By Siri Grund

While the SDGs were adopted in 2015, progress by the UN’s 193 Member States has been slow. Each July, approximately 40 States bring their SDG implementation plans and progress reports – officially called voluntary national reviews (VNRs) – to the UN High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) to share their efforts and learn from others. Civil society organizations (CSOs) have been encouraged, in paragraph 89 of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, to support follow-up and review processes by “report[ing] on their contribution to the implementation of the Agenda.” Such reports can document their perspective on their government’s efforts to implement the SDGs.

Among a handful of countries that have not yet presented a VNR to the HLPF is the US. Given that the SDGs are not a topic of discussion among policymakers in the US, it is hard to know where the US stands with regard to SDG implementation. To address this lack of information on progress and plans for what the US should do in order to align with the SDGs, the Commission on Voluntary Service & Action (CVSA) compiled a Paragraph 89 report, titled ‘2023 U.S. People’s Report on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.’ This report reviews, SDG target by SDG target, the challenges and opportunities the US faces for implementing the SDGs.

CVSA compiled this report with three objectives. First, it sought to organize information about the SDGs to provide a helpful tool for those who are interested in learning and teaching others about the SDGs. Second, it aimed to show the US government that individuals and communities are demanding more commitment to reach the SDGs. Third, the report aimed to provide an input to the HLPF.

The report highlights the importance of all of the SDGs and their interconnected nature, which is reflected in SDG 17 (partnership for the Goals). With regard to this Goal, the CVSA report emphasizes the need to “strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development.” To achieve the SDGs from a global perspective, the Paragraph 89 report highlights the importance of international cooperation and calls on the US to lead by example and implement the SDGs more effectively at home. This overview of the first eight SDGs of the 17 covered in the report offers insights to the challenges and opportunities the report finds in the US in implementing the SDGs.

On SDG 1 (no poverty), the report notes that the US has much to improve upon, with 11.6% of its population living under the national poverty line. The report indicates that the actual percentage might be higher, given that the poverty line is not regularly changed to represent increased costs of living. The report also calls attention to the fact that poverty in the US is experienced in greater proportions by Native Americans and Black Americans. US residents with these backgrounds represent over double the percentage of people living in poverty compared to White Americans. To achieve SDG 1, CVSA suggests living wages and full time jobs that are suitable to provide for families and communities. 

On SDG 2 (zero hunger), which also includes food security and sustainable agriculture, CVSA highlights that the corporate for-profit system of food production creates challenges for achieving these targets. In order to meet this goal, CVSA suggests creating an alternative system that encourages local and sustainable food production, while also keeping food affordable.

On SDG 3 (good health and well-being), the Paragraph 89 report highlights the lack of universal health care (UHC) in the US. Compared to other high-income countries (HICs), the report indicates the US has the highest percentage of avoidable deaths, maternal and infant mortality, and suicide rates. The report also finds that for-profit insurance and pharmaceutical companies make good health expensive for citizens, and suggests that the solution is to provide universal health care.

On SDG 4 (quality education), CVSA suggests expanding the Goal to “ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.” CVSA highlights that the US educational system struggles with an unequal distribution of resources across schools located in different socioeconomic situations, unfair treatment for teachers, and an increase in dropout rates. CVSA calls for ensuring governments are giving appropriate funding to schools, so teachers and educators can properly teach and live with their salaries.

On SDG 5 (gender equality), the Paragraph 89 report highlights that the US struggles with paying women the same as their male counterparts and supporting and advancing women into roles of power. Additionally, violence against women remains an issue: one out of six American women has either experienced rape or attempted rape in her lifetime. The Paragraph 89 report proposes addressing this issue by addressing the pay gap between men and women and encouraging women to lead in their personal and professional lives.

On SDG 6 (clean water and sanitation), the issues faced in the US can be broken into three categories: contamination- and pollution-induced water insecurity; weather- and climate-induced water insecurity; and access to affordable water and water-related infrastructure. The report indicates solutions to these problems include ending fracking and other water-polluting industries, preventing unlimited corporate usage of water, and accounting for climate change when developing water infrastructure.

On SDG 7 (affordable and clean energy), the report notes that, in low-income households, a higher percentage of income is spent on utilities, which may lead to utility services being shut off. Renewable energy sources, such as solar, are inaccessible to many because of cost or poor credit history. The report suggests government action focused on a quicker transition towards renewable energy and ensuring that low-income households are given reasonable opportunities for renewable energy access.

On SDG 8 (decent work and economic growth), the report indicates that economic policies in the US are leaving many people behind. The COVID-19 pandemic led to many people losing their jobs, and many jobs do not supply a livable wage. The report suggests mandating living wages that can support families. Additionally, support for small businesses as well as institutions that can help provide economic stimulation in a community would help reach this goal.

All of the SDGs are incredibly important and essential to creating a sustainable world that will support life of all kinds in the future. Action to address the SDGs, starting with the issues and solutions compiled by CVSA for these first eight Goals, are just the beginning in achieving the world we want.

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In preparation for the 2024 session of the HLPF, CVSA has prepared a Paragraph 89 report on the SDGs under review by the 2024 session (SDGs 1, 2, 13, 16, and 17).

This article was authored by Siri Grund, IISD Generation 2030 intern. She is majoring in environmental studies and health equity and health promotion at the University of Wisconsin, Madison.