emirates7 - Governments, experts, and civil society representatives gathered in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, this week for the Fifth Global Conference on Climate and SDG Synergy. Held from 5th to 6th September, the conference aimed to address the pressing challenges of the climate crisis and the slow progress on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The UN-backed conference highlighted the alarming gap between current commitments on climate action and the SDGs and the progress needed to meet them. In her opening address, UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating that the climate emergency and the 1.5-degree Celsius target are "hanging by a thread."

Adding to the urgency, the latest report on the SDGs revealed that only 17 percent of the targets are on track. Progress has stalled or regressed for more than one-third of the goals.

Despite these setbacks, Deputy Secretary-General Mohammed viewed the crisis as an unprecedented opportunity to overhaul global systems. She urged countries to leverage this moment to address climate change while simultaneously promoting economic growth and sustainable development.

Mohammed called on governments to implement the proposed SDG stimulus plan, which aims to provide $500 billion annually to developing nations. The Fifth Global Conference on Climate and SDG Synergy underscored the critical need for coordinated global action to tackle the intertwined challenges of climate change and sustainable development.