The G7 Summit took place in Evian, France, from 15 to 17 May, with Chancellor Merz in attendance. In an effort to accommodate the current US administration, this year’s G7 communiqués make no mention of terms such as ‘sustainability’, ‘gender’ or ‘Agenda 2030’. Nor were any relevant measures agreed upon to achieve significant progress in these areas.
Deepening fragmentation and a collapse in funding have plunged the global health system into a crisis. A growing number of international organisations, health funds, and multi-stakeholder initiatives (MSIs) are operating in parallel, competing for resources and influence. This raises a central question: Who sets global health priorities and what role should the WHO play going forward?
This briefing analyses the political and structural causes behind the lack of progress in implementing the SDGs and discusses different options for an effective “Beyond 2030 Agenda”, from questions of development financing and international cooperation to a fundamental debate about the current understanding of development policy. It is the final publication by our former director Jens Martens, who passed away in May 2026. We publish it in grateful memory of his longstanding commitment to global justice and sustainable development.
Massive cuts in public funding are threatening the human right to health and placing the global system under enormous pressure. To close these funding gaps, governments increasingly rely on private actors, with far-reaching consequences for access to medicines and political influence.
