Summary, A World in Need of Solutions

The global pursuit of the SDGs is facing failure. With only 16% of the targets on track and major gaps in key areas such as hunger, climate action, and urbanization; urgent, radical changes in strategy and execution are required. The rising cost of achieving the SDGs demands innovative financial solutions that leverage existing wealth in ways that the system naturally supports, namely investments and impact.

Nine Big Ideas with scalable solutions and initiatives, including climate solutions, AI connectivity, and digital financial services, hold the potential to close nearly 90% of the SDG gap. However, the shifting global order and geopolitical challenges, driven by conflicts and an increasingly compromised international order that is becoming more predatory, present barriers to success. Hence, execution will require a more transactional approach based on strategic prioritization, with large developing nations driving the bulk of the progress, supported by global partnerships and investments to roll out solutions en masse. Technology, especially AI and digital infrastructure, is critical in bridging the SDG gap, driving future progress, and shaping the world’s transition to the Information Age.

If solutions are mobilized for mass roll-out, this can represent a turning point for the world from the spiral of war and conflict to a more positive collaborative spirit of innovation and development to realize a new era, and in the process facilitate a superior world order to emerge.

SDG Progress Shortfall is Far Behind Plan Across the World

Even if the world were to get back onto its pre-pandemic trajectory of development achieved from 2015 to 2020 (the period of fastest growth), it would take decades if not centuries to achieve the SDGs. East and South Asia for example would achieve the SDGs around 2070. OECD countries, as a whole, would actually achieve the SDGs later, around 2100, given the anemic progress these countries were making even before the pandemic, despite starting from a higher level than developing countries. Sub-Saharan Africa would not achieve the SDGs until the 22nd century, while the small island nations of Oceania would take a further century to meet the goals, recognizing that, at the global rates of progress on SDG13 (Climate Action) that these projections imply, several of these nations would be fully submerged by rising sea levels before this time.

Global Wealth Exists but Unlocking It is the Challenge

While global wealth stands at a record US$653 trillion, mobilizing this wealth for the SDGs remains a significant challenge due to how the global financial system works given its purpose and incentives.

Nine Scalable Big Ideas for SDG Acceleration

Nine scalable initiatives have the potential to progress global SDG achievement to nearly 90% in total if deployed globally, from 66% today, and enhance human security for all.

10^th initiative is a wide-ranging global peace offensive delivering peace and dignity for all, given a level of peace and stability is a pre-requisite for the deployment of such Big Ideas

These are nine of many that could be selected.

Mass Mobilisation of Global Solutions, Private Event, 23 September 2024, New York

Host: Force for Good

AGENDA