Peace, Climate Change, and Finance - "We don’t have a moment to lose" - UN Chief | Press Conference

Hybrid press briefing by the UN Secretary-General, along with Li Junhua, Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs, Stefan Schweinfest, Director, Statistics Division, UN DESA and Yongyi Min, Chief, SDG Monitoring Section, Statistics Division, UN DESA. They will brief journalists on the Sustainable Development Goals Report 2024. The Secretary-General will deliver opening remarks.
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At the launch of the Sustainable Development Goals Report 2024, Secretary-General António Guterres said, “our failure to secure peace, to confront climate change, and to boost international finance is undermining development.” He reiterated that the world must accelerate action for the Sustainable Development Goals – and “we don’t have a moment to lose.”

Guterres told reporters today (28 Jun) that “only 17 per cent of the SDG targets are on track. Progress on over one-third has stalled or even regressed.”

He continued, “In a world of unprecedented wealth, knowledge and technologies, the denial of basic needs for so many is outrageous and inexcusable. At the same time, we have what it takes to breakthrough to a better future. And the report carries some glimmers of hope.”

The UN chief stressed that the speed and scale of the change needed for sustainable development is still far too slow, and the world needs to go further and faster in three areas simultaneously.

First, Guterres said, “we need action for peace. From Gaza to Sudan, Ukraine and beyond, it’s time to silence the guns, to support the displaced, and to pivot from spending on destruction and war to investing in people and peace.”

“Second, we need action on the green and digital transitions,” he continued.

The Secretary-General urged countries to put forward ambitious National Climate Action plans in 2025 that align with the 1.5 degree limit, cover the whole economy and double as investment plans.

He also encouraged “a surge in investment in expanding access to digital connectivity and the benefits of the digital economy.”

Guterres called on countries to “make these transitions just, inclusive and fully aligned with broader efforts to achieve gender equality.”

“Third, we need action on finance,” he continued.

The UN chief stressed, “Many developing countries lack the financial resources and the fiscal space to invest in their futures and the future of their people.”

Gutress explained, “We must step up efforts to deliver the SDG Stimulus. That means doing much more to reduce debt pressures and debt servicing costs. It means expanding access to contingency financing for countries at risk of a cash flow crisis. And it means multiplying the lending capacity of Multilateral Development Banks to provide more resources for climate action and sustainable development, and changing the business model to leverage the necessary massive amounts of private finance.”

He concluded, “I am working with ten leaders from a diverse group of countries who are championing efforts to make the SDG Stimulus a reality.”

For his part, Li Junhua, Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs told reporters that the Report carries some glimmers of hope.

He said, “On the past three decades, increased access to life saving HIV treatment has averted 20.8 million aids-related deaths. In education, just now as the Secretary-General pointed out, girls have achieved parity and even surpass the boys in completing their schooling at all levels in most regions. And digital divide is narrowing a little bit gradually, whereas the two thirds of the world's population, now having the access to the internet, nearly 30 percent of more than the figure in the 2015.”

The Sustainable Development Goals Report 2024 details the significant challenges the world is facing in making substantial strides towards achieving the SDGs based on the latest data and estimates. It features areas with setbacks while also showcasing where tangible progress has been made, for instance, in reducing global child mortality, preventing HIV infection, and access to energy and mobile broadband. The report also hlights where action must accelerate, particularly in critical areas undermining SDG progress - climate change, peace and security, inequalities among and between countries, among others.

According to the report, with just six years remaining, current progress falls far short of what is required to meet the SDGs. Without massive investment and scaled up action, the achievement of the SDGs — the blueprint for a more resilient and prosperous world and the roadmap out of current global crises — will remain elusive. The lingering impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, escalating conflicts, geopolitical tensions and growing climate chaos have severely hindered progress. The report details the urgent priorities and areas needed for stronger and more effective action to ensure the 2030 promise to end poverty, protect the planet and leave no one behind.