In 2015, United Nations member states adopted the Sustainable Development Goals, 17 targets to transform the world by 2030, including completely ending extreme poverty and eliminating hunger, and action to combat climate change.
However, war and funding shortfalls have hampered progress toward those goals, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres recently warned, as he said “the world is getting a failing grade.”
“Our failure to secure peace, to confront climate change, and to boost international finance is undermining development,” he told a briefing in New York, unveiling the latest progress check on the targets.
“We must accelerate action for the sustainable development goals, and we don’t have a moment to lose – only 17 percent of the targets [are] on track.”
Efforts to devote money and attention to the goals have been repeatedly set back, including by the COVID-19 pandemic, the wars in Ukraine, Gaza, and Sudan, worsening climate catastrophes, and sharp increases in the cost of living.
While countries were lagging on progress in many areas, there were glimmers of hope in the reduction of new HIV infections, growing internet access, and the “booming” use of renewables,” Guterres said.
But “the denial of basic needs for so many is outrageous and inexcusable,” he added.
He said action to bring peace to the major conflicts raging globally, coupled with efforts towards a green transition were needed, which means multiplying the lending capacity of multilateral development banks to provide more resources for climate action and sustainable development.
To be fair to the global community, it has been faced with major challenges in recent years, ranging from a pandemic to wars, aside from a growing climate crisis. However, those sustainable development goals were established with humanity in mind, so they cannot be forgotten or cast aside either. Hopefully our leaders do not get distracted by these various crises that are legitimately hindering us from achieving those goals that were developed with the betterment of humanity in mind.*
