Around halfway mark since the launch of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in 2023, the United Nations Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, while addressing the annual UN General Assembly session that year, indicated that only 15 percent of these 17 SDGs were on track. Launched in 2015, and backed by all 193 members of the United Nations, this revelation was indeed shocking to say the least, especially these SDGs cover some of the most important challenges facing humanity – from poverty, and disease to climate change. Highlighting the seriously poor performance with regard to meeting SDGs related targets, Antonio Guterres emphasized in his address in 2023 that ‘Excellencies, the SDGs need a global rescue plan.’

Two years on, not much progress has been made, even though back in 2023 at the UN General Assembly’s annual session, all the members had re-affirmed their backing of the SDGs. Speaking recently at the launch of Sustainable Development Report [SDR] 2025, UN’s secretary-general indicated that while some progress has been made with regard to meeting SDGs-related targets overall, but progress remains significantly below what is required and, therefore, much-improved effort in this regard is needed globally. He pointed out in this regard: ‘These gains show that investments in development and inclusion yield results.

But let’s be clear, we are not where, we need to be. Only 35 percent SDG targets are on track, or making moderate progress. Nearly half are moving too........

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