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The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) call on all nations to take action, promoting economic prosperity while protecting the planet.
These goals emphasize that eradicating poverty must go hand in hand with a range of strategies,
including fostering economic growth, addressing social needs such as education, healthcare, social protection, and employment opportunities, combating climate change, and protecting the environment.
We have categorized these SDGs under ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance). Click on the relevant category to explore the SDGs!
EnvironmentalE 環境
SocialS 社會
GovernanceG 公司治理

Environmentally related sustainable development goals, click on the icon to explore in depth

SDG 6
Clean Water and Sanitation
Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all
Despite improvements in the provision of basic water, sanitation, and hygiene facilities, billions of people still lack access to safe water, sanitation, and hygiene services. Water scarcity has become an increasingly serious issue in many regions of the world, and conflicts and climate change have further exacerbated this problem. In addition, water pollution poses significant challenges to human health and the environment in many countries.

To achieve universal coverage by 2030, the current global progress in drinking water needs to increase sixfold, sanitation facilities need to increase fivefold, and hygiene needs to increase eightfold. Increasing infrastructure investment, improving cross-sectoral coordination, and addressing climate change are key to getting this sustainable development goal back on track.
At least 3 billion people rely on water resources whose safety cannot be determined due to a lack of monitoring
This means that nearly a third of the world's population may be drinking or using contaminated water without knowing it. Inadequate water quality monitoring is a major public health issue because unclean water sources may contain harmful bacteria, viruses, parasites or chemical contaminants that can cause illness and other health problems.
Over the past three hundred years, more than 85% of the earth's wetlands have disappeared
This massive loss of wetlands has a significant impact on ecosystems and biodiversity, as wetlands are important habitats for many species and act as natural water filtration systems, playing a key role in maintaining water quality and preventing flooding. The loss of wetlands not only affects wildlife, but also has a negative impact on the human communities that rely on these ecosystems. Protecting existing wetlands and restoring wetlands that have been damaged is vital to protecting our natural environment and biodiversity.
More than 733 million people worldwide live in countries with extremely high water stress
The so-called water stress refers to the ratio between the demand for water and its availability. Water stress occurs when a region or country's water demand approaches or exceeds its sustainable supply. High-stress conditions often mean the region faces severe water shortages, potentially affecting drinking water supplies, agriculture, industry and the health of ecosystems. The situation calls for urgent measures to manage water resources and seek sustainable solutions to reduce stress.
SDG 7
Sustainable Energy
Ensure that all people have access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy
While access to electricity and clean cooking fuels has improved in many parts of the world, 675 million people still lack access to the grid and 2.3 billion still use unsafe and polluting fuels for cooking. The war in Ukraine and global economic uncertainty continue to cause significant fluctuations in energy prices, which has led some countries to increase investment in renewable energy, while others have increased their reliance on coal, posing risks to the green transition. If the current rate of progress continues, some 660 million people will still be without access to electricity by 2030, and nearly 2 billion people will continue to rely on polluting fuels and technologies for cooking. To achieve our goal of making energy accessible to all by 2030, we must accelerate electrification, increase investment in renewable energy and invest in improving the grid.
Around 2.4 billion people around the world still use inefficient and polluting cooking tools
Not only does this have a serious impact on the environment, it can also be harmful to people's health. The use of these traditional cooking methods, such as burning wood, charcoal or animal waste, produces harmful smoke and seriously pollutes indoor air quality. This is particularly common in developing countries and rural areas, with particularly serious health consequences for women and children. To address this issue, it is crucial to improve energy efficiency and promote the use of clean, sustainable cooking technologies and fuels.
Renewable energy consumption increases, but share of total energy remains low
Global consumption of renewable energy increased by a quarter between 2010 and 2019, but the share of renewable energy in total final energy consumption was only 17.7%. This means that while the use of renewable energy is growing, it still accounts for a smaller share of the global energy mix. This reflects that despite efforts to transition to cleaner energy sources, fossil fuels remain the main source of global energy consumption. In order to achieve climate change and sustainable development goals, there is a need to further increase investment and promotion of renewable energy to increase its proportion in the global energy mix.
SDG 12
Responsible Consumption and Production
Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns
The world is seriously behind on efforts to halve per capita food waste and loss by 2030. The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on consumption and production patterns, with global supply chains disrupted and consumer behavior changing. Responsible consumption and production must be part of the recovery process from the pandemic. But the global economy also needs to accelerate the pace of decoupling economic growth from resource use to maximize the socio-economic benefits of resources while minimizing their negative impacts.

The number of corporate sustainability reports has tripled since the beginning of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) period, but the private sector needs to significantly improve reporting on activities that promote the SDGs. To achieve this SDG, it is crucial to implement policies that support the shift to sustainable practices and decouple economic growth from resource use.
Climate change
Biodiversity loss
Pollute
Unsustainable consumption and production patterns are the root cause of the triple crisis the planet is currently facing
Over-reliance on fossil fuels and over-consumption not only exacerbates greenhouse gas emissions and contributes to climate change, but also causes habitat destruction and species extinction, resulting in massive loss of biodiversity. In addition, waste and pollutants generated by industrialization and consumption-oriented production methods have caused serious pollution to air, water and soil, threatening human health and the stability of ecosystems. Therefore, to solve these global problems, there is an urgent need to change existing consumption and production patterns towards more sustainable, low-carbon and environmentally friendly ways.
SDG 13
Climate Action
Take urgent measures to combat climate change and its impacts
The world is on the brink of climate catastrophe, and current actions and plans for the climate crisis are insufficient to meet the challenge. Without rapid reductions in greenhouse gas emissions in all sectors within a decade from now, the goal of limiting global warming to 1.5°C will be at risk, threatening the lives of more than 3 billion people. Failure to act will result in increased heat waves, droughts, floods, wildfires, rising sea levels and famine. Greenhouse gas emissions should continue to decrease and will need to be cut by nearly half in seven years from now, by 2030. To tackle climate change and its impacts by 2030, urgent and transformative action is urgently needed to fulfill commitments under the Paris Agreement.
Climate change a deadly threat to coral reefs
The continued rise in global temperatures poses a great threat to coral reef ecosystems. If the global average temperature rises by 1.5°C, it is expected that 70 to 90% of coral reefs will disappear, which will seriously affect the marine biodiversity and the health of marine ecosystems that rely on coral reefs. Worse yet, if temperatures rise by 2°C, coral reefs are at risk of near-total extinction. Not only will this lead to huge losses in marine biodiversity, it will also impact the livelihoods and food security of millions of people around the world who rely on coral reef ecosystems. Controlling global temperature rise is therefore critical, requiring immediate action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and protect these fragile marine ecosystems.
By 2100, Earth's sea levels are expected to rise by 30 to 60 centimeters
This significant sea level rise will pose significant threats to coastal areas, including issues such as coastal erosion, flooding, and saltwater intrusion. This will directly affect coastal cities, low-lying island countries and coastal ecosystems, and may lead to large-scale population migration and ecological environment damage. Therefore, to mitigate these impacts, immediate steps are needed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and develop adaptation strategies globally to cope with changing sea levels and climate conditions.
An estimated 700 million people will be forcibly displaced by drought by 2030
Drought is an important impact of climate change, particularly in areas that are already water scarce. Droughts can lead to shortages of drinking water, reduce agricultural production, impact food security and livelihoods, and force many people to migrate to areas with better water resources. Such large-scale population migration could trigger social and economic instability, increase pressure on urban infrastructure and services, and potentially exacerbate regional conflicts. Therefore, dealing with drought and other climate change-related disasters and building adaptive and resilient societies are urgent global challenges that need to be addressed.
The frequency of medium to large disasters is expected to increase by 40% from 2015 to 2030
This means that during this 15-year period, the world will face more natural disasters such as floods, hurricanes, earthquakes and droughts. This increase is primarily due to the effects of climate change, as well as urbanization and population growth leading to greater human access to areas traditionally vulnerable to natural disasters. The increase in these disasters will bring serious challenges to human society, economy and environment, especially for developing countries that lack sufficient resources to deal with the impact of disasters. Therefore, the global community needs to strengthen disaster risk reduction and management strategies and improve its response to climate change and other related risks.
SDG 14
Ocean Life
Conservation and sustainable use of oceans and marine resources to ensure sustainable development
Destructive trends in ocean health continue unabated. As the world's largest ecosystem, the ocean remains threatened by rising acidification, eutrophication, declining fish stocks and increasing plastic pollution. While some progress has been made in recent years in expanding marine protected areas and combating illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, more coordinated and accelerated efforts are urgently needed. Urgent and coordinated global action is needed to sustain progress towards achieving this SDG.
Our oceans are in danger
Our oceans are in crisis, facing multiple threats including plastic pollution, overfishing, ocean acidification, eutrophication and ocean warming. These problems not only endanger marine biodiversity, but also affect global climate stability and human life. Global action and cooperation are urgently needed to protect our oceans.
Oceans absorb about a quarter of global CO2 emissions each year
The ocean plays a key role in mitigating climate change by absorbing carbon dioxide emissions. However, this process leads to ocean acidification, which not only poses a threat to marine life such as coral reefs and shellfish, but also affects the overall health of the marine ecosystem. Therefore, reducing carbon dioxide emissions and exploring effective ocean management strategies are crucial to protect marine ecosystems and address global climate challenges.
Plastic pollution is choking the oceans
The ocean is facing a serious plastic pollution problem. In 2021, more than 17 million metric tons of plastic waste entered the ocean, causing damage to ecosystems and threatening marine life. Even more worrying is the fact that the amount of plastic entering the ocean is expected to double or even triple by 2040. This not only affects the health and survival of marine life, but also poses a potential threat to human health. Therefore, reducing the use of plastic and increasing its recycling rate, as well as taking effective measures to prevent plastic waste from entering the ocean, are crucial to alleviate this global environmental problem.
SDG 15
Life on Land
Protect, maintain and promote the sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems and sustainably manage forests,
Combat desertification, end and reverse land degradation, and halt biodiversity loss
Currently, the world is facing a triple earth crisis consisting of climate change, pollution and loss of biodiversity. Trends in forest loss, land degradation and species extinction are worsening, posing serious threats to the planet and human health. These problems not only affect the environment, but also seriously threaten the sustainable development of the economy and society. To achieve SDG 15 – protect, restore and promote sustainable use of living lands – we must fundamentally change our relationship with the natural environment. This means taking more proactive steps to protect natural resources, reduce pollution and take action to stop global warming and further loss of biodiversity.
10 million hectares of forest are destroyed every year
This data reveals the grim reality of a sharp decline in global forest cover. Large-scale deforestation not only causes huge losses to biodiversity, but also exacerbates climate change, because forests are important carbon sinks and can absorb large amounts of carbon dioxide. In addition, forest destruction leads to soil erosion, reduced water resources and local climate changes, affecting the survival of countless species on the planet, including humans. Therefore, protecting existing forests and restoring destroyed forests is crucial to maintaining the earth's ecological balance and combating climate change.
Major causes of global deforestation: agricultural expansion and livestock grazing
Nearly 90% of global deforestation is caused by agricultural expansion, of which farmland expansion accounts for 49.6% and livestock grazing accounts for 38.5%. The data show that large amounts of forest have been cleared to create more farmland and pasture. The expansion of arable land is primarily to grow crops to meet growing human food needs, while livestock grazing is associated with increased demand for meat and dairy products. This overexploitation of natural resources not only causes severe damage to biodiversity and ecosystems, but also contributes to climate change. Therefore, it is increasingly important to promote sustainable agricultural and range management practices, as well as to seek alternative food production methods in order to reduce damage to forests.
About 40,000 species face extinction in the coming decades
Around 40,000 species are currently recorded as being at risk of extinction, underscoring the rapid decline of global biodiversity. These endangered species range from the smallest insects to the largest mammals, and the loss of each has a knock-on effect on ecosystems. This mass extinction is largely caused by human activities, including habitat destruction, climate change, pollution, illegal hunting and over-exploitation. Protecting these species is not only a matter of ecological ethics but also key to ensuring ecosystem function and human well-being. Therefore, strengthening conservation measures, reducing man-made negative impacts on nature, and raising public awareness of biodiversity conservation are top priorities.

Socially relevant sustainable development goals, click on the icon to explore in depth

SDG 1
End Poverty
End poverty in all its forms everywhere
The pace of global poverty reduction has begun to slow since 2015, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has reversed three decades of steady poverty reduction, with the number of people living in extreme poverty increasing for the first time in a generation. The recovery from the pandemic will be slow and uneven as the world faces multiple geopolitical, socioeconomic and climate risks. On current trends, 575 million people (almost 7% of the world's population) will still be living in extreme poverty in 2030, compared with 800 million people (or 10.8%) in 2015. Eradicating extreme poverty will be particularly difficult in sub-Saharan Africa and conflict-affected areas. Despite the expansion of social protection during COVID-19, more than 4 billion people globally remain completely unprotected. To deliver on the core promise of ending poverty, action and investment are urgently needed to enhance employment opportunities and expand social services to benefit the most excluded.
Poverty alleviation progress four years after COVID-19 eradication
The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on global poverty has been devastating, erasing the progress made in the fight against poverty over the past four years. The crisis has caused many people to lose their jobs and sources of income, increased economic inequality, and has had the worst impact on the most vulnerable. The increase in global poverty means more people are living in extreme poverty and at risk of hunger, health problems and lack of educational resources. Therefore, to regain progress against poverty, international cooperation is needed to provide economic support, create jobs and ensure that the world's most vulnerable people have access to necessary help and resources.
Inflation, war in Ukraine worsen extreme poverty
Rising inflation and the fallout from the war in Ukraine are further derailing the fight against poverty. According to the latest data, the number of people living in extreme poverty in 2022 has increased from pre-pandemic projections (about 581 million people) to approximately 657-676 million people. This reflects the direct impact of global economic conditions on the poorest people, especially in the context of global health crises and geopolitical conflicts. Such growth demonstrates the urgent need for collective international efforts to mitigate the impact of the economic crisis on vulnerable groups and refocus on poverty reduction and the Sustainable Development Goals.
Working poverty rate rises: first in two decades
In recent years, the working poverty rate has increased for the first time in two decades, rising from 6.7% in 2019 to 7.2% in 2020. This change means that even those who are working cannot escape the plight of poverty, and their income is not enough to meet basic living needs. The rise in this trend has pushed an additional 8 million workers into poverty. This phenomenon highlights the inequalities in the global economic structure and the fragility of the job market, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, raising wages, creating more high-quality job opportunities and strengthening social security systems are crucial to improving working poverty.
SDG 2
Eliminate Hunger
End hunger, achieve food security, improve nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture
The number of people facing hunger and food insecurity has been rising since 2015, exacerbated by the pandemic, conflict, climate change and growing inequality. In 2015, 589 million people experienced hunger, and by 2021, this number increased to 768 million. Projections show that some 670 million people will still face hunger in 2030 - 8% of the world's population, the same as in 2015. Despite global efforts, many children continue to suffer from malnutrition, and the current annual rate of reduction in stunting must increase by 2.2 times to meet global targets. To achieve zero hunger by 2030, urgent efforts are needed to transform food systems, ensure food security and invest in sustainable agricultural practices.
Global hunger crisis
Global food security faces serious challenges, mainly stemming from conflict, the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change and rising inequality. These factors are intertwined and contribute to rising global hunger. Currently, about 1 in 10 people worldwide is suffering from hunger, and nearly one-third of the population lacks regular access to adequate food. In response to these challenges, global cooperation and multi-faceted strategies are urgently needed to strengthen the food system. Resilience, ensuring access to adequate and nutritious food for all.
The impact of soaring food prices expands
Soaring food prices affected 47% of countries in 2020, a significant increase from 16% in 2019. This trend not only reflects the instability of the global food market, but also highlights the profound impact of the epidemic on global supply chains and food production. Rising food prices are particularly damaging to low-income households, which are more sensitive to food expenditures. Not only does this exacerbate food insecurity, it can also lead to malnutrition and health problems. Therefore, effectively responding to food price fluctuations and ensuring the stability and fairness of the global food system are crucial to alleviating the food crisis.
Children's growth retardation is a serious problem
49.2 billion children under the age of 5 are stunted, a problem that has long-term consequences for children’s health and development. To reduce stunting in children by 50% by 2030, the current annual stunting reduction rate (2.1%) must double to 3.9%. Growth retardation is mainly caused by malnutrition, inadequate food intake and repeated infections, which directly affects the physical and intellectual development of children. Therefore, to address this issue, there is an urgent need for comprehensive global measures that include improving food security, providing quality nutrition, and strengthening health services, especially in low- and middle-income countries.
SDG 3
Health & Wellbeing
Ensure health and promote well-being for all ages
The pandemic and other ongoing crises are hampering progress towards Sustainable Development Goal 3 (SDG3), exacerbating existing health inequalities and threatening progress towards universal health coverage. As a result, by 2022, 68 million children will be unvaccinated or under-vaccinated due to lack of or insufficient TB and malaria vaccines. This is particularly challenging in low- and middle-income countries, where health systems were already under-resourced before the pandemic. The pandemic has also highlighted the need to strengthen global health security systems to prevent and respond to future pandemics. There is an urgent need to strengthen health systems to overcome these setbacks and address long-standing deficiencies in health care delivery.
COVID-19 a major blow to global health progress
The impact of COVID-19 on global health is far-reaching, threatening decades of progress. The pandemic has infected more than 500 million people globally and resulted in approximately 15 million deaths. It disrupts basic health services in 92% of countries, hampering progress towards universal health coverage. In addition, global average life expectancy has declined, immunization coverage has decreased, prevalence of anxiety and depression has increased, and deaths from tuberculosis and malaria have increased. This set of consequences highlights the importance of strengthening global health systems, restoring and strengthening basic health services, as well as promoting mental health and responding to epidemics.
22.7 million children did not receive basic vaccinations in 2020
In 2020, 22.7 million children globally missed essential vaccinations, an increase of 3.7 million from 2019. This significant increase is primarily driven by health system disruptions and resource reallocation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Vaccination is a key means of preventing childhood illness and death, and a lack of vaccination increases children's risk of contracting and transmitting disease and can lead to renewed outbreaks of diseases that have been controlled in the past. This phenomenon underscores the importance of reviving and strengthening childhood immunization programs, especially in low- and middle-income countries.
COVID-19 claims the lives of 115,500 frontline health care workers
The COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionately affected frontline health care workers, with 115,500 health care workers dying worldwide. These medical staff are working hard to save patient's lives on the front lines of the epidemic, but they also face extremely high risks of infection. Their loss is not only a huge tragedy for individuals and families, but also has a significant impact on health systems around the world, especially in regions that are already short-staffed. This tragedy highlights the importance of protecting health care workers and the urgent need to strengthen global public health systems to respond to future health crises.
SDG 4
Quality Education
Ensure accessible, equitable and high-quality education and promote learning
Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, the world was already off track to achieve its education goals. Without additional measures, only one in six countries will meet Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG4) and achieve universal quality education by 2030. An estimated 84 million children and adolescents will remain out of school, and approximately 300 million students will still lack the basic numeracy and literacy skills they need to succeed. To achieve SDG4, the education system must be reimagined and education funding made a priority investment for the country.
COVID-19 deepens global learning crisis
The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the global learning crisis, with 147 million children missing more than half of their in-person classes in 2020-2021. School closures and the challenges of remote learning have had a significant impact on students' educational progress, especially for children who lack appropriate learning resources and technological equipment. This not only affects students' academic performance but also negatively affects their social and emotional development. To alleviate this crisis, urgent action is needed to strengthen education systems and ensure that all children have access to good quality, equitable and inclusive education.
24 million students are at risk of dropping out of school
Twenty-four million learners, from pre-school to university level, may never return to school. This staggering figure highlights the devastating impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on education systems around the world, particularly for disadvantaged student groups. School closures and financial difficulties have forced many students to interrupt their studies, which not only affects individuals' future careers and earning potential, but also threatens socioeconomic development and equity. Therefore, to mitigate this crisis, the international community and national governments need to work together to provide the necessary support and resources to ensure that all students can continue their education.
Educational inequality increases
Existing inequalities in education have been exacerbated during the COVID-19 pandemic. The epidemic has had an uneven impact on school education, especially for students from low-income families and resource-poor areas. These students often lack access to appropriate remote learning resources, such as stable internet connections and digital learning tools, deepening the educational divide. Additionally, financial hardship and family pressures may force some students to leave school early to support their families, further limiting their access to a high-quality education. Therefore, in response to these inequalities, education systems need to be made more inclusive and flexible to ensure that all students have access to equitable and effective educational opportunities.
A lifeline in crisis: distance education for 3 million children in Ukraine
Amid the chaos of war and crisis, education becomes a lifeline for children. Three million children in Ukraine have access to remote learning amid the chaos of war. This is not only to ensure that their educational progress is not disrupted, but also to provide a degree of normality and stability. In crisis situations like these, distance learning becomes a critical educational model that helps children continue to learn, even in extreme and unstable circumstances. However, it also highlights the need for more support and resources to ensure the effectiveness and sustainability of these learning programmes, particularly in protracted conflicts and crises.
SDG 5
Gender Equality
Achieve gender equality and empower women
The world is currently not on track to achieve gender equality by 2030. At the current rate of progress, it is estimated that it will take 286 years to eliminate gaps in legal protection and discriminatory laws, 140 years to achieve equal representation of women in workplace leadership and positions of power, and 47 years to achieve equal representation in national parliaments. of gender equality. The ongoing global crisis has highlighted and exacerbated existing gender inequalities, such as inequalities in access to health care, education and economic opportunities. Achieving SDG 4 requires political leadership and a comprehensive set of policy reforms to remove systemic barriers to achieving gender equality.
The long road to gender equality in political leadership
At the current pace, it will take another 40 years for men and women to achieve gender parity in national political leadership. In 2015, the proportion of women in the country's parliament was 22.4%, and by 2022, this proportion has only risen to 26.2%. This shows that there are still huge gaps and challenges in achieving gender equality at the political leadership level. More measures and policies are needed to improve women's opportunities to participate in politics to close this gap and achieve gender equality. Gender equality is not just a moral issue but can lead to greater diversity and inclusion to better represent all levels of society.
More than a quarter of women have experienced intimate partner violence
According to the data, more than one in four women (aged 15 and above) globally have experienced intimate partner violence at least once in their lifetime, which equates to approximately 641 million people. This figure shows that intimate partner violence is a global problem that affects large numbers of women. This kind of violence has caused serious damage to the physical and mental health of the victims, and action needs to be taken to prevent and combat this undesirable phenomenon. All sectors of society should work together to raise awareness, strengthen legal protection, and provide support and shelter to victims to reduce the occurrence of intimate partner violence. This is an important step towards achieving gender equality and protecting women's rights.
Gender-responsive budgeting needs to be strengthened
According to the data, gender-responsive budgeting needs more strengthening. Only 26% of countries have fully gender-responsive budgeting systems between 2018 and 2021, meaning they fully take gender considerations into account in budgeting. Additionally, 59% of countries have some characteristics of a gender-responsive budgeting system, but 15% still lack the minimum elements of gender-responsive budgeting. This demonstrates the need to strengthen the capacity of countries around the world to consider gender equality in budgeting to ensure that budget allocations are more equitable and gender-aligned. Gender-responsive budgeting is an important tool for achieving gender equality and promoting women's rights and needs to be more widely promoted and implemented.
Only 57% of women can make sexual and reproductive health decisions autonomously
According to the data, only 57% of women (aged 15 to 49 years old) are able to make informed decisions about sexual and reproductive health issues. This means that there are still a considerable number of women who lack autonomy in this area and may be pressured or restricted by society, culture or family. Sexual and reproductive health rights are one of the basic human rights, including the right to make independent decisions about sexual behavior and reproduction. This figure therefore highlights the need for increased sexual and reproductive health education and advocacy to ensure that women can make informed, autonomous decisions and receive necessary sexual and reproductive health care. This is critical for women's health and rights.
SDG 10
Reduce Inequality
Reduce inequality within and between countries
Before the pandemic, incomes of the bottom 40% of people in most countries were growing faster than the national average. However, the impact of the pandemic and uneven recovery in different parts of the world could reverse this trend, further exacerbating global inequality. Most people are forced to flee conflict and economic hardship. By mid-2022, one in 251 people globally will be a refugee, the highest proportion ever recorded. Achieving Sustainable Development Goal 10 (SDG 10) requires concerted efforts to address the root causes of wage disparities and unequal access to resources, including not only domestic inequalities but also cross-national inequalities.
Covid-19 leads to first rise in international income inequality
Covid-19 has had profound effects on the global economy, one of which is the first rise in international income inequality. Between 2013 and 2017, international income inequality fell by 3.8%, showing some progress. However, between 2017 and 2021, taking into account the impact of Covid-19, international income inequality is expected to rise by 1.2%, suggesting that the pandemic has had a negative impact on economic disparities between different countries. Without taking Covid-19 into account, international income inequality is expected to continue to fall, but only by 2.6%, which remains a challenging issue. This underscores the need for internationally coordinated action to address the unequal impact of the pandemic on the global economy.
5,895 immigrants lost their lives
2021 proved to be the deadliest year since 2017, with 5,895 migrants losing their lives. This highlights the dangers and challenges migrants face, including illegal border crossings, navigation risks and efforts to escape violence and poverty. The international community needs to do more to provide safer and legal migration pathways to prevent similar tragedies from happening again. In addition, international cooperation is needed to address the underlying issues that drive migration flows, including economic inequality and social instability.
Global number of refugees hits record high, war in Ukraine pushes global total up further
The number of refugees worldwide has hit a record high, with the war in Ukraine pushing the global total further. The number of foreign refugees increased by 44% between 2015 and 2021, meaning more and more people are being forced to leave their countries in search of safety and asylum. This trend poses a huge challenge to the international community and requires more collaboration and efforts to respond to the refugee crisis and ensure that refugees receive appropriate protection and support. We need to work together to solve this global problem and help those in need rebuild their lives.
SDG 11
Sustainable Cities and Communities
Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable
The pandemic has led to major shifts in migration patterns, including large numbers of people moving in and out of urban areas. Furthermore, climate change and conflict often have a disproportionate impact on cities. These factors mean the world is still far from achieving sustainable cities. In many developing countries, slum populations are growing, posing a risk to the 2030 goal of providing adequate housing for all. The number of countries with national disaster risk reduction strategies has more than doubled since 2015. To achieve Sustainable Development Goal 11 (SDG 11), there must be a focus on strengthening urban development planning capabilities, improving access to public transport, and improving waste management.
Number of countries with disaster risk reduction strategies nearly doubled
Between 2015 and 2021, the number of countries globally with local disaster risk reduction strategies has almost doubled from 51 to 98. This shows that more and more countries recognize the importance of disaster risk management and take active measures to deal with natural disasters and other disasters. Countries with these strategies are better able to respond to disasters, reduce losses, and protect people's lives and property. However, despite progress, continued international collaboration is needed to ensure that disaster risks can be effectively addressed around the world.
Increased focus on the 1 billion slum poor
The number of slum dwellers has reached 1 billion. These urban poor live in poverty, poor housing conditions, and often lack basic services and infrastructure. To ensure that no one is forgotten, we need to target these communities with more support and opportunities to improve quality of life. This may include improving housing conditions, providing basic services, creating jobs, and ensuring they can participate in social and economic life. Only by doing more to address the needs of these urban poor can we achieve our goal of "leaving no one behind."
Urban growth brings solid waste problem
As the urban population continues to grow, the problem of solid waste generated in cities is becoming increasingly serious. According to 2022 data, 82% of global municipal solid waste is collected, but only 55% is effectively managed. This means that a portion of the waste may be improperly handled or discarded, potentially posing risks to the environment and health. To combat this problem, cities need to strengthen waste management, including improving the efficiency of collection and treatment, and adopting environmentally friendly disposal methods to reduce negative impacts on the environment. At the same time, it is also necessary to raise public awareness and encourage waste reduction and recycling to reduce waste generation.
Less than a third of sub-Saharan African urban residents have access to public transportation
Urban residents in sub-Saharan Africa face serious challenges in accessing public transport, with less than one-third of urban residents having convenient public transport services. This can lead to urban traffic congestion, increase travel costs for individuals, and have a negative impact on the environment. In order to improve this situation, it is necessary to increase investment in public transportation infrastructure and improve the efficiency and availability of the transportation system so that more urban residents can conveniently use public transportation. Not only does this help reduce traffic congestion, it also reduces the negative environmental impact of personal car use, while also improving the quality of life for city residents.
99% of global city dwellers breathe polluted air
According to the latest air quality guidelines from the World Health Organization, more than 99% of global urban residents live in polluted air environments. This kind of pollution is mainly reflected in the concentration of PM2.5 particles exceeding the safety standard of 5 micrograms/m3. This pollution is harmful to health and can lead to respiratory illnesses, cardiovascular problems and other health problems. Improving urban air quality is critical to the health and well-being of residents, and effective air quality monitoring and emission reduction measures need to be implemented to ensure that urban residents breathe cleaner air. In addition, promoting sustainable urban transportation and industrial production methods can also help reduce pollution.
SDG 16
Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development; provide access to justice for all; build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels
The current global situation shows that we are still a long way from achieving Sustainable Development Goal 16 (SDG16) – peace, justice and strong institutions. Ongoing and new violent conflicts around the world are hindering the path to global peace. A quarter of the world’s population lives in conflict-affected areas, and as of May 2022, a record 100 million people have been forcibly displaced globally – more than double the number a decade ago. Citizens also face challenges in accessing justice, basic services/legal protection and are generally neglected due to insufficient institutional effectiveness. Furthermore, structural injustice, inequality and emerging human rights challenges make peaceful and inclusive societies increasingly out of reach. To achieve SDG16 by 2030, action is needed to restore trust and strengthen institutional capacity to ensure access to justice for all and promote transformation towards sustainable development.
The most violent conflict since 1946 is taking place
Currently, the global call for peace is rising because the world is experiencing the most violent conflicts since 1946. These conflicts affect multiple countries and regions and result in a quarter of the global population living in conflict-affected countries. This situation highlights the urgency and importance of achieving global peace.
The world's largest population in history, with up to 100 million people forcibly displaced
Data show that the world's largest population in history, about 100 million people, has been forced to flee for various reasons. This large-scale displacement can be caused by war, conflict, natural disasters, and other factors. This phenomenon is a serious challenge for societies and governments around the world and requires international cooperation to provide appropriate support and protection for displaced people.
Global murder rate drops 5.2%
While the global murder rate fell by 5.2% between 2015 and 2020, showing some progress, the decline fell short of the 2030 target set by the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to achieve the murder rate "significant reduction". This means that globally, many challenges remain and more efforts and measures are needed to reduce violent crime and murder to achieve safer and more peaceful societies.
Corruption is widespread in every region
This report shows that corruption problems exist in all regions of the world, with almost one in six companies subject to bribe requests from public officials. This phenomenon not only damages the ethics and reputation of enterprises, but also hinders fair competition and economic development. We should strengthen the fight against corruption, improve transparency, and establish an effective regulatory mechanism to ensure a fair and clean business environment.

Sustainable development goals related to corporate governance, click on the icon to explore in depth

SDG 8
Decent Work and Economic Growth
Promote inclusive and sustainable economic growth, achieve comprehensive and productive employment, and give everyone a good job
The process of achieving Sustainable Development Goal 8 (SDG8) is full of challenges, and the world is still far away from achieving most of the goals. The ongoing impact of COVID-19, the cost of living crisis, trade tensions, uncertainty about the path of monetary policy, rising debt in developing countries, and the war in Ukraine could significantly hinder global economic growth. The combination of these crises is posing a serious threat to the global economy. Global real GDP per capita growth is expected to slow in 2023, jeopardizing not only jobs and incomes, but also progress in fair pay for women and decent work for young people. Achieving SDG8 will require an overhaul of our morally bankrupt financial system to address growing debt, economic uncertainty and trade tensions, while promoting fair pay and decent work for young people.
Global economic recovery hampered
The recovery of the global economy has encountered difficulties on many fronts, including a new wave of COVID-19 epidemics, rising inflation, supply chain disruptions, policy uncertainty, and labor market challenges. Together, these factors have put pressure on the economy, affecting employment, price stability and the implementation of government policies. Active measures should be taken to address these challenges to promote the continued recovery of the global economy.
Global unemployment is not expected to return to pre-pandemic levels until at least 2023
Global unemployment has been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic since 2019 and is not expected to return to pre-pandemic levels until at least 2023. In 2019, the global unemployment rate was 5.4%, but it rose to 6.6% and 6.2% in 2020 and 2021 respectively. This shows that the epidemic has had a lasting impact on the global job market, and it will take some time to stabilize employment and return to normal levels. Governments and the international community need to take steps to support employment opportunities and create more jobs to help the economy recover.
Ukraine crisis further delays global economic recovery
The global economic recovery has been affected by further concerns about the crisis in Ukraine, resulting in a hit to the annual growth rate of global real GDP per person. According to the report, global real GDP per capita annual growth was 2.1% in 2018, but fell to -4.4% in 2020 due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, with the economic recovery in 2021, global real GDP per capita annual growth rate rebounded to 4.4%. However, this figure fell to 2.1% in 2022 due to the Ukraine crisis, which was lower than the expected 3.0%. It is expected that by 2023, the global real GDP per capita annual growth rate will continue to decline to 2.5%. This shows that the Ukraine crisis has caused considerable uncertainty and impact on the global economy, and requires a joint response from the international community.
1/10 children worldwide are involved in child labor
About 1/10 children in the world are involved in child labor, totaling 160 million. Child labor remains a serious problem, causing severe impacts on children's growth and development. This requires the international community and governments to take more measures to protect children's rights and ensure that they receive appropriate education and living environment. This also requires ongoing monitoring and enforcement of relevant laws and policies to eliminate child labor.
SDG 9
Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industry development, and accelerate innovation
Manufacturing's recovery from COVID-19 remains incomplete and uneven: some high-income regions reached record manufacturing value added per capita in 2022, but the least developed countries (LDCs) were only slightly above 2015 levels baseline. Post-pandemic data shows that high-tech industries are recovering faster and are more resilient, pointing to the need to promote innovation and technology transfer so that all countries can benefit. To achieve Goal 9 by 2030, it is critical to support least developed countries, invest in advanced technologies, reduce carbon emissions and increase global mobile broadband access.
Global manufacturing rebounds from pandemic, but low-income developing countries still lag behind
While some high-income regions achieved record highs in per capita manufacturing value added in 2022, the levels in LDCs were almost similar to the 2015 baseline. Post-pandemic data shows that high-tech industries are recovering faster and more resiliently, underscoring the need to promote innovation and technology transfer to benefit all countries. To achieve Goal 9 by 2030, we must support LDCs, invest in advanced technologies, reduce carbon emissions, and increase global mobile broadband penetration.
Lack of financial support for small businesses
Only one-third of small manufacturing industries benefited from loans or credits in 2020-2021. This means that small manufacturing industries face the challenge of insufficient capital during the recovery process, which may limit their ability to grow and recover. To facilitate a full economic recovery, measures need to be taken to provide greater financial support and capital flows to small businesses.
The passenger airline industry continues to struggle to recoup huge losses
The passenger airline industry is still struggling to recover from catastrophic losses, with approximately 2.3 billion passengers in 2021 compared with 4.5 billion in 2019. This shows that the passenger aviation industry has been hit hard due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with travel restrictions and concerns about the spread of the epidemic having a huge impact on business. The passenger aviation industry needs to take further steps to achieve a faster recovery, which may include providing additional health and safety safeguards to restore traveler confidence.
SDG 17
Partnership Promotion Goals
Strengthen the implementation methods of sustainable development and activate the global partnership for sustainable development
Progress towards achieving Sustainable Development Goal 17 (SDG17) has been mixed. On the one hand, there has been some progress in areas such as development assistance, remittance flows and access to technology. However, development financing remains a major challenge, especially in low-income countries. In addition, geopolitical tensions and the rise of nationalism in some regions have made international cooperation and coordination more difficult. Many developing countries are facing record inflation, rising interest rates and looming debt burdens, competing priorities and limited fiscal space. Large-scale coordinated action is urgently needed to ensure that developing countries have access to the financing and technology they need to accelerate implementation of the SDGs.
Rising debt burden threatens developing countries' pandemic recovery
Developing countries face rising debt burdens that could threaten their recovery from the pandemic. Specifically, the gross domestic product (GNI) to debt ratio of sub-Saharan African countries rose sharply between 2011 and 2020, from 23.4% to 43.7%. This means that the debt burden of these countries is increasing rapidly, which may cause significant pressure on epidemic recovery and economic stability. The international community may need to take action to support these countries in dealing with their debt problems to ensure that they can achieve their epidemic recovery goals.
Global Internet usage accelerated during the epidemic
During the epidemic, global Internet usage increased rapidly. Specifically, in 2019, only 54% of the population used the Internet, but by 2021, this proportion increased to 63%. This shows that during the epidemic, people relied more on the Internet to meet various needs, including work, education, social interaction and information acquisition. The popularization of the Internet is of great significance to both responding to the epidemic and promoting digital transformation, and may have a profound impact on future social and economic development.
ODA reaches new high in 2021, foreign direct investment and remittances also grow significantly
Data for 2021 show that during that year, official development assistance (ODA) reached a new high, reaching $177.6 billion. This is largely due to aid in the fight against COVID-19, demonstrating international support for the response to the pandemic. In addition, foreign direct investment (FDI) rebounded to US$1.58 trillion in 2021, an increase of 64% from 2020. This shows the recovery of the global economy and confidence in investment opportunities. In terms of remittances, the amount of remittances in 2021 reached US$605 billion, an increase of 8.6% compared to 2020. This shows that global migrants are still actively supporting their home countries and sending money back. The data show positive signs for global finance and development, but also highlight the need for continued focus on the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly in responding to the pandemic and promoting global economic recovery.