The 2030 Agenda Initiatives: the mscs perspectives

MSCS Consortium’s Evaluation

of the Effects of the SDGs

So Far

Introduction

The 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a universal framework adopted by UN member states in 2015 to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure prosperity for all by 2030. Their effects are observed through three primary dimensions: discursive (changing how we talk about development), normative (influencing laws and policies), and institutional (creating new structures to achieve these goals). Here, we evaluate the effects of the SDGs so far.

Current Status of Progress (as of 2024–2026)

While the SDGs have mobilised significant global efforts, the 2024 and 2025 UN reports indicate that progress is "severely off track".

• On Track: Only about 15–18% of targets are currently on track to be met by 2030.

• Minimal/Slow Progress: Approximately 35–50% of targets show moderate or minimal progress.

• Stalled or Regressing: About 18–33% of targets have either stalled or are actively regressing.

Key Positive Effects and Successes

Despite overall setbacks, the SDGs have driven measurable improvements in several critical areas:

• Health (SDG 3): HIV/AIDS-related deaths have fallen by 52% since 2010, and maternal and child mortality rates have significantly declined globally.

• Energy (SDG 7): Access to electricity has reached 91–92% of the global population, up from 87% in 2015.

• Connectivity (SDG 9/17): Internet usage jumped from 40% in 2015 to 68% in 2024.

• Poverty and Social Protection (SDG 1): Over half the world's population is now covered by at least one form of social protection, a 10% increase over the last decade.

• Private Sector Engagement: The SDGs have provided a foundation for ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) standards, encouraging companies like IKEA to reform supply chains and improve farmer livelihoods.

Major Challenges and Regressions

Global shocks, including the COVID-19 pandemic, climate disasters, and increasing conflicts, have reversed years of progress.

• Poverty and Hunger: Extreme poverty rose in 2020 for the first time in decades. Roughly 735 million people (9.2% of the world) still face chronic hunger as of 2022.

• Inequality (SDG 10): The pandemic caused the largest rise in between-country inequality in three decades.

• Climate and Environment (SDGs 13, 14, 15): 2024 was recorded as the hottest year in history. Marine pollution and land degradation continue to rise, with 100 million hectares of healthy land lost annually.

• Conflict and Displacement: The number of forcibly displaced people reached 120 million in 2024, more than double the 2015 figure.

Some of the 17 Goals at a Glance

Conclusion

As of 2025, evaluation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) shows that while they have improved millions of lives, progress is insufficient to meet 2030 targets. Only 35% of targets are on track, with nearly half moving too slowly and 18% reversing due to conflict, climate change, and economic shocks.  In addition, The 2025 assessment serves as a "compass" rather than a final verdict, calling for urgent multilateralism and deep reform of the international financial architecture to rescue the 2030 promise.

For more information about the  MSCS 2030 Agenda Steering Team via info@medicalscs.co.uk