By Mr. Nobuyuki Asai
Tokyo (INPS Japan) – There are only four years left until the target year of SDGs, which is 2030. Unfortunately, it is considered to be difficult to achieve many of the 169 targets by the year. To make matters worse, some of the political leaders have become negative on SDGs and are even implementing receding policies. ｜JAPANESE｜
On the other hand, I witnessed that SDGs is still serving as a major guideline for many governments at the Asia-Pacific Forum on Sustainable Development held at UNESCAP in Bangkok in February of 2026.
This forum is held every year to assess progress of some of the selected SDG goals in each country, share good solutions and clarify existing challenges. One of the goals highlighted in this year’s forum was Goal 11, which Soka Gakkai and SGI have made efforts for over the years. I attended the forum with support of the Japan Civil Society Network on SDGs which SGI has joined over the decade.
At the forum many government officials shared their progress assessment and relevant efforts in the context of each goal, and interestingly other goals were often referred to in their remarks.
For example, one official briefed about improvement of public transportation, which is articulated in Goal 11, and emphasized that it is reducing greenhouse gas emission by cars, which helps to achieve Goal 13. Others mentioned that they were taking gender equality into consideration in their efforts of achieving other goals than Goal 5.
This attitude of keeping multiple goals in their mind was not so often seen at the initial stage after SDGs were adopted. Nowadays, meanwhile, it is already a consensus that achieving one specific goal sacrificing others is not allowed. This is a valuable advancement.
Just for your reference, the Japanese government is keen on this point and promoting a “synergy approach” at the global arena. In line with that, the Institute for Global Environment Strategies, an arm organization of the Ministry of Environment of Japan, raises several policies that are beneficial in achieving multiple targets and other ones that can cause a conflict among targets.
For the past couple of years finance for development is diminishing, and several UN agencies are facing a financial crisis. This tendency seems to continue. Effective and efficient financing or aid is getting all the more important. In this context this media project “SDGs for All” provides us with a broader view on the SDGs and would help readers have a better understanding on the global situation.
Bearing what we learn from this project in mind, we would like to continue our best effort until 2030.
This contribution was prepared for the report of the SDGs for All media project, jointly promoted by INPS Japan and Soka Gakkai International (SGI). The report compiles articles published through the project between April 2025 and March 2026.
INPS Japan
SDGs for All 2026 Report