United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres issued a powerful global call to action on Monday, urging world leaders to respond with “urgency and ambition” as a global effort to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) faces mounting threats. Speaking in New York at the 2025 High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development, Guterres warned that political instability, economic challenges, and growing global conflicts are derailing the 2030 Agenda.
A Decade-Old Plan at Risk
The High-Level Political Forum, which convenes ministers and delegates from UN member states, serves as the central platform for assessing progress toward the 17 SDGs, adopted in 2015 as a shared roadmap to eliminate poverty, protect the environment, and reduce inequality by 2030.
But a stark new report from the United Nations revealed that only 35% of the SDG targets are currently on track, underscoring the widening gap between ambition and reality.
“The Sustainable Development Goals are not a dream. They are a plan to keep our promises to the most vulnerable people, to each other, and to future generations,” Guterres emphasized in his address.
A World in Crisis
Citing a series of compounding global challenges, the Secretary-General highlighted how the current geopolitical and economic climate has significantly undermined progress.
“The global economy is slowing. Trade tensions are rising. Inequalities are growing. Aid budgets are being decimated while military spending soars,” he warned. “And mistrust, division and outright conflicts are placing the international problem-solving system under unprecedented strain.”
Guterres pointed to the wars in several regions, disruptions caused by climate-related disasters, and the impact of declining international cooperation as key factors hampering SDG implementation.
Glimmers of Hope
Despite the sobering outlook, the UN chief remained optimistic, noting recent multilateral successes that could serve as stepping stones for renewed momentum. He referenced the Pandemic Agreement adopted at the World Health Assembly in May and commitments to expand marine protected areas announced during the UN Ocean Conference in June as examples of progress.
“These are not isolated wins. They are signs of momentum,” Guterres said. “We must not surrender. We must act.”
Why It Matters
The Sustainable Development Goals were designed to address the most pressing challenges of the 21st century, from eradicating hunger and ensuring quality education to combating climate change and promoting gender equality. With less than five years remaining until the 2030 deadline, the risk of falling short could have severe consequences for global peace, prosperity, and planetary health.
Development experts and civil society organizations have echoed the Secretary-General’s appeal, calling for increased investment, innovation, and cooperation across borders.
“We need every government, every business, and every citizen to do their part,” said Amina J. Mohammed, UN Deputy Secretary-General. “The time for incremental change is over we need transformation.”
A Road Ahead
As the forum continues throughout the week, world leaders are expected to debate strategies for accelerating SDG implementation, revisiting funding commitments, and strengthening international partnerships. The outcomes will shape preparations for the 2025 UN Summit on the Future, a pivotal moment that could redefine multilateral cooperation.
In closing his remarks, Guterres offered a sober but hopeful reflection:
“Our challenges are great, but our capacity for change is greater. Let us choose solidarity over division, action over apathy, and hope over fear.”
With the clock ticking toward 2030, the world now stands at a critical juncture, one that demands not only vision, but bold and unified action.
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