New York: Addressing ministers at UN Headquarters in New York, Secretary-General António Guterres called for urgent action to rescue lagging Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) amid ongoing challenges such as war, inequality, and fiscal strain. He emphasized that transformation is not only necessary but possible, citing recent landmark commitments like the Pandemic Agreement at the World Health Assembly in Geneva, pledges to expand marine protected areas at the UN Ocean Conference in Nice, and the new vision for global finance agreed upon in Sevilla.
According to EMM, these developments are not isolated victories but signs of momentum that demonstrate multilateralism’s capacity to deliver. Currently, only 35 percent of SDG targets are on track or making moderate progress, while nearly half are progressing too slowly, and 18 percent are regressing. Guterres urged governments to act with urgency and ambition, stating, “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.”
He also pointed out gains since 2015, such as expanded social protection, declining rates of child marriage, and increased women’s representation, asserting that the SDGs remain achievable if world leaders channel resources and political will. Guterres linked development and peace, noting ongoing violence in regions like Gaza, Sudan, Myanmar, and Ukraine, and called for immediate ceasefires and renewed commitment to diplomacy.
Bob Rae, President of the Economic and Social Council, echoed Guterres’ call, emphasizing the need for deeper solidarity amid global disruptions, including climate change and economic instability. Rae stressed that the SDGs are essential commitments and called for doubling down on multilateral obligations. He warned that shrinking national budgets and rising nationalist politics are hindering progress but insisted that multilateralism provides tangible benefits at all societal levels.
Philémon Yang, President of the General Assembly, highlighted the importance of aligning political commitments with concrete action. He praised initiatives like the Compromiso de Sevilla and last year’s Pact for the Future, which aim to reform financial systems, scale up climate finance, and enhance international tax cooperation. Yang warned that the deadlines for the 2030 Agenda are fast approaching and urged for solidarity, resources, and political will to close the gap between ambition and delivery.
The High-level Political Forum (HLPF), established at the Rio+20 UN Conference on Sustainable Development in 2012, serves as the main UN platform for monitoring SDG progress. The forum, running until 23 July under the auspices of the ECOSOC, focuses on five goals: health, gender equality, decent work, life below water, and global partnerships. More than 150 countries have presented Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs), with 36 reporting this year, showcasing national efforts and challenges in implementing the 2030 Agenda.
Guterres praised these reviews as acts of accountability and templates for other countries to follow and learn from. With only five years remaining to meet the global goals, he urged ministers to transform these sparks of transformation into significant progress for all nations.