88% of Sustainable Development Goals Will Not Be Met in Asia-Pacific by 2030 — New UN Report

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — At the current pace, the Asia-Pacific region is projected to miss 103 out of 117 measurable Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030.

The 2026 Asia and the Pacific SDG Progress Report, published today by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), also highlights starkly uneven development across the region.

Achievements in health and well-being, as well as poverty reduction over recent decades, are overshadowed by serious environmental decline and growing inequality. Data reveal persistent gaps in ensuring equitable access to education (SDG 4.5) and the protection of labor rights (SDG 8.8).

Moreover, insufficient data on gender equality (SDG 5) and peace, justice, and strong institutions (SDG 16) hinder policymakers’ understanding of how effectively the most vulnerable populations are being reached.

In critical areas such as climate action, marine conservation, and biodiversity protection, progress is not just stagnant—it is rapidly deteriorating. For cities and communities, unsustainable regress, including damage to critical infrastructure, underscores the dangerous gap between planning and actual resilience on the ground.

“This report reflects a sober reality. The very engines of growth that once lifted millions out of poverty and drove rapid industrial expansion are now undermining our future,” said Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana, UN Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of ESCAP.

She emphasized, “Our greatest collective challenge is also our greatest opportunity—to build a region that is not only richer but smarter, healthier, and more equitable.”

Nevertheless, there are areas showing steady progress. The region continues to advance in industry, innovation, and infrastructure (SDG 9), as well as in health and well-being (SDG 3), driven by reductions in maternal and child mortality.

Progress in reducing income poverty and expanding access to electricity also marks notable achievements for the region.

Data availability is improving. Currently, 55% of SDG indicators have sufficient data to assess progress, placing the Asia-Pacific region ahead of much of the world in this regard.

The annual SDG Progress Report for Asia and the Pacific uses up-to-date global indicator data to identify areas requiring further action and those with potential for future advancement.

This year, ESCAP also released an accompanying analytical paper focusing on outcomes in six key areas: food systems, energy, digital connectivity, education, social protection, and the environment, reflecting the multifaceted sustainable development challenges facing the Asia-Pacific region.