Researchers at UCL review UK’s progress towards achieving the SDGs

Researchers at UCL made major contributions to a report that measures the UK’s performance towards the SDGs – and shows poor progress against it achieving most targets.

The 2030 deadline for delivering the SDGs is approaching fast and monitoring progress towards targets is essential to keep achievement of the Goals on track. A team at UCL’s Institute for Innovation & Public Purpose (IIPP) made significant contributions to a recent report that assesses the UK’s performance towards the SDG targets.

The report, Measuring Up 2.0, highlights the Government’s continued lack of progress towards its commitments to deliver the SDGs in the UK. The report also outlines the opportunities and challenges ahead and makes a number of recommendations for the type of action required to achieve the SDGs.

“Measuring Up 2.0 assesses the UK's performance against each of the 17 SDGs and their domestically relevant targets to understand how and where the government and other organisations should focus efforts for the remainder of this decade of action,” explains Dr Kate Roll (UCL IIPP).

 As the host institution of the Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) UK Hub, UCL IIPP’s Dr Kate Roll, Anca Tacu and Abby Hauver identified and collected data for the report and wrote the chapter on the UK's progress towards SDG13: Climate Action.

SDSN UK also facilitated collaboration with other UK Hub members on the report, including Newcastle University and the University of Strathclyde, and made recommendations for addressing gaps in the collection of data underpinning the report.

Since the first ‘Measuring Up’ report published in 2018, the state of many of the SDGs in the UK has worsened,” Dr Roll explains “The UK is only performing well on 17% of its targets. In particular, the UK is falling behind on targets related to poverty and inequality.

“The report highlights the significant danger of quality of life getting worse in the UK if action is not taken, particularly in view of the energy and cost-of-living crisis, and of the increased risks of climate change,” Dr Roll emphasises.

“Urgent action is needed to ensure the UK achieves its ambitious commitments to end poverty and inequalities and reduce the risks of climate change and ecological decline.”

The report outlines the need for Government action in four key areas: planning; leadership and endorsement; stakeholder engagement; and reporting. It includes nearly 50 case studies from businesses and civil society organisations that illustrate what is being done to accelerate progress and how others might follow suit.