Deep Shortcomings in America’s SDG Performance
The United States ranks a disappointing 46th globally in achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), scoring only 74.43 out of 100 in 2024. This reflects significant shortcomings across various dimensions of social equity, environmental sustainability, and economic prosperity. Systemic inequality is prevalent, with 36.8 million Americans (11.1% of the population) living below the poverty line. The wealth gap is extreme, with the top 10% holding 67–69% of national wealth while the bottom half owns just 2.5–3%. Education and economic mobility have become increasingly unequal, making the American Dream elusive for many, particularly those in low-income families. Poverty significantly affects physical and mental health, with nearly 30% of Americans relying on social safety net programs to meet basic needs. The U.S. underperforms on all 17 SDGs, particularly in areas like Zero Hunger, Reduced Inequalities, and environmental sustainability. Challenges include high greenhouse gas emissions and biodiversity loss, with the nation also ranked last among U.N. members in commitment to multilateralism. These systemic issues contribute to stagnated progress towards achieving the SDGs and reflect deep-rooted socio-economic disparities.
The Global Challenge of Zero Hunger
The United Nations' Sustainable Development Goal 2 (Zero Hunger) aims to end hunger and promote sustainable agriculture by 2030. Currently, 828 million people are hungry, with 349 million facing severe hunger, primarily due to conflict, climate change, poverty, and food waste. Conflict is a major barrier to achieving zero hunger, with nearly 60% of the hungriest individuals living in conflict zones, perpetuating cycles of violence and food insecurity. Climate change exacerbates hunger through extreme weather events that disrupt food access and economies. Additionally, poverty and inequality are root causes of global hunger, with declines in bee populations threatening agricultural productivity. Despite producing enough food globally, about 40% is wasted in high-income countries, while low-income countries experience significant loss during growth and storage. Malnutrition affects nearly 3 billion people in various forms, including undernutrition and obesity. The COVID-19 pandemic intensified food insecurity, reversing years of progress and pushing millions into undernourishment. The economic impacts of the pandemic have increased global poverty for the first time since 1990, highlighting the urgent need for coordinated action across sectors to achieve zero hunger and improve global food systems.