SDGs: UNGA president calls for united effort as only 18% of goals met

Philémon Yang, President of the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), has called for intensified global efforts to meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), warning that less than 18 percent of the targets have been achieved, with just five years remaining until the 2030 deadline.

Speaking during the general debate at the UNGA in New York on Tuesday, Yang stressed the need for collective action, noting the platform as one of the world’s most authoritative spaces for discussing solutions to pressing global issues.

He pointed to the deteriorating climate crisis and the global failure to meet SDG targets as critical concerns.

“The urgency of our task cannot be overstated,” Yang said, urging world leaders to unite against climate change, which is threatening ecosystems and livelihoods globally.

Addressing the world’s growing conflict zones, including the Middle East, Ukraine, Haiti, and Sudan, Yang called for immediate ceasefires and adherence to international humanitarian laws.

He singled out the Israel-Hamas conflict, advocating for the unconditional release of hostages and a two-state solution to bring peace and dignity to both Palestinians and Israelis.

Yang also raised alarm over global military spending, which he likened to an arms race reminiscent of the Cold War era. He called for the abolition of nuclear weapons, stressing the existential threat they pose to humanity. “We cannot afford to divert resources to fuel an unprecedented arms race,” he said.

In addition to global conflict, the Assembly President emphasized the importance of international dialogue and trust, which he said are essential for peaceful conflict resolution.

“Constant dialogue is a powerful weapon,” Yang noted, urging nations to overcome longstanding prejudices and divisions.

He also highlighted the ongoing struggle for gender equality, lamenting the fact that millions of women and girls around the world are denied basic rights and opportunities.

Yang condemned modern slavery and forced labour, calling for a concerted global effort to eliminate these injustices.

On economic challenges, Yang called for reforms to the international financial system, noting that many countries are burdened by crippling debt.

He further pointed to the growing digital divide, which is excluding entire populations from opportunities in the modern world.

Yang further reminded world leaders of their collective responsibility to shape a better future, referencing the recent Summit of the Future and the adoption of the Pact for the Future, which aims to reinforce global institutions to address the challenges of a rapidly changing world.