What the UN 2025 SDGs Report Means For Energy

With only five years left to meet the Paris Agreement's 2030 objectives, the United Nations 2025 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Report serves as a reality check for those involved. 

Advancements in fields like health, education, and energy accessibility have indeed been achieved, yet the speed of progress remains insufficient for meeting international commitments. 

The global stage is tackling interconnected crises, such as climate change, geopolitical shifts, and economic inequality, which threatens the steady advancement already made towards sustainable development. The report urges that achieving the SDGs requires immediate, sweeping transformations across sectors and regions.

A global overview of energy and development

The United Nations 2025 Sustainable Development Goals Report evaluates 139 SDG targets utilising global data trends since 2015 to provide insights into energy's role in these efforts.

As António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations, emphasises in the report:

“Since 2015, millions have gained access to essential services.

“More than half the world’s population now benefits from some form of social protection, up by 10 percentage points compared to a decade ago. 

“Child marriage and maternal and child mortality rates have fallen and more young people, especially girls, complete school. 

“Women now hold 27% of parliamentary seats worldwide, up from 22%. 

“Access to electricity and clean cooking has expanded. Internet connectivity has increased by 70%, opening new horizons. 

“Around the world, young people, communities, civil society and local leaders are stepping up their action to deliver on the promise of the SDGs.

“Despite these important gains, conflicts, climate chaos, geopolitical tensions and economic shocks continue to obstruct progress at the pace and scale needed to meet the 2030 target.”

Currently, only 35% of the 139 SDG targets are on track or making moderate progress, while 48% show insufficient advancement, and 18% have regressed below 2015 levels. 

Another concern is the stagnation or setbacks related to poverty, hunger, climate, and equality.

Even with global economic recovery post-COVID, GDP per capita growth is anticipated to dwindle to merely 1.5% by 2025, with real GDP growth in Least Developed Countries (LDCs) still far short of the 7% target. 

Global debt servicing costs have hit a record US$1.4tn, severely limiting developmental expenditures in low and middle-income countries

Energy and climate dynamics

The report notes that 2024 was the warmest year on record, surpassing the 1.5°C warming threshold, with CO₂ levels now at their highest in over two million years.

Climate-related catastrophes, biodiversity loss, and severe weather events are imposing excessive stress on water systems, ecosystems, and agricultural output. 

• Only 56% of domestic wastewater is safely treated
• Freshwater species populations have reduced by 83% since 1970
• Agriculture remains the largest consumer of freshwater, with global water stress steady at 18%, some regions exceeding 75%

Challenges in energy access and decarbonisation

An estimated 808 million people (one in 10) are living in extreme poverty, spotlighting the increasing role of energy accessibility in combating poverty. 

Although electricity access has escalated to 92% and renewables now fuel 30% of electricity, more 700 million people could remain without power by 2030 if current trends are maintained. 

The uneven distribution of clean energy investments continues to challenge, with developing nations remaining considerably underfunded.

Energy stands as a crucial pillar in the six transitions identified by the UN for fast-tracking progress.

Infrastructural needs for data and energy

An issue flagged is the weakness of current data systems, with only 70% of SDG indicators having satisfactory data coverage. 

Funding for data also remains unpredictable, complicating efforts to track and harness energy solutions effectively. 

The Medellín Framework for Action, adopted in 2024, offers a roadmap for robust and sustainable data systems as well as significant additional investment for tangible energy and sustainability impact.

Although there has been advances in maternal and child health, 18 million people died under 70 years old died from non communicable diseases in 2021. 

AIDS related deaths and malaria are seen to be resurging, whilst Tuberculosis has overtaken COVID-19 as the leading infectious cause of death.

“This report tells a story of remarkable human resilience and ingenuity,” writes Li Junhua, Under Secretary-General for the Department of Economic and Social Affairs, in the report.

“We have witnessed great achievements that demonstrate what is possible when the international community acts with purpose and solidarity. 

“New HIV infections have declined by 39% since 2010. 

“Malaria prevention efforts have averted 2.2 billion cases and saved 12.7 million lives since 2000. 

“Since 2015, 110 million more children and youth have entered school, with completion rates rising at all levels and the gender gap in education continuing to narrow.”

The main priorities: six transitions

The UN identifies six pivotal transitions indispensable for counteracting adverse trends and catalysing advancement. These are:

1. Food systems transformation
2. Energy access and decarbonisation
3. Digital connectivity
4. Universal education access
5. Job creation and social protection
6. Climate and biodiversity action

Instead of merely diagnosing challenges, the 2025 SDG Report serves as a global appeal to reignite motivation, amplify investment, and rejuvenate multilateral collaboration.  The upcoming five years are crucial in determining whether the pledge to sustainable development is maintained or dangerously unmet.