Giving Compass' Take:

• Jenni Lee at United Nations Foundation gives six reasons to keep pushing to achieve the promise of the Sustainable Development Goals of a fair future for people and the planet.

• Change happens when we work together — across borders and backgrounds — for the shared cause. How can donors help inspire collaboration and action?

• Read a city handbook for Sustainable Development Goal advancement.

How are we doing on reaching the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and their promise of a fair future for people and the planet?

The short answer: The results are mixed. The longer answer: According to the SDG progress report for 2019, we’re making progress in some areas, but not fast enough. And worse, we’re facing big threats – like climate change, conflict, and inequality – that threaten that progress. But this assessment is not a reason to give up hope; in fact, it’s a reason to step up our actions.

Time and time again, we’ve seen that progress is possible when we act as an international community.  When governments, businesses, and citizens work together and put resources and determination behind a goal, change happens: Families move out of poverty, children are protected from diseases, girls become students, instead of brides, and much more.

That’s why, in 2015, world leaders came together at the United Nations and agreed to a plan to end extreme poverty, tackle inequality, and protect the planet. As we head into 2020, now is the time for governments to step up and act bigger and bolder to achieve the SDGs so no one is left behind. We’ve got technologies and solutions; we’ve got resources; what we need is political will from our leaders.

Read the full article about the push for SDGs by Jenni Lee at United Nations Foundation.