By Dr. Gyan Pathak
Asia-Pacific region will miss 103 of 117 measurable targets – or 88 per cent – across the 17 global Sustainable Development Goals, adopted by world leaders in 2015, a new report by the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) has warned.
As for India, it seems comfortable with only four targets, in which more than 75 per cent of the measured targets showing positive trends. In 9 of the goals, between 50 per cent and 75 per cent of the measured targets show positive trends. In one goal, between 25 per cent of the measured targets show positive trend. In three goals, fewer than 25 per cent of the measured targets show positive trends.
The Asia and the Pacific SDG Progress Report 2026 has said that Climate inaction, biodiversity loss and rising emissions are pushing the region further off course on SDGs, and it is set to miss nearly nine out of ten targets by 2030. It is worth mentioning that the goals focus on ending extreme poverty and hunger, ensuring access to clean water and sanitation, and providing quality universal education, among other targets, by 2030.
While we have only five years left until 2030, the region is clearly falling behind. This report reveals a stark contradiction: while the region has achieved notable success in reducing poverty, improving health and well-being and driving rapid industrialization, these gains are being undermined by failures to protect the environment and reduce inequality. Our current development trajectory is unsustainable, and the window for corrective action is closing rapidly.
The data present a clear and alarming verdict: the region is not on track to achieve any of the 17SDGs. At the current pace, 88 per cent of measurable targets will be missed. Although progress is evident for a handful of targets, most require a dramatic acceleration. In critical areas such as climate action, marine conservation and biodiversity, the situation has not just stalled – it is deteriorating. For cities and communities, persistent regression, including damage to critical infrastructure, underscores a dangerous gap between planning and resilience on the ground, threatening the sustainability of urban development. This environmental backsliding, coupled with slow progress in creating decent work and reducing inequality, paints a picture of deeply unbalanced development.
While data availability for SDG indicators has improved, reaching an average of 55 per cent in 2025, critical gaps remain. Persistent data gaps exist for SDG 5 (Gender equality) and SDG 16 (Peace, justice and strong institutions). Closing these gaps is essential for informed policymaking and accelerating progress towards the 2030 Agenda.
The data tell two contrasting stories: one where the region is advancing and another where it is falling behind. The region continues to make notable progress towards SDG 9 (Industry, innovation and infrastructure), which has no targets in decline, and SDG 3 (Good health and well-being), bolstered by steady reductions in maternal and child mortality. There have been improvements towards SDG 1 (No poverty) and SDG 6 (Clean water and sanitation), though these areas still require acceleration. However, despite these achievements, the region is not on track to achieve any of the 17 SDGs, underscoring the urgent need for coordinated and accelerated action.
Advances achieved so far are now at risk. An alarming pattern of regression is undermining previous gains, most notably in the environmental sphere. SDG 14 (Life below water) faces significant setbacks in sustainable fishing and coastal conservation. Progress on SDG 13 (Climate action) remains a grave concern as the level of total greenhouse gas emissions in the region continues to increase. Similarly, progress towards SDG 15 (Life on land) is hampered by accelerating biodiversity loss and land degradation.
On the current trajectory, the region will miss103 of the 117 measurable targets. The lack of adequate data for 52 targets underscores a critical evidence gap, limiting the ability to track progress and inform effective implementation. Existing data show that the region is on track to achieve only14 targets by 2030, with seven SDGs having no targets on track.
Evidence also warns that the pledge to “leave no one behind” is faltering, as seen in setbacks on target 4.5 (on ensuring equal access to education) and target 16.3 (on ensuring equal access to justice). Furthermore, insufficient data on SDG 5 (Gender equality) and SDG16 (Peace, justice, and strong institutions), goals central to this ambition, obscure our understanding of how effectively the most vulnerable are being reached. (IPA Service)
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