Introduction to SDGs and ECLAC’s Call to Action

SANTIAGO, Chile, CMC – The Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) calls on region countries to accelerate progress towards the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 2030 Agenda.

The 2030 Agenda, adopted by all United Nations members in 2015, created 17 global 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.”

Understanding the SDGs and Their Importance

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

However, ECLAC notes that there is an urgent need to accelerate structural transformations to escape development traps.

“Political will and the joint efforts of national and subnational governments, the private sector, civil society, academia, the legislative branch, and international organizations 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.

Challenges and Recommendations for Progress

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 implementation of the 2030 Agenda in Latin America and the Caribbean.

It said this will require higher, 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. Mobilizing private sector resources will be critical to close this gap,” the document states.

It said that governance and state capacities must be strengthened, prioritizing effective mechanisms for planning, monitoring, and evaluating 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, assessing future scenarios, and designing evidence-based strategies.”

Specific Actions for Sustainable Development

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. It also encouraged digitalization 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 organization said that climate action must be mainstreamed into all sustainable development strategies, focusing on mitigation and adaptation to strengthen the region’s resilience to 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.”

Progress Towards the SDGs and Future Outlook

ECLAC notes that 2025 marks the 10-year anniversary of the adoption of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, 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 percent of the SDG targets will be met by 2030; 41 percent are moving in the right direction, but at an insufficient pace for achievement by the deadline; and 36 percent have stalled or regressed relative to the 2015 baseline.”

ECLAC said the progress varies among the SDGs.

It said that 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.

Conclusion

The report highlights the need for urgent action to accelerate progress towards the SDGs in Latin America and the Caribbean. It emphasizes the importance of political will, joint efforts, and structural transformations to achieve the goals and ensure a sustainable future for all.

FAQs

Q: What are the SDGs?

A: The SDGs are 17 global goals adopted by the United Nations in 2015 to achieve peace, prosperity, and sustainability for people and the planet.

Q: What is ECLAC’s role in promoting the SDGs?

A: ECLAC is a UN organization that promotes economic and social development in Latin America and the Caribbean, and it plays a key role in supporting countries in the region to achieve the SDGs.

Q: What are the main challenges in achieving the SDGs in Latin America and the Caribbean?

A: The main challenges include limited public investment, insufficient international cooperation flows, and the need for structural transformations to escape development traps.