World Falling Behind on Sustainable Development Goals, U.N. Report Reveals

The world is significantly off track in achieving the sustainable development targets set in 2015, according to a recent United Nations report. These targets, known as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), aim to address critical issues such as poverty, hunger, education, health care, clean energy, and biodiversity by 2030. However, the report highlights severe funding shortfalls, geopolitical tensions, and the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic as major obstacles.

The U.N.’s annual Sustainable Development Report evaluates the performance of its 193 member states in implementing the 17 SDGs. Alarmingly, it found that none of the goals are on course to be met by the 2030 deadline. The report noted “limited or a reversal of progress” in most areas and called for urgent action to address chronic funding deficiencies and to reform the U.N. system itself.

Guillaume Lafortune, Vice President at the U.N. Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) and lead author of the report, emphasized that progress was inadequate even before the pandemic. “What this report is showing is that even before the pandemic hit, progress was already too slow,” Lafortune said. “Once the pandemic hit, and other crises – including military conflicts – then it is a story of stagnation.”

The report highlighted specific areas of concern, such as hunger eradication, the creation of sustainable cities, and biodiversity protection on land and water. Political issues, including press freedom, have also seen a “reversal of progress.” Finland, Sweden, and Denmark were praised for their top rankings in SDG performance, with China also making faster-than-average progress. In contrast, the world’s poorest countries are falling further behind.

Lafortune stressed the need for developing countries to gain more access to international finance. He suggested that institutions like credit rating agencies should consider a country’s long-term environmental and economic well-being, rather than just short-term financial metrics.

Additionally, the report assessed countries based on their willingness to cooperate globally through U.N. institutions. The United States ranked last in this regard. Lafortune pointed out that while most countries Support global collaboration, some major powers do not adhere to these cooperative norms.

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