Staff Reporter :
Global progress on achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is alarmingly insufficient, with only 17 percent of the targets on track while just six years remain to meet the 2030 deadline, according to a new UN report released on Friday.
The SDG 2024 report revealed that nearly half of the 17 goals are showing minimal or moderate progress, while over a third are either “stalled or regressing.” According to the report, Bangladesh has dropped six notches on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) index.
The report placed Bangladesh at 107th among 167 countries, down from 101st in the 2023 report. However, the country still ranks ahead of India (109th), Pakistan (137th), and Afghanistan (162nd).
Bangladesh scored 64.35 out of 100, compared to 65.9 last year. In South Asia, Bhutan, the Maldives, Sri Lanka, and Nepal secured the top four positions, ranking globally 61st, 67th, 93rd, and 95th, respectively, while India, Pakistan, and Afghanistan occupied the bottom three positions in the region.
The 193 UN member states achieved a significant milestone in agreeing to a shared framework for global transformation by 2030, comprising 17 overarching goals with 169 specified targets. As per the UN report, Bangladesh has achieved only one SDG milestone on climate action, out of the 17 development goals.
Additionally, the country has achieved or is on track to achieve 29.7 percent of the SDG targets, while 39.2 percent have made limited progress, and 31.1 percent of targets have been worsening. Bangladesh has been on track or maintaining SDG achievement in one goal—quality education—while significant challenges remain in others, such as zero hunger, no poverty, gender equality, decent work and economic growth, industry, innovation and infrastructure, and reduced inequalities.
Meanwhile, the country has been moderately improving in achieving several goals, including good health and well-being, clean water and sanitation, and affordable and clean energy. However, significant and major challenges remain in achieving these goals.
The report also highlighted that the country’s position is stagnating in achieving several other goals: gender equality, decent work and economic growth, reduced inequalities, sustainable cities and communities, responsible consumption and production, climate action, life below water, partnerships for the goals, and life on land. Major challenges remain for most of these goals.
Additionally, Bangladesh’s efforts are decreasing in achieving the goals of peace, justice, and strong institutions. This year’s edition of the SDG report includes a new index of countries’ support for UN-based multilateralism, covering all 193 UN Member States, where 0 corresponds to low support and 100 to high support for UN-based multilateralism. Bangladesh ranks 38th with a score of 80.2.
The UN report also features an “International Spillover Index,” which tracks the impacts of a given country’s actions on others. Bangladesh scored 97 out of 100, where a higher score means that a country causes more positive and fewer negative spillover effects.
In the UN report, Nordic countries continue to lead on SDG achievement, with Finland ranking number 1 on the SDG Index, followed by Sweden, Denmark, Germany, and France. Moreover, East and South Asia have emerged as the region that has made the most SDG progress since 2015.
“On average, globally, only 16 percent of the SDG targets are on track to be achieved by 2030, with the remaining 84 percent demonstrating limited or a reversal of progress,” the report said. These goals, adopted by UN member states in 2015, aim to bring peace and prosperity to people and the planet.
“This report, known as the annual SDG report card, shows the world is getting a failing grade,” said UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres at the press conference launching the comprehensive stocktake.
“The takeaway is simple—our failure to secure peace, confront climate change, and boost international finance is undermining development. We must accelerate action for the Sustainable Development Goals, and we don’t have a moment to lose,” the UN chief stressed.