The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): A Comprehensive Review of Progress, Implementation, and the Path Forward

Surinder Deswal¹, Phalguni Deswal²

¹ Professor, Civil Engineering Department, National Institute of Technology Kurukshetra, India.

² Independent Researcher, India.    

Abstract

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), adopted by all United Nations Member States in 2015 as part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, represent an unprecedented global commitment to ending poverty, protecting the planet, and ensuring prosperity for all. This review paper provides a comprehensive assessment of the SDGs, their scope, implementation across sectors, and global status as of 2025—the tenth anniversary of their adoption. Drawing on the latest available data from the Sustainable Development Goals Report 2025 and other authoritative sources, the paper finds that only 35 per cent of SDG targets are on track or making moderate progress, while nearly half are progressing too slowly and 18 per cent have regressed since the 2015 baseline. Notable achievements include declining HIV infections, expanded social protection coverage, increased school enrolment, and growing access to electricity and the internet. However, more than 800 million people still live in extreme poverty, climate change continues to accelerate, conflicts displace millions, and the annual SDG financing gap has exceeded US$4 trillion. The paper examines implementation across government, business, and civil society sectors, identifies persistent gaps in data, financing, and political will, and explores emerging discussions on the post-2030 agenda. It concludes that while the SDGs have improved millions of lives, accelerated action, systemic reforms, and renewed multilateral cooperation are urgently needed in the final five years to 2030 and beyond.     

Keywords: Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), 2030 Agenda, Global implementation, Financing gap, Progress assessment, Post-2030 Agenda

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