The Global Goals and Agenda 2030 represent the most ambitious agreement for sustainable development that world leaders have ever adopted. The concept of sustainable development integrates the three dimensions of sustainability: social, economic, and environmental. We are the first generation that can eradicate poverty and the last that can combat climate change – and the Global Goals are our common plan for creating a better and more sustainable world for all!
Globally, Sweden is at the forefront of implementing the Global Goals. According to the Sustainable Development Report's ranking of countries that have made the most progress, Sweden has been ranked first for several years. However, it should be noted that there are significant challenges, and much work remains to make the goals a reality in Sweden. The Central Bureau of Statistics (SCB) is responsible for coordinating the monitoring of how Sweden as a country aligns with the goals of Agenda 2030. You can access the statistics from SCB here »
Recently, the UN released the annual "Sustainable Development Goals Report," which examines progress toward the Global Goals and the implementation of Agenda 2030. This year's special edition provides an update on the progress made since 2015. The report will play a significant role in discussions during the SDG Summit 2023 at the end of September.
Unfortunately, the report warns that many of the goals are moderately to severely off track. Only about 15 percent of the sub-goals are on the right path. Nearly half of them are lagging behind, and 37 percent have stalled or regressed since 2015. These are not just numbers on paper; they represent people. If we don't take action, by 2030, we will have 575 million people living in extreme poverty, 84 million children without access to education and literacy, and 660 million people without access to electricity. The report emphasizes that it is primarily people in developing countries and those who are already the most vulnerable who bear the greatest burden of our collective failure, as stated by UNDP on its website »
But there is hope! The report presents five concrete recommendations and actions that governments should take to achieve the goals. The report emphasizes that world leaders need to come together at the SDG Summit in September to develop a concrete rescue plan for people and the planet. We must strengthen governance and institutions, prioritize policies and investments with broad impact, increase financing for the Global Goals, and create a favorable global environment for low-income countries.
Read the full report here »
