The lack of Pacific progress towards the global sustainable development goals has raised concern over whether the region will be able to celebrate achievement of the global SDGs by 2030.

The Pacific situation became clear with the December 8th launch of the 2nd Quadrennial Pacific Sustainable Development Report, at the Pacific Island Forum Secretariat.

The report highlights the Pacific region’s progress towards the implementation of the SDGs. The report centres on people and well-being with a key message that “all countries have incorporated the SDGs into national policies and strategies. However, none of the twenty-one targets expected to be achieved by 2020 were achieved. It is also unlikely that the Pacific will achieve even 20% of the SDG targets by 2030”

In his comments at the launch, Deputy Secretary General on behalf of the Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Forum, Dr Filimon Manoni shared his concern over the findings.

“The situation is worrisome given that our sustainability requires the restoration of social, economic and environmental stability, by investing in clean equitable growth through political frameworks and settlements that foster peace and partnership,” he said.

Dr Manoni noted the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent as “our regional approach to working in a cooperative coordinated, and more integrated manner, drawing on our common strengths, and common resources, to achieve our development aspirations”

Also welcoming the report, Tuvalu High Commissioner to Fiji HE. Eselealofa Apinelu said the launch is one step of many that will help the region embrace both the social and environmental dimensions of development. Apinelu, as Chair of the Pacific Steering Committee for the Second Quadrennial Pacific Sustainable Development Report 2022, stated, “We need to work together as one community. We need to be efficient in how we combat change.”

Representing the Pacific Disability Forum, Chief Executive Officer, Setareki Macanawai reflected that vulnerable communities in the Pacific continue to experience exclusion based on diminishing investments made despite the growing number of vulnerable communities.

The report was compiled under the guidance of the Pacific Steering Committee and technical advisers from across Pacific regional organisations, the United Nations in the Pacific, and civil society and private sector representatives.