On its current trajectory, Asia and the Pacific will not achieve any of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030. Though the region has made progress towards ending poverty and ensuring all have access to quality education and lifelong learning and measures are also underway to achieve affordable and clean energy, for more than half the SDGs, progress has stagnated or heading in the wrong direction. The situation is deteriorating when it comes to providing clean water and sanitation, ensuring decent work and economic growth and supporting responsible consumption and production. Many SDG targets related to the environment and natural resources are registering negative trends. Hazardous waste generation, the reduction in forest areas and the permanent water body extent are the three SDG indicators which are predicted to regress the most by 2030.

There are major differences in progress between the sub regions of Asia and the Pacific which have recorded different successes and face different challenges. Each sub region needs to reverse existing trends for at least three goals. For example, East and North-East Asia is regressing in sustainable cities and communities, climate action and life on land. South-East Asia has moved backwards on peace, justice and strong institutions.