Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) / 2030 Agenda

➡️ UN SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS Guide (2030 Agenda) - Limits & Deficits, A Critical Analysis

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the 2030 Agenda were adopted by United Nations member states in 2015. The SDGs are centred on 17 goals for sustainable development, with the aim of achieving them by 2030. These goals are universal, apply to all countries regardless of their level of development, and require global cooperation.

"Ours can be the first generation to end poverty – and the last generation to address climate change before it is too late." - Ban-Ki Moon

The goals cover a wide range of issues, including the eradication of poverty and hunger, gender equality, clean water and energy, education, climate and environmental protection, access to quality healthcare, decent working conditions, and peace.

Many of the SDGs are seriously behind target, or even in reverse. In fact, we are on track to meet only 17% of targets by 2030. The 2024 SDG Report revealed that progress on 50% of the targets is weak, and 30% have either stalled or actually worsened - a reassessment and expansion of the SDGs is urgently needed.

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Agenda 2030 is the political framework that supports the SDGs. It was adopted by the United Nations and sets clear goals and principles to achieve the ambitious global targets. The 2030 Agenda's philosophy, "Leave No One Behind," further emphasises the importance of inclusion and equality in creating a sustainable world.

We recommend following our excellent Twitter/X Lists for up-to-the-minute developments on the SDGs, and other related topics such as the United Nations, Sustainability, International development, and Peace.

For German speakers, be sure to check out our partner site Bessere Welt Info, where you will find resources on the SDGs from a European perspective, as well as a critical look at the deficits and limitations of the 17 goals.

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The SDGs Are Failing

Implementing the SDGs is a complex and ongoing process. We are just five years away from the deadline, but not five years away from achieving the goals. The Covid-19 pandemic effectively stalled three decades of steady progress. The world's poorest and most vulnerable continue to suffer the worst effects of unprecedented global challenges.

• POVERTY (Goal 1)

In 2022, 9% of the world's population lived in extreme poverty, just below the 10% threshold. This shows encouraging progression; however, recorded gains vary significantly from region to region.

• HEALTH (Goal 3)

By 2021, 133 countries had already met the SDG target on under-5 mortality, with a further 13 expected to do so by 2030. Life expectancy has also increased, though significant differences persist from country to country.

The UN annual State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World report revealed that the number of people suffering chronic hunger has barely changed over the past year. An estimated 733 million people faced hunger in 2023 – the equivalent of one in 11 people.

• EDUCATION (Goal 4)

Overall, a child beginning school today has a greater chance of completing their education than a child who started back in 2015. However, many obstacles created by the covid-19 pandemic and increasing instability and conflict have led to lacklustre results. To meet national targets, primary school completion rates need to triple by 2030.

• GENDER EQUALITY (Goal 5)

Over a quarter of targets for SDG 5 are 'far or very far' from the 2030 targets. The indicator for unpaid care and domestic work, a key barrier to women's empowerment, remains unmet by any country. Serious monitoring issues also exist, as only 48% of the data needed to measure progress accurately is available. This leaves women voiceless, massively hinders progress, and guarantees that issues such as gender-based violence and lack of female political representation continue unheeded.

• WATER (Goal 6)

An estimated 29% of the global population still lacks access to potable water, and 55% of people lack access to safely managed sanitation services. Half of the world's wastewater is left untreated, and with a serious lack of data, the figures on industrial wastewater are most likely far worse. Water scarcity, coupled with the growing occurrence of droughts, has become a major issue. Roughly 2.3 billion people now live in water-stressed areas. Rates of progress need to increase by at least 3 times.

• CLIMATE ACTION (Goal 13)

We are drastically off track from limiting global warming to 1.5°C. Emissions need to be already decreasing and by 2030 need to be cut in half in order to achieve this goal. The current pace and scale of climate action plans are entirely insufficient to address climate change. Extreme weather events are already becoming more frequent and intense, leaving no region of the Earth unaffected. In 2025, climate disasters cost the world between $120 billion and $162 billion.

• OCEANS & LIFE ON LAND (Goals 14 & 15)

Goals 14 and 15 are essential in the fight against biodiversity loss, extinction, deforestation, air pollution, desertification, soil degradation, and, of course, climate change. Of great concern is the lack of progress regarding life on land in Sub-Saharan Africa; 12 countries are currently in reverse, and 23 remain stagnant. Overall, forest cover continues to decline, albeit at a slower rate. Agricultural expansion remains the largest driver of tree loss. The number of red-listed species on the extinction list also continues to grow.

Regarding the conservation and sustainable use of our oceans, only 2% of countries are currently on target. Goals for our blue planet include ensuring a sustainable blue economy, whilst safeguarding marine life, preventing contamination, and taking a responsible approach to shipping, the fishing industry, and deep-sea mining.

• PEACE, JUSTICE & STRONG INSTITUTIONS (Goal 16)

As with all the SDGs, the goals are multifaceted. Goal 16 promotes human rights, social justice, democracy, freedom of speech, and the rule of law. It fights against corruption, greenwashing, impunity, repression, armed conflict, rampant military spending, and authoritarian regimes.

Global military spending hit a record $2.7 trillion in 2024. This marked the tenth consecutive year of increases. The year 2025 showed no signs of slowing.

These goals are interconnected; we cannot achieve one without the others. This snapshot reveals that the general trend towards progress is devastatingly slow and geographically unbalanced.

The Urgent Need for SDG Reform

Many experts claim that the SDG targets are simply not ambitious enough to bring about the profound changes needed to address such deep-rooted and consequential global issues. The environmental goals, in particular the goal of limiting global average temperatures, are simply not enough to prevent the catastrophic consequences of climate change. Many of the current failings and omissions are down to the unwillingness of states and large companies, which hold the biggest influence, to implement and monitor the goals.

Major military powers such as the USA, Great Britain, and Russia have no interest in the abolition of nuclear weapons. Authoritarian states such as Saudi Arabia and China do not want to give their citizens a voice through free elections. Large fossil fuel companies are blocking the energy transition and preventing sustainable environmental protection.

Other influential factors include unfair global trade agreements, the dominance of multinational corporations, and the destabilisation of financial markets, all of which are not addressed by the SDGs, nor recognised as barriers to sustainable development.

Neoliberal capitalism feeds off profits, greed, power, and corruption. They have taken precedence over social interests for far too long. As long as capitalism is king, unchecked pollution and climate change will continue unabated, as well as vast economic inequality, austerity, tax havens, repression, the inhumane treatment of refugees, and modern slavery.

The non-binding nature of the SDGs means that member states are under no legal obligation to actually achieve the goals. This ensures that governments enjoy complete impunity for their failure to implement.

This lack of commitment has created a significant imbalance in the progress of the SDGs between countries and regions. Where some countries have made significant advances, others are seriously lagging behind. Various other factors that influence a nation's ability to achieve its targets include insufficient funding, resource imbalances, weak political leadership, and current priorities.

Financing the SDGs has become a contentious issue. Success largely relies on the availability of significant financial resources, and there are concerns that the necessary funds simply cannot be mobilised. The current global economic climate, inflation, corruption, the effects of the Russian Invasion in Ukraine, spiralling military budgets, rising insecurity, and lack of international cooperation have all hindered progress.

There are also vast areas of concern that the SDGs simply overlook. Within the goals, there is no specific mention of nuclear weapons, trade agreements, the arms trade, biodiversity, extinction, tax justice, freedom of the press, digitalisation, or cybersecurity. With such gaping holes, the task of achieving sustainable development becomes futile.

The SDGs for a Better World

Despite our critique of the SDGs, we extend our immense support for their success and the progression of society as a whole. The SDGs remain a vital framework for improving the quality of life for everyone and addressing the planet's most pressing global challenges. They serve as guiding principles for governments, civil society, and the private sector to work together towards a more sustainable and just world.

Given the number of shortcomings, the lack of specific timeframes, and inadequate monitoring and funding, we believe the goals must be further developed and adapted to keep pace with the complex challenges of our time.

In the words of the United Nations, the SDGs provide "A shared blueprint for peace and prosperity for people and the planet, now and into the future."

In November 2025, the second ➡️ World Summit for Social Development was held to address persistent gaps and give momentum towards the implementation of the 2030 Agenda.

Countries recommitted to the principles outlined in the 1995 Copenhagen Declaration on Social Development and Programme of Action. The Doha Political Declaration was adopted by consensus on the first day of the summit after agreement by all nations that much more needs to be done to 'Leave No One Behind'.

Although this renewed commitment is a step in the right direction, success will remain limited as long as binding indicators and enforcement mechanisms are not in place. There was also very little discussion of funding at the summit.

As today's global problems become increasingly connected and multi-layered, we must ensure that issues such as pandemics, the consequences of climate change, and digitalisation are integrated into the goals. A critical reassessment of the SDGs would ensure that deficits are addressed and the goals expanded to incorporate missing areas.

The unequal distribution of wealth and access to opportunities between the global north and south must also be taken into consideration. Geographical location, political circumstances, and resource availability all affect a country's ability to implement actions towards the goals.

One thing is for sure: if large companies and world leaders continue to block sustainable environmental protection, comprehensive human rights, the energy transition, and disarmament projects, the implementation of the SDGs will fail.

Strict timelines, sanctions, and legally binding penalties for non-compliance are the only way to promote consistent pursuit of the goals. However, without a global consensus, there is little hope of ending impunity.

Through greater synergy, cooperation, and knowledge sharing, our aligned goals of peace and a better world for future generations will become achievable.

"Be a global citizen. Act with passion and compassion. Help us make this world safer and more sustainable today and for the generations that will follow us. That is our moral responsibility." - Ban-Ki Moon

Author: Rachael Mellor 06.10.23 (Updated 12.01.26) licensed under CC BY-ND 4.0 (Updated 31.01.25)

For more information on the SDGs see below ⬇️