Progress toward the SDGs Of the 93 environment-related SDG indicators, there are 20 for which good progress has been made over the last 15 years and if this progress continues then it is likely that these SDGs will be met. However, many of these indicators include particular reporting or funding efforts. For example, there has been an increase in terrestrial, mountain and marine protected areas; the effort to combat invasive species has increased; there has been significant progress toward grid-connected renewable energy; sustainability reporting and mainstreaming in policy has increased; and development assistance for climate change and the environment has increased. For 8 of the environment-related SDG indicators the progress has been
Figure A.4: Relative progress on SDG indicators
relatively flat and for 7 of the SDG indicators, additional efforts will be needed. In particular, many of the indicators related to the state of the environment show a negative trend (these include indicators related to forests, sustainable fisheries, endangered species, domestic material consumption and material footprint). Unfortunately, this is a very incomplete picture because there is too little data to formally assess the status of 58 of the 93 environment-related SDG indicators – however, scientific research and the current GEO has shown that many of these areas have shown a particular negative trend. A snapshot of the progress toward these indicators is shown in the graphic below and an overall table of progress is also shown.