Facing severe pressure in meeting Sustainable Development Goals

Durrant Pate/Contributor

Jamaica has presented its 3rd Voluntary National Review (VNR) at the United Nations High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development, held last week in New York.

 The report, presented by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade and Head of Delegation, Senator Kamina Johnson Smith, highlighted Jamaica’s progress in advancing sustainable development, including national efforts to improve the lives of its people through initiatives that strengthen communities, enhance resilience, and address economic, social, and climate-related challenges.

 The VNR also outlined the country’s progress towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and reaffirmed Jamaica’s commitment to implementing Vision 2030 Jamaica, the national development plan that aligns with the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

 Minister Johnson Smith was joined by Jamaica’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Brian Wallace; Director General of the Planning Institute of Jamaica and Chair of the National 2030 Agenda Oversight Committee, Dr Wayne Henry, as well as representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade and other technical experts supporting the country’s sustainable development agenda.

 Detailing Jamaica’s latest SDG assessment

Last week, Our Today reported that Jamaica is facing severe pressure in meeting its SDGs, as the latest assessment contained in its 3rd VNR shows it is failing in meeting most targets. In fact, the assessment reveals that only 26.0% of the targets are on track to be achieved, limited progress was observed on 35.6% of the targets, while 38.4% of the targeted areas is worsening. 

 SDG targets are specific, measurable objectives established by the United Nations to achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. There are exactly 169 targets spread across 17 SDGs, detailing actionable steps for ending poverty, reducing inequality, and protecting the planet. 

 The VNR assessment is done every four years, dating back to 2018, then 2022 and now 2026. Jamaica is not alone in failing to meet SDG targets, as the global progress towards SDGs is increasingly at risk, with 17.0% of SDG targets on track to achievement, 18.0% show moderate progress, 30.0% show marginal progress, 18.0% stagnating and 18.0 per cent have regressed below the baseline year of 2015 (United Nations Stats, 2024).