United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has warned that armed conflicts and shortfall in funding as committed by nations have hampered the world's progress in meeting its development goals, including, among others, action to combat climate change.
Guterres stated on Friday at the UN headquarters in New York that the world is "getting a failing grade" in implementing the 17 Sustainable Development Goals, which all UN member states adopted in 2015 with a deadline of 2030 to implement. Key among the goals was the target to eliminate extreme poverty and hunger.
"Our failure to secure peace, to confront climate change, and to boost international finance is undermining development," he said, noting that there are still five and a half years till the deadline.
"We must accelerate action for the sustainable development goals, and we don't have a moment to lose," he said, adding that thus far, the world was on track to meet only 17% of targets.
Guterres blamed conflicts around the world since 2015, including major conflicts like Ukraine, Gaza and Sudan, the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change-induced catastrophes, and the failure of rich nations to meet funding commitments for meeting the goals.
"The denial of basic needs for so many is outrageous and inexcusable."
While the world has been lagging in meeting most of the goals, Guterres noted that there were positives to be taken from the reduction in new HIV infections, growing access to the internet (despite numerous shutdowns and throttling across the world), and a spurt in the use of renewables.
He stressed the need to end major conflicts raging worldwide, make efforts to mitigate climate change, and enhance funding for climate action and sustainable development.