Speaking at the Inaugural Dialogue of Diplomatist@30, held at the New Delhi Institute of Management (NDIM) on 21 January 2026, Dr. Rajan Sudesh Ratna, Deputy Head and Senior Economic Affairs Officer, United Nations ESCAP – South and South-West Asia Office, offered a sobering yet forward-looking assessment of where the world stands on sustainability, human development, and climate action.
As countries enter 2026, he observed, they are being forced to confront uncomfortable realities about progress on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Developments in 2025, he argued, have reshaped global priorities so profoundly that “2026 may well be remembered as a year of global realignment—economically, politically, and institutionally.”
Sustainability as an Economic Imperative
Dr. Ratna stressed that sustainability can no longer be treated as a voluntary exercise or a moral add-on. “Sustainability is not merely a corporate social responsibility or a distant policy goal—it has become an economic necessity,” he said.
Nowhere is this clearer than in South Asia. The region hosts nearly one-fourth of the world’s population, yet accounts for almost half of the world’s poor. This imbalance, he warned, makes South Asia central to the global development agenda. “If South Asia fails to achieve the SDGs, the world will fail with it,” he asserted.
Framing the debate in stark terms, Dr. Ratna reminded the audience that “there can be no profit on a dead planet, and there can be no security in a deeply unequal society.” Planet and people, he emphasised, are not competing priorities but the twin pillars of global economic stability.
A Reality Check on the SDGs
With the SDGs set for a 2030 deadline, Dr. Ratna highlighted the alarming pace of progress. More than a decade has passed since their adoption, and only five years remain. Yet, globally, just 17 per cent of SDG targets are on track.
“This means,” he explained, “over 80 per cent of the targets are either stagnating or regressing.” Given current trends, meeting the SDGs by 2030 is increasingly unrealistic.
The reasons are well known. The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted economies and livelihoods worldwide, reversing years of development gains. In India alone, the humanitarian consequences were visible through large-scale reverse migration, as millions of workers returned to their villages after urban employment collapsed. Globally, millions were pushed back into poverty, exposing the fragility of existing development models.
Conflict and the Crisis of Multilateralism
Just as recovery began, the world was confronted with renewed geopolitical instability—from the Russia–Ukraine conflict to continuing crises in West Asia. These conflicts have had cascading effects on food security, energy markets, and global trade.
Equally troubling, Dr. Ratna noted, is the strain on the multilateral system itself. When major economies question or disregard agreed global frameworks—whether in trade, climate commitments, or international cooperation—it undermines institutions such as the United Nations, the WTO, and the UNFCCC.
“The global system was built on collective agreement,” he observed. “When those agreements are no longer respected, uncertainty deepens—especially for developing and vulnerable countries.”
The Widening Inequality Gap
Drawing on findings from the Human Development Report, Dr. Ratna warned that inequality is widening both within and between nations. Wealth is becoming increasingly concentrated, while vulnerable countries and communities fall further behind.
“This is no longer just a rich–poor divide within countries,” he explained. “It is now a widening gap between countries themselves.” Such disparities, he cautioned, threaten global stability and erode trust in the international system.
Climate Action: A Reversal in South Asia
On climate action, the assessment was particularly stark. ESCAP’s monitoring of SDG 13 (Climate Action) across the Asia-Pacific shows that South Asia is regressing rather than progressing.
Despite political commitments to renewable energy, the share of renewables in the total energy mix is declining, indicating increased investment in non-renewable sources. “This trajectory poses serious long-term risks—not only for the planet, but for economic and social stability as well,” Dr. Ratna warned.
Human Development: Progress That Matters
At the same time, he acknowledged areas of genuine progress. India’s improved Human Development Index ranking reflects the impact of targeted public policies. Schemes such as Ayushman Bharat and the Jal Jeevan Mission have expanded access to healthcare and clean water, contributing to a rise in life expectancy to around 72 years.
Notably, more than 135 million people have moved out of multidimensional poverty, demonstrating that inclusive and sustained policy interventions can deliver results.
Integrating Planet and People in Policy
Looking ahead, Dr. Ratna outlined a clear way forward. “Planet and people cannot be treated separately,” he said. Every economic policy—whether on growth, infrastructure, or trade—must integrate climate concerns with human development outcomes.
He also drew attention to the “invisible” populations whose struggles remain unseen by policymakers. “If problems are not visible, they cannot be addressed,” he noted. Closing this evidence gap, he argued, requires rigorous, evidence-based research—an area where academia and institutions such as NDIM have a vital role to play.
Technology, AI and the Human Development Compact
As the world enters the age of artificial intelligence, Dr. Ratna emphasised the need for a renewed human development compact. “Technology must serve human development, not the other way around,” he said, urging policymakers to ensure that innovation advances inclusion, equity, and sustainability.
Beyond a Checklist Approach
In conclusion, Dr. Ratna cautioned against viewing the SDGs as a checklist to be completed by 2030. “Sustainable development is not a finite target—it is about the continuity and evolution of human civilisation,” he observed.
With disasters—both natural and man-made—intensifying across South Asia and the wider Asia-Pacific, societies are under growing strain. Citizens, he noted, are increasingly informed and assertive. “People have the power not only to influence governance, but to act as watchdogs, ensuring governments stay on the right path.”
The choices made today, Dr. Ratna concluded, will determine not only how societies live, but whether they can live sustainably for generations to come.
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