On implementation and delivery of the Sustainable Development Goals in view of the 2026 High-Level Political Forum

MOTION FOR A EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT RESOLUTION

on implementation and delivery of the Sustainable Development Goals in view of the 2026 High-Level Political Forum

(2025/2248(INI))

The European Parliament,

– having regard to Article 3(5) of the Treaty on European Union and Article 208(1) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,

– having regard to Decision (EU) 2022/591 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 6 April 2022 on a General Union Environment Action Programme to 20301,

– having regard to the joint statement by the Council and the representatives of the governments of the Member States meeting within the Council, the European Parliament and the Commission of 30 June 2017 on the New European Consensus on Development – ‘Our world, our dignity, our future’2,

– having regard to the EU’s first voluntary review of SDG implementation, presented to the United Nations on 19 July 2023,

– having regard to the Eurostat report entitled ‘Sustainable development in the European Union – monitoring report on progress towards the SDGs in an EU context – 2025 edition’, published on 4 June 2025,

– having regard to UN Resolution 70/1 entitled ‘Transforming our World – the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development’ (2030 Agenda), adopted at the UN Sustainable Development Summit on 25 September 2015 in New York, establishing the SDGs,

– having regard to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (UNCBD) and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, agreed at the 15th meeting of the Conference of Parties to the UNCBD,

– having regard to the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030, adopted by UN member states at the Third UN World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction on 18 March 2015,

– having regard to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Paris Agreement adopted at the 21st Conference of the Parties to the UNFCCC (COP21) in Paris on 12 December 2015,

– having regard to the UN Sustainable Development Goals Report 2025,

– having regard to the 2023 SDG Summit which took place in September 2023, during the United Nations General Assembly high-level week,

– having regard to the Summit of the Future which took place on 22 and 23 September 2024 in New York, its outcome, the Pact for the Future, which pledges 56 actions to accelerate and finance sustainable development, and its two annexes, the Global Digital Compact and the Declaration on Future Generations,

– having regard to the 4th International Conference on Financing for Development that took place in Seville, Spain, from 30 June to 3 July 2025,

– having regard to the COP29 Declaration on Water for Climate Action, endorsed by the European Union,

– having regard to the United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment and Health (UNU-INWEH) report published in January 2026 entitled ‘Global Water Bankruptcy: Living Beyond our Hydrological Means in the Post-Crisis Era’,

– having regard to the Commission communication of 4 June 2025 entitled ‘European Water Resilience Strategy’ (COM(2025)0280),

– having regard to its resolutions of 5 October 2022 on access to water as a human right – the external dimension3 and of 16 April 2025 on the European Water Resilience Strategy4,

– having regard to its resolutions of 15 June 2023 on the implementation and delivery of the Sustainable Development Goals5 and of 9 July 2025 entitled ‘Implementation and delivery of the Sustainable Development Goals in view of the 2025 High-Level Political Forum’ 6,

– having regard to Rule 55 of its Rules of Procedure,

– having regard to the joint deliberations of the Committee on Development and the Committee on the Environment, Climate and Food Safety under Rule 59 of the Rules of Procedure,

– having regard to the report of the Committee on Development and the Committee on the Environment, Climate and Food Safety (A10-0000/2026),

A. whereas, while substantial progress has been made in some areas, only 35 % of SDG targets are on track or show moderate progress, nearly half are moving too slowly or showing only marginal progress, while 18 % have regressed;

B. whereas the current geopolitical climate and multiple crises, including climate change, biodiversity loss, growing inequalities, conflicts and shrinking space for civil society, severely affect progress towards achieving the SDGs;

C. whereas the 2026 High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) will conduct in-depth reviews of SDGs 6, 7, 9, 11 and 17;

D. whereas there continues to be an annual SDG investment gap of USD 4 trillion; whereas high debt levels of low- and middle-income countries are an obstacle to the investments required for achieving the SDGs;

State of play

1. Reaffirms its strong commitment to the rapid and full delivery of the SDGs and calls for the EU to assume a leadership role in pursuing the implementation of the SDGs worldwide;

2. Regrets that the global community is severely off track as regards implementing the 2030 Agenda; recognises the interconnectedness of the 17 SDGs and that achieving the 2030 Agenda will require action across all SDGs;

3. Is concerned that the current geopolitical and security situation creates further challenges to achieving the SDGs and believes that stability, security and economic resilience will be required for their delivery; emphasises the urgent need for and the indispensable role of multilateralism and sustained investment play in addressing the problems underlying the SDGs;

4. Highlights that the EU’s commitment to the global implementation of the SDGs and 2030 Agenda remains crucial and should send a clear signal to partners around the world; calls for the EU to provide leadership by building alliances to deliver the SDGs and secure sufficient funding for their achievement;

SDG 6. Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all

5. Notes that SDG 6 is one of the worst performing SDGs, with none of its targets being met or on track to being met, and with half of its targets experiencing either stagnation or regression; recalls that access to water and sanitation is a fundamental right and that ensuring this access is crucial for achieving several other SDGs;

6. Is alarmed at the irreversible losses of natural water capital, with many critical water systems already water-bankrupt; recalls that access to water underpins global stability and calls on the international community to use the upcoming UN Water Conference to place water-related issues higher on the international agenda;

7. Stresses that water pollution should be addressed both at source and by ensuring access to efficient waste water treatment; highlights the need to improve data collection and monitoring of freshwater quality and encourages public-private partnerships to scale up fresh water and waste water infrastructure;

8. Calls for the EU to take the lead in water diplomacy and in supporting transboundary water cooperation to harness its global potential for sustainable development, climate resilience, food security, biodiversity protection and conflict prevention;

SDG 7. Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all

9. Stresses that achieving SDG 7 will help advance several SDGs, including those related to poverty eradication, gender equality, climate change, food security, health, sustainable cities and communities, clean water and sanitation;

10. Welcomes that SDG 7 is one of the goals with the most progress recorded to date, largely due to the rapid expansion of renewable energy production; encourages the Commission to prioritise the deployment of cost-effective renewable energy solutions, along with partner countries, by securing the necessary financing, and in particular by helping unlock private financing;

11. Stresses the need to further develop global cooperation to ensure that critical raw materials, required for global energy security, are sourced in a way that takes potential impacts on the environment and local communities into account and contributes to the development of source countries;

12. Stresses the need to scale up measures to combat energy poverty, particularly in situations that are fragile and involve displacement; highlights that energy poverty undermines livelihoods, impacts the delivery of essential services and requires dedicated measures for vulnerable groups including social energy tariffs and subsidies;

SDG 9. Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialisation and foster innovation

13. Commends the overall progress made on SDG 9; notes, however, that progress is uneven;

14. Stresses the need to promote sustainable solutions to reduce the environmental footprint of businesses in all sectors, such as responsible consumption of resources and increased actions towards achieving a circular economy;

15. Highlights that industrialisation for the purposes of the 2030 Agenda and beyond must be aligned with the goals of climate neutrality, environmental and biodiversity protection, and a just transition that leaves no one behind; stresses in this regard the need for further investment to achieve SDG 9, including through public-private partnerships and the Global Gateway strategy;

SDG 11. Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable

16. Notes the risks associated with rapid urbanisation, combined with climate change and the need to adapt in this regard;

17. Regrets that a large proportion of the urban population still does not have access to affordable and sustainable transport systems; notes that increasing the availability and use of public transport and soft mobility infrastructure is a crucial tool for reducing air pollution;

18. Recalls the urgent need to further improve and implement waste collection and management systems, in line with the waste hierarchy principles, including through using digital technology and AI, and investing in reuse and recycling systems;

19. Recognises the right to live somewhere in peace, security and dignity, as a fundamental human right, and notes that the housing affordability crisis affects up to three billion people worldwide; stresses the need to ensure, by 2030, access for all to suitable, safe and affordable housing and basic services;

SDG 17. Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalise the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development

20. Calls for the EU to continue advocating for multilateralism, provide global leadership in implementing the 2030 Agenda, and fill voids left by others, by building new alliances and strengthening existing ones;

21. Is alarmed about the annual investment gap of USD 4 trillion in the funding needed to achieve the SDGs, which is further exacerbated by declining official development assistance (ODA) levels; urges the EU and the Member States to strive to achieve the 0.7 % gross national income (GNI) target on ODA; strongly encourages the exploration of options to leverage private finance and encourage further public-private partnerships to fill the SDG funding gap;

22. Is deeply concerned about the prospects of a debt crisis in the developing world; calls for debt relief and debt restructuring for developing countries, including through creating and implementing a UN Framework Convention on International Tax Cooperation;

23. Emphasises that effective global partnerships should be based on mutual cooperation and deliver on the partners’ common objectives; stresses the importance of transparency, good governance and measurable impact in all development cooperation efforts;

Outlook

24. Reiterates that the SDGs are the only globally agreed and comprehensive set of goals on the major challenges faced by both developed and developing countries, and are the best tool for tackling their root causes; calls for the EU to play an active role in deliberations on a forward-looking agenda for global sustainable development that goes beyond 2030;

25. Points out that the SDGs also present an economic opportunity to build true well-being and a sustainable economy that enables people to live a decent life while fully respecting biodiversity and the environment, using new technologies and creating new economic sectors and jobs;

26. Highlights that an independent and adequately funded civil society is a core partner in advancing the 2030 Agenda; stresses the need to create and protect civic space, and to ensure civil society organisations participate meaningfully in achieving the SDGs;

27. Emphasises that sustainable economic growth within planetary boundaries, competitiveness and innovation are indispensable enablers of sustainable development; encourages the EU to use its influence to advance the 2030 Agenda, delivering on improvements in living standards, poverty reduction and opportunities for future generations;

28. Calls for the commitments made during the Summit of the Future and the 4th Financing for Development Conference in Seville to be translated into concrete actions and for investment to be scaled up to close the financing gap for sustainable development;

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29. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council and the Commission.

EXPLANATORY STATEMENT

With less than four years remaining until the 2030 deadline, the 2026 High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) on “Transformative, equitable, innovative and coordinated actions for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its Sustainable Development Goals for a sustainable future for all” arrives at a definitive crossroads for the 2030 Agenda.

Over the past decade, important progress has been achieved towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. Since 2015, over 100 million children and youth have gained access to education, and millions of people have gained access to safe drinking water, sanitation, and electricity, with electricity access reaching 92% of the global population. However, the current geopolitical and security environment creates additional challenges towards progress on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and their implementation.

The 2026 HLPF will conduct in-depth reviews of SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure), SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).

The co-rapporteurs emphasise the interconnectedness of the SGDs and in particular that energy and resource security are key issues of this year’s review. The transition towards climate neutrality and renewable energy sources and the protection of vulnerable groups, especially children, are key priorities for the co-rapporteurs. Furthermore, effective SDG implementation requires good governance, respect for the rule of law, anti-corruption frameworks and sound financial management, alongside a human-rights-based approach.

The 2026 HLPF offers the EU an opportunity to strengthen alliances with partners to spearhead the challenge of the 2030 Agenda and address the USD 4 trillion annual financing gap . Through this report, the European Parliament intends to provide a clear, ambitious contribution to the discussions at the 2026 HLPF and the broader achievement of the SDGs by the end of the decade.

ANNEX: DECLARATION OF INPUT

The rapporteurs declare under their exclusive responsibility that they did not include in their report input from interest representatives falling within the scope of the Interinstitutional Agreement on a mandatory transparency register1, or from representatives of public authorities of third countries, including their diplomatic missions and embassies, to be listed in this Annex pursuant to Article 8 of Annex I to the Rules of Procedure.