Halfway to 2030 in Latin America and the Caribbean: progress and recommendations for acceleration. Summary

The countries of Latin America and the Caribbean are halfway through the time frame set for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that underpin the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The progress towards the Goals and targets was drastically hampered by the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, which has taken a heavy toll across the globe since 2020 and undermined efforts to achieve the Agenda in many regions of the world, including Latin America and the Caribbean, hardest hit by the pandemic. The last biennium has also been marked by global developments that have adversely affected progress towards the SDGs, such as the conflict in Ukraine, trade tensions and geopolitical conflicts, forced migration and a resurgence of inflation. This report looks at three key issues. First, it reviews overall progress towards the achievement of all the SDGs, with a more in-depth focus on progress towards five of them: clean water and sanitation (Goal 6); affordable and clean energy (Goal 7); industry, innovation and infrastructure (Goal 9); sustainable cities and communities (Goal 11); and partnerships for the goals (Goal 17). Second, it posits that getting back on track to meet the SDG targets by 2030 requires not only greater investment and financing but also a paradigm shift in public policymaking. Third, the report analyses the institutional processes that have been put in place for the implementation and monitoring of the SDGs. Document updated, June 29, 2023.