UNITED NATIONS, United States — War and funding shortfalls have hampered progress toward the United Nations' flagship development goals which include action to combat climate change, the organization's Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned on Friday. In 2015, UN member states adopted the Sustainable Development Goals, 17 targets to transform the world by 2030 including by completely ending extreme poverty and eliminating hunger. But Guterres said Friday that "the world is getting a failing grade." "We must accelerate action for the sustainable development goals, and we don't have a moment to lose -- only 17 percent of the targets (are) on track." "It means multiplying the lending capacity of multilateral development banks to provide more resources for climate action and sustainable development," he added.
