The Millennium Development Goals

In 2000, member countries of the United Nations (including Australia) set the target of halving global poverty by 2015. To achieve this, they established eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and set targets to achieve each one.

Since this time, the world has witnessed significant improvements in human development including in the areas of health, education, nutrition and life expectancy since 2000.

There is much to celebrate about how far the MDGs have helped to take us. But the job is far from done.

In January 2015, Oxfam reported that the world’s 80 richest individuals now own as much wealth as the poorest 3.5 billion people. Growing inequality, together with the increased impacts of climate change, are two key challenges to be addressed if we are to further reduce poverty and ensure everyone can access their full human rights. Without action on inequality and climate change, we will not overcome poverty and injustice.

In September a global summit will be held at the United Nations in New York, and world leaders will be asked to commit to the new Sustainable Development Goals.

Take action

You can help further the commitment of Australia’s Prime Minister, Tony Abbott, to these new goals to combat poverty, inequality and climate change by asking him to attend the summit today.