Analyzing the Current SDG Trends and Future Pathways in Southeast Asia

At a recent webinar, Sustainable Development Report (SDR) 2024 Co-Lead Writer and SDG Specialists analyzed the current SDG trends and future pathways in Southeast Asia. Southeast Asian countries have recently made significant progress on the SDGs, driven by steady economic growth. Notable improvements are seen in SDG 1 (No Poverty), SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), and SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure). However, there is a wide disparity in regional performance. Thailand (ranked 45), Vietnam (ranked 54), and Singapore (ranked 65) are doing relatively well, while Laos (ranked 119) and Myanmar (ranked 120) face challenges. Concerns persist regarding SDG 2 (No Hunger), SDG 15 (Life on Land), and SDG 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions).

On July 10, 2024, SDSN Southeast Asia, SDSN Philippines, and SDSN Malaysia jointly organized the Sustainable Development Report 2024 Launch Webinar SDGs in Southeast Asia: Current Trends and Future Pathways. This event, which welcomed more than 220 participants from multiple sectors across Southeast Asia, was a time to share the latest SDG results, particularly in Southeast Asia. In the footsteps of the launch of the Sustainable Development Report 2024 in June, it was necessary to discuss the SDG trends regionally in more detail.

Moderated by Philip Arnold P. Tuano, Dean of the Ateneo School of Government, the event featured Grayson Fuller, co-lead writer of the Sustainable Development Report 2024 and Manager of SDG Index and Data at the SDG Transformation Center. Fuller reviewed the objectives (supporting policy decisions and strengthening data availability), methodology, and data sources (WHO, World Bank, etc.) of the SDR 2024. He shared that the world is not on track to meet any SDGs by 2030, with only 16% of targets on track and major concerns about SDG 2 (No Hunger), SDG 14 (Life Below Water), SDG 15 (Life on Land), and SDG 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions).

The second part of the event was a panel discussion, featuring Setyo Budiantoro, the manager of the Economic Development Pillar of the National SDGs Secretariat of the Ministry of National Development Planning of the Republic of Indonesia; Filomeno Sta. Ana III, Coordinator of Action for Economic Reforms; Jeremy Lim, Data Analyst at the SDSN Asia Headquarters, hosted by Sunway University in Malaysia; and Fithriyyah Iskandar, ASEAN Youth Forum Representative to the ASEAN Environmental Rights Working Group. During a dynamic discussion, the panelists shared their own perspectives based on their respective countries and fields of work.

In the context of Indonesia, the country does not have any declining SDG goals, and the government's SDG effort and commitment are strong, with the archipelago ranking 1st out of 74 countries worldwide during a 2023 survey of SDSN assessing the government's commitment to SDG implementation, as noted by Setyo Budiantoro.

In the case of the Philippines, however, Filomeno reminded us that only 31% of the targets are planned to be achieved by 2030, and major challenges remain in regards to economic growth, inequality, and urban poverty. The government's economic growth target has decreased from 6% to 5%. The Philippines is one of the poorest-performing Asian countries in terms of equality, and the share of the urban population living in slums is huge in the Philippines' cities. To improve the situation, Filomeno suggests the need to recognize the importance of economic growth, but it should be more inclusive and broader.

Jeremy Lim shared the methodology for monitoring the performance of SDGs at the provincial level using a dashboard, giving the example of the federated states of Malaysia. This dashboard allows us to compare the sub-national SDG performance of a country and assess which province is making more progress than another. We learn, for example, that in the case of Malaysia, the provinces of Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya, and Labuan have the best performance in the country, while more effort is needed to ensure Kelantan is not left behind. Such disaggregated dashboards have been presented to Malaysian ministerial-level government officials for local development assessment and policy making.

Finally, Fithriyyah Iskandar brought real insights into the role of youth at the downstream (grassroots) and upstream (governance) levels, where both need to work harmoniously to achieve the SDGs in Southeast Asia. At the downstream level, it can be through engagement in NGOs or university associations, and at the upstream level, it can be with representation in the political arena where youth can be consulted and provide their inputs during the decision-making process.

The expertise and experience of the panelists have provided the Southeast Asian SDG advocates to have a clearer comprehension of the trends in the region. Participants were able to connect with prominent SDG leaders and share their thoughts. Driven by real positive trends, Southeast Asia is stabilizing and looks to have a bright future. However, it is important not to forget the concerns and disparities within the region with some countries performing better than others. By having a holistic view, Southeast Asian societies can advance together towards a more sustainable future.