CPTEnglishBeginner· ESG & Sustainability

The Sustainable Development Goals Report 2025

Legal & Compliance 1h 31 lessons

What you'll learn

Analyse the current global status of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals using 2025 trend data.
Identify the primary structural, financial, and environmental barriers preventing the achievement of the 2030 Agenda.
Evaluate the necessity and impact of the six critical transitions: food, energy, digital, education, jobs, and climate.
Understand the impact of the $4 trillion annual investment gap and propose strategies for innovative financing and debt relief.
Assess regional disparities and the urgency of the 'leave no one behind' principle in the context of persistent inequalities.
Recognize the role of multi-stakeholder partnerships and data-driven decision-making in fostering institutional accountability.
Apply actionable insights to advocate for or implement sustainable policies within professional and community sectors.

About this course

This course provides a data-driven evaluation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Report 2025, offering a critical assessment of the global progress toward the 2030 Agenda. For Hong Kong SFC-licensed professionals, understanding these global sustainability benchmarks is essential for aligning investment strategies with increasing ESG disclosure requirements and client mandates. As the regulatory environment in Hong Kong evolves, integrating these macro-level insights ensures that financial institutions can better navigate risks related to climate change, social inequality, and systemic economic instability, which are increasingly relevant to fiduciary duties and institutional investment frameworks. The curriculum examines the core barriers to achieving the SDGs, including the widening $4 trillion annual investment gap and the persistent challenges in global health, education, and resource management. By analyzing the six critical transitions—food, energy, digital, education, jobs, and climate—the course offers a structured approach to assessing the impact of global development trends on asset management and corporate governance. These topics are analyzed within the context of international development, helping professionals understand how ESG-related risks transcend borders and impact emerging and developed markets alike. The course follows a logical progression starting from a high-level review of the 2025 global status of the SDGs to detailed sector-specific breakdowns. It covers the environmental crises, such as biodiversity loss and rising emissions, alongside social indicators like gender equality and poverty reduction. The final modules outline actionable priorities for 2030, emphasizing the necessity of multi-stakeholder partnerships and innovative financing models. This CPT-accredited content is designed to provide clear, actionable knowledge for professionals to enhance their decision-making processes in line with local and international sustainability standards.

Who should attend

SFC Licensed Representatives and Responsible Officers
ESG Analysts and Sustainability Consultants
Investment Managers and Portfolio Strategists
Compliance Officers in Asset Management Firms
Family Office Investment Advisors
Risk Management Professionals

Key topics covered

Global Development Status and Economic Barriers

Assessment of the 2030 Agenda progress as of 2025
Analysis of the $4 trillion annual SDG investment gap
Impact of debt-servicing costs on low- and middle-income economies
The role of GDP per capita growth and economic stability
Regional disparities and the principle of leaving no one behind

Environmental and Sustainability Transitions

Climate change trends and the implications of 1.55°C warming
Biodiversity loss and the deterioration of terrestrial ecosystems
Ocean health, coral bleaching, and marine protection gaps
Sustainable resource consumption and waste management
Transition pathways for energy and industrial manufacturing

Social Equity and Institutional Frameworks

Trends in extreme poverty and social protection coverage
Gender equality, legal reforms, and the unpaid care burden
Global health progress and challenges in maternal mortality
The digital divide and infrastructure development
Conflict, justice gaps, and the stability of global institutions

How this course satisfies CPT

This course covers ESG & Sustainability topics recognised by the SFC as eligible for CPT. Upon completion, you'll earn approximately 1 CPT hours and receive a certificate of completion for your training records. The course includes quizzes to verify your understanding, satisfying the SFC's requirement that online learning includes an independent assessment and maintains a reliable audit trail.

Learn more about CPT requirements

Curriculum · 31 lessons

1:03:36 of content

1.
SDG Report 2025: A Comprehensive Global Assessment
FREE
2:08
2.
Ten Years In: A Critical Juncture for 2030
FREE
1:51
3.
Overall SDG Progress: Only 35 Percent on Track
FREE
1:52
4.
The Four Trillion Dollar Annual Investment Gap
1:35
5.
Six Critical Transitions for SDG Achievement
2:09
6.
Regional Disparities and the Promise of No One Left Behind
2:17
7.
Quiz: SDG Report 2025: A Comprehensive Global Assessment – Regional Disparities and the Promise of No One Left Behind
QUIZ
5 questions · requires lessons
8.
Gender Equality: Progress and Persistent Barriers
2:08
9.
Climate Change: Record Temperatures and Rising Emissions
2:07
10.
Biodiversity Crisis: Nature Declining at Unprecedented Rates
2:21
11.
Building Blocks for Success: What Works at Scale
2:12
12.
Urgent Actions Required for 2025 to 2030
2:08
13.
Goal 1: Extreme Poverty and Social Protection Milestones
2:06
14.
Quiz: Gender Equality: Progress and Persistent Barriers – Goal 1: Extreme Poverty and Social Protection Milestones
QUIZ
5 questions · requires lessons
15.
Goal 2: Global Hunger and Food Insecurity Persist
2:00
16.
Goal 3: Slowing Health Progress and Maternal Mortality
2:19
17.
Goal 4: Education Access Versus Learning Quality Crisis
2:07
18.
Goal 5: Legal Reforms and Unpaid Care Burden
2:25
19.
Goal 6: Billions Still Lack Water and Sanitation
2:17
20.
Goal 7: Energy Access and the Clean Cooking Gap
2:16
21.
Quiz: Goal 2: Global Hunger and Food Insecurity Persist – Goal 7: Energy Access and the Clean Cooking Gap
QUIZ
5 questions · requires lessons
22.
Goal 8: Informal Employment and Youth Labor Challenges
2:08
23.
Goal 9: Manufacturing Growth and Industrial Emissions
2:32
24.
Goal 10: Income Inequality and the Refugee Crisis
2:23
25.
Goal 11: Housing Affordability and Urban Climate Vulnerability
2:10
26.
Goal 12: Food Waste, E-Waste and Resource Consumption
1:44
27.
Goal 13: Record Heat and National Disaster Risk Strategies
2:05
28.
Quiz: Goal 8: Informal Employment and Youth Labor Challenges – Goal 13: Record Heat and National Disaster Risk Strategies
QUIZ
5 questions · requires lessons
29.
Goal 14: Coral Bleaching and Marine Protection Gaps
2:08
30.
Goal 15: Deforestation, Land Degradation and Species Loss
2:15
31.
Goal 16: Conflict Deaths, Justice Gaps and Institutions
2:05
32.
Goal 17: Debt Burdens, ODA Decline and Digital Divide
1:57
33.
The Path Forward: Five Priority Actions for 2030
0:17
34.
The Choice Before Us: Act Now or Fall Further Behind
1:39
35.
Quiz: Goal 14: Coral Bleaching and Marine Protection Gaps – The Choice Before Us: Act Now or Fall Further Behind
QUIZ
5 questions · requires lessons
36.
Key Takeaways and a Renewed Call to Collective Action
1:55

Requirements

A foundational interest in global development, sustainability, or public policy.
Basic familiarity with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Capacity to interpret socio-economic data and reports in a professional context.
Willingness to engage with complex, systemic global challenges.

Certificate of Completion

Complete this course to earn a verifiable Certificate of Completion for your CPT training record. Here's how:

1Watch all the lessons — work through every lesson in the curriculum. Each completed lesson brings your progress closer to 100%.
2Pass all the quizzes — score 70% or higher in each quiz within the course. Quizzes are part of the curriculum and must be passed to finish.
3Download your certificate — once you reach 100% progress, download a personalised Certificate of Completion showing your name, the CPT hours earned, and your quiz score.

Sample certificate: