The Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Report 2019 warned that, four years into the 2030 Agenda, the world was not on track to achieve the goals due to the slow pace of progress and monumental challenges. It called for a deeper, faster, and more ambitious collective response to unleash the necessary social and economic transformation.
Key Findings from the 2019 SDG Report
| Area | Progress/Status | Data Point |
|---|---|---|
Progress Made | Positive trends were noted in critical areas: | Extreme poverty declined considerably (cite: 1883). The under-5 mortality rate fell by 49% between 2000 and 2017 (cite: 1883). The vast majority of the world's population gained access to electricity (cite: 1883). Marine protected areas doubled since 2010(cite: 1884). |
Poverty (Goal 1) | The decline in the global extreme poverty rate has slowed, jeopardizing the 2030 target (cite: 1894, 2115). | The extreme poverty rate (living on less than $1.90/day) was an estimated 8.6% in 2018 and is projected to be 6% in 2030 if trends continue (cite: 1961, 1962, 2115). |
Hunger (Goal 2) | Global hunger is on the rise after years of decline (cite: 1895). | 821 million people were undernourished in 2017, up from 784 million in 2015(cite: 1985, 1987. |
Environment (Goal 13, 14, 15) | The natural environment is deteriorating at an alarming rate, identified as the most urgent area for action(cite: 1890, 1917). | The past four years (up to 2018) were the warmest on record (cite: 1891). Ocean acidification is accelerating (cite: 1890). One million plant and animal species are at risk of extinction (cite: 1892). |
Social Inequality (Goal 10) | Inequality among and within countries is a defining issue, with women and marginalized groups facing structural disadvantages (cite: 1921, 1898). | More than half of the world's children do not meet minimum standards in reading and mathematics (cite: 1896). |
Graph: Global Extreme Poverty Rate (1990–2030)
The following graph illustrates the historic decline in the global extreme poverty rate (living on less than $1.90 a day) from 1990 through a projection for 2030, highlighting the slowing pace of reduction.
Code-generated Math Visuals
Short Summary of the 2019 SDG Report
The report highlighted a dual reality: areas of progress alongside monumental challenges requiring urgent attention.
Areas of Favorable Progress
- Poverty & Health: Extreme poverty has declined considerably, and the global under-5 mortality rate fell by 49 per cent between 2000 and 2017. The vast majority of the world’s population gained access to electricity.
- Climate Action: 186 parties had ratified the Paris Agreement on climate change.
- Planetary Protection: Marine protected areas had doubled since 2010.
Areas Requiring Urgent Attention
- Climate and Environment: The natural environment is deteriorating at an alarming rate. Climate change was identified as the most urgent area for action. The past four years (up to 2018) were the warmest on record, and one million plant and animal species are at risk of extinction.
- Poverty and Hunger: The goal to end extreme poverty by 2030 is jeopardized by conflict and entrenched deprivation. Global hunger is on the rise, with 821 million people undernourished in 2017.
- Inequality: At least half of the world’s population lacks essential health services. More than half of the world’s children do not meet minimum standards in reading and mathematics. Women in all parts of the world continue to face structural disadvantages and discrimination.
Sources: United Nations New York 2019, The Sustainable Development Goals Report 2019