Sustainable Development Goals Lag as 2030 Deadline Nears, Warns UN Chief | United Nations

The world faces very serious challenges, the UN chief said, adding that conflicts, the climate emergency, and a global cost-of-living crisis are combining to reverse decades of development gains. Many countries are struggling to implement the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals. Deepening divisions and growing inequalities are leaving people with a heightened sense of anxiety and even fear.

Guterres said, “The concept of Human Security, with its emphasis on people and prevention, has an important role to play in strengthening links at the local, national and regional levels, and creating momentum to tackle our shared challenges.”

He told the General Assembly that he commissioned the fourth report on Human Security to foster this dynamic and contribute to a safer, more prosperous, more secure world for all.

The report focuses on the practical and operational value of human security, building on the experiences of Member States, regional and intergovernmental organizations, and the United Nations at Headquarters and in the field.

It showcases examples of the Human Security approach in action: supporting national peace and development objectives; strengthening regional cooperation; improving collaboration across the United Nations system and our partners.

And it illustrates how Human Security can guide strategies, partnerships and tools to reduce risks, enhance trust, and prevent and mitigate the impacts of crises and shocks.

Guterres said that human security lens can help capture emerging risks across different sectors, creating a better understanding not only of insecurity, but of perceived insecurity – which can be just as dangerous. It promotes the systematic integration of prevention into development, climate action, and peacebuilding strategies.

“This means prioritizing investments in early warning, social protection, and other measures to maximize social cohesion and protect the security of every individual. These ideas are closely linked with our call for a renewed social contract, anchored in human rights and based on trust, justice, and inclusion,” the UN chief explained.

He also said, “Human security approaches can highlight blind spots and gaps in our understanding of today’s interconnected crises. They can provide a universal benchmark to assess the effectiveness of development, humanitarian, and peacebuilding efforts. And they can integrate the analysis of immediate risks with longer-term perspectives, prioritizing resilience and capacity-building to deal with future shocks.”

Guterres concluded, “Human security has proven its value as a framework to focus on supporting people to live in dignity, free from want and fear.”

He added, “It can help accelerate progress towards Agenda 2030, prevent the emergence of future crises, and deliver the hope people need.”

The Secretary-General urged all countries to “use the important tool of human security to address today’s multilayered crises – and to integrate its insight into our efforts to prepare for future challenges.”