Europe’s progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) has slowed significantly, raising concerns about meeting the 2030 targets. The Europe Sustainable Development Report 2025 (ESDR), published by the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN), reveals that progress on the SDGs from 2020 to 2023 was less than half the pace seen during the previous period.

Between 2016 and 2019, progress increased by 1.9 points, but this dropped to just 0.8 points in the following years. The slowdown comes amid growing environmental, social, and geopolitical challenges. SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) remains a major concern, as food security and sustainability issues persist across Europe.

A separate study for the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) emphasises the need for dietary shifts to support sustainable agriculture and public health.

With a new EU leadership in place, experts are calling for stronger policies and investments to accelerate progress on the SDGs. Global cooperation and financing are seen as crucial, with the 4th International Conference on Financing for Development in Spain in June 2025 expected to focus on scaling up financial support for sustainability.

Guillaume Lafortune, SDSN Vice President and lead author of the report, warns that rising geopolitical tensions are complicating sustainability efforts, but he remains optimistic.

‘The world is increasingly dangerous, unstable, and uncertain,’ he said. ‘At the same time, people, especially young people, want sustainable development. With the size of the global economy and the technologies available, the world has the potential to fully achieve sustainable development.’

‘Sustainable food systems are a crucial driver for the implementation of the SDGs. To accelerate action, we need more ambitious mechanisms to safeguard the livelihoods of farmers, small-scale food producers, and other stakeholders across the food supply chain. But we must also tackle unfair distribution and ensure a just transition,’ said Peter Schmidt, president of the EESC’s Agriculture, Rural Development and the Environment (NAT) section, while also calling for greater civil society engagement.

With just five years left to go, the EU faces a critical decision: act decisively or risk falling short on its commitments to a sustainable and equitable future. (ks)