Launch of the new OECD report "The Short and Winding Road to 2030: Measuring Distance to the SDG Targets" on 27 April 2022. More information at: www.oecd.org/publications/the-short-and-winding-road-to-2030-af4b630d-en.htm

1. THE SHORT AND WINDING ROAD TO 2030:
MEASURING DISTANCE TO THE SDG TARGETS

2. © OECD |
Why and how to measure distance to
the SDG targets for OECD countries?
Measuring Distance to the SDG Targets for OECD Countries

3. © OECD | Measuring Distance to the SDG Targets for OECD Countries
A tool to navigate the 2030 Agenda and identify priorities for action
The report aims at assisting countries with their national implementation, measurement, and
prioritisation of SDGs
Measures how far OECD countries are from 2030 targets,
allowing comparison across goals, targets and indicators
Using a unique methodology it assesses the distance that countries need to travel to meet the
SDG targets
Based on the internationally agreed UN Global Indicator Framework
Allows an extensive assessment of the statistical
agenda for the 2030 Agenda
Assesses OECD countries’ likelihood of achieving their commitments by 2030
Informs on how progress may be affected by the COVID-19 pandemic on the
short and long-run

4. © OECD |
Leaving no one behind
Two working paper adapted the methodology to assess the distance to the SDG
targets for specific groups of population (children and youth in 2016, and women in 2019)
Measuring transboundary impacts
A working paper to be published aims at deepening the measurement and analysis of transboundary
aspects within the 2030 Agenda
Expanding to non-OECD countries
WISE recently developed a toolkit to help countries, beyond the OECD, to
measure the distance non-OECD countries need to go to reach the SDGs
Going beyond the static snapshot
Taking stock of preliminary work undertaken for the 2019 report, the
new edition focuses on assessing medium to long term trends and
inform on the COVID-related impacts
Further information at: https://www.oecd.org/sdd/measuring-distance-to-the-sdgs-targets.htm
COVID-related
analysis
Measuring Distance to the SDG Targets for OECD Countries

5. © OECD |
Highlights from
The Short and Winding Road to 2030
Measuring Distance to the SDG Targets
Measuring Distance to the SDG Targets for OECD Countries

6. © OECD |
Most SDG targets can be assessed…
Highlights from the report
The report measures the distance between
OECD countries’ current performance and
where they should be in 2030.
It draws on data from UN and OECD
databases aligned with the UN Global
Indicator List, while complementing it with
OECD sources to deepen the analysis of
specific issues.
Compared to the previous edition, it has
broader coverage.
• Around 80% (136 out of 169) of targets
are covered, as opposed to less than 50%
in the previous edition.

7. © OECD |
… but the current OECD performance is “mixed” at best
Panel A. Distribution of current distance to Target (percentage of Targets), by goal
0%
25%
50%
75%
100%
1 2 3 4 5 6 12 13 14 15 7 8 9 10 11 16 17
People Planet Prosperity Peace Part.
Small Distance to Target Medium Distance to Target Large Distance to Target
Before COVID-19 hit, some SDG
targets were, on average, close to
being met.
• On average, OECD countries have
already achieved, or are close to
have achieved, at least 25% of the
targets for 12 of the 17 goals (in
lighter blue).
• The OECD area has met 10 targets
and is considered to be close to 18
more, mainly those related to
securing basic needs and
implementing policy tools and
frameworks.
Note: Numbers from 1 to 17 stands for the goals – see https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/topics/sustainabledevelopmentgoals for details. The figure shows how OECD countries
perform in terms of their distance from the target level they are supposed to meet by 2030. Percentages are computed for the targets with available data.
Source: OECD (2022), The Short and Winding Road to 2030: Measuring Distance to the SDG Targets, OECD Publishing, Paris, https://doi.org/10.1787/af4b630d-en
Highlights from the report

8. © OECD |
… but the current OECD performance is “mixed” at best
Highlights from the report
Panel A. Distribution of current distance to Target (percentage of Targets), by goal
0%
25%
50%
75%
100%
1 2 3 4 5 6 12 13 14 15 7 8 9 10 11 16 17
People Planet Prosperity Peace Part.
Small Distance to Target Medium Distance to Target Large Distance to Target
Yet, performance was very uneven
across the 17 goals of the 2030
Agenda and much remains to be
done beyond securing basic needs.
• The OECD area as a whole is at a
large distance to 21 SDG targets.
• No target can be classified as close
to being reached for the goals
relating to Gender Equality (Goal
5), Climate action (13) and
Reduced inequalities (10) – in
middle or darker blue.
Note: Numbers from 1 to 17 stands for the goals – see https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/topics/sustainabledevelopmentgoals for details. The figure shows how OECD countries
perform in terms of their distance from the target level they are supposed to meet by 2030. Percentages are computed for the targets with available data.
Source: OECD (2022), The Short and Winding Road to 2030: Measuring Distance to the SDG Targets, OECD Publishing, Paris, https://doi.org/10.1787/af4b630d-en

9. © OECD |
Going beyond the static snapshot,
this new edition provides a dynamic
assessment, i.e. likelihood of
meeting the targets by 2030 based
on recent trends and pace of
progress.
Going dynamic provides a better understanding…
Highlights from the report

10. © OECD |
… and highlights the need for stronger action
Highlights from the report
Panel B. Distribution of trends (percentage of Targets), by goal
0%
25%
50%
75%
100%
1 2 3 4 5 6 12 13 14 15 7 8 9 10 11 16 17
People Planet Prosperity Peace Part.
Target is achieved or on track to being achieved Progress has been made, but is insufficient to meet the target
No progress or moving away from the SDG target
OECD countries are, on average, making
progress towards some SDGs.
• e.g. gender equality (Goal 5), three of
the Planet Goals (Goals 6 on clean
water and sanitation; 13 on climate
action; and 14 on life below water) as
well as affordable and clean energy
(Goal 7) – shown in green and yellow.
Yet, there is no progress for many targets
of some SDGs.
• e.g. most of the People-related Goals
(Goals 1 on poverty, 2 on hunger and 4
on education), Goal 8 on economy and
Goal 10 on inequalities – in red.
Source: OECD (2022), The Short and Winding Road to 2030: Measuring Distance to the SDG Targets, OECD Publishing, Paris, https://doi.org/10.1787/af4b630d-en
Note: Numbers from 1 to 17 stands for the goals – see https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/topics/sustainabledevelopmentgoals for details. The figure shows how OECD countries
perform, on average, based on recent developments for the different indicators; it shows the likelihood of meeting the different targets by 2030 based on recent trends

11. © OECD |
OECD countries should foster inclusion
• One in eight OECD residents is income poor.
• Over the past decades most OECD countries
have not made progress towards poverty
reduction.
• Many groups, including women, young adults
and migrants, face greater challenges than the
rest of the population.
• Despite progress, women’s rights and
opportunities are still limited in both private and
public spheres
Main challenges towards 2030 include “leaving no one behind”
Highlights from the report

12. © OECD |
Main challenges towards 2030 include building trust for
democracies
Highlights from the report
The pandemic has underscored the importance
of trust for democracies.
• OECD countries have not yet made enough
progress towards targets related to areas that
are critical for trust, including accessibility,
accountability, transparency and diversity in
public institutions.
• Available data show a long-term decrease in
people’s trust in institutions in developed
countries.

13. © OECD |
Environmental pressures are rising
• Despite some progress, many OECD economies
remain material- and carbon-intensive.
• Many valuable materials continue to be
disposed of as waste.
• Major economies still support the production and
consumption of inefficient fossil fuel subsidies.
• None of the 21 Aichi Biodiversity Targets that
should have been fulfilled by 2020 have been
met by all OECD countries.
Main challenges towards 2030 include tackling rising
environmental pressures
Highlights from the report

14. © OECD |
Impact of the COVID-19
pandemic on the SDGs

15. © OECD |
Share of instruction days when schools were closed (fully or partially) due to the pandemic,
on academic break, or fully open, OECD, Mar 2020 – Jun 2021
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun
2020 2021
Fully closed Partially closed Academic break Fully open
A snapshot on “People”
COVID-19 has exacerbated inequalities with long-term effects
Impact of COVID-19 pandemic
Social safety nets and food assistance programs
have been able to buffer some of the short-term
effects on poverty and hunger (Goals 1 and 2)
but the pandemic may also have a great impact on
malnutrition.
The pandemic has disproportionately affected
workers in some sectors and young people.
Measures to prevent the circulation of the virus
limited people’s ability to go to health-care
facilities or to attend schools (relating to Goals 3
and 4).
School closures (see Figure) have harmed the
education of young people and made their labour
market integration more difficult.
Source: OECD 2021, COVID-19 and Well-Being, Life in the Pandemic

16. © OECD |
A snapshot on “Planet”
the “dark dimension” of COVID resilience
Global CO2 emissions
Stated Policies Scenario
Announced pledges
Scenario
Announced pledges
Scenario (COP26)
Net Zero Scenario
Impact of COVID-19 pandemic
The reduction in economic activity associated
to the COVID-19 crisis due to lockdowns led to
a temporary improvement of environmental
conditions, leading to
• short-term reduction in global greenhouse gas
emissions – 2020 marked the largest absolute decline
in global CO2 emissions in history.
• temporary improvement in water quality in
waterways and coastal zones, and
• lower pressures on biodiversity.
Yet, these benefits are not lasting.
• The recovery is already associated with poorer
environmental conditions.
• Global GHG emissions are only projected to
significantly decline by 2030 if COVID-19 recovery
packages are used to accelerate the transition to net
zero emissions.
Source: IAE, Global Energy Review 2021

17. © OECD |
Unemployment rate GDP per capita index (baseline = 2007)
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
2016-Q1 2017-Q1 2018-Q1 2019-Q1 2020-Q1 2021-Q1
80
85
90
95
100
105
110
115
120
2016-Q1 2017-Q1 2018-Q1 2019-Q1 2020-Q1 2021-Q1
Japan United States OECD Euro area
A snapshot on “Prosperity”
COVID-19 had unprecedented impacts on the economy
Impact of COVID-19 pandemic
The COVID-19 induced the most severe as well as
the shortest recession since World War II.
The OECD GDP fell by 4.6% in 2020
• It rose above its pre-pandemic level in the third
quarter of 2021.
• Yet, the recovery is uneven among countries.
22 million jobs disappeared in 2020.
• Despite support measures to firms and workers,
the pandemic has disrupted employment
dynamics.
• The labour market remains imbalanced.
Source: OECD (2022), Unemployment rate (indicator). doi: 10.1787/52570002-en; Gross domestic product (GDP) (indicator). doi: 10.1787/dc2f7aec-en

18. © OECD |
A snapshot on “Peace and Partnerships”
COVID-19 has caused a significant deterioration in public finances
General government expenditures as a percentage of GDP
Source: OECD, Government at a Glance 2021
Impact of COVID-19 pandemic
Besides, governments have often operated
with lower standards of consultation,
transparency, oversight or control of their
internal processes.
OECD countries have implemented large
stimulus packages to support households
and firms.
These programs significantly increased
public debt.

19. © OECD |
Going forward

20. © OECD | Going forward
Shedding light on the blind spots
0
20
40
60
80
100
1 2 3 4 5 6 12 13 14 15 7 8 9 10 11 16 17
People Planet Prosperity Peace Part.
Data is available Distance to target can be measured Progress over time can be gauged
Share of the 2030 Agenda’s targets covered by at least one indicator, by goal
Data gaps may lead to biased conclusions,
risking the overall success of the
2030 Agenda.
There is a need to further improve the
SDG monitoring and reporting.
• Available data covers 136 of the 169
targets.
• Coverage is uneven across the goals
and countries.
• Some do not allow properly assessing
current performance.
• Dynamic assessment is further
challenging.
Source: OECD (2022), The Short and Winding Road to 2030: Measuring Distance to the SDG Targets, OECD Publishing, Paris, https://doi.org/10.1787/af4b630d-en
Note: Numbers from 1 to 17 stands for the goals – see https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/topics/sustainabledevelopmentgoals for details.

21. © OECD | Going forward
Start building lessons for the post-2030 Agenda
Without much stronger policy actions, full success on
the SDGs seems beyond the realms of possibility.
We currently have limited understanding of the progress
on the SDGs. The reasons include:
• There are measurement and monitoring issues,
• There are many interlinkages between the SDG targets,
which are not reflected in the indicator framework and not
captured by available data, and
• The 2030 Agenda is global in nature (e.g. many SDG areas
with transboundary impact, such as climate action).
The road to 2030 is short and winding and while no country
is expected to meet all targets, there is a need to keep the
momentum going beyond 2030.

22. STAY IN TOUCH WITH THE OECD WISE CENTRE
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