SGGP
The world's goals of eradicating extreme poverty, improving access to drinking water, and taking steps toward sustainable development for all of humanity are "in jeopardy." This is the warning issued by the United Nations in its latest report.
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| People line up to get water at Yazarthingyan Lake, near Yangon, Myanmar. Photo: REUTERS |
Alarming numbers
In September 2015, the UN General Assembly unanimously adopted 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) aimed at eradicating poverty, combating inequality, and addressing climate change, with the goal of ensuring peace and prosperity for all by 2030. Using the latest available data and estimates, the UN has produced the report “Sustainable Development Goals 2023: Special Edition,” providing a comprehensive assessment of the progress in implementing the SDGs.
The report indicates that the combined impacts of the climate crisis, the conflict in Ukraine, the bleak global economic outlook, and the lasting effects of the Covid-19 pandemic have exposed systemic weaknesses and hampered progress toward the SDGs. According to the report, 50% of the 140 assessable targets showed moderate or significant deviations; more than 30% of these targets recorded no progress, or even regressions from the 2015 baseline.
The UN also highlighted how the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic has hampered three decades of steady progress in reducing extreme poverty, with the number of people living in extreme poverty increasing for the first time in a generation. If this trend continues, the UN warns that by 2030, 575 million people will remain in extreme poverty. “It is truly shocking to learn that the world is returning to levels of hunger not seen since 2005. Around 2.3 billion people faced moderate or severe food insecurity in 2021, and child malnutrition remains a global concern,” the report stated.
It is estimated that by 2030, 84 million children and young people will not be in school. The report also states that the poorest and most vulnerable in the world are bearing the brunt of these unprecedented global challenges.
We must act together.
The report also highlighted positive achievements in several areas since 2015 that demonstrate the potential for further progress. Specifically, the percentage of the global population with access to electricity increased from 87% in 2015 to 91% in 2021, with an additional 800 million people gaining access to the grid. Internet access has increased by 65% since 2015, reaching 5.3 billion connected in 2022. Such significant development achievements demonstrate that the world can achieve breakthroughs toward a better future for all through a combination of collective action and strong political will, as well as the effective use of available technologies, resources, and knowledge.
In the report, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres emphasized that humanity is at a time of truth and reflection. He called on all member states to make 2023 the starting point for progress toward the SDGs, thereby creating a more peaceful and prosperous future for all.
Supporting developing countries in combating climate change.
At the US-UK Financing Forum held in the UK on July 10th, financial leaders, businesspeople, and humanitarian organizations pledged more than $2 billion to reduce CO2 emissions and enhance climate resilience in Africa, Asia, and Latin America.
Notably, a new funding initiative was established between Builders Vision, Mitsui & Co., and Renewable Resources Group Partnership, aimed at addressing the impact of climate change on supply chains in agriculture, energy, and natural resource development. Representatives from these corporations committed to investing at least $1 billion in initial projects in emerging markets, applying natural methods such as regenerative farming and sustainable water management, and developing products and systems that minimize negative environmental impacts.
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