an array of nongovernmental organizations (NGOs). Today, the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs’ Division for Sustainable Development Goals acts as the secretariat for the SDGs.

Finland ranks first on the SDG Index which compares countries on their overall progress toward achieving all seventeen goals followed by Sweden and Denmark. These three countries have all achieved or are on track to achieve the following SDG goals: ending poverty, promoting gender equality, building affordable and clean energy, ensuring quality education, and reducing inequality. France and Germany, meanwhile, rank sixth and fourth on the index, respectively, with none of the goals completed or on track to completion. The United States and China—the world’s two largest economies—rank thirty-ninth and sixty-third, respectively, though the United States has not fully achieved any goals, while China is on track to eliminate poverty and provide universal quality education.