As the world enters the final decade before 2030, awareness and concerns about the future of our planet continue to intensify. On February 13, 2025, parliamentarians from around the world gathered at the United Nations Headquarters in New York to jointly assess the progress of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), a crucial action plan that the world intends to achieve by 2030. However, amid hopes and efforts, the assessment results did not meet expectations. This article will take you forward, exploring the direction of global change and the significant challenges that lie ahead, to collectively understand and prepare for the changes that are coming.
- 2030 Agenda: A Distant Dream or a Future We Can Create
Amid the continuously rising global public debt situation, including tax conflicts and gaps between goals and actual implementation, tensions have increased in attempts to bring the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) back on the appropriate track.
The meeting under the theme “Scaling up Action for the Sustainable Development Goals: Finance, Institutions and Politics“ emphasized the urgent need to reform the 2030 Development Agenda. Philémon Yang, President of the UN General Assembly, expressed concern that “we are falling behind in achieving SDG targets in almost every area.”
The latest report reveals alarming figures, finding that only 17% of SDG targets are making progress as planned. This situation has sparked debates about prioritization and differing perspectives. While one side calls for renewed global cooperation, the other questions the need to completely review and revise all targets.
- Debt Crisis and the Dream of Sustainable Development
Financial inequality becomes increasingly evident as Malta and Morocco face challenges in accessing funding sources for sustainable development. The representative from Benin presented issues of unfair global wealth distribution and proposed special measures for countries with high debt burdens.
Despite the clear challenges, finding common solutions remains distant. Cyprus affirmed it would maintain its specific tax system, reasoning that countries with small economies dependent on the service sector cannot bear high tax burdens if they want to maintain the economic growth necessary for development. Meanwhile, Chile expressed concern about the trend of using tariffs as bargaining tools in international forums, which could further increase inequality in existing economic systems.
Jeffrey Sachs, an American economist, emphasized the importance of basic fairness principles, pointing out that most developing countries had little role in causing climate change problems but must struggle to obtain funding for basic necessities.
“The capital exists,
but capital flows are not currently reaching low-income and lower-middle-income countries.”
– Jeffrey Sachs
- Political Will: Commitment or Fatigue
Despite facing financial obstacles as a major challenge, the lack of political will remains the primary barrier affecting progress in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The lack of serious commitment from leaders and governments to push policies aligned with the goals results in operations lacking continuity and efficiency, even though many countries have the potential to mobilize necessary resources.
Guy Ryder, UN Deputy Secretary-General for Policy, made observations about the issue of ownership of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), pointing out that while many countries demonstrate commitment, they still face challenges in adequately translating promises into concrete results. This perspective helps reveal the gap between intentions and actual implementation in driving SDGs across countries worldwide.
“17% of targets making progress may seem like an unsatisfactory figure,” he said frankly. “But if we consider deeply, we should ask what our world would be like without the Sustainable Development Goals?” This reflects that while progress may not meet expectations, having a global framework and shared goals remains important for creating change and sustainable development.
The meeting reflected dissatisfaction among representatives from many countries with operations under the current framework. The Swedish representative proposed reviewing all Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and developing new goals that better align with current situations, as the 17 goals established in 2015 may not be suitable for current challenges.
Conversely, the Moroccan representative emphasized the importance of maintaining the original agreement, stating that “canceling goals before achieving success is an unproductive action. We need to fulfill the commitments made in 2015.”
Meanwhile, the Nigerian representative presented a compromise approach, proposing to develop new methods that integrate national interests with global cooperation. The parliamentarian from Qatar referenced experience from the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), which were the starting point for SDGs, pointing out that although MDGs were not entirely successful, they laid important foundations for future development.
- The Future Direction of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
As the meeting concluded, there was a clear conclusion that while SDGs represent the most ambitious global development framework ever created, the path to success still faces challenges, particularly conflicts between individual countries’ priorities and multilateral cooperation. Moreover, financial constraints may cause existing progress to regress. However, all parties agreed that “inaction is not an option.”
Tulia Ackson, President of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), stated that “we must reduce consideration of our own political interests and give greater importance to collective benefits,” while quoting Nelson Mandela: “Everything always seems impossible until we accomplish it.”
- The Future in Our Hands: From Challenges to Action
The future of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) depends on the decisions and actions of the global community today. Despite facing multiple challenges including financial constraints, political conflicts, and structural inequalities, neglect is not an appropriate solution.
Strong cooperation and shared commitment from the global community are crucial factors in driving SDGs to success. All sectors have roles in creating a sustainable future. Although the path may be challenging, with continuous commitment and unity, goals that seem distant today may become reality in the future.
Strategy and International Cooperation Coordination Division
National Economic and Social Development Council
References
Marianne Beisheim. (2024). Politics Matters! Political Will as a Critical Condition for Implementing the Sustainable Development Goals. Retrieved from https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/
papers.cfm?abstract_id=4904454
United Nations. (2025). (1st meeting) 2025 Parliamentary Hearing at the United Nations. Retrieved from https://webtv.un.org/en/asset/k1f/k1fvoe73lx
United Nations. (2025). Scaling up or losing steam? Parliamentarians debate the future of the SDGs. Retrieved from https://news.un.org/en/story/2025/02/1160131
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