The 2024 Sustainable Development Goals Report reveals that nearly half of the 17 targets are making minimal or moderate progress, while over a third are stalled or regressing since their adoption by UN Member States in 2015 to promote global peace and prosperity.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres, at a press conference for the report’s launch, likened it to an annual SDG report card, indicating the world is failing. “Our inability to secure peace, tackle climate change, and enhance international finance is hindering development. We must hasten our efforts towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, and we cannot afford any delays,” he asserted.
The Report cited the ongoing effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, rising conflicts, geopolitical tensions, and worsening climate crises as major barriers to progress.
It highlighted that an additional 23 million people fell into extreme poverty, and over 100 million more experienced hunger in 2022 compared to 2019. The number of civilian deaths in armed conflicts also surged last year.
Furthermore, 2023 was the hottest year on record, with global temperatures nearing the critical 1.5°C threshold.
Guterres underscored the need for enhanced international cooperation, saying, “We must not abandon our 2030 promise to end poverty, protect the planet, and leave no one behind.”
The report identified key priorities to address the challenges.
Foremost, it emphasized the need for development financing. The SDG investment gap in developing countries stands at $4 trillion per year. It is crucial to rapidly increase funding and fiscal space and reform the global financial system to unlock necessary funds.
Resolving conflicts through dialogue and diplomacy is also crucial. With nearly 120 million forcibly displaced people by May 2024 and a 72 percent increase in civilian casualties between 2022 and 2023, the need for peace is more urgent than ever.
Additionally, a surge in implementation is desperately needed. Massive investments and effective partnerships are essential to drive transitions in key areas such as food, energy, social protection, and digital connectivity.
The report precedes the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF), set to take place at the UN Headquarters in New York from July 8 to 17.
Under the auspices of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), the Forum will review global progress towards Goal 1 (ending poverty), Goal 2 (zero hunger), Goal 13 (climate action), Goal 16 (peaceful and inclusive societies), and Goal 17 (means of implementation).
The upcoming Summit of the Future in September will be pivotal in realigning efforts towards achieving the Goals. The Summit aims to address the debt crisis affecting many developing countries and the urgent need to reform international financial architecture.
The SDG Report also highlights stark economic challenges, with per-capita gross domestic product (GDP) growth in half of the world’s most vulnerable nations being slower than in advanced economies.
Nearly 60 percent of countries faced abnormally high food prices in 2022, exacerbating hunger and food insecurity.
Gender inequality remains a significant issue, with 55 percent of 120 surveyed countries lacking laws prohibiting discrimination against women.
Education is another concern, with only 58 percent of students worldwide achieving minimum proficiency in reading by the end of primary school.
Despite global unemployment reaching a historic low of five percent in 2023, many obstacles to achieving decent work across all societies persist.
However, there are positive developments in renewable energy, which has expanded at a rate of 8.1 percent annually over the past five years.
Technological advancements have also seen significant strides, with mobile broadband accessibility (3G or higher) increasing to 95 percent of the world’s population from 78 percent in 2015.
