UN Secretary General warns sustainable development goals are in jeopardy

17:18, 18/07/2023

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said progress on 50% of the Sustainable Development Goals is “weak and incomplete”, while more than 30% of the goals are stalled or reversed.

On July 17, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called on governments to step up action amid obstacles on the path towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Speaking at the opening of the ministerial meeting of the United Nations High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF), which took place from July 17-19, in New York City, the United States, Secretary-General Guterres said that progress on 50% of the SDG targets is currently “weak and incomplete.” Meanwhile, more than 30% of the targets have stalled or reversed.

He listed some of the pressing global issues today such as rising air pollution and inequality in many areas, hunger returning to 2005 levels and it will take another 300 years to achieve gender equality and nearly 600 million people will still be stuck in extreme poverty in 2030.

The COVID-19 pandemic, the Russia-Ukraine conflict, the climate crisis, and global political conflicts are said to have eroded fragile and limited progress on the SDG roadmap.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres at a press conference in New York, USA on July 17. Photo: Kyodo/VNA

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres at a press conference in New York, USA on July 17. Photo: Kyodo/VNA

On the financial front, Secretary-General Guterres warned that many countries are falling into debt, with 54 countries facing debt crises or at risk of default.

He said the current international financial architecture is not able to provide developing countries with long-term, affordable finance for development and climate action. Therefore, it is time to reform the Bretton Woods monetary system, ensuring a safe global financial network that is in line with the current world reality.

In addition, he called on the Group of 20 (G20) to propose a timeframe for establishing a new debt settlement mechanism this year, requiring developed countries to fully implement their commitment to provide $100 billion in climate finance, replenish the Green Climate Fund, and double funding for adaptation activities.

In addition, Mr. Guterres also asked the world to take action for climate, quickly address poverty, pollution and gender inequality in society, called on high-level politicians to take action to turn the SDG goals into reality, and urged the international community to lay the foundation for building joint efforts to help SDG implementation efforts go in the right direction.

Looking ahead to the United Nations Summit on Sustainable Development Goals in September this year, Mr. Guterres hopes that attending world leaders will propose clear commitments and roadmaps, aiming to reduce poverty and inequality by 2027 and 2030 respectively.

According to VNA/Vietnam+

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