The United Nations has released a sobering report indicating that only a small fraction of its targets to improve global living conditions are on track to be achieved by the 2030 deadline.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, while launching the report, remarked, “It shows the world is getting a failing grade.” Adopted by world leaders in 2015, the 17 ambitious development goals include 169 specific targets ranging from eradicating global poverty to promoting gender equality. However, the report reveals that nearly half of these targets are showing minimal or moderate progress, while more than a third are either stagnant or regressing.
Guterres attributed this lack of progress to the global community’s failure to secure peace, address climate change, and increase international finance. These challenges, he believes, are hindering development efforts. The report also highlighted the ongoing impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, noting that an additional 23 million people were pushed into extreme poverty, and over 100 million more faced hunger in 2022 compared to 2019.
“In a world of unprecedented wealth, knowledge, and technologies, the denial of basic needs for so many is outrageous and unacceptable,” Guterres remarked. The report identified several concerning trends, such as slower per-capita GDP growth in half of the world’s most vulnerable nations compared to advanced economies, which threatens improvements in equality. Additionally, nearly 60% of countries faced moderate to abnormally high food prices in 2022.
The goal of quality education is also far off track, with only 58% of students worldwide achieving minimum proficiency in reading by the end of primary school. Recent assessments have revealed significant declines in math and reading scores in many countries. Despite these challenges, the report highlighted some positive developments. Mobile broadband is now accessible to 95% of the world’s population, up from 78% in 2015.
The global capacity to generate electricity from renewable sources has been expanding at an unprecedented 8.1% annually for the past five years. Increased access to treatment has prevented over 20.8 million AIDS-related deaths in the past three decades, and new malaria vaccines being rolled out could save millions of lives. Additionally, girls in most regions are now achieving parity with boys in education, and many women are breaking glass ceilings.
However, Guterres emphasized that the speed and scale of change needed for sustainable development are still far too slow. He called for action to end wars, combat climate change, and invest in people and peace. The report highlighted a $4 trillion annual gap in the investments needed to help developing countries reach the sustainable development goals. Guterres urged increased efforts to deliver resources, reduce debt pressures and servicing costs, expand access to contingency financing for countries at risk of a cash flow crisis, and multiply the lending capacity of the World Bank and other development banks.
“We must not give up on our promises to end poverty, protect the planet, and leave no one behind,” the secretary-general concluded.