United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has issued a stark warning that the world remains significantly off course in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by the 2030 deadline.
Speaking at the UN Headquarters in New York during the opening of the ministerial segment of the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF), Guterres called on global leaders to take urgent action to revive the faltering progress.
The HLPF serves as the UN’s primary platform for reviewing the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals.
“With only five years left, we must transform sparks of progress into a blaze of advancement that benefits all countries,” Guterres urged.
He presented a sobering update:
“Only 35 per cent of SDG targets are currently on track or showing moderate progress. Nearly half are advancing too slowly, and 18 per cent are actually regressing.”
Also Read: UN Reports 89% of Infants Received DTP Vaccine in 2024
The Secretary-General pointed to global challenges such as armed conflicts, deepening inequality, and mounting fiscal pressures as key obstacles hindering SDG achievement.
He called for renewed multilateral cooperation, increased investment, and political will to put the world back on course before the 2030 deadline.
“The Sustainable Development Goals are not a dream. They are a plan, a plan to keep our promises to the most vulnerable people, to each other and to future generations.”
The Secretary-General was, however, optimistic thay salvaging SDGs was still possible and countries must act now.
Citing gains since 2015, including expanded social protection, declining child marriage and growing women’s representation, he said the SDGs remain “within reach” if world leaders channel resources and political will.
The Secretary-General also linked development and peace, noting ongoing violence in Gaza, Sudan, Myanmar, Ukraine and elsewhere.
“At every step, we know sustainable peace requires sustainable development,” he said, calling for immediate ceasefires and renewed commitment to diplomacy.
Citing new global agreements on pandemic preparedness, ocean protection and development financing, Guterres said recent “signs of momentum” showed multilateralism could still deliver.
“Transformation is not only necessary, it is possible,” he declared, highlighting landmark commitments adopted in recent months.
These include the Pandemic Agreement at the World Health Assembly in Geneva and pledges to expand marine protected areas at the third UN Ocean Conference in Nice.
The others are the new vision for global finance agreed in Sevilla, Spain at the fourth International Financing for Development Conference.
“These are not isolated wins, they are signs of momentum and signs that multilateralism can deliver,” the UN chief stressed
