Goals To Combat Hunger, Poverty & Climate Change In Peril: Guterres Warned

News Desk

United Nations: World leaders are warned that the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that address hunger, health, biodiversity, strong institutions, pollution and peaceful societies are all off-track due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and other global crises.

Speaking at the conclusion of the two-day SDG Summit on Tuesday at United Nations Headquarters, UN Secretary General António Guterres said that a “rescue plan” for the SDGs must now result in policies, budgets and investment to ensure a more just, equitable and green future by 2030.

Guterres told the summit of leaders that only 15 per cent of the targets are on track and that many are going in reverse. As the political declaration makes clear, it’s high time for developed countries to meet their official development assistance target of 0.7 percent of their gross national income, António added.

Our mission for the next week and for the next seven years is to transform the #SDGs from a legacy of hope to a bright living dynamic reality of peace, prosperity, progress and sustainability for all.#SDGActionWeekend #UNGA pic.twitter.com/uMPOGpGm8a

— UN GA President (@UN_PGA) September 17, 2023

World leaders have adopted a political declaration to accelerate action to achieve the 17 goals which aim to drive economic prosperity and well-being for all people while protecting the environment.

This month, there are 745 million more moderately to severely hungry people in the world today than in 2015, and the world is far off track in its efforts to meet the ambitious United Nations goal to end hunger by 2030, SC further said.

Secretary General stressed the need to transform support for the SDG stimulus “into real investments in developing countries.” In this regard, he called for establishing a Leaders Group that will develop clear steps to get funds flowing before the end of 2024.

Additionally, leaders should strengthen support for action across six key SDG areas, namely food, energy, digitalization, education, social protection and jobs, and biodiversity, he further added.

SC Guterresalso advised them to “start planning now for massive increases in investments in social protection”, and to “bring to life” a global initiative to ensure an additional four billion people are covered by 2030.