The UN has issued the UN Secretary-General’s report exploring the long-term impacts of current trends on the realization of the SDGs. The report calls for tangible and holistic responses at all levels that prioritize policies aimed at revitalizing inclusive, sustained, and sustainable economic growth while reversing geoeconomic fragmentation.

The report underscores that the multiple and interlinked challenges facing the world today affect countries’ capacity to accelerate the achievement of the SDGs, as pledged by world leaders in the political declaration of the 2023 SDG Summit.

The report analyzes five interconnected and mutually reinforcing trends with potential long-term impacts on the realization of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development: the impact of geopolitical tensions on the global economy; changing labor markets; rapid technological change; continuing and intensifying adverse impacts of climate change; and the evolving nature of social contracts. Acknowledging that “certain aspects of those trends can yield constructive outcomes,” the report warns about “negative impacts with the potential to hinder and reverse progress across the Goals, which would be faced predominantly by vulnerable countries and communities.”

The report concludes that in order to eradicate poverty and achieve the SDGs, policy approaches aimed at revitalizing sustainable economic growth and reversing geoeconomic fragmentation “need to be adaptable to rapidly changing labor markets” and their increased digitalization. Such approaches would also “need to include measures aimed at promoting skills training while addressing unfavorable labor outcomes.”

According to the report, access to new technologies can advance efforts to bridge technology divides and achieve the SDGs. It recommends integrating climate change mitigation and adaptation as well as broader sustainable development efforts into all Goals, which, it argues, “will enable a just transition.”

The report highlights the role of revitalized social contracts in “[ensuring] expanded and effective social protection, enhancing social inclusion and deepening a sense of trust and intergenerational solidarity.”

Dated 3 May 2024, the report (E/2024/55) is titled, ‘Long-term impacts of current trends on the realization of the Sustainable Development Goals.’ It will inform the deliberations during the 2024 session of the UN High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) in July. HLPF 2024 will carry out in-depth review of SDG 1 (no poverty), SDG 2 (zero hunger), SDG 13 (climate action), SDG 16 (peace, justice and strong institutions), and SDG 17 (partnerships for the Goals). [Publication: Long-term Impacts of Current Trends on the Realization of the Sustainable Development Goals]