SANTIAGO, Chile (CMC) — The Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) is calling on countries in the region to accelerate progress towards the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 2030 agenda.

The 2030 agenda, adopted by all United Nations members in 2015, created 17 world SDGs. The aim of these global goals is “peace and prosperity for people and the planet, while tackling climate change and working to preserve oceans and forests”.

The SDGs highlight the connections between the environmental, social and economic aspects of sustainable development. Sustainability is at the centre of the SDGs, as the term sustainable development implies.

But ECLAC noted that there is an urgent need to accelerate structural transformations to break out of development traps.

“Political will and the joint efforts of national and subnational governments, the private sector, civil society, academia, the legislative branch and international organisations are essential to achieve the SDGs and ensure a more just and sustainable future for all,” ECLAC said in a publication presented to the ongoing Forum of the Countries of Latin America and the Caribbean on Sustainable Development 2025.

The forum ends on April 4.

According to the document titled “Latin America and the Caribbean in the Final Five Years of the 2030 Agenda: Steering Transformations to Accelerate Progress”, ECLAC said that overcoming development traps is critical for accelerating the implementation of the 2030 agenda in Latin America and the Caribbean.

It said this will require higher and more inclusive and sustainable growth that is underpinned by broad-based transformations, reduces inequalities and strengthens institutions.

“Financing remains a major obstacle, in light of limited public investment and insufficient international cooperation flows. Mobilising private sector resources will be critical to close this gap,” the document stated.

It said that governance and state capacities must be strengthened, prioritising effective mechanisms for planning, monitoring and evaluation of public policies and fostering greater transparency and accountability.

“All development stakeholders must strengthen their TOPP capabilities to improve the planning and implementation of sustainable public policies. There is a need to train technical teams with expertise in sustainable development. Enhancing anticipatory governance would improve long-term planning, the assessment of future scenarios and the design of evidence-based strategies.”

ECLAC said the region needs to boost investment in strategic sectors that drive growth and foster innovation in health, education, renewable energies and digital technologies.

It said recommended measures include fostering diversified productive development models; lowering dependence on extractive industries and promoting economies based on knowledge, advanced manufacturing and renewable energy; and encouraging digitalisation and innovation to improve productivity, reduce gaps in access to essential services, strengthen education and encourage the use of emerging technologies in public management.

The UN organisation said that climate action must be mainstreamed into all sustainable development strategies, focusing on mitigation and adaptation to strengthen the region’s resilience to the risk of disasters caused by extreme natural events and other environmental risks.

“Efforts to shift towards a sustainable, low-carbon economy, the energy transition, more sustainable production models and the circular economy must be intensified.”

It said emphasis should be placed on strengthening international and regional cooperation and multisectoral partnerships, facilitating the transfer of knowledge and sustainable technologies, and establishing platforms for countries and regions to exchange best practices.

“At the regional level, the Pact for the Future offers a new opportunity to facilitate coordination and cooperation with a view to fostering regional integration and accelerating progress towards the SDGs.”

ECLAC noted that 2025 marks the 10-year anniversary of the adoption of the 2030 agenda for Sustainable Development and the start of the five-year countdown to 2030, and regional progress towards the SDGs.

“Projections based on the latest available data presented in this report indicate that only 23 per cent of the SDG targets will be met by 2030; 41 per cent are moving in the right direction, but at an insufficient pace for achievement by the deadline; and 36 per cent have stalled or regressed relative to the 2015 baseline.”

ECLAC said the progress varies among the SDGs.

It said for Goal 1 (No poverty), Goal 2 (Zero hunger), Goal 10 (Reduced inequalities), Goal 13 (Climate action) and Goal 16 (Peace, justice and strong institutions), none of the targets are on track for achievement by 2030, and several have regressed significantly.

For Goal 6 (Clean water and sanitation), Goal 12 (Responsible consumption and production) and Goal 17 (Partnerships for the Goals), fewer targets are off track, with some showing progress.

Goal 7 (Affordable and clean energy) and Goal 14 (Life below water) have the most even split between targets that are on track and targets that are off track.

Most of the indicators under Goal 4 (Quality education), Goal 5 (Gender equality), Goal 8 (Decent work and economic growth), Goal 9 (Industry, infrastructure and innovation) and Goal 11 (Sustainable cities and communities) are moving in the right direction, but at an insufficient pace.

Targets under Goal 3 (Good health and well-being) and Goal 15 (Life on land) display no discernible trend, be it positive or negative, ECLAC said, noting the variety of factors inhibiting speedier progress include weak institutional capacities, lack of prioritisation in national development plans, and limited financing and fiscal space.