Exploring Thailand’s SDG Progress in the First 5 Years
Thailand joined United Nations (UN) member countries in endorsing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which establishes 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as a global development framework to achieve sustainable social, economic, and environmental development, leaving no one behind by 2030, at the 70th UN General Assembly on September 25, 2015.
Thailand has consistently prioritized the advancement of SDGs, as reflected in the assessment results of the first 5 years in the “Thailand’s SDG Progress Report 2016-2020,” which indicates that Thailand has achieved continuous development progress. This is because 10 out of 17 goals were assessed as having achievement scores ranging from 75-99% of the targets set by the UN, displayed in yellow. These include Goal 1: No Poverty, Goal 4: Quality Education, Goal 5: Gender Equality, Goal 7: Affordable and Clean Energy, Goal 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth, Goal 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure, Goal 10: Reduced Inequalities, Goal 13: Climate Action, Goal 15: Life on Land, and Goal 17: Partnerships for the Goals.
Assessment Results of Thailand’s 17 SDGs 2016-2020
The progress of Goals 1, 4, and 5 resulted from government and relevant sectors implementing various measures to develop people of all ages and seriously addressing poverty eradication. Meanwhile, Goals 7, 8, 9, and 10 resulted from economic stabilization efforts, infrastructure investment, research and development of technology and innovation, as well as inequality reduction measures.
Goals 13 and 15 stemmed from proactive preparation for potential risks from changes, including disaster preparedness planning in various forms. Goal 17 resulted from Thailand’s significant role on the global stage, such as membership in the UN Economic and Social Council, and providing technical and financial assistance to developing countries and least developed countries, particularly neighboring countries.
However, there remain 7 goals at risk of not achieving the sustainable development targets by 2030, as they scored between 50-74% of the UN targets. These 7 goals include Goal 2: Zero Hunger, Goal 3: Good Health and Well-being, Goal 6: Clean Water and Sanitation, Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities, Goal 12: Responsible Consumption and Production, Goal 14: Life Below Water, and Goal 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions. Therefore, Thailand must accelerate implementation of these 7 goals.
Furthermore, when examining details at the target level (SDG Targets) across all 169 targets, Thailand shows good progress with 52 sub-targets achieving 100% of the UN targets, representing 30.8% of the 169 sub-targets, displayed in green. Simultaneously, there are 74 sub-targets, representing 43.8% of the 169 sub-targets, with status values below targets in the range of 75-99%, displayed in yellow.
Assessment Results of 17 Goals and 169 Sub-targets of SDGs
However, there remain 34 sub-targets, representing 20.1% of the 169 sub-targets, at risk of achieving targets due to scores below UN targets at 50-74% levels, and another 9 sub-targets, representing 5.3%, in critical risk status, displayed in red, due to scores below 50% of UN targets. These relate to issues concerning ending hunger and food security and nutrition, sustainable food systems, reducing deaths from non-communicable diseases, deaths and injuries from road accidents, deaths from hazardous chemicals, pollution, and contamination of air, water, and soil, which Thailand must urgently address.
This is the overall picture of Thailand’s SDG situation in the first 5 years (2016-2020).
While considered to have good development levels, challenges remain that must be addressed to enable Thailand to sustainably achieve its SDG targets and ensure all sectors truly benefit from development. Details of Thailand’s overall SDG progress assessment can be found at https://sdgs.nesdc.go.th/exhibitions/brightleapforward2021/report2016-2020/, and updates on Thailand’s SDG advancement can be followed at https://sdgs.nesdc.go.th/
Strategy and International Cooperation Coordination Division
National Economic and Social Development Council
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