There's been moderate improvement in global health, clean energy, infrastructure and gender equality, but 12 of the other 17 Sustainable Development Goals are stagnating. For the last one, reduced inequalities, not enough data is available.
That's according to the Paris-based SDG Transformation Center, which reports that none of the 17 SDGs are on track to be achieved globally by 2030 due to conflicts, structural vulnerabilities, and limited fiscal space.
While only 17% of targets are on track worldwide, significant progress was made in basic services and infrastructure, such as access to electricity and internet use, and reductions in child mortality rates.
East and South Asia showed the fastest overall progress on the SDGs since 2015, particularly in socioeconomic targets. European countries continue to dominate the top rankings in the SDG Index, with Finland leading this year. However, even these nations face significant challenges in areas like climate and biodiversity. Notable rapid progress has also been observed in countries like Benin, Nepal, Peru, the United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, Costa Rica, and Saudi Arabia.
A critical global summit on sustainable development opened on Monday at the United Nations' headquarters in New York, bringing together leaders, policymakers and activists to confront a sobering reality: ambitious development goals are significantly off track, imperiled by a colossal financing gap and intersecting global crises.
"The fabric of multilateralism is being torn and the SDGs seem out of reach. Hard-won development gains are at serious risk [from] a multitude of challenges exacerbated by the chronic shortfall in adequate financing," U.N. Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed said in opening the gathering.
The High-Level Political Forum, the U.N.'s central platform for tracking progress on the 2030 Global Goals, runs through Wednesday. It follows two recent conferences that underscored the precarious state of global development — one in Nice, France, focused on ocean protection, and another in Sevilla, Spain, dedicated to sustainable finance.
It was the Sevilla meeting last month that delivered a stark warning: an estimated $4 trillion annual shortfall in the financing needed to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.
That gathering concluded with an urgent plea for greater investment and fundamental reforms to the global financial system. This immense funding gap looms large over the HLPF, shaping discussions as nations grapple with how to bridge the divide between aspiration and reality.
The 2025 HLPF, convened by the U.N. Economic and Social Council, is themed "Advancing sustainable, inclusive, science- and evidence-based solutions for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its Sustainable Development Goals leaving no one behind." This reflects a growing sense of alarm as the 2030 deadline for the SDGs approaches.
The forum tries to use practical, data-driven strategies to close the gaps, especially as the world contends with compounding effects of climate change, widening inequality and economic instability.
"There are so many opportunities this year to push our agenda forward," Mohammed said, pointing to a series of upcoming U.N.-backed summits. "We have to build on these achievements, make the most of the momentum, and drive action, particularly through this High-Level Political Forum. We're under pressure because the truth is expectations are really high. Trust is eroding and crisis is deepending everywhere as we strive to deliver on the promise of our 2030 agenda."
Putting action behind the science
This year's HLPF will put particular emphasis on five specific SDGs, subject to in-depth review: Goal 3 (good health and well-being), Goal 5 (gender equality), Goal 8 (decent work and economic growth), Goal 14 (life below water), and Goal 17 (partnerships for the goals).
Goal 17, reviewed annually, underscores the importance of global partnerships and enhancing the means of implementation, including the very financing commitments made in Sevilla.
A hallmark of the HLPF is the Voluntary National Reviews, where member states present self-assessments of their progress toward the SDGs. Dozens of countries are expected to share their VNRs this year, offering insights into both successes and persistent challenges.
These reviews are designed to foster transparency, peer learning and accountability, providing a direct platform for civil society and other stakeholders to engage with governments on their development priorities.
As an intergovernmental platform, HLPF draws an array of voices, including youth groups, local authorities, Indigenous peoples, nongovernmental organizations, academics, businesses and U.N. agencies.
A packed schedule of side events, exhibitions and roundtable discussions aims to foster an inclusive approach, reflecting the 2030 Agenda's core principle that sustainable development is a universal, shared endeavor.
With only five years left until the 2030 deadline, the 2025 HLPF is more than just an annual check-in; it represents a crucial inflection point. This year's session is seen as a moment when scientific evidence, global solidarity and urgent action must converge.
Its outcomes are expected to significantly influence the next Sustainable Development Goals Summit in 2027, where world leaders will conduct a comprehensive stocktaking of collective progress and determine the final push toward 2030.
