The Asia-Pacific region is lagging behind in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), a UN report stated. At the current rate, the region is likely to achieve less than 10% of the targets.

About 829 million workers employed in the informal sector were affected in April last year owing to the COVID-19-induced lockdown, the report titled ‘Asia and the Pacific SDG Progress Report’ of the UNESCAP noted.

“The Asia-Pacific (APAC) region is not on track to achieve any of the 17 SDGs by 2030. On its current trajectory, the region may achieve less than 10 per cent of the SDG targets,” said the report.

Making an alarming observation, UNESCAP (United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and Pacific) added the region is responsible for more than half of the global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.