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The recent SDG Summit held in New York on September 18–19, 2023, reaffirmed the world’s united commitment to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Despite global challenges and economic slowdowns, the adoption by consensus of the Political Declaration — subsequently endorsed by the UN General Assembly — has reignited international focus on accelerating progress toward the SDGs.

The summit was attended by representatives from 145 countries, including 57 heads of state, 30 heads of government, and 58 deputy prime ministers and ministers. One of the most encouraging aspects of the event was the robust participation of leaders from the Global South, who reaffirmed their pivotal role in accelerating SDG implementation at the halfway point to 2030.

A Reality Check: Progress and Setbacks

While the Summit celebrated renewed dedication, it also exposed the harsh reality that progress toward the SDGs remains off-track. Eight years into the 2030 Agenda, only 15% of the SDG targets are on course to being achieved. Setbacks in key areas such as food security, poverty reduction, and climate action have become evident. A recent FAO report revealed that global hunger increased to 9.2% in 2022, up from 7.9% in 2015 — highlighting regression on food-related goals.

High-Impact Initiatives for Acceleration

Although the SDG Summit’s Political Declaration was largely visionary, tangible action emerged through the SDG Action Weekend preceding the Summit. It introduced 12 new High-Impact Initiatives (HII) designed to bring SDG solutions to scale through multi-stakeholder collaboration.

One of the key initiatives, Food Systems Transformation — led by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) — aims to develop innovative models and financial tools to accelerate sustainable food systems. FAO Director-General Dr. Qu Dongyu emphasized that “Agrifood systems are at the nexus of all SDGs” and that science, innovation, finance, and partnerships are crucial accelerators of progress.

Highlights from the Summit

• Ireland and the United States launched a joint program in Malawi to empower smallholder farmers, investing over €42 million across four years.
• Ireland also announced a €2.5 million investment in women’s economic empowerment with IFAD and the Irish League of Credit Unions.
• Germany committed €5 million to the UN Joint SDG Fund’s Food Systems window to catalyze transformation processes.
• The World Bank pledged $45 billion toward development programs over 15 months, emphasizing the need for stronger financing mechanisms.
• IFAD continues its portfolio of $8 billion focused on inclusive and resilient local food systems.

Additionally, FAO co-leads initiatives on Localizing the SDGs alongside UN-Habitat and UNDP, while also contributing to projects on Nature Driving Economic Transformation and Jobs and Social Protection.

Financing for Development and Climate Action

The Summit emphasized the urgent need to reform the international financial architecture. Many developing nations face a dilemma between disaster recovery and long-term development, trapped by mounting debt. Transforming global financing mechanisms is now critical to achieving SDG goals.

Climate change also emerged as a central theme throughout the discussions. Leaders recognized that sustainable food systems and climate action are deeply interconnected — progress on one drives success in the other. Addressing both simultaneously remains a top global priority.

Looking Ahead

With renewed commitment to the SDGs, the Summit set the stage for several high-level global events — including the IMF and World Bank Annual Meetings (October 2023), UNFCCC COP 28 (November 2023), and the Summit of the Future (September 2024) — where countries will report progress and adopt the “Pact for the Future.”

The Summit reignited a sense of optimism, proving that while the path to 2030 is challenging, it is achievable with determination, cooperation, and innovative financing. As Stefanos Fotiou, FAO Director of SDGs Office, remarked, “Progress will depend on how we use our means of implementation — and particularly finance — to walk the talk of the SDGs.”