THE Philippines trails behind Asean-5 neighbors in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), according to the latest report from the Sustainable Development Solutions Network.
The Sustainable Development Report (SDR) showed the Philippines ranked 98th out of 166 in 2023, with an overall score of 67.14 out of 100 using 2022 data.
This score is slightly below the regional average score of 67.2 out of 100 but was higher than the 67.08 out of 100 score posted in 2021.
The global topnotcher in terms of progress in the SDGs is Finland, with an overall score of 86.76 out of 100; while among the Asean-5, the topnotcher is Thailand, ranked 43rd globally with a score of 74.74 out of 100.
“Halfway to 2030, the SDGs are seriously off track—with the poor and highly vulnerable countries suffering the most,” said SDSN President and lead author of the report, Jeffrey D. Sachs.
“It would be unconscionable for the world to miss this opportunity, especially for the richest countries to evade their responsibilities. The SDGs remain fundamental for the future we want,” he added.
Based on the report, the Philippines’s progress faces major challenges in the SDGs on good health and well-being; decent work and economic growth; reducing inequalities; life below water; life on land; and peace, justice, and strong institutions.
The country faces significant challenges in the SDGs on poverty eradication; zero hunger; quality education; gender equality; clean water and sanitation; affordable and clean energy; industry, innovation and infrastructure; sustainable cities and communities; and partnerships for the goals.
Challenges remain in attaining the SDG on climate action and the SDG is achieved in terms of the goal of responsible consumption and production.
The data also showed progress is stagnating in the SDGs on quality education; gender equality; affordable and clean energy; sustainable cities and communities; climate action; life on water; and peace, justice, and strong institutions.
The SDR also showed the country is moderately improving in the goals on eradicating poverty; zero hunger; good health and well-being; decent work and economic growth; industry, innovation and infrastructure; reducing inequality; life below water; and partnerships for the goals.
Sachs said the international community should step up at this month’s Summit for a New Global Financing Pact in Paris, and at the key upcoming multilateral meetings.
This includes the G20 meeting in New Delhi, the SDG Summit New York in September, and COP28 in Dubai, to scale up international financial flows based on SDG needs.
For the third year in a row, global progress on SDGs has been static, and there is a risk that the gap in SDG outcomes between high-income countries (HICs) and low-income countries (LICs) will be larger in 2030 than when the goals were universally agreed upon in 2015.
The SDR showed that based on the current pace of progress since 2015, none of the goals will be achieved by 2030, and on average, less than 20 percent of the SDG targets are on track to be achieved.
While the world was making some modest progress on the SDGs from 2015-2019, progress has stalled since the Covid-19 pandemic and simultaneous global crises and setbacks, and is one full point below the projected level based on prepandemic trends.
The report also highlights a risk that the gap in SDG outcomes between HICs and LICs will be larger in 2030 (29 points) than it was in 2015 (28 points)—underscoring the danger of losing a decade of progress towards convergence globally.
Image credits: Nonie Reyes
PHL trails Asean-5 neighbors in SDGs
Source: News Paper Radio
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