UN secretary-general António Guterres has warned that the world remains far off track to meeting the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals targets.

Addressing ministers at UN Headquarters in New York, Mr Guterres called for urgent action to rescue lagging SDGs amid war, inequality, and fiscal strain.

The remarks opened the ministerial segment of the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development, the UN’s central platform for reviewing the 2030 Agenda and its 17 SDGs.

With just five years left to meet the global goals, Guterres urged ministers to “transform these sparks of transformation into a blaze of progress for all countries.”

“Only 35 per cent of SDG targets are on track or making moderate progress. Nearly half are moving too slowly. And 18 per cent are going backwards,” he said.

The UN chief urged governments to act with urgency and ambition, and get back on track.

He said, “The Sustainable Development Goals are not a dream. They are a plan, a plan to keep our promises to the most vulnerable people, to each other, and to future generations.”

The UN chief was, however, optimistic that salvaging SDGs was still possible, and countries must act now.

Citing gains since 2015, including expanded social protection, declining child marriage, and growing women’s representation, he said the SDGs remain “within reach” if world leaders channel resources and political will.

Mr Guterres also linked development and peace, noting ongoing violence in Gaza, Sudan, Myanmar, Ukraine, and elsewhere.

“At every step, we know sustainable peace requires sustainable development,” he said, calling for immediate ceasefires and renewed commitment to diplomacy.

Citing new global agreements on pandemic preparedness, ocean protection, and development financing, Guterres said recent “signs of momentum” showed multilateralism could still deliver.

“Transformation is not only necessary, it is possible,” he declared, highlighting landmark commitments adopted in recent months.

These include the Pandemic Agreement at the World Health Assembly in Geneva and pledges to expand marine protected areas at the third UN Ocean Conference in Nice.

The others are the new vision for global finance agreed in Seville, Spain, at the fourth International Financing for Development Conference.

“These are not isolated wins. They are signs of momentum and signs that multilateralism can deliver,” the UN chief stressed.

(NAN)