The 2024 Sustainable Development Report, released in June 2025, reveals a disturbing reality: only 16.7% of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) targets are on track to be achieved by 2030. The overwhelming majority are either progressing too slowly or regressing. Not a single goal is currently on course to be fully met on a global scale.

Challenges such as hunger, climate change, loss of biodiversity, and institutional fragility remain widespread and urgent. Specifically, SDG 2 — Zero Hunger, SDG 13 — Climate Action, SDG 14 — Life Below Water, SDG 15 — Life on Land, and SDG 16 — Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions are consistently among the most delayed goals worldwide. Portugal mirrors this global trend in key areas, despite signs of national progress.

In the 2024 global SDG Index, Portugal ranks 20th out of 167 countries, with a score of 80.64. This marks a modest improvement compared to the previous year, although the country dropped two positions in the ranking. This means that while we’ve gained in absolute terms, other countries have progressed faster, making it clear that relative performance depends not just on internal advancement, but also on how we keep pace globally.

There is still room for optimism, though. Portugal is recognized for having essentially achieved SDG 7 — Affordable and Clean Energy, and shows solid progress in SDG 1 — No Poverty, SDG 3 — Good Health and Well-Being, SDG 5 — Gender Equality, SDG 8 — Decent Work and Economic Growth, and SDG 11 — Sustainable Cities. These reflect positive outcomes from long-term public policy, civic engagement, and growing awareness.

But we still face significant gaps. Portugal is underperforming in some of the most urgent and complex Goals. These include food security, sustainable production and consumption, climate mitigation, marine and terrestrial biodiversity, and institutional effectiveness. These challenges are deeply interconnected, and addressing them requires systemic thinking, coordinated efforts, and long-term commitment.

This is where public-private cooperation becomes not only beneficial but essential. Governments alone cannot deliver the SDGs. Regulation, policy alignment, and public investment need to be matched by private sector innovation, agility, and capital. When the two sectors collaborate with purpose, they can generate scalable, lasting solutions, particularly in areas that require structural transformation.

At CRBL, we are already contributing to one of the goals where Portugal is clearly falling behind: SDG 14 – Life Below Water, in partnership with Fórum Oceano, to advance this Goal in the country. This type of collaboration illustrates what the SDG agenda demands: shared responsibility, complementary strengths, and measurable impact.

Portugal's current position in the SDG Index is a sign that we are on the right track in some areas, but we are not advancing fast enough where it matters most. As the 2030 deadline looms closer, we must accelerate our efforts, especially in the domains where we are furthest behind. The roadmap is clear. The capacity exists. Now we must act: together.

Have a great and impactful week!

Natália Cantarino
Operations Manager and Researcher
Center for Responsible Business & Leadership