United Nations approves ambitious new set of global goals

UNITED NATIONS  - The United Nations officially adopted a new set of global goals on Friday to combat poverty, inequality and climate change over the next 15 years in the most comprehensive international effort ever to tackle the world's ills.

 

Pope Francis and leaders from more than 150 nations gathered at the United Nations to approve the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that resulted from three years of brainstorming and negotiations in nearly every corner of the world.

 

The 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are the result of three years of brainstorming and negotiations among the U.N.'s 193 member states and are designed to help shape government policies and programmes in coming years.

 

The SDGs are a set of 17 goals and 169 targets aimed at resolving global social, economic and environmental problems.

 

To be met over the next 15 years, beginning on Jan. 1, 2016, the SDGs replace the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) which were adopted in 2000 and expire this year.

 

Implementation of the new goals, requiring trillions of dollars in investment, will be monitored and reviewed using a set of global indicators to be agreed by March 2016.  — Reuters