Committing to Sustainable Development Goals in the aftermath of a global crisis

This chapter evaluates the magnitude of the shock caused by the COVID-19 recession for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The direct shock is unprecedented, and by implication, the financing needs for developing countries to meet the SDGs have risen significantly. The first section describes the economic aspects of the crisis, given its speed, breadth and depth, and the major challenges remaining after the initial response from policy makers. The second section shows that the SDGs are unlikely to be attained by 2030 given that resources have collapsed and needs have increased. This gap will persist, not only in the short run, but also far into the future.