Conflict, Climate, No Cash: Why Poverty Persists

A United Nations report highlights the persistent challenges in eradicating poverty and achieving sustainable development. One in ten people globally remain in extreme poverty, and over two billion face food insecurity. The number of people affected by climate-related disasters has more than doubled since 2015, underscoring the urgency of the crisis.

Despite some progress, such as increased access to clean water and reduced HIV infections, many Sustainable Development Goals are significantly off track. Nearly half of the 169 targets are advancing too slowly, and 15% have regressed below 2015 levels. Global extreme poverty is projected to remain high, and a quarter of urban residents live in slums. Global temperatures continue to rise, reaching 1.43 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels in 2025, with CO2 concentrations at a two-million-year high.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged nations to intensify efforts, noting a record 23% drop in official development assistance in 2025. Progress is further hampered by surging violent conflict, which undoes years of development. While developing countries face an annual financing gap of around $4 trillion for SDGs, global military spending has reached record highs. Disruptions from conflicts like the one in the Middle East threaten global food security, particularly in Africa and Asia.

Global hunger, though slightly decreased in 2024, remains higher than in 2015. Over 8% of the world's population experiences chronic hunger, and more than two billion people lack adequate food at some point during the year. While progress in Southern Asia and Latin America has been driven by post-pandemic economic recoveries, hunger continues to rise in Western Asia and Africa. Water stress also remains severe in several regions, despite billions gaining access to clean drinking water.

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Together, let us make a decisive final push to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals and build a healthy, prosperous future for all.