Brunei is ranked 96th out of 167 nations in the recently published 2024 Sustainable Development Report (SDR), rising six ranks from its previous assessment.
The report, published by United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Solutions Network’s (SDSN), noted the Sultanate scored 67 on its Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) index, up from 65.7 last year.
The regional average is 66.5.
The difference between 100 and a country’s score represents how much it must overcome to reach optimum SDG performance.
The SDGs are targets set for participating countries to end rampant poverty, lessen inequality and address environmental degradation by 2030.
Out of the 17 SDGs, the Sultanate saw two highly improved categories and is on track to maintain achievements in industry innovation and infrastructure as well as sustainable cities and communities.
The report noted five moderately improved targets (good health and well-being; quality education; gender equality; clean water and sanitation; affordable and clean energy;) while six stagnated (zero hunger; decent work and economic growth; responsible consumption and production; life below water, life on land as well as partnerships for the goals).
More works need to be done on climate action, the UN body said.
The report said globally, none of the 17 SDGs are on track to be achieved by 2030, and only an estimated 16 per cent of the SDG targets are progressing. Published each year since 2016, the global edition of the SDR includes the SDG index and dashboards ranking the performance of all UN member states.
In addition to the SDG index, this year’s edition includes a new index of countries’ support for UN-based multilateralism covering all 193 UN member states and new FABLE pathways demonstrating how to achieve sustainable food and land systems by mid-century.
President of the SDSN Professor Jeffrey D Sachs, who is a lead author of the report, emphasised, “Midway between the founding of the UN in 1945 and the year 2100, we cannot rely on business as usual.
“The world faces great global challenges, including dire ecological crises, widening inequalities, disruptive and potentially hazardous technologies, and deadly conflicts, we are at a crossroads.
“Ahead of the UN’s Summit of the Future, the international community must take stock of the vital accomplishments and the limitations of the UN system, and work toward upgrading multilateralism for the decades ahead,” he added. – Azlan Othman
