None of the 17 United Nations-mandated Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) are on track in the Asia-Pacific region. A new report by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) reveals alarming projections regarding SDG attainment in the region.
Pace of Progress
- The region is projected to achieve the 17 SDGs by 2062, 32 years behind schedule.
- Only 11% of the measurable SDG targets are on track, indicating a significant lag in progress.
- By 2030, the region will achieve only one-third of the required progress if current trends persist.
Specific Challenges
- Progress toward SDG 13 (Climate Action) is critically behind, with all targets stalled or regressing.
- 20 targets across 14 SDGs, including SDG 13, have shown deterioration since the 2015 baseline.
Necessity of Climate Action
- Incorporating climate action into national policies is crucial for addressing the regression in climate goals.
- Strengthening resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related disasters is imperative for achieving SDG 13.1.
Data Gaps and Monitoring Challenges
- Data availability remains a significant challenge, with 67% of targets currently not measurable in the region.
- Insufficient data affects monitoring progress, particularly for climate-related targets under SDG 13.
Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs):
- What is the projected timeline for achieving the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the Asia-Pacific region?
- A) 2030
- B) 2040
- C) 2062
- D) 2100
- Answer: C) 2062
- What percentage of measurable SDG targets are currently on track in the Asia-Pacific region?
- A) 5%
- B) 11%
- C) 25%
- D) 50%
- Answer: B) 11%
- Which SDG goal is highlighted as critically behind in terms of progress?
- A) SDG 5 (Gender Equality)
- B) SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy)
- C) SDG 13 (Climate Action)
- D) SDG 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions)
- Answer: C) SDG 13 (Climate Action)
- What percentage of SDG indicators under the climate action goal (SDG 13) lack data in the Asia-Pacific region?
- A) 25.5%
- B) 37.5%
- C) 45.4%
- D) 62.5%
- Answer: D) 62.5%
- Which aspect is identified as a significant challenge for monitoring progress towards the SDGs in the region?
- A) Data availability
- B) Policy implementation
- C) International cooperation
- D) Economic growth
- Answer: A) Data availability