Progress towards delivering United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals “Significantly set back by Covid-19” – M&G report finds

Progress across 10 of the 17 goals has been set back by the global pandemic
Good news: significant progress in generation of affordable and clean energy
Greater ambition required to tackle socio-economic challenges

London, 24 September 2020 – A report by M&G, the leading international asset manager, finds that COVID-19 has significantly hindered the world’s progress towards the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals (“SDGs”), five years on from their launch. The SDGs are a global call to action to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure all people enjoy peace and prosperity by 2030.

Taking an impact investing perspective on the UN’s latest assessment of the SDGs, M&G’s ‘SDG Reckoner’ report analyses whether the world is on target, behind schedule or even ahead of schedule in terms of progress towards each of the 17 goals, and the role the COVID-19 pandemic has played to help or hinder that progress.

The main findings of the Positive Impact team’s ‘SDG Reckoner’ are:

Overall, 12 of the 17 SDGs are materially behind schedule to meet the 2030 deadline.
Progress towards 10 of the 17 SDGs has been clearly set back by the pandemic
- Of these, socio-economic goals are most affected. Most notably, over 71 million people have been pushed into extreme poverty in 2020, according to the UN – causing the first increase in extreme global poverty in decades.
COVID-19 has had a somewhat positive influence on the progress of five of the SDGs, including affordable and clean energy and sustainable cities and communities.

Ben Constable-Maxwell, Head of Sustainable and Impact Investing, said: “Our analysis shows that while the world has made significant progress in certain areas – for example, the generation of affordable and clean energy – there is still a long way to go, particularly with regard to challenges of a socio-economic nature. Overall progress towards the Global Goals has been inconsistent and was off-course before the pandemic, with the resultant crisis further adding to the need for urgent action. In some areas, we believe the gravity of this crisis has actually pushed the agenda forward by forcing the world to recognise what needs to change; this is not to suggest that these challenges have been met, simply that they now have the focus needed to deliver them. Overall, we need to boost efforts across every aspect of the SDGs, supported by deep collaboration across the entire system.”

Veronique Chapplow, Investment Director of the M&G Positive Impact Fund, said: “Since 2015, an increasing number of impact-orientated investors have incorporated the SDGs into their investment strategies, using them as an intuitive framework to guide the allocation of capital towards sustainable and societally positive investments. With a decade to deliver, we have outlined our interpretation of how much work is needed to reach the targets across different sectors, focusing in particular on impact investment and industry momentum towards achieving the SDGs. Given the scope and breadth of these global issues, achieving the goals and their underlying targets in 10 years will be no mean feat.”

Download a PDF of the release

Download the full report

Media contacts

Irene Chambers

Media Relations

+44 (0)782 569 6815

[email protected]

Notes to editors

OpenAbout M&G Investments

M&G Investments is part of M&G plc, a savings and investment business which was formed in 2017 through the merger of Prudential plc’s UK and Europe savings and insurance operation and M&G, its wholly owned international investment manager. M&G plc listed as an independent company on the London Stock Exchange in October 2019 and has £339 billion of assets under management (as at 30 June 2020). M&G plc has over 5 million customers in the UK, Europe, the Americas and Asia, including individual savers and investors, life insurance policy holders and pension scheme members.

For nearly nine decades M&G Investments has been helping its customers to prosper by putting investments to work, which in turn creates jobs, homes and vital infrastructure in the real economy. Its investment solutions span equities, fixed income, multi asset, cash, private debt, infrastructure and real estate.

M&G recognises the importance of responsible investing and is a signatory to the United Nations Principles for Responsible Investment (UNPRI) and is a member of the Climate Bonds Initiative Partners Programme.

OpenDisclaimer

This information is intended for journalists and media professionals only. It should not be relied on by private investors or advisers.

Issued by M&G Securities Limited which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and provides investment products. The company’s registered office is 10 Fenchurch Avenue, London EC3M 5AG. Registered in England and Wales. Registered number 90776.

M&G Securities Limited: Terms and Conditions for downloading Photographic material

1. Introduction

Welcome to the myM&G campaign landing page (the "Website"). The Website is operated by M&G Securities Limited (“M&G”, “we”, “us” or “our”). By accessing or using the Website and downloading any photographs, images, graphics, or any other visual content available for download or stored on the Website or M&G’s content management system (the “Photos”), you (“You”) represent to have read, understand and agree to comply with and be bound by these Terms and Conditions (the "Terms"), forming a binding agreement between You and us. If You do not agree to these Terms, please do not use the Website.

2. Intellectual Property Rights

All Photos available on the Website are the property of M&G or its licensors and are protected by copyright, trade mark, and other intellectual property laws. Unauthorised use of any Photos or content is strictly prohibited.

3. Permitted Use

Subject to your compliance with these Terms, M&G grants You a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable, and revocable licence to download and use the Photos available on the Website for any purpose, except for purposes which are defamatory, derogatory, related to pornography, otherwise indecent, or involve the creation or dissemination of AI-generated “deep fake images”. Photos can only be downloaded from the hidden URL provided in the press release.

4. Additional prohibitions

You agree that You will not:

(a) modify, alter, or create derivative works from the Photos;

(b) use the Photos in any manner that infringes on the intellectual property rights of M&G or any third party;

(d) share the hidden URL with any unauthorised third party.

5. Attribution

When using the Photos, You must provide appropriate credit to M&G by including a link to our Website or mentioning the source in a manner that is reasonable and customary.

6. Disclaimer of Warranties

The Photos on the Website are provided “as is” without any warranties of any kind, either express or implied. M&G does not warrant that the Photos will be error-free or that your access to the Photos will be uninterrupted.

7. Limitation of Liability

In no event shall M&G be liable for any direct, indirect, incidental, special, or consequential damages arising out of or in connection with the use of the Photos, even if M&G has been advised of the possibility of such damages. As the Photos are provided free of charge, M&G's total liability to You for any damages, losses, and causes of action shall not exceed the amount paid by You for accessing the Photos, which is nil.

8. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify and hold harmless M&G, its affiliates, and their respective officers, directors, employees, and agents from and against any claims, liabilities, damages, losses, and expenses arising out of or in any way connected with your use of the Photos.

9. Changes to these Terms

M&G reserves the right to modify these Terms at any time. Any changes will be effective immediately upon posting on the Website. If a "click to accept" mechanism is not implemented, You will be notified of changes to the terms via email or a prominent notice displayed on the Website. Your continued use of the Website after any changes constitutes your acceptance of the new Terms.

10. Governing Law

These Terms shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of England and Wales, without regard to its conflict of law principles. Any disputes arising out of or in connection with these Terms, including any questions regarding their existence, validity, or termination, shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of England and Wales.

11. Contact Information

If you have any questions or concerns about these Terms, please contact us at [email protected].

2025 apprenticeships open now

Reframing later life