Asia-Pacific struggles to meet SDGs by 2030

The Asia-Pacific region remains significantly off track in its sustainable development goals, or SDGs, with most advancing too slowly or stagnating despite ongoing efforts to implement the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, a UN agency report warned.

Published by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, or ESCAP, on Tuesday, the Asia and the Pacific SDG Progress Report 2025 showed notable advancements in some areas, while progress in others has been slow or has even regressed.

While the Asia-Pacific region is outperforming the rest of the world on most of the goals, it falls behind on others.

The region has shown notable strength compared to the average progress by the rest of the world on several goals including reducing income poverty and hazardous waste generated as well as reducing detected victims of human trafficking and intentional homicide.

The report noted progress toward several goals is far too slow, particularly those on responsible consumption and production, quality education, decent work and economic growth.

In addition, the detailed examination of the region indicated that negative trends in environmental indicators — such as the economic benefits from sustainable fisheries and the extent of land degradation — hinder progress on life under water and on land.

Key obstacle

"Lack of progress toward environmental sustainability is a key obstacle for regional progress toward the 2030 targets," said Rachael Beaven, director of ESCAP's statistics division.

"Key drivers of this stagnation include increases in fossil fuel subsidies, poor proficiency in reading and mathematics, and unsustainable production patterns," she added.

Meanwhile, the report showed significant achievements in the Asia-Pacific region in terms of industry, innovation and infrastructure, and good health and well-being, driven by expanded access to mobile networks and remarkable improvements in maternal, infant, and child health.

Beaven emphasized that the five subregions of the Asia-Pacific are experiencing unique trajectories in sustainable development.

The diversity in progress underscores the need for targeted strategies and region-specific solutions to ensure no one is left behind, she said.

Despite these strides, the report showed that insufficient data in the region presents a major obstacle to understanding progress in critical areas.

"Data gaps persist and leave some of the most vulnerable populations invisible in official statistics, limiting policymakers' ability to address their needs effectively," said UN Under-Secretary-General and ESCAP Executive Secretary Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana.

yangwanli@chinadaily.com.cn