China has achieved significant progress toward the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), meeting or nearing 60.5% of its 2030 targets, according to a landmark report published by the UN-affiliated International Research Center of Big Data for Sustainable Development Goals (CBAS). The findings highlight China's leadership in renewable energy expansion and ecological preservation while underscoring global challenges in meeting sustainability benchmarks.
Analyzing data from 2015 to 2024 through satellite imaging and international datasets, researchers found China fulfilled 141 of 233 SDG indicators. The country now hosts 39% of global wind power capacity and leads in annual solar installations, with 68.21% of 2023's new global wind capacity originating from Chinese projects. Urban development milestones include 90% of city residents having access to efficient public transport systems.
Environmental achievements feature prominently, with forest coverage exceeding 25% nationwide. All provincial-level governments have implemented disaster-risk reduction strategies ahead of the 2030 deadline, demonstrating proactive climate adaptation measures.
Globally, the report paints a concerning picture: only 16.9% of monitored SDG indicators are on track worldwide. Key challenges include persistent food insecurity, declining clean energy investments, and accelerated land degradation affecting an area equivalent to 2.6 times Indonesia's size since 2015. Urban heat-related deaths in developing nations have risen by 24% over the past decade.
With five years remaining to achieve the SDGs, the study urges enhanced data infrastructure and policy coordination across climate action, energy transitions, and ecosystem protection. It advocates for standardized national monitoring systems to bridge the gap between sustainability targets and measurable outcomes.
