In 2015, United Nations Member States committed to the ambitious but achievable 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, charting a new path of balance for humanity and the planet.

Important steps have been taken, and innovative partnerships are taking shape. But if we are to achieve all of the Sustainable Development Goals, more needs to be done.

This report is a poignant reminder of the risks we face if we do not act swiftly and with purpose. It makes clear that we are at risk of irreversibly degrading the natural systems that sustain us and further points out where we are off track in “leaving no one behind”. More ambitious, more transformative and more integrated responses are urgently needed.

This evidence-based and action-oriented report further highlights the indispensable role of science for ending hunger, tackling climate change, reducing inequality and accelerating progress across the Sustainable Development Goals.

This report complements the Secretary-General’s annual Sustainable Development Goals progress report. It helps bridge the gap between knowledge and policy by synthesizing analysis and identifying evidence-driven pathways to transformation.

The report rightly acknowledges that strengthening the science-policy interface and advancing the knowledge base to inform action require greater support and resources for scientific institutions.