Sustainable Development Goals Decided

A historic day, 25 September 2015, has outlined the way we define and work towards sustainable development until 2030. Years of consultations. 193 participating countries. Now 17 Sustainable Development Goals are eventually ratified.

Millennium Development Goals agenda ran out of time and conclusions have been made about lessons learned. Now we have a brand-new agenda (which does relate to MDGs) and motivation of not bystanders, but global citizens to make Sustainable Development Goals work.

We could start reviewing results of today’s UN Summit by watching this video message from Professor Stephen Hawking who has encouraged to share it, because “to save the world we need everyone to tell everyone”.

Back in June 2015 member states had some disagreements on a few paragraphs of the draft UN outcome document. For instance, that SDGs have to be short and aspirational; that implementation should be on voluntary basis or that its follow up should have a national ownership. Find out more by looking at this table.

Yet regardless of criticism or some disagreement the adoption took place and now 17 sustainable goals should come into action. And here is a live coverage of today’s pivotal event. United Nations University published these short articles to cover each of the 17 goals presented in the SDGs agenda. Mogens Lykketoft outlined that those present at today’s General Assembly must respond to the challenges and crises worldwide   “in the spirit of solidarity, dialogue and tolerance” when working together on achieving SDGs.

The dialogue is being built in different creative and engaging ways. After recording dozens of celebrities, We the People invited everybody to record a video and have their word in the Global Goals talk. The Guardian started an open thread straight after the adoption to discuss which goals should each country prioritize.

Innovation and communication for development can be also celebrated with  BBC Five Lives project. 5 children from Malawi, Pakistan, Mexico, Brazil and Ukraine shared their dreams and hopes for future. As time will pass BBC team will revisit them to see how their lives will be changing with SDGs agenda unfolding.

Image via GlobalGoals