The Sustainable Development Report 2021 was released on 21st June 2021.
The report ranks 193 UN member countries based on their performance against the 17 Sustainable Development Goals.
Major Observations
The report mentions that COVID-19 pandemic is a setback for sustainable development around the world.
Driven by Poverty and Unemployment, for the first time since its adoption, the global average SDG Index score for 2020 decreased from the previous year. According to the report, the pandemic is the anti-thesis to sustainable development and economic recovery.
Zoonotic diseases and other pathogens will increase, with even higher possibilities of fatalities, if damages to ecosystems and nature continue.
Climate change will lead to a sharp rise in natural disasters, such as droughts, typhoons, rising sea levels, and heat waves.
Rich countries generate negative international spillovers that undermine other countries’ ability to achieve the SDGs. Tax havens and profit shifting in many rich countries undermine other countries’ ability to mobilize needed financial resources to achieve the SDGs.
India Related Findings
India ranks 120 out of 165 countries with a score of 60.1.
Only on SDG 6 (Clean water and sanitation) and SDG 13 (Climate Action), India is on track to maintain its SDG achievement.
On SDG 4 (Quality Education) and SDG 15 (Life on Land), India’s progress has declined.
