Episode #14
Struggling SDGs- Why Global Progress Just Came to a Standstill
When the Sustainable Development Goals were unveiled in 2015, they weren't designed for modest, step-by-step improvements. They required a massive, structural leap in how societies function. Over the past decade, tracking metrics beyond simple GDP has revealed that economic growth alone is failing to hit core benchmarks for social and environmental wellbeing. Gains in basic infrastructure like water, sanitation, and connectivity are hitting hard walls, while fundamental freedoms are sliding backward at a pace hard to ignore. Are we looking at a temporary setback caused by recent global shocks, or has the global development model itself reached its absolute limit? In this episode, Michael Green analyzes whether his past predictions have come true. He also explores 15 years of data with the 2026 Global Social Progress Index to map where the world actually stands, why the biggest nations are causing massive swings in global trends, and what piece of the puzzle must be restored before any real progress can resume. Please follow and rate our show! Explore our work at https://www.socialprogress.org/ Interested in the Social Progress Index? Learn more. Help us advance social progress across the world! Your donation makes a huge difference to us. Donate now! Want the full story? Subscribe to our newsletter!
