UN’s António Guterres Warns Only 35% of Global Goals on Track: 2025 SDG Report
July 18, 2025
11:55 am
In This Article
Key Impact Points:
Just 35% of SDG targets are on track; 18% are regressing.
800+ million people remain in extreme poverty; climate, debt, and conflict stall progress.
UN calls for urgent reforms in finance, peacebuilding, and investment in six key sectors to rescue 2030 goals.
SDGs at Risk as 2030 Deadline Nears
The UN Sustainable Development Goals Report 2025 delivers a stark warning: only 35% of the 2030 Agenda’s targets are on course. With five years remaining, the UN is sounding the alarm for urgent, united action to rescue progress on poverty, climate, and equality.
“The Sustainable Development Goals Report is a call to action – together, we can build the sustainable future everyone everywhere deserves. But only 35% of the #GlobalGoals targets are on track,” said UN Secretary-General António Guterres on X.
Real Gains, Unequal Progress
Since 2015, SDGs have brought tangible results:
Access to electricity reached 92% of the global population.
Over 110 million more children enrolled in school.
New HIV infections fell 40%; malaria prevention saved 12 million lives.
54 countries eliminated at least one neglected tropical disease.
“These gains show that investments in development and inclusion yield results,”said Guterres.
Still, deep inequalities persist:
Over 800 million remain in extreme poverty.
Billions lack safe water, sanitation, and hygiene.
Women do 2.5 times more unpaid care work than men.
Global debt service hit a record $1.4 trillion in 2023.
2024 was the hottest year on record, at 1.55°C above pre-industrial levels.
“We are in a global development emergency,” said Guterres. “Progress is still possible, but we must act with urgency, unity & unwavering resolve.”
Path Forward: Six Transformational Transitions
The report outlines six key transitions to drive systemic change:
Food systems
Energy access
Digital transformation
Education
Jobs and social protection
Climate and biodiversity
“Transformational pathways — in food, energy, digital access, education, jobs, and climate — are our roadmap,” said Guterres.
A Call for Financing and Multilateral Reform
Both Guterres and Under-Secretary-General Li Junhua stressed the need for financial reforms and multilateral cooperation.
“The problem is that the Sustainable Development Goals do not include the instruments that would be necessary to make them happen,”Guterres said. “We need deep reforms in the international financial architecture.”
The recent Sevilla Commitment and upcoming forums — including the High-Level Political Forum and World Social Summit — are seen as crucial opportunities to push for reforms such as:
Debt relief
Tripling MDB lending capacity
Fairer trade access
“Progress is impossible without unlocking financing at scale,”Guterres emphasized.
Not a Moment for Despair
While SDG momentum is faltering, the UN insists the goals are still within reach — but only through decisive global action.
“This is not a moment for despair, but for determined action,”said Li. “We have the knowledge, tools, and partnerships to drive transformation.”
Follow SDG News on LinkedIn
