After the Millennium Development Goals for 2015 expired, world leaders worked on their next set of goals for the upcoming 15 years. These, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), offer specific global targets.

Unlike the MDG, the SDG initiatives are to be tackled primarily within countries, whereas the MDG initiatives were led by wealthy countries who gave money to poorer countries. There were eight MDG initiatives, which were later criticized for not addressing gender inequality, human rights and economic development.

There were 17 goals that national bodies would decide whether or not they’d work toward during the Sustainable Development Summit, which occurred September 25-27 this year. They included ending poverty globally; reducing inequality within and between countries; promoting just, inclusive, and peaceful societies and taking stronger action to slow climate change.

The first goal is to end poverty globally. This is to be completed by ending extreme poverty in which individuals live at less than $1.25 per day and reducing by at least half the number of individuals living at national poverty levels.

Other goals support this initial goal through their targets of eliminating malnutrition, increasing food production, access to clean water, sanitation and achieving universal health care coverage.

Twelve of the 17 goals include gender-sensitive targets. One goal is to achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls; this ambitious goal includes targets on ending discrimination, eliminating trafficking, achieving universal access to sexual and reproductive health care and ending practices such as child marriage and female genital mutilation.

Otherwise, gender-sensitive targets are reflected in 11 other goals relating to health, education and community development. Targets include the reduction of maternal mortality rates, elimination of disparities for access to education at primary and tertiary levels, and having more inclusive cities, labor forces and societies.

Climate change and sustainable development also receive significant attention in the SDG. Goals include making sustainable development a global effort, taking urgent action against climate change and halting biodiversity loss. Targets include reversing deforestation, protecting more land, combating desertification and ending poaching.

Technology and innovations receive attention from the SDG proposal as well. There is an emphasis on sustainable consumption, reducing food waste and upgrading infrastructure to be more sustainable. Furthermore, the SDG advocate for increased access to telecommunications services and supporting research and development of technology.

Finally, the SDG also include goals on the promotion of peace, political freedoms and justice in societies. Targets listed include the reduction of violence, elimination of trafficking and modern slavery, providing birth registration for all, reducing gun trafficking, reducing corruption and promoting accountability and transparency of government bodies.

Nations had an opportunity to vote on whether or not they would adopt these goals on Sept. 25, 2015. To support these goals, individuals should advocate for themselves and contact their legislators.

The full list can be found here. If these are to be enacted, governments would have from January 2016 to start working to make great changes for the world by 2030.

– Priscilla McCelvey

Sources: The Guardian, U.N.
Photo: Flickr