Global leaders adopt development blueprint for the next 15 years

Global leaders today adopted bold and ambitious development goals set to drive the development agenda for the next fifteen years as the Millennium Development Goals adopted 15 years ago came to a conclusion.

The development goals, otherwise, Sustainable Development Goals, which number 17 in total is a commitment by world leaders to ensure realisation in their respective countries.

This includes ending End poverty in all its forms everywhere, hunger and achieving food security in addition to quality education, gender equality and action on climate change among others.

Speaking during the opening session of the three days evening, United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki Moon called on countries to ensure the implementation of the goals for the betterment of the world.

“It is an agenda for people, to end poverty in all its forms. It is an agenda for shared prosperity, peace and partnership that conveys the urgency of climate action and is rooted in gender equality and respect for the rights of all. Above all, it pledges to leave no one behind.” He said.

Ban said there is need for a concerted efforts from every sector of society to ensure its full implementation.

“We need action from everyone, everywhere. Seventeen sustainable development goals are our guide. They are a to-do list for people and planet, and a blueprint for success,” he said.

The Millennium Development Goals, MDGs have been praised as significantly having been realised globally though some countries especially in Africa are yet to meet them.

The number of people now living in extreme poverty has declined by more than half, falling from 1.9 billion in 1990 to 836 million in 2015.

Over 6.2 million malaria deaths were averted between 2000 and 2015, while tuberculosis prevention, diagnosis and treatment interventions saved an estimated 37 million lives between 2000 and 2013.

Primary school enrolment figures have shown an impressive rise, but the goal of achieving universal primary education has just been missed, with the net enrolment rate increasing from 83% in 2000 to 91% this year.