Why in news?
The United Nations released its mid‑year Sustainable Development Report 2025 in July 2025. The report warns that many global goals are off track.
Background
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were adopted by UN members in 2015 with a 2030 deadline. They cover poverty, hunger, health, education, climate and more. The annual report measures progress using global data.
Key findings
- Stalled progress: About 35 percent of measurable targets have either stagnated or regressed. Goals on zero hunger, quality education, clean water and sanitation, decent work and reduced inequalities show little movement.
- Worsening hunger: Around 9.1 percent of the global population faced hunger in 2023, and 2.33 billion people experienced moderate or severe food insecurity. Sub‑Saharan Africa remains the worst affected.
- Climate and poverty setbacks: The year 2024 was one of the hottest on record. Extreme poverty is rising again, affecting over 800 million people. Official development assistance declined by 7 percent.
- Financing gap: An annual gap of nearly US $4 trillion is estimated for achieving the SDGs. Developing countries struggle to raise funds and need debt relief and reform of international finance.
- Uneven progress: Some health indicators improved: new HIV and malaria infections fell, and skilled birth attendance reached around 86 percent. Social protection coverage expanded slightly.
Recommendations
- Transform food systems to ensure sustainable agriculture and nutrition security.
- Expand universal access to clean energy and foster digital connectivity.
- Promote inclusive education, decent work and social protection so that no one is left behind.
- Protect climate and biodiversity by phasing out fossil fuels and conserving oceans and forests.
- Strengthen data systems and transparency under frameworks such as the Medellín Framework to guide evidence‑based policies.
- Mobilise finance by reforming multilateral institutions and encouraging private investment aligned with SDGs.