UN Secretary-General Calls for Global Plan to Revive SDGs

• 19 Sep 2023

Recently, UN Secretary-General emphasized the urgency of a global plan to reinvigorate the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which are significantly behind schedule in achieving their 2030 targets.

Key Points

• Challenges Ahead: UN Secretary General addressed world leaders at a high-level forum in the UN, where a political declaration was adopted to expedite efforts toward the 17 SDGs.
• Slow Progress: Despite their adoption in 2015 with a pledge to "leave no one behind," only 15% of the 169 targets within the 17 SDGs are currently on track, while some are regressing.
• Ambitious Action: The political declaration presents an opportunity to accelerate SDG progress. It includes a commitment to financing developing countries, support for a proposed SDG Stimulus of at least $500 billion annually, and an effective debt-relief mechanism.
• Reforming Finance: The declaration also advocates reforming the business model of multilateral development banks to offer more affordable private finance for developing nations and reforming the international finance architecture.

Key Areas of Focus

• Hunger Alleviation: Addressing hunger is a top priority, as millions of people continue to suffer from food insecurity.
• Renewable Energy Transition: The transition to renewable energy needs to accelerate.
• Quality Education: Ensuring quality education for children and youth is vital.
• Decent Work and Social Protection: Creating decent jobs and extending social protection are essential.
• Protecting the Environment: Combating climate change, pollution, and biodiversity loss is critical.
• Gender Equality: Promoting gender equality and ending gender-based violence are integral to achieving these goals.