SDGs 2050

It is my point of view, but could it be yours?

The 2024 United Nations (UN) General Assembly was marked by a deep analysis of the progress and challenges in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). During the meeting, world leaders reaffirmed their commitment to the 2030 Agenda and discussed the global landscape in light of climate, economic, and social challenges. The event also highlighted the need for reforms in the international financial architecture and the mobilization of funds to sustain development in developing countries. One of the central proposals was an annual financial stimulus of $500 billion to accelerate the achievement of the SDGs, especially in the areas of health, education, the environment, and social equality, as outlined in the Report of the Secretary-General on the Work of the Organization (A/79/1, seventy-ninth session) [link here]

Several SDGs showed significant improvements between 2000 and 2022. The global poverty rate (SDG 1) fell from 29.3% in 2000 to 9% in 2022, although progress was hindered by the pandemic’s impacts. In primary education (SDG 4), the completion rate rose from 77.4% to 88% during this period, reflecting advances in the universalization of basic education. Access to electricity (SDG 7) also made substantial progress, reaching 91% of the global population by 2022. In healthcare (SDG 3), the neonatal mortality rate decreased from 30.7 per thousand live births in 2000 to a significant reduction of 17.3 in 2022, underscoring the importance of public health policies. Additionally, the number of countries submitting Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) for climate change mitigation (SDG 13) increased from 2 in 2000 to 194 in 2022, signaling growing global engagement in climate action.

However, some goals continue to face persistent challenges. Life on land preservation (SDG 15) is one such example, with global forest area declining from 41.582 million hectares in 2000 to 40.589 million hectares in 2022, emphasizing the need for more robust actions to restore ecosystems. Gender equality (SDG 5) remains distant, with women's parliamentary representation increasing from 13.3% in 2000 to 26.9% in 2022, an insufficient advance to address female underrepresentation. The share of labor in GDP (SDG 10) also fell, from 54% in 2004 to 52.7% in 2022, revealing increasing income disparities. Another critical issue is official development assistance (SDG 17) – as a percentage of GNI – which reached only 0.37% in 2022, far below the 0.7% target, limiting the funding needed for global policies promoting sustainable development.

The continuity of the SDGs is vital to ensuring a sustainable and equitable future. These goals serve as a roadmap to eradicate poverty, protect the environment, and ensure prosperity for all, guiding public policies and fostering international cooperation. It is essential for countries to remain committed to these long-term goals, ensuring that sustainable development is a continuous and inclusive effort, especially in light of the climate, social, and economic challenges the world currently faces.

However, for the SDGs to remain an effective tool for global transformation, it is crucial to update them, taking into account technological advancements and the new economic and social realities of the past decades. Scientific research, innovation, and technology play central roles in sustainable development and need to be more deeply integrated into the goals. It is also essential that this update addresses the growing disparities between developed and developing countries, whose capacities and challenges are significantly different. A renewed approach is needed, especially to strengthen the resilience of the most vulnerable nations to financial crises and natural disasters, which often hinder their progress toward sustainable development.

In this context, the creation of the SDGs 2050 is proposed, a strategic and necessary update to the SDGs 2030. This new phase of global goals would focus on incorporating advances in science and technology, leveraging this progress to accelerate sustainability targets. Simultaneously, the proposal would emphasize the need for equity among nations, ensuring that developing countries receive the support needed to face current challenges. In addition to addressing fundamental issues such as poverty, health, and education, the SDGs 2050 would expand their scope by incorporating targets related to innovation, digitalization, and the creation of smart and resilient cities.

The new goals would also place human well-being at the center of the development agenda, recognizing that happiness and quality of life in cities are essential for the future of global sustainability. By prioritizing urban development, where the key innovations and challenges of the 21st century are concentrated, the SDGs 2050 would aim to transform cities into prosperous, inclusive, and sustainable environments, promoting human development as an integral part of the sustainability concept. This broader approach would ensure not only economic prosperity but also social inclusion and environmental preservation, forming the foundation of truly comprehensive sustainable development.

The proposal for SDGs 2050 is personal and reflects the belief that, while significant progress has been made, much remains to be done. We are on the right path, but it is imperative to accelerate mitigation actions to more effectively address global crises. The inertia of many global actors poses a considerable risk to the success of the current goals. The time calls for more action, collaboration, and resource mobilization so that we can urgently confront the challenges that threaten the future of the planet and future generations.