As the 2030 deadline for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) approaches, the world stands at a critical juncture. When the SDGs were adopted in 2015, they were hailed as a transformative global blueprint—a roadmap to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure prosperity for all. These 17 goals represented a shared vision for a sustainable future, a commitment from every nation to tackle the most pressing challenges of our time.
Yet, as we approach the six-year countdown to 2030, the ambitious dreams of the SDGs face unwanted realities. This year’s Sustainable Development Goals Report - a comprehensive assessment of global progress, developed by te United Nations on the current status of the Sustainable Development Goals - delivers a sobering message: we are severely off track. The report reveals that only 17% of the targets are on course to be achieved by 2030, with nearly half showing moderate to marginal progress, and over a third experiencing stagnation or even regression.
This bleak outlook is compounded by the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, escalating conflicts, economic instability, and the accelerating climate crisis. These interconnected challenges have not only stalled progress but, in many cases, have reversed hard-won gains. The pandemic alone pushed millions back into extreme poverty, while conflicts around the world have displaced record numbers of people, and the worsening climate crisis threatens to undo decades of development efforts.
The urgency to act has never been greater, especially after this backdrop, and the global community must confront these challenges with renewed determination and a willingness to adopt bold, transformative measures. In this article, we delve into the current status of each SDG, drawing on key data and insights from the 2024 report. We explore where progress is being made, where it is falling short, and what must be done to get back on track. Let's examine where we stand and what needs to change
Drawbacks and Challenges
SDG 1: No Poverty
Global Extreme Poverty: Data shows that in 2022, 712 million people lived in extreme poverty. By definition, this means living on less than $2.15 per day, representing 9% of the world’s population, which is an increase of 23 million people from the 2019 figures. If current trends persist, by 2030, 590 million people (6.9% of the global population) will still be in extreme poverty.
Regional Disparities: In the 75 most vulnerable countries (those qualifying for concessional lending from the World Bank’s International Development Association), one in four people live in extreme poverty, more than eight times the rate in the rest of the world.
Social Protection: Last year, a mere fraction of 28.2% of children (0 to 15 years old) globally received child cash benefits, resulting in the staggering value of 1.4 billion children without social protection. To achieve universal coverage and basic social security, there is the need for investment of $59.6 billion from low-income countries, while lower- and upper-middle-income countries require $88.8 billion and $98.1 billion, respectively.
SDG 2: Zero Hunger
Hunger and Food Insecurity: Around 733 million people faced hunger in 2023, whereas 2.33 billion experienced moderate to severe food insecurity. The prevalence of undernourishment has remained high in the past four years, affecting 9.1% of the global population in 2023, compared to 7.5% in 2019.
Child Malnutrition: In 2022, 148 million children under the age of five were stunted, representing 22.3% of all children in this age group. One in five children under five will be affected by stunting by 2030, if current trends maintain.
Small-Scale Food Producers: Small-scale food producers, who play a crucial role in agricultural systems, earn less than half the income of larger-scale producers. This income disparity is consistent across different countries, regardless of income level.
SDG 3: Good Health and Well-Being
Life Expectancy: The COVID-19 pandemic reversed nearly a decade of progress in global life expectancy, which dropped from 73.1 years in 2019 to 71.4 years in 2021, returning to 2012 levels.
Maternal Mortality: The global maternal mortality ratio slightly declined from 227 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2015 to 223 in 2020, but this is still more than three times the 2030 target of 70. In low-income countries, the ratio was 430 in 2020, compared to just 13 in high-income nations.
Universal Health Coverage: The global score for essential health service coverage increased from 65 in 2015 to 68 in 2021. Despite this progress, about 4.5 billion people still lacked coverage in 2021, with financial difficulties related to health-related expenditures affecting 2 billion people in 2019.
SDG 4: Quality Education
Learning Outcomes: The COVID-19 pandemic severely impacted education, leading to declines in student math and reading skills. These setbacks threaten the future prosperity of many countries as students struggle to achieve core competencies and postpone their learning curve.
School Attendance: While global data on specific attendance rates were not highlighted in detail, the report emphasizes that disruptions to education have placed this SDG at serious risk, with many countries needing to accelerate efforts to ensure that all children receive quality education.
SDG 5: Gender Equality
Gender Disparities: Progress towards gender equality remains slow, with deep-rooted disparities continuing in various sectors. Despite some improvements, significant gaps persist in areas such as economic participation, education, and health, especially in low-income countries.
Violence Against Women: The report highlights that violence against women and girls continues to be a spreading issue globally, although detailed figures on the prevalence were not provided in the overview sections reviewed.
SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation
Access to Clean Water: Progress has been made in increasing access to clean water and sanitation, but the pace is insufficient to meet the 2030 targets. Water scarcity, pollution, and inadequate infrastructure are ongoing challenges, particularly in low-income countries where water and sanitation services are most needed.
Sanitation Services: While there is some improvement, billions of people still lack access to safely managed sanitation services, a crucial factor in combating diseases and improving health outcomes.
Growing Water Stress: Global water stress has increased, particularly in Northern Africa and Western Asia, where stress levels have reached critical levels. This poses a severe threat to sustainable development, particularly in agriculture, which consumes the majority of freshwater resources.
SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
Energy Stress: In 2022, the number of people lacking access to electricity grew by 10 million, compared to 2021, reaching 685 million, marking the first increase in a decade However, this value is due to population growth. This setback is attributed to disruptions from the COVID-19 pandemic and the Ukraine conflict, highlighting vulnerabilities in energy access efforts.
Persistent Regional Disparities: Sub-Saharan Africa remains a major concern, with 83% of the global electricity access deficit, amounting to 570 million people in 2022. In contrast, Central and Southern Asia have made significant progress, reducing their access deficit substantially.
Insufficient Progress: Global primary energy intensity has seen only marginal improvements, with a 0.8% increase in 2021, well below the needed 4% annual improvement to meet the 2030 target. This slow progress is influenced by a shift toward energy-intensive industries and strong post-pandemic economic recovery.
SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
Global Unemployment Trends: In 2023, the global unemployment rate fell to a historic low of 5%, reflecting some recovery in the job market. However, persistent challenges remain, especially for women and youth who face higher unemployment rates. Informal employment is a significant global issue, with over 2 billion workers in informal jobs lacking social protection. In regions like sub-Saharan Africa and Central and Southern Asia, nearly 9 in 10 workers are informally employed.
Labour Rights: Labour rights have deteriorated globally, with compliance with fundamental labour rights, such as freedom of association and collective bargaining, declining. From 2015 to 2022, the global average score for national compliance with labour rights worsened, reflecting increased violations and restrictions on civil liberties.
SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
Mobile Broadband Coverage: Despite progress, a 5% global mobile broadband coverage gap persists, with significant disparities in regions like Oceania and sub-Saharan Africa. In the least developed countries (LDCs) and landlocked developing countries (LLDCs), 18% of the population still lacks access to mobile broadband.
CO2 Emissions: While the intensity of CO2 emissions per unit of GDP has decreased, global emissions reached a record high of 37.4 gigatons in 2023. The primary driver of emissions growth was coal, accounting for over 65% of the increase. Although emissions intensity in manufacturing decreased by 16% from 2015 to 2021, this reduction has been insufficient to offset the overall rise in global emissions.
SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
Income Inequality: For the first time this century, half of the world’s most vulnerable countries are seeing slower economic growth compared to wealthier nations, widening the global income gap. The report underscores the urgent need for more equitable policies to reduce these disparities.
Wage Stagnation and Labor's Share of GDP: Labor's share of GDP has resumed its long-term decline, dropping to 52.7% in 2021. Despite productivity gains, workers' wages have stagnated, increasing income inequality as capital returns rise.
Refugee and Migrant Crisis: 2023 registered record values for the highest number of refugees (37.4 million) and the deadliest year for migrants, with over 8,000 deaths. Syria, Venezuela and South Sudan represent the top three affected countries, with 21,081, 17,326 and 17,015 refugees per 100,000 people, respectively, highlighting the need for safer migration pathways.
SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
Urban Sprawl vs. Densification: From 2000 to 2020, cities expanded outward up to 3.7 times faster than they densified, leading to environmental degradation, loss of open spaces, and increased pollution. This unregulated growth negatively impacts quality of life and sustainable development.
Public Transportation Access: Only 60% of urban residents have convenient access to public transit, with the situation worse in Least Developed Countries (LDCs), where less than 40% have adequate access. Expanding public transportation is crucial for inclusive urban development.
Rising Urban Challenges: With nearly 70% of the global population projected to live in cities by 2050, developing critical infrastructure, affordable housing, and efficient transport systems is essential to create resilient and sustainable urban environments.
SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
Circular Economy: Achieving SDG 12 requires a shift towards circular economy models, reducing resource use and emissions at every production stage. However, progress is contingent on strong regulatory frameworks, financial incentives, and increased public awareness, areas where many countries still lag.
Food Waste: Global food waste reached 1.05 billion metric tons in 2022, with households contributing 60% of this waste. Despite this, only 9 countries included food waste in their climate action plans. The scale of waste contrasts starkly with the hunger crisis, highlighting inefficiencies in food distribution and the urgent need for action.
E-Waste Management: The rapid increase in e-waste, now at 62 million metric tons, poses a major environmental challenge. Only 22% of e-waste is sustainably managed, with low collection rates in many regions, particularly in lower-income countries. This leads to environmental pollution and health risks, particularly in the informal sector.
SDG 13: Climate Action
Global Temperature Rise: 2023 was the warmest year on record, with global temperatures dangerously close to the 1.5°C lower limit set by the Paris Agreement. Also, Greenhouse gas emissions reached new highs in 2022, with a total of 57.4 gigatons of CO2 equivalent (Gt CO2e), with no signs of slowing down.
Need for Immediate Action: To avoid catastrophic climate impacts, global greenhouse gas emissions must be reduced by 42% by 2030 to maintain a chance of limiting warming to 1.5°C. This requires an unprecedented annual reduction of 8.7%. Current national policies and pledges fall short, with only a 14% chance of staying within the 1.5°C target.
Disaster Preparedness: The frequency of climate-related disasters has increased five times over the past 50 years. Although improved preparedness and early warning systems have reduced mortality rates, the number of people affected by disasters continues to rise, especially in least-developed countries (LDCs). LDCs suffer disproportionately, with significantly higher disaster-related mortality rates and affected populations.
Climate Finance: While developed countries finally met the $100 billion annual climate finance goal in 2022, this amount is vastly insufficient. The UN estimates that nearly $6 trillion is needed by 2030 to support developing countries' climate action plans. Negotiations are ongoing to establish a new climate finance goal post-2025, starting from a minimum of $100 billion annually, but significantly more funds will be required to meet global needs.
SDG 14: Life Below Water
Coral Reefs in Crisis: Record high ocean temperatures have triggered the fourth global coral bleaching event, affecting 53 countries and territories. Coral reefs, which support a quarter of marine species and provide crucial resources for coastal communities, are experiencing severe stress. With sea surface temperatures reaching unprecedented levels, up to 90% of coral reefs could be lost by 2050 if warming reaches 1.5°C, and up to 99% at 2°C.
Fish Stocks and Overfishing: Global fishery resources have declined in sustainability, with only 62.3% of fish stocks considered biologically sustainable in 2021, compared to the previous 64.6% in 2019. Overfishing, pollution, and poor management are contributing to this decline. The sustainability of fish stocks varies widely by region, with some areas facing severe overfishing while others are relatively well-managed.
SDG 15: Life on Land
Global Forest Loss: The world continues to lose forest cover, with the proportion of forest area decreasing from 31.9% to 31.2% of total land area between 2000 and 2020. This net loss of nearly 100 million hectares is driven predominantly by agricultural expansion, which accounts for almost 90% of global deforestation. Small-scale farming is the major contributor to deforestation in Africa, while large-scale farming, especially for livestock and oil palm plantations, is more prevalent in South America and Asia.
Biodiversity Decline: The Red List Index, which measures the risk of extinction, has deteriorated by 12% from 1993 to 2024. Over 44,000 species, representing 28% of assessed species, are currently threatened. The most impacted groups include cycads and amphibians, with severe declines observed in Central and Southern Asia and Eastern and South-Eastern Asia.
Illegal Wildlife Trade: The illegal wildlife trade has been increasing, especially since 2017, and peaked during the COVID-19 pandemic. Wildlife seizures made up 1.9% and 1.4% of global wildlife trade in 2020 and 2021, respectively. This illegal trade affects around 4,000 species and poses a significant threat to global biodiversity, exacerbating issues such as habitat loss and climate change.
SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions
Conflict and Violence: Armed conflicts, violence, and weak institutions are major barriers to achieving sustainable development. The report notes that the number of forcibly displaced people has reached unprecedented levels, driven by conflicts in regions such as Ukraine, Sudan, and Gaza.
Civilian Casualties in Armed Conflicts: Civilian deaths in armed conflicts surged by 72% in 2023, the steepest increase since 2015. This rise has reversed a previously declining trend, with over 33,400 civilian casualties reported. The increase includes a troubling rise in the number of women and children killed. Conflicts have caused immense human suffering, especially in regions like Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory.
Bribery and Corruption: Approximately 19% of people reported being asked to pay or having paid a bribe to a public official in the last 12 months. Bribery was felt more in Oceania and sub-Saharan Africa, where an average of 29.7% and 26.6% of the population, respectively, identified acts of bribery. High-income countries experience lower bribery rates, highlighting disparities in governance and transparency.
SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals
Investment Gaps: Developing countries face a staggering annual investment gap of about $4 trillion to achieve the SDGs. Of this, approximately $2.2 trillion is needed for the energy transition alone. This gap has increased by 60% from the $2.5 trillion estimated in 2019 due to ongoing global challenges, including the COVID-19 pandemic, and crises related to food, fuel, and financing.
Foreign Direct Investment (FDI): Global FDI flows decreased to $1.33 trillion in 2023, a 2% drop from 2022, and were 10% lower than pre-pandemic levels. FDI flows to developing countries fell by 7% to $867 billion, indicating a decline or stagnation across most regions.
Internet Access: About 67% of the world’s population was online in 2023. While internet usage has increased, there remains a significant gap in access, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa and Oceania. Investments in infrastructure and affordable internet access are essential for inclusive development and bridging the digital divide.
But it's not all drawbacks. There is also progress in some targets. Despite the challenges faced, advancements have been made in some areas.
Progress and Opportunities
SDG 1: No Poverty
Social Protection: There has been an increase in social protection coverage for children, rising from 22.1% in 2015 to 28.2% in 2023.
Pre-Pandemic Recovery: By 2022, extreme poverty rates had returned to pre-pandemic levels in most countries except low-income ones. This indicates a partial recovery from the initial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, though significant disparities remain.
SDG 2: Zero Hunger
Child Malnutrition: There has been a reduction in the global stunting rate among children under five, from 24.6% in 2015 to 22.3% in 2022.
Aid for Agriculture: Between 2015 and 2022, global spending on agriculture hit a record high of $749 billion. Aid to developing countries for agriculture also grew by 47.2%, reaching $18.1 billion. This boost in aid was particularly notable in Africa, driven by significant loans for agricultural projects. Despite an initial dip in spending relative to agriculture’s GDP contribution due to pandemic-related shifts, funding for agriculture has rebounded.
SDG 3: Good Health and Well-Being
HIV/AIDS and Tuberculosis: Significant progress has been made in reducing HIV infections and tuberculosis deaths. Access to life-saving treatment for HIV has averted millions of deaths. New Infections were reduced by 27% since 2015, and 29.8 million of the 39 million people living with HIV received life-saving treatment in 2022.
Under-5 Mortality Rate: Reached a historic low of 4.9 million deaths in 2022, a significant decrease from 9.9 million in 2000.
Neonatal Mortality Rate: Fell to 17 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2022, showing a 44% reduction since 2000.
SDG 4: Quality Education
General Progress: Despite setbacks, many countries are still committed to improving education, with ongoing efforts to recover from the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
SDG 5: Gender Equality
Educational Parity: In many regions, girls have achieved parity or even surpassed boys in school completion rates at all levels.
SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation
Improved Access: Between 2015 and 2022, there was an increase in the proportion of the population using safely managed drinking water (from 69% to 73%), sanitation (from 49% to 57%), and basic hygiene services (from 67% to 75%).
Efficiency Improvements: Global water use efficiency has increased by 19% from 2015 to 2021, with significant improvements in agriculture (36%), industry (31%), and services (6.3%). This shows a positive trend towards more sustainable water usage, although disparities remain across regions.
SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
Renewable Energy: Globally, the per capita installed capacity for generating electricity from renewable sources nearly doubled from 250 watts in 2015 to 424 watts in 2022. This represents significant growth, particularly in developing countries, where capacity rose from 155 to 293 watts per capita.
Gains in Clean Cooking Access: The global access deficit for clean cooking fell to 26% in 2022, down from 36% in 2015. Regions like Eastern and South-Eastern Asia and Central and Southern Asia have seen consistent improvements, demonstrating progress in reducing reliance on polluting fuels.
SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
Working Poverty: The global working poverty rate declined to 6.9% in 2023 from 7.7% in 2020. However, 241 million workers still live in extreme poverty, with significant regional disparities, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa where working poverty remains high.
Tourism Sector Recovery: The tourism sector, heavily impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, showed signs of recovery in 2022, reaching 82% of its 2019 economic contribution. However, challenges remain, particularly for small island developing States and regions like in the Oceania continent, where tourism has not fully recovered.
SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
Manufacturing Sector Growth: Since 2022, global manufacturing sector growth has plateaued at around 2.7% annually, and this stagnation is expected to continue into 2024. This slow growth is attributed to the lingering impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, geopolitical tensions, inflation, and logistical challenges. The global manufacturing value added per capita increased by 16% from 2015 to 2023, yet the sector's contribution to overall economic activity has only marginally improved.
Manufacturing Employment: The global share of manufacturing employment declined from 14.3% in 2015 to 14.1% in 2022, with most regions witnessing a drop due to the pandemic and ongoing geopolitical crises. Despite this, sub-Saharan Africa and Central and Southern Asia saw slight increases in manufacturing employment.
SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
Decline in People Living Below Half the Median Income: The global share of people living on less than half the median income has decreased, from 12.8% pre-pandemic to 12.1% post-pandemic, largely due to effective social assistance programs in wealthier countries.
SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
Urbanization and Slum Dwellers: Over half of the world's population now lives in cities. However, about 25% of urban dwellers live in slums, with the global slum population reaching 1.1 billion in 2022. Despite some progress, slum populations are increasing in regions like sub-Saharan Africa.
Air Quality Improvements: Global air quality has improved, with PM2.5 levels dropping by 9% from 2010-2014 to 2015-2019. However, air pollution still exceeds safe levels, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa and Northern Africa.
SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
Policy Implementation: Countries have improved adherence to international environmental agreements on hazardous waste and chemicals. From 2019 to 2023, 62 countries and the EU reported 516 policies promoting sustainable consumption and production, with a significant rise in sustainability reporting by companies.
Material Consumption: Although global material consumption and footprints have expanded, the growth rates have slowed. Regions like Eastern and South-Eastern Asia, Europe, and Northern America have seen a deceleration, reflecting shifts towards more sustainable consumption practices.
SDG 13: Climate Action
2025 NDCs Cycle: The upcoming 2025 cycle of nationally determined contributions (NDCs) presents a critical opportunity for countries to enhance their climate action plans. These NDCs must be more ambitious, cover all sectors and greenhouse gases, and align with the goal of limiting global warming to 1.5°C.
SDG 14: Life Below Water
Marine Protected Areas (MPAs): As of May 2024, there are 18,200 marine protected areas (MPAs) covering over 29 million square kilometers, representing 8.12% of the ocean. This marks a significant increase since 2000, but progress has stalled since 2020. Achieving the SDG target of protecting 10% of the ocean by 2030 requires the effective management of additional key biodiversity areas.
SDG 15: Life on Land
Global Commitments: There is a growing global commitment to biodiversity conservation, reflected in increased funding and the adoption of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. This framework aims to halt biodiversity loss and enhance conservation efforts worldwide.
Access and Benefit-Sharing Instruments: Efforts to implement access and benefit-sharing instruments are underway, which can support biodiversity conservation by ensuring fair sharing of benefits arising from the use of genetic resources.
Integration of Biodiversity Values: Integrating biodiversity values into national accounting systems can help emphasize the importance of ecosystems and promote more informed decision-making.
SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions
Human Rights Defenders and Journalists: In 2023, 320 human rights defenders, journalists, and trade unionists were killed, a decrease from 448 in 2022. However, killings of journalists in conflict zones rose sharply, with Latin America and the Caribbean being the deadliest regions. Enforced disappearances also nearly doubled.
SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals
Official Development Assistance (ODA): In 2023, ODA from Development Assistance Committee (DAC) members totaled $223.7 billion, representing 0.37% of members' combined gross national income. This marked a 1.8% increase in real terms from 2022 and a 47% rise from 2015. The increase was primarily due to aid for Ukraine, humanitarian assistance, and contributions to international organizations.
Remittances: Remittances to low- and middle-income countries reached $669 billion in 2023, reflecting a post-pandemic normalization. Despite their resilience, the global average cost of sending a $200 remittance was 6.4%, well above the SDG target of 3%. Reducing remittance costs and worker-paid recruitment costs can enhance their development impact.
These positive developments highlight areas where progress is being made, even as significant challenges remain to fully achieve the SDGs by 2030.
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