Multiple Actors Discussed the Fulfillment Status of the SDGs on Water, Energy and Industry at Sustainable Development Forum 2026

On the third day of the ninth meeting of the Forum of the Countries of Latin America and the Caribbean on Sustainable Development (ECLAC, April 13-16), three panel discussions were held on the 2030 Agenda's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 6, 7 and 9.

How much progress has been made? What indicators are lagging the most? What are the most pressing challenges? Are there lessons learned? How can good practices be replicated in countries? These were some of the questions echoed during the panel discussions held on Wednesday, April 15, 2026 to evaluate three of the 2030 Agenda's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the region, at the ninth meeting of the Forum of the Countries of Latin America and the Caribbean on Sustainable Development taking place in Santiago, Chile.

According to the Ninth report on regional progress and challenges in relation to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in Latin America and the Caribbean - presented by the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) - at the current rate of progress, just 19% of the targets are seen being met in the region by 2030, which is below the 23% estimated last year. Meanwhile, 42% of the targets are moving in the right direction, but at too slow of a pace, and 39% are either stalled or moving backwards in comparison with 2015.

The 2026 edition of the Forum, taking place at ECLAC's headquarters in the Chilean capital, includes in-depth reviews of five of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development's SDGs (6, 7, 9, 11 and 17), as part of the event's Dialogues on regional action.

On Panel 1: Goal 6 - Clean water and sanitation - moderated by René Orellana Halkyer, Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative for Latin America and the Caribbean of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) - participants analyzed issues such as the democratic governance of water, the transition to water efficiency, land-use planning around water, water justice, community water management, national and transboundary aquifer management, environmental education, the use of technology, and financing.

According to the latest regional follow-up report presented by ECLAC, progress - albeit modest and insufficient - has been made on universal and equitable access to water and sanitation as well as integrated water resources management and cross-border cooperation, while stagnation and setbacks are seen with regard to water quality and wastewater management; the efficient use of water resources; the protection and restoration of water-related ecosystems; and support for the participation of local communities.

The panelists in this session on SDG 6 were Ruth Quevedo, Vice-Minister for Water and Basic Sanitation at the Ministry of Housing, City and Territory of Colombia; David Fariña, Director General for Protection and Conservation of Water Resources at the Ministry of the Environment and Sustainable Development of Paraguay; Hernán Chiriboga, Representative of the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) in Chile; and James Mcphee, Professor in the University of Chile's Department of Civil Engineering.

On Panel 2: Goal 7 - Affordable and clean energy, moderated by Andrés Rebolledo, Executive Secretary of the Latin American and Caribbean Energy Organization (OLACDE), the track record for fulfilling this Sustainable Development Goal was analyzed, taking into special account the current context of war in the Middle East that has sent global oil prices surging. Although 70% of the electricity generated in Latin America and the Caribbean comes from clean sources, nearly half the region's population lives in countries that are net importers of oil and its derivatives, according to session participants. Final consumption of fossil fuels is still significant in the region, mainly due to its utilization in transportation, industrial processes and heating.

According to ECLAC's report, SDG 7 is the goal that has shown the most gains in Latin America and the Caribbean. Although it is the only Sustainable Development Goal that has no stalled or regressing targets and it, along with SDG 17, has the most targets on track to be met, members of the panel flagged various challenges regarding decarbonization and the just energy transition, electrification, energy efficiency, energy security, technological sovereignty and critical mineral extraction, among others.

Participants in this session included Mauricio Bejarano, Deputy Minister of Mines and Energy of Paraguay; Javier Tapia, Executive Director of Transmisoras de Chile; María José Lubertino, LAC Ecofeminist Network and Asociación Ciudadana por los Derechos Humanos; Astrid Puentes Riaño, Special Rapporteur on the human right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment (virtual); and Francesco La Camera, Director General of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) (via video).

On Panel 3: Goal 9 - Industry, innovation and infrastructure - moderated by Ludmila Diniz, Chief of Partnerships and External Relations of the Latin America and the Caribbean Bureau of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) - participants exchanged viewpoints about how to strengthen capacities for innovation and technological transformation; relaunch productive transformation, with a green and inclusive vision; and build resilient infrastructure that would leave no one behind in the region.

According to the data provided by ECLAC, SDG 9 has four targets with insufficient progress and two that are stalled or regressing. For example, between 2014 and 2024, the contribution of manufacturing to GDP shrank by 8% and its contribution to employment by 5%; and the region has not increased R&D spending as a share of GDP in more than a decade. And, while substantive gains have been made in access to the Internet and to ICTs, progress is lagging in advanced mobile networks - to mention a few indicators.

Speaking on the panel were Hugo Rivera, Vice-Minister of Economic Affairs and International Cooperation in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Dominican Republic; Joyelle Clarke, Minister of Sustainable Development, Environment, Climate Action and Constituency Empowerment of St. Kitts and Nevis; Rodrigo Bustos, Chief Executive Officer of Banca Ética Latinoamericana (BELAT); and Marco Antonio Moreno Ibarra, Director General for Development, Technology Transfer and Innovation in the Ministry of Science, Humanities, Technology and Innovation of Mexico (virtual).

On Thursday, April 16 - the last day of the Forum - Panel 4: Goal 11 - Sustainable cities and communities will be held with the moderation of Elkin Velásquez, Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat), and with presentations by Tamara Paseyro, Minister of Housing and Land Management of Uruguay and Chair of the Forum of Ministers and High-level Authorities of Housing and Urban Development of Latin America and the Caribbean (MINURVI); Claudio Orrego, Governor of the Santiago Metropolitan Region (Chile); Joanna Fischer Battistini, Chief of Cabinet Advisors in the Ministry of the Environment of Peru; María Fernanda Kluever, Customer Relations and Sustainability Manager of Paris Department Stores (Chile); and Mauricio Fuentes, Coordinator of the Volunteering and Civic Participation Unit of the National Youth Institute (INJUV) of Chile and focal point for the International Year of Volunteers for Sustainable Development.

Subsequently, Panel 5: Goal 17 - Partnerships for the Goals will take place with the participation of Enrique O'Farrill, Executive Director of the Chilean Agency for International Cooperation for Development (AGCID); Martín Francos, Deputy Minister of Planning and Public Investment in the Ministry of Finance and Economy of the Dominican Republic; David Santamaría, Director for Public Policy Monitoring and Evaluation in the National Planning Department (DNP) of Colombia; Héctor Javier Guzmán, Secretary of the Central American Bank for Economic Integration (CABEI); and Iván Flores García, Senator of Chile, in his capacity as President of ParlAmericas. That discussion will be moderated by Héctor Francisco Ochoa Moreno, Director General of the National Council for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development of Mexico.

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