We only have a decade left to meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Despite some progress, it is clear that we are not on track to meet all 17 goals and related targets. If we are going to be successful by 2030, we need our action to consider the additional threats arising from COVID-19. Between 2010 and 2016, extreme poverty fell by nearly 6% globally. But the pandemic threatens to reverse this trend and put 71 million people back into poverty by the end of 2020. The pandemic has also enhanced macro-economic challenges, including debt burdens of poor and vulnerable countries. We must prioritize progress by countries in special situations, including Least Developed Countries (LDCs). As we enter the “SDG Decade of Action”, emerging technologies and results-oriented action will be key to ensuring that no one is left behind.
