A bold new global agenda to end poverty by 2030 and pursue a sustainable future has been unanimously adopted by the 193 member states of the United Nations.
The ambitious 15-year plan was approved on Friday at the three-day summit on sustainable development, which concluded yesterday.
The plan aims to tackle the world’s biggest problems — from eradicating poverty to preserving the planet.
Experts, however, say the tough part will be to get the support and the funds to reach the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the new agenda.
The implementation of the goals is expected to cost $3.5 trillion to $5 trillion every year until 2030.
They replace and expand on the UN’s previous road map, the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) that were adopted in 2000 mainly for the developing countries.
The new goals are more ambitious, and are meant to apply to every country, not just the developing world. Stated in broad terms, the goals are accompanied by 169 specific targets meant to advance the goals in concrete ways. Most are meant to be achieved by 2030, though some have shorter deadlines.
Hailing the new 2030 agenda as a universal, integrated and transformative vision for a better world, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said the new agenda is a promise by leaders to all people everywhere.
“It is an agenda for people, to end poverty in all its forms — an agenda for the planet, our common home,” he added.
The 17 SDGs and 169 targets of the new agenda will be monitored and reviewed using a set of global indicators. The global indicator framework, to be developed by the Inter-Agency and Expert Group on SDG Indicators, will be agreed on by the UN Statistical Commission by March next year.
Governments will also develop their own national indicators to assist in monitoring progress made on the goals and targets.
Ushering in a new era of national action and international cooperation, the new agenda commits every country to take an array of actions that would not only address the root causes of poverty, but would also accelerate economic growth, meet people’s health, education and social needs, and protect the environment.
The new SDGs build on the goal-setting agendas of UN conferences and the widely successful Millennium Development Goals that have improved the lives of millions of people.
The new agenda recognises that the world is facing immense challenges, ranging from widespread poverty to the risks posed by climate change.
“Never before have world leaders pledged common action and endeavour across such a broad and universal policy agenda,” states the declaration adopted by the leaders.
“We are setting out together on the path towards sustainable development, devoting ourselves collectively to the pursuit of global development and of ‘win-win’ cooperation which can bring huge gains to all countries and all parts of the world.”
Source: The Daily Star
