The Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s) are guiding the investment process of an increasing number of strategies and funds. But Covid-19 has negatively impacted most of the SDGs.
According to a recent study by M&G, Covid-19 has significantly slowed global progress towards the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDSs), five years after their launch.
The SDGs are a global call for action to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure that all people can enjoy peace and prosperity by 2030.
M&G’s ”SDG Reckoner” report looks at the latest assessment of the SDGs by the UN from an impact investor perspective. The report analyses whether the world is on track, behind or even ahead of schedule in terms of overall progress towards each of the 17 goals, and the role the COVID-19 pandemic has played in helping or hampering that progress.
Delay
COVID-19 has had a certain positive impact on the progress of five of the SDGs, including affordable and clean energy and sustainable cities and communities. For 10 out of 17 SDGs, progress has clearly been slowed down by the pandemic, however. Socio-economic SDG’s such as SDG 1 (No poverty), SDG 2 (Zero hunger), SDG 3 (Good health & well-being), SDG 4 (Quality education), SDG 8 (Decent work) and SDG 10 (Reduced inequalities) have been most affected.