The warning is contained in the UN’s 2026 SDG Progress Report, released as governments, development agencies and civil society representatives gather in New York for the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development.
The report highlights major achievements over the past decade. Nearly one billion people have gained access to safe drinking water, while 1.2 billion people now have access to safely managed sanitation services. New HIV infections have fallen by 30% since 2015, electricity now reaches 92% of the global population, and internet access has expanded from 40% to 74%. Social protection programmes also now cover more than half of the world’s population.
Despite this progress, the report paints a concerning picture of the overall pace of implementation. The UN found that only 36% of targets with sufficient data are on track or making moderate progress, while almost half are advancing too slowly. A further 15% have regressed compared with 2015 levels.
The challenges remain stark. One in 10 people globally still lives in extreme poverty, food insecurity affects 2.3 billion people and 273 million children and young people remain out of school. Maternal mortality rates remain almost three times higher than the global target, while the number of refugees worldwide has more than doubled over the past decade.
Climate change continues to pose a major threat to development efforts. The report notes that global temperatures in 2025 reached 1.43°C above pre-industrial levels, underscoring the growing urgency of climate action.
Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed said many developing countries continue to struggle because resources needed to implement the goals are insufficient. “Many countries are being asked to deliver on promises without the tools to keep them,” said Mohammed.
Mohammed called for reforms that would allow development banks to provide greater debt relief and longer-term financing for projects linked to sustainable development.
The report identifies conflict, climate change, slowing economic growth, rising debt burdens and declining development assistance as major factors slowing progress. These challenges are having the greatest impact on vulnerable populations and developing countries.
The High-Level Political Forum will review progress on key goals, including clean water and sanitation, affordable and clean energy, industry and infrastructure, sustainable cities and global partnerships. Thirty-six countries will present voluntary national reviews of their progress.
UN Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs Li Junhua said stronger implementation is now critical. “The focus must shift from commitments to implementation,” said Junhua.
–UN/ChannelAfrica–
