Foundational Research Report: Pursuing the Sustainable Development Goals in a World Reshaped by COVID-19

Abstract

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development centers around 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for the global community with 169 targets towards multidimensional development. Our progress is inadequate, and the COVID-19 has further slowed the attainment of the SDGs. This report addresses the need to track our progress, the effects of the pandemic on this progress, and the ways in which we can accelerate our progress through and beyond 2030.

While the SDGs have five Ps - People, Planet, Prosperity, Peace and Partnership, we focus on People, and therefore, the first six goals. Using the International Futures forecasting model and scenario analysis, we present paths that countries and the world might follow. The first scenario is No COVID, based on the pre-COVID development path. The second is COVID and third is High Damage which assumes greater GDP losses. The final scenario is SDG Push which assumes a more ambitious pursuit of the SDGs. First, we find that even in the No COVID world, we would not attain the People goals by 2030. Second, the COVID-19 pandemic has set back development and the attainment of SDGs globally. Further, the SDG Push scenario shows significant achievement of targets by 2050. Finally, location-specific and policy-specific focus is vital for SDG analysis.

The report outlines the importance of a shift in development priorities. It also highlights the need for strategic and ambitious investment in key aspects of development to help the global community move from a state of crisis into opportunity.

Keywords: COVID-19, Sustainable Development Goals, International Futures, Human Development