The document discusses the progress made towards achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) halfway through their 2030 deadline. It outlines several factors that have impacted SDG progress since 2019, both positively and negatively, including the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change, conflicts, technology advances, and inequality. Studies are cited showing the pandemic has slowed progress on poverty reduction and education goals. Long-term climate neutrality pledges by many countries and cities could positively impact climate goals. However, conflicts severely undermine achievement of multiple SDGs. The document also describes a science-based tool used by cities to assess interactions and synergies between SDG targets to better integrate their progress.

1. Reaching halfway point for the SDGs:
action and accountability
26 April 2022
Åsa Persson
Independent Group of Scientists

2. Where were we in 2019?
Effect on SDG progress since 2019?
• Covid-19 pandemic
• Changing inequalities
• Conflict and war
• Long-term climate neutrality targets
• Technology and digitalization
• Misinformation and trust

3. Hughes et al. 2021; IEA 2022 Global Energy Review
Impacts of COVID on
global progress towards
SDG targets (% of
countries reaching the
target value by 2030)
Global poverty headcount under different scenarios
Impact of the global Covid-19 pandemic?
Cumulative missing student-years globally,
all education levels
Impact on global
energy CO2
emissions

4. Impact of inequality, as a goal and a means?

5. Moyer et al, 2019, Assessing the impact of the war in Yemen on achieving the SDGs
Impact of war and conflict on
achieving the SDGs?

6. In less than a year, long-term net zero climate targets have become the norm
for countries, and many cities, regions and companies also set targets.
Impact of long-term climate neutrality targets?
• 116 regions have a target (16% of all
regions in 25 highest emitting countries).
• 234 cities have a target (20% of all cities
with 500k+ population).
Source: www.zerotracker.net

7. Science-based tools for
SDG implementation in
cities and regions

9. Untapped potential: Use of science-based tools in VNRs
Allen et al. (2021) Priorities for science to support
implementation of SDGs. Sust. Dev. 29(4).
1. Monitoring and evaluating
progress on the SDGs
2. Assessing and managing
interlinkages between the
SDGs
3. Sustainability transformations
needed to achieve the SDGs
4. Consistency between the
SDGs and planetary
boundaries

10. SDG Synergies tool – piloted by six Swedish cities
Step 1. Contextualise
• Selection of targets
• Selection of actors
Step 2. Assessment of interactions
• A ”cross impact”-matrix
• A guiding question
• A scale of +/- interactions
Step 3. Analysis
• Cross impact-analysis
• Network analysis

11. Example of outcome: The five goals that are most positively affected by
progress overall
Key insights
• Process matters more than result
• Sub-national governments and actors
are typically more integrative
• Localised, internalized SD targets matter

12. https://www.sei.org/projects-and-tools/projects/accelerating-progress-on-the-sustainable-development-goals-at-the-local-level/

16. References and resources
Hughes et al. (2021) Assessing impact of COVID-19 on the Sustainable Development Goals. New York:
UNDP. https://sdgintegration.undp.org/sites/default/files/Flagship_1.pdf
Allen, C. et al (2021) Priorities for science to support national implementation of the sustainable
development goals: A review of progress and gaps. Sustainable Development 29(4): 632-652.
doi/10.1002/sd.2164
SDG Synergies tool – https://www.sdgsynergies.org/ (Contact: Ivonne Lobos Alva, SEI Latin America)
Pilot project with six Swedish municipalities – contact Henrik Carlsen, SEI Headquarters