15 July 2026 13:35 UTC · UK Government · GOV.UK Speech · Source · Email X Link

UK Government says committed to accelerating SDG progress

Key points

Accelerate 2030 Agenda through partnerships and local leadership
Expand clean, affordable energy and support UN80 reform

TL;DR

Reiterates commitment to accelerating the 2030 Agenda and Sustainable Development Goals, prioritising those most in need.
Emphasises SDG 17 partnerships: countries set direction, international partners align, and local leadership and domestic systems are strengthened.
Supports SDG 7 clean energy via the Global Clean Power Alliance and an £88 million extension to the Transforming Energy Access programme.
Calls for less fragmented development cooperation and continued commitment to the Secretary-General’s UN80 reform initiative ahead of next year's SDG Summit.

Original text

The United Kingdom remains committed to accelerating progress on the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals, especially for those most in need. I will begin with SDG 17 on partnerships, a key theme of the recent Global Partnerships Conference co-hosted by the United Kingdom and South Africa together with British International Investment and the Children’s Investment Fund. At the Conference, we heard consistent calls for a more collaborative model of development. One where countries set the direction, where international partners align behind shared priorities, and where success is measured by outcomes. We need to back local leadership and strengthen domestic systems. And we need to bring a broader coalition of partners on board, business, technology, civil society, and philanthropy, to unlock new finance, innovation, and impact. For the UK, this is what our modern approach to development is about. About partnerships grounded in mutual respect and shared responsibility. We also welcome this year’s focus on SDG 7, access to affordable, reliable, sustainable energy for all. Despite progress, it remains off track. Global instability has increased energy, food, and fertiliser costs, and has underlined the importance of diversifying supply chains away from fossil fuels and towards renewable energy. Through the Global Clean Power Alliance, the UK is helping countries to unlock investment, develop national action plans, and address barriers to clean energy transitions. An £88 million extension to the Transforming Energy Access programme will expand access to reliable and sustainable energy for those most in need. To conclude, the 2030 Agenda remains our shared compass, providing a common framework for collective action. As we look ahead, development cooperation must become less fragmented and more responsive to country needs. That is why we need continued commitment to the Secretary-General’s UN80 reform initiative to make that delivery on the ground even more effective. We look forward to working with all partners as we prepare for next year’s SDG Summit and begin shaping a future development framework that builds on the achievements of the 2030 Agenda.

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