Guyana’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Carolyn Rodrigues, has expressed concerns that the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set for achievement by 2030 are unlikely to be met.
She highlighted that only 17% of the goals have been achieved so far, largely due to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
To address these issues, world leaders will convene for the “UN Summit of the Future,” scheduled for September 22-23, at the UN Headquarters in New York.
The summit aims to review progress on the SDGs and tackle emerging global challenges.
The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, adopted by all UN Member States in 2015, outlines ambitious goals including gender equality, eradication of poverty, quality education, and promoting peace and justice.
However, the pandemic and geopolitical crises have significantly hampered progress.
One key focus of the summit will be the creation of a new emergency response platform for the UN, designed to offer more effective support to countries affected by natural disasters.
The upcoming summit represents a critical opportunity for the international community to re-evaluate strategies and enhance efforts toward achieving the SDGs.