Introduction
As the world approaches the midpoint to the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), two stand out for their urgency and interconnection: SDG 13: Climate Action and SDG 3: Good Health and Well-Being. Climate change increasingly threatens human health, while strong healthcare systems are essential to respond to the effects of climate shocks. However, by 2025, both goals are facing significant challenges. Greenhouse gas emissions continue to rise, pushing the world further from the Paris Agreement targets. At the same time, global health systems are still grappling with the setbacks caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, which reversed years of progress on immunization, maternal and child health, and disease control.
SDG 13: Climate Action
A Worsening Crisis
The global climate crisis is intensifying. Scientific consensus shows that to limit global warming to 1.5°C, emissions must peak by 2025 and decline by nearly 43% by 2030. Yet, emissions are still climbing. After a temporary decline during the pandemic, CO₂ emissions rebounded by 6% in 2021 and hit a record 36.8 gigatons in 2022 (UN DESA – Goal 13). The global average temperature is now 1.1°C above pre-industrial levels, and the years 2015 through 2022 were the warmest ever recorded (UN Climate Action).
Climate-related disasters are also becoming more frequent and severe. In 2022, devastating floods in Pakistan displaced millions and caused widespread damage. Some areas experienced up to five times the usual rainfall, demonstrating the disproportionate impact climate events have on vulnerable populations (Circle of Blue).
Despite a growing number of national climate pledges, real progress remains insufficient. Current nationally determined contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement are projected to lead to a 14% increase in emissions by 2030. Meanwhile, fossil fuel investment remains high. In 2022 alone, more than 50 gigawatts of new coal power were approved, the highest figure since 2015. Investment in oil and gas increased by 7% in both 2023 and 2024, reaching over $570 billion per year (The Guardian).
As Fatih Birol, Executive Director of the International Energy Agency (IEA), observed: “For every dollar going to fossil fuels, almost two are invested in clean energy—but fossil fuel investment is still far too high” (IEA via The Guardian).
In addition to emissions, climate finance remains a key sticking point. Wealthy countries had pledged to mobilize $100 billion annually by 2020 to support developing nations, but that target was not met. A significant milestone was achieved at COP27 in 2022, with the creation of the Loss and Damage Fund, designed to help vulnerable nations respond to climate impacts. However, funding remains slow to materialize and implementation lags behind promises (UNFCCC – COP27).
Innovation and Momentum
Despite these challenges, innovation offers hope. Global investment in clean energy reached $2 trillion in 2024, double the investment in fossil fuels. Technologies such as green hydrogen, battery storage, and direct air capture are becoming more viable. The transition to electric vehicles (EVs) is also accelerating, with EVs making up one in five new car sales globally in 2023 (IEA Global EV Outlook).
Over 140 countries, accounting for nearly 90% of global emissions, have committed to net-zero targets between 2050 and 2070. These commitments are being supported by national policies such as the European Green Deal, the U.S. Inflation Reduction Act, and China’s record-breaking expansion of renewable energy capacity (UN DESA – Goal 13).
SDG 3: Good Health and Well-Being
Gains and Setbacks
Global health had been improving steadily before the pandemic. The under-five mortality rate dropped from 9.9 million in 2000 to 4.9 million in 2022, and the maternal mortality ratio declined from 227 to 223 per 100,000 live births between 2015 and 2020 (UN DESA – Goal 3). There were also significant reductions in HIV infections and the spread of neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), with 50 countries eliminating at least one NTD by 2023.
However, the COVID-19 pandemic caused major setbacks. Life expectancy dropped in many countries for the first time in decades. Routine immunization coverage fell from 86% in 2019 to 81% in 2021, and only recovered slightly to 84% in 2022. More than 20 million children lacked full vaccine coverage in that year alone (UN DESA – Goal 3).
Tuberculosis and malaria also resurged. In 2022, TB cases climbed to 7.5 million, the highest since 1995, while malaria cases exceeded pre-pandemic levels, reaching 249 million. These reversals illustrate the fragility of global health progress.
Another key area of concern is universal health coverage (UHC). As of 2021, about 4.5 billion people lacked access to essential health services, and more than 2 billion faced catastrophic health expenditures even before the pandemic (World Economic Forum).
Health Technology – Opportunities and Obstacles
The pandemic also accelerated digital transformation in health. Telemedicine adoption surged, especially in high-income countries. In the United States, usage jumped from 15% of physicians in 2019 to 86% in 2021 (CDC NCHS). Globally, virtual care, mobile health apps, wearable devices, and AI-based diagnostics expanded rapidly.
Another breakthrough was the rapid development of mRNA vaccines. These vaccines, produced in under a year, saved millions of lives and opened the door to using mRNA platforms for diseases such as HIV, malaria, and even cancer.
Emerging innovations—ranging from gene therapies to portable diagnostics—are reshaping healthcare. Yet, technological advances do not automatically translate into equitable access. A significant “digital health divide” exists. Poorer regions often lack the infrastructure, internet access, or digital literacy to benefit from these tools.
Moreover, new technologies only work effectively when integrated into well-functioning health systems. Many countries continue to struggle with shortages of doctors, nurses, and medical supplies. The World Health Organization estimates a projected shortfall of 10 million health workers by 2030, mostly in low-income nations.
How to Get Back on Track
To achieve SDG 3 by 2030, governments must rebuild primary healthcare systems disrupted by the pandemic. This includes restoring routine immunization services, expanding maternal and child health programs, and preparing for future public health emergencies.
Strengthening universal health coverage is essential. Governments should allocate at least 5% of GDP to health, following WHO recommendations. Strategies could include public health insurance, subsidized services, and targeted programs for marginalized populations.
Technology can play a transformative role—if deployed inclusively. Governments should invest in national digital health platforms, including telemedicine, electronic health records, and mobile-based patient tracking. For example, India’s digital vaccine infrastructure now supports broader health initiatives. In Rwanda, drones deliver blood supplies to remote clinics, showing how technology can bridge geographic gaps.
Countries must also bolster pandemic preparedness by investing in surge capacity, strategic stockpiles, and international cooperation. Mechanisms like COVAX, which delivered 1.8 billion vaccine doses globally, must be improved and expanded.
In parallel, global research and development (R&D) should continue to prioritize diseases affecting low-income populations. Initiatives like the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) and the Gates Foundation play a vital role in advancing affordable, life-saving innovations.
Addressing intellectual property constraints is also necessary. During COVID-19, debates around IP waivers highlighted the need to balance innovation with equitable access. Future global health agreements must ensure that essential technologies reach all who need them.
Conclusion
By 2025, SDG 13: Climate Action and SDG 3: Good Health and Well-Being stand at pivotal crossroads. Climate change and global health are deeply linked, and failure to act decisively on one will undermine progress on the other. Rising emissions and extreme weather threaten public health, while weak health systems exacerbate vulnerability to climate shocks.
Nevertheless, there are reasons for hope. Technological innovation, from clean energy to digital health, offers transformative solutions. The path forward demands bold leadership, sustained investment, and international cooperation.
The next five years will determine whether we reverse recent setbacks—or allow them to define the decade. Every life saved, every emission avoided, brings us closer to a sustainable and equitable world.
(This is Part 2 of a 3-part series on the SDGs in 2025. Read Part 1, Part 2, Part 3.)
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