UN chief calls for intensified efforts to achieve SDGs

23/9/2025 7:56

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Monday called for intensified efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at the SDG Moment event held at UN headquarters.



At the event, hosted during the High-Level Week of the 80th session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA), Guterres outlined the path to reach the SDGs: reform the global financial architecture, climate action must take center stage, and prepare for technological transformation.



"In all we do, we must make peace a priority," he said, stressing that in 2024 global military spending was 13 times official development assistance.



With five years to go until 2030, only 35 percent of the SDGs are on track, 47 percent are seeing insufficient progress, and 18 percent have gone into reverse, UNGA President Annalena Baerbock said at the event.



"The financial picture is equally stark. At a moment of rising need, net official development assistance fell by 7.1 percent last year," she said.