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19 October 2022

M&G’s SDG Reckoning report: progress has stalled towards delivering on UN SDGs

2022
  • 15 out of 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) have seen no progress in the past year – with only 7 SDGs on track to meet the 2030 deadline
  • Private sector investment is more imperative than ever to help deliver global progress towards these goals

London, 19 October 2022 – M&G Investments finds that progress towards achieving the United Nation (UN)’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) has all but stalled in the past 12 months, with 15 of the goals seeing no improvement. This leaves the world on track to deliver only 7 of the 17 SDGs by the 2030 target set by the UN

The report assesses the global, year-on-year progress towards achieving the UN’s 17 SDGs and provides insights on how private sector investment can participate in delivering progress towards the UN SDGs.

The main findings from the report include:

  • No progress for the majority of SDGs: on an annual basis, 13 of the 17 goals failed to move, with two decelerating and two accelerating.
  • Marginal improvements for two SDGs: Good Health and Wellbeing (SDG 3) improved due to the effective development of vaccines during the Covid-19 pandemic and other improvements in the area of health and wellbeing, while Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure (SDG 9) benefited from continued improvement in digital access globally.
  • Affordable and Clean Energy in reverse: SDG 7, Affordable and Clean Energy, decelerated as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine disrupted the global energy market, derailing progress and generating the biggest surge of energy prices since the 1970s.
  • Inequalities widened: SDG 10, Reduced Inequalities, was exacerbated by Covid-19, while the cost-of-living crisis will have a disproportionate impact on developing economies – with the potential to cause a ripple effect across many of the SDGs.

Lead author of the report, Ben Constable-Maxwell, who is Head Impact Investing at M&G, says: “Our third annual SDG Reckoning makes for depressing reading, with the majority of SDGs showing little sign of progress or falling even further behind the 2030 targets. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the energy crisis and the intensifying cost of living crisis are having a significant impact on the ability of wealthier countries to maintain or increase capital to tackle these global challenges.

“But now is not the time for defeatism. Given deep strains on public finances, private sector investment is more imperative than ever to help deliver global progress towards the goals. Investors have a crucial role to play in financing sustainable and impactful investment opportunities, which can prove profitable as well as societally beneficial.

“As we look ahead to the COP 27 Conference in November, it is an opportunity for political leaders and the private sector to reflect on the continued need for collaboration to help tackle the most pressing issues of our generation.

The full report can be found here.

Media enquiries

Irene Chambers

Media Relations

Notes to editors

M&G Investments is part of M&G plc, a savings and investment business which was formed in 2017 through the merger of Prudential plc’s UK and Europe savings and insurance operation and M&G, its wholly owned international investment manager. M&G plc listed as an independent company on the London Stock Exchange in October 2019 and has over £348 billion of assets under management (as at 30 June 2022). M&G plc has customers in the UK, Europe, the Americas and Asia, including individual savers and investors, life insurance policy holders and pension scheme members.

For nearly nine decades M&G Investments has been helping its customers to prosper by putting investments to work, which in turn creates jobs, homes and vital infrastructure in the real economy. Its investment solutions span equities, fixed income, multi asset, cash, private debt, infrastructure and real estate.

M&G recognises the importance of responsible investing and is a signatory to the United Nations Principles for Responsible Investment (UNPRI) and is a member of the Climate Bonds Initiative Partners Programme.

M&G plc has committed to achieve net zero carbon emissions on its total book of assets under management and administration by 2050 and committed to reduce operational carbon emissions as a corporate entity to net zero by 2030.

Our SDG scorecard assesses global, year-on-year progress, from a general perspective and through an impact investing lens, towards achieving the UN’s 17 SDGs. Our assessment is based on one key representative indicator per goal. For example, to measure progress across SDG 14 (Life Below Water), we use the Ocean Health Index as our primary metric to determine the score for this goal. We also provide contextual detail and qualitative analysis alongside each score, including key developments, considerations and figures to provide an in-depth insight into how much work is needed worldwide to achieve the UN’s 2030 agenda. On a scale of 1-10, we have allocated a number to each SDG, indicating whether the world is on target, behind schedule or ahead of schedule in terms of progress. An SDG with a score of 5 out of 10, for example, means that we think the world is on track towards delivering that goal. On our slider, the highlighted square indicates the latest (2021) score, while the faded square shows 2020 score, demonstrating how much (or how little) progress has been made in a year, based on our analysis. While we support the UN SDGs, we are not associated with the UN and our funds are not endorsed by them

For more information, please visit: https://global.mandg.com/ 
This information is intended for journalists and media professionals only. It should not be relied on by private investors or advisers.

Issued by M&G Securities in the UK which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and provides investment products. The company’s registered office is 10 Fenchurch Avenue, London EC3M 5AG. Registered in England and Wales. Registered number 90776.
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M&G plc is a company incorporated and with its principal place of business in England, and its affiliated companies constitute a leading savings and investments business. M&G plc is the direct parent company of The Prudential Assurance Company Limited. The Prudential Assurance Company Limited is not affiliated in any manner with Prudential Financial, Inc, a company whose principal place of business is in the United States of America or Prudential plc, an international group incorporated in England and Wales.

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