A path to a better future

With only six more years left for the historic goals set by the world leaders to secure the rights and well-being of everyone, current progress falls short of what is required to be done.

Many of the goals that span a wide range of social, economic, and environmental development challenges, however, are incomplete setting the stage for a new goal framework to be developed.

According to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Report 2024, progress has nearly ground to a halt or been reversed across multiple fronts since the breakout of the Covid-19 pandemic and wars and conflicts in different regions, albeit reaffirmed pledges.

“The world is severely off track to realize the 2030 Agenda. Of the 169 targets, 135 can be assessed using available global trend data from the 2015 baseline to the most recent year," the report reveals.

The report finds that only 17 per cent of the SDG targets are on track, nearly half are showing minimal or moderate progress, and progress on over one third has stalled or even regressed.

Expressing his concern, António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations, wrote in the forward note of the report, “Inequalities keep growing. The climate crisis continues to escalate. Biodiversity loss is accelerating. Progress towards gender equality remains disappointing. Aggravating the factors are the conflicts in Ukraine, Gaza, Sudan, and beyond have left an unprecedented 120 million forcibly displaced people worldwide.

However, despite these deeply worrying trends, the report highlights progress in reducing child mortality, HIV infections, the cost of remittances, and improvements in access to water, sanitation, energy, and mobile broadband.

Significantly, the Sultanate of Oman, as one of the six Arab countries actively pursuing sustainability, has emerged as a frontrunner in demonstrating an unwavering commitment to environmental, social, and governance practices.

According to the dashboard of the State of Sustainable Development 2024 report, Oman is on the right direction to meet the goals with positive progress .

During the second voluntary review at the high-level Political Forum held at the UN headquarters in New York from July 8 to 17, it was revealed that Oman is on track for 11 goals by achieving at least 75 per cent of the target.

“Over the past years, Oman has adopted the implementation of a comprehensive and integrated strategy for economic, social, and environmental development, guided by Oman Vision 2040, which integrates sustainable development goals into its pillars," Dr. Said bin Mohammed al Saqri, Minister of Economy, said in his speech at the Forum.

Oman's sustainable development journey showcases its revolutionary efforts in environmental, social, and governance initiatives. With ambitious investments in energy transition and decarbonisation projects, Oman is committed to achieving net zero emissions by 2050.

In the recent past, the Sultanate has launched many initiatives to expand income diversification, enhance financial sustainability, build national capacities, and support the social aspect of development.

The country is on the path to achieve 100 per cent comprehensive water and electricity coverage to ensure the sustainability of these vital services, in addition to developing smart cities and sustainable and attractive local communities.

A national strategy to achieve zero-carbon neutrality by 2050 is another example to show that the country is moving in the right direction towards achieving the SDGs. It aspires to be a global center for clean energy, with the aim that renewable energy will constitute 30 per cent of electricity production by 2030 and produce 7.5 million tonnes of green hydrogen annually by 2050.