The promise of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is to build a fairer world where people and planet thrive, and a world that leaves no one behind. However, with just five years left until 2030, conflicts reign destruction, funding for development is drying up, and the climate crisis strikes blow after blow.

Despite the turbulent times, we see signs of progress, hope and opportunity in areas such as education, health, and energy. A record number of girls are in school. Child mortality has declined, as has maternal mortality. HIV infections are falling, and electricity now reaches 92 percent of the global population. None of this progress is by chance. It is the result of deliberate decisions. Those and many other examples show how investing in development pays off. 

The strength of the SDGs lies in their interconnectedness. Education advances gender equality. Climate stability strengthens food security. Fighting famine paves the way for peace. This matters because SDGs follow the principle of increasing return. The further we get on each goal, the easier it becomes to achieve others. 

Looking ahead, three priority areas stand out: First, reforming the global financial architecture, and that means delivering real debt relief, tripling the lending capacity and ensuring developing countries have greater influence in the institutions that govern their economic fate. Second, climate action must also take center stage. We must act immediately to keep the 1.5℃ goal within reach, and harness the full potential of the renewable energy. Third, we must also prepare for technological transformation. New digital tools have the potential to be the new engine of development. But we need guardrails to ensure safety and inclusion, as well as financing to bridge digital divides. 

We must make peace a priority. In 2024, global military spending was 13 times the official development assistance, and that is equivalent to the GDP of the entire African continent. In other words, this is not a question of resources. It's a question of choices.

We must never forget that every percentage point, every fraction, and every decimal point represents lives changed and lives saved. It's time to intensify our efforts to achieve the SDGs. We must regroup, recommit, and refocus our energies.

—António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations