Goal 9 seeks to build resilient infrastructure, promote sustainable industrialization, and foster innovation. Economic growth, social development, and climate action depend heavily on these investments. In a rapidly changing global landscape, sustained growth must prioritize industrialization that is accessible to all, supported by cutting-edge innovation, and anchored by resilient infrastructure.
Globally, manufacturing and trade have rebounded since the pandemic. However, ongoing supply chain disruptions, trade tensions and geopolitical instability continue to drive up costs.
On a positive note, clean energy deployment is actively helping to limit emissions. Since 2019, the rapid expansion of solar power, wind energy, nuclear power, electric vehicles, and heat pumps prevented an estimated 3 gigatons of CO2 emissions in 2025 alone—representing roughly 8% of global energy-related emissions.
How much progress have we made?
The world has seen significant progress in infrastructure, industry, and innovation over the past decade. Global manufacturing value added (MVA) per capita rose by 18.1% between 2015 and 2025. Driven by the growing involvement of developing nations, maritime freight volumes climbed to 24.1 billion metric tons in 2024, a 16% increase from 2015. Additionally, 5G mobile broadband now covers 55% of the global population.
Despite these gains, deep regional inequalities persist. Many developing nations face systemic barriers to achieving inclusive industrialization, and 4% of the world’s population still lacked any access to mobile broadband networks in 2024.
What needs to be done?
Investing in transport, irrigation, energy, and information technology is crucial to empowering communities worldwide. To achieve Goal 9 by 2030, we must actively support Least Developed Countries (LDCs), invest in advanced technologies, lower carbon emissions, and bridge the remaining gaps in mobile broadband access.
Why should I care?
Sustainable industrialization, innovation and infrastructure unleash competitive economic forces that generate decent jobs and stable incomes. They are key to introducing new technologies, facilitating international trade and using resources more efficiently. As industries adopt sustainable practices, they raise our collective standard of living while actively protecting the environment.
What is the price of inaction?
The price of inaction is steep. Failing to support sustainable industries makes ending global poverty far more difficult, as industrial growth is a primary driver of the development agenda. Furthermore, without improvements to infrastructure and technology, communities will continue to struggle with poor healthcare, inadequate sanitation and limited access to education.
How can we help?
You can take action by establishing clear standards and promoting regulations that ensure your own workplace projects are sustainably managed.
Collaborating with NGOs and the public sector is another powerful way to promote sustainable growth within developing countries.
Finally, consider how local industries impact your daily well-being, and use your voice on social media to push policymakers to prioritize the SDGs.
- Global manufacturing growth slowed down to 2.7 per cent in 2022, down from 7.4 per cent in 2021, and rebounded to 3 per cent in 2024 and rose a further 2.7 per cent in 2025.
- In 2024, global seaborne trade neared a record high, reaching an estimated 24.1 billion metric tons – 16 per cent higher than in 2015.
- As of 2024, 96 per cent of the world’s population was within reach of a mobile broadband network, but some areas remain underserved.
- In 2024, global carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from fuel combustion and industrial processes surged to a new all-time high of 38.1 gigatons, reverting to a decade-long trend of decoupling emissions and economic growth.
- The share of manufacturing employment in total employment was 13.7 per cent in 2025, down from 14.3 per cent in 2015.
9.1 Develop quality, reliable, sustainable and resilient infrastructure, including regional and transborder infrastructure, to support economic development and human well-being, with a focus on affordable and equitable access for all
9.2 Promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and, by 2030, significantly raise industry’s share of employment and gross domestic product, in line with national circumstances, and double its share in least developed countries
9.3 Increase the access of small-scale industrial and other enterprises, in particular in developing countries, to financial services, including affordable credit, and their integration into value chains and markets
9.4 By 2030, upgrade infrastructure and retrofit industries to make them sustainable, with increased resource-use efficiency and greater adoption of clean and environmentally sound technologies and industrial processes, with all countries taking action in accordance with their respective capabilities
9.5 Enhance scientific research, upgrade the technological capabilities of industrial sectors in all countries, in particular developing countries, including, by 2030, encouraging innovation and substantially increasing the number of research and development workers per 1 million people and public and private research and development spending
9.A Facilitate sustainable and resilient infrastructure development in developing countries through enhanced financial, technological and technical support to African countries, least developed countries, landlocked developing countries and small island developing States 18
9.B Support domestic technology development, research and innovation in developing countries, including by ensuring a conducive policy environment for, inter alia, industrial diversification and value addition to commodities
9.C Significantly increase access to information and communications technology and strive to provide universal and affordable access to the Internet in least developed countries by 2020
Related news
UN calls for urgent action to enable opportunities, mitigate risks for information and digital technology
Recognizing both the opportunities and risks offered by rapid advancements in information and digital technology, the 18th Internet Governance Forum (IGF) wrapped up its series of high-level discussions and multistakeholder dialogues in Kyoto, Japan today.
Leveraging benefits of rapid advances in artificial intelligence and digitalisation, while mitigating risks underpins UN Forum on Internet Governance
Against a backdrop of growing geopolitical tensions, proliferating crises and widening inequalities, the challenges facing the global community in reaching the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development are vast. With the Internet holding a critical role in navigating these complexities, the 18th UN Internet Governance Forum (IGF) got underway in Kyoto, Japan today under the overarching theme, ‘The Internet We Want – Empowering All People’.
Internet Governance Forum: We must act now to tackle the threats of cyberspace
Global efforts need to be stepped up to address an increase in cross-border cyberattacks, hate speech and security breaches, according to the more than 6,000 delegates that took part in the Internet Governance Forum (IGF) that concluded today in Berlin.