New York, September 11 – The United Development Programme (UNDP) welcomed a new report by an independent group of scientists showing that the eradication of poverty by 2030 demands an urgent and fundamental change in the relationship between people and nature, and a significant reduction in social and gender inequalities between and inside countries.
 
The report, The Future is Now: Science for Achieving Sustainable Development, was requested by all countries to evaluate progress on the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda and is the first of its kind since the landmark Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were adopted four years ago. It was written by an independent group of 15 scientists appointed by Secretary-General António Guterres.
 
“The world must go farther and faster if we are to achieve the SDGs. The forecast from the Secretary-General is that we are falling short on the targets and with only a decade to go, we must take immediate action for people and planet,” said UNDP Administrator Achim Steiner. “This important new report highlights the gaps, particularly in relation to poverty reduction, hunger and the devastating knock-on effects of the changing climate.”
 
“But the report also tells us that a far more optimistic future is still attainable if the world drastically changes development policies, incentives and actions, and that understanding the interconnections between the individual SDGs and the concrete systems that define society will be essential to devise policies that manage the difficult trade-offs necessary,” Steiner said.
 
“UNDP has been at the vanguard of supporting nations as they work to achieve the vision of the SDGs. We know that taking effective action on the goals requires that we all work together. Sustainable Development unifies and unites us, but the threat of slipping backwards is ever present and there is no room for complacency,” he added.
 
The report finds that the current development model is not sustainable, and progress made in the last 20 years is in danger of being reversed through worsening social inequalities and potentially irreversible declines in the natural environment.
 
Contact Information: Christina LoNigro, UNDP, christina.lonigro@undp.org.

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