The SDGs are not being achieved – neither in Europe nor globally. This is not because the goals and targets set in 2015 were poorly designed or impossible to reach, but largely due to failures in global and national governance systems.

The Doomsday Clock of the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists – which tracks humanity’s proximity to self‑annihilation through nuclear war, climate change, biological events, and disruptive technologies – was updated in January 2026 to 85 seconds before midnight, the closest point since its creation after World War II. The inability to prevent, manage, and resolve geopolitical crises in a timely and effective manner remains a major obstacle to advancing the long-term sustainable development agenda agreed upon a decade ago.

In Europe, the latest edition of the Europe Sustainable Development Report (ESDR), prepared in collaboration with the EESC and released on 26 February 2026, shows that SDG progress has stalled. Many environmental and social indicators are stagnating or even moving in the wrong direction. Finland tops this year’s SDG Index for Europe, followed by Sweden, Denmark, Austria, and Norway. Yet none of these countries are on track to meet all the goals and all face significant challenges in environmental areas, particularly regarding international spillovers, and in implementing the SDGs’ ‘Leave No One Behind’ principle. Some socio‑economic indicators, such as material deprivation, have worsened. Trust in government remains low in France, Germany, and the United Kingdom and is generally below pre‑2022 levels.

At the EU level, attention to the SDGs has decreased. The European Commission’s Work Programmes for 2025 and 2026 no longer explicitly reference the SDGs or the 2030 Agenda. Since the escalation of the war in Ukraine in 2022, the Commission’s narrative has shifted toward strategic autonomy, simplification, defence, and competitiveness. It is increasingly unclear whether the European Green Deal, adopted in 2019 as Europe’s growth strategy and long-term commitment to climate neutrality, still serves as a coherent guiding framework.

Meanwhile, most UN member states remain committed to sustainable development and the Paris Agreement. Of the 193 UN member states, 190 have submitted Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs). The majority supported the June 2025 Seville Commitment on financing for sustainable development. Globally, cities and regions are also accelerating action through Voluntary Local Reviews (VLRs).

What is often called the ‘Global South’ is, demographically and politically, the ‘Global Majority’, the majority of the world’s population and countries that continue to support the SDGs. The United States stands out as a notable exception. It has not submitted a national sustainable development plan, has openly opposed the SDGs at the federal level, withdrew from the Seville negotiations in 2025, and exited 66 UN organizations in January 2026. Although the US wields major global influence, it represents less than 5% of the world’s population.

As Europe reassesses its alliances in a more multipolar world, the SDGs offer a common language that supports Europe’s strategic interests at home and abroad. For example, reducing dependence on fossil fuels by investing in renewable and clean energy strengthens European autonomy and security.

Since 2019, SDSN and its partners have been advancing the concept of SDG/Green Deal Diplomacy as a framework for strengthening strategic partnerships with Africa, China, India, Latin America, Eurasia, and other regions. Europe holds significant advantages, including a large single market, a well‑educated population, and substantial savings. These could be mobilised to scale up investments in digital and green technologies—provided Europe can overcome persistent fragmentation in its capital markets.

To reinforce its global role, the EU must articulate a clear, coherent voice and translate it into consistent international action. This requires demonstrating unwavering support for UN‑based multilateralism, including the systematic condemnation of violations of international law covering all wars of choice and all covert or overt regime‑change operations prohibited under the UN Charter. Article 2(4) clearly states that the use of force or threat of force against the territorial integrity of a state is illegal.

In a fragmented multilateral landscape, the SDGs provide a pathway for Europe and other medium‑sized economies seeking balanced development, global cooperation, and a rules‑based international trading system. Europe could reaffirm its commitment through a joint declaration by the Council, Parliament, and Commission similar to the early years of SDG implementation. The EU could also commit to presenting a second Union‑wide Voluntary Review by July 2027, ahead of the September 2027 SDG Summit. This review could address the challenges highlighted in the seventh ESDR, including international spillovers, environmental sustainability, and socio‑economic convergence, while outlining a clear vision and concrete proposals for an ambitious post‑2030 sustainable development framework.

As the world’s largest network of scientists and researchers dedicated to the SDGs, the SDSN stands ready to support European leadership in advancing sustainable development domestically and internationally by 2030 and beyond.

Dr Guillaume Lafortune
Vice President and Head of the Paris Office, UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN)