An Insight on the ambitious project of United Nations to make the world a better place.

5. Eradicating poverty in all its forms remains one of the greatest challenges facing humanity. While the number of people living in
extreme poverty has dropped by more than half – from 1.9 billion in 1990, to 836 million in 2015 – too many are still struggling
for the most basic human needs.many lacking access to adequate food, clean drinking water and sanitation. Rapid economic
growth in countries like China and India has lifted millions out of poverty, but progress has also been uneven.
Progress has also been limited in other regions, such as South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa, which account for 80 percent of the
global total of those living in extreme poverty. This rate is expected to rise due to new threats brought on by climate change,
conflict and food insecurity.
FACTS
o 836 million people still live in extreme poverty
o About one in five persons in developing regions lives on less than $1.25 per day
o The overwhelming majority of people living on less than $1.25 a day belong to two regions: Southern Asia and sub-Saharan
Africa
o High poverty rates are often found in small, fragile and conflict-affected countries
o One in seven children under age five in the world has inadequate height for his or her age
o Every day in 2014, 42,000 people had to abandon their homes to seek protection due to conflict

7. Many developing countries that used to suffer from famine and hunger can now meet the nutritional needs of the most
vulnerable. Central and East Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean have all made huge progress in eradicating
extreme hunger.
FACTS
o Globally, one in nine people in the world today (795 million) are undernourished often as a direct consequence of
environmental degradation, drought and loss of biodiversity.
o The vast majority of the world’s hungry people live in developing countries, where 12.9 per cent of the population is
undernourished.
o Asia is the continent with the most hungry people – two thirds of the total. The percentage in southern Asia has
fallen in recent years but in western Asia it has increased slightly.
o Southern Asia faces the greatest hunger burden, with about 281 million undernourished people. In sub-Saharan
Africa, projections for the 2014-2016 period indicate a rate of undernourishment of almost 23 per cent.
o Poor nutrition causes nearly half (45 per cent) of deaths in children under five – 3.1 million children each year.
o One in four of the world’s children suffer stunted growth. In developing countries the proportion can rise to one in
three.
o 66 million primary school-age children attend classes hungry across the developing world, with 23 million in Africa
alone.

9. Chronic and catastrophic disease remains one of the main factors that push households from poverty into deprivation.
Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) impose a large burden on human health worldwide.
17,000 fewer children die each day than in 1990, but more than six million children still die before their fifth birthday each year
Since 2000, measles vaccines have averted nearly 15.6 million deaths. AIDS is the leading cause of death among adolescents in
sub-Saharan Africa, and 22 million people living with HIV are not accessing life-saving antiretroviral therapy
FACTS
Four out of every five deaths of children under age five occur in these regions.
Children born into poverty are almost twice as likely to die before the age of five as those from wealthier families.
Children of educated mothers—even mothers with only primary schooling—are more likely to survive than children of mothers
with no education.
But maternal mortality ratio – the proportion of mothers that do not survive childbirth compared to those who do – in
developing regions is still 14 times higher than in the developed regions
More women are receiving antenatal care. In developing regions, antenatal care increased from 65 per cent in 1990 to 83 per
cent in 2012, Only half of women in developing regions receive the recommended amount of health care they need
Fewer teens are having children in most developing regions, but progress has slowed. The large increase in contraceptive use in
the 1990s was not matched in the 2000s

11. Progress has also faced tough challenges in developing regions due to high levels of poverty, armed conflicts and
other emergencies. In Western Asia and North Africa, ongoing armed conflict has seen an increase in the proportion of
children out of school. This is a worrying trend. Children from the poorest households are four times more likely to be
out of school than those of the richest households. Disparities between rural and urban areas also remain high.
FACTS
o Enrolment in primary education in developing countries has reached 91 per cent but 57 million children remain out of school
o More than half of children that have not enrolled in school live in sub-Saharan Africa
o An estimated 50 per cent of out-of-school children of primary school age live in conflict-affected areas
o 103 million youth worldwide lack basic literacy skills, and more than 60 per cent of them are women

13. Empowering women and promoting gender equality is crucial to accelerating sustainable development. Ending all
forms of discrimination against women and girls is not only a basic human right, but it also has a multiplier effect
across all other development areas.
FACTS
o About two thirds of countries in the developing regions have achieved gender parity in primary education
o In Southern Asia, only 74 girls were enrolled in primary school for every 100 boys in 1990. By 2012, the enrolment ratios were
the same for girls as for boys.
o In sub-Saharan Africa, Oceania and Western Asia, girls still face barriers to entering both primary and secondary school.
o Women in Northern Africa hold less than one in five paid jobs in the non-agricultural sector. The proportion of women in paid
employment outside the agriculture sector has increased from 35 per cent in 1990 to 41 per cent in 2015
o In 46 countries, women now hold more than 30 per cent of seats in national parliament in at least one chamber.

15. Water scarcity affects more than 40 percent of people around the world, an alarming figure that is projected to increase
with the rise of global temperatures as a consequence of climate change
o 2.6 billion people have gained access to improved drinking water sources since 1990, but 663 million people are still without
At least 1.8 billion people globally use a source of drinking water that is fecally contaminated
o Between 1990 and 2015, the proportion of the global population using an improved drinking water source has increased from
76 per cent to 91 per cent
o But water scarcity affects more than 40 per cent of the global population and is projected to rise. Over 1.7 billion people are
currently living in river basins where water use exceeds recharge
o 2.4 billion people lack access to basic sanitation services, such as toilets or latrines
o More than 80 per cent of wastewater resulting from human activities is discharged into rivers or sea without any pollution
removal
o Each day,nearly 1,000 children die due to preventable water and sanitation-related diarrhoeal diseases
o Hydropower is the most important and widely-used renewable source of energy and as of 2011, represented 16 per cent of
total electricity production worldwide
o Approximately 70 per cent of all water abstracted from rivers, lakes and aquifers is used for irrigation
o Floods and other water-related disasters account for 70 per cent of all deaths related to natural disasters

17. A global economy reliant on fossil fuels and the increase of greenhouse gas emissions is creating drastic changes to our climate
system. This is having a visible impact on every continent.
FACTS
o One in five people still lacks access to modern electricity
o 3 billion people rely on wood, coal, charcoal or animal waste for cooking and heating
o Energy is the dominant contributor to climate change, accounting for around 60 per cent of total global greenhouse gas
emissions
o Reducing the carbon intensity of energy is a key objective in long-term climate goals.

19. As the global economy continues to recover we are seeing slower growth, widening inequalities and employment that
is not expanding fast enough to keep up with the growing labour force. According to the International Labour
Organization, more than 204 million people are unemployed in 2015.
FACTS
o Global unemployment increased from 170 million in 2007 to nearly 202 million in 2012, of which about 75 million are young
women and men.
o Nearly 2.2 billion people live below the US$2 poverty line and that poverty eradication is only possible through stable and
well-paid jobs.
o 470 million jobs are needed globally for new entrants to the labour market between 2016 and 2030.

21. With over half the world population now living in cities, mass transport and renewable energy are becoming ever more
important, as are the growth of new industries and information and communication technologies.
Technological progress is also key to finding lasting solutions to both economic and environmental challenges, such as providing
new jobs and promoting energy efficiency. Promoting sustainable industries, and investing in scientific research and innovation,
are all important ways to facilitate sustainable development.
FACTS
o About 2.6 billion people in the developing world are facing difficulties in accessing electricity full time
o 2.5 billion people worldwide lack access to basic sanitation and almost 800 million people lack access to water,
many hundreds of millions of them in Sub Saharan Africa and South Asia
o 1-1.5 million people do not have access to reliable phone services
o Manufacturing is an important employer, accounting for around 470 million jobs worldwide in 2009 – or around 16 per cent of
the world’s workforce of 2.9 billion. In 2013, it is estimated that there were more than half a billion jobs in manufacturing
o Industrialization’s job multiplication effect has a positive impact on society. Every one job in manufacturing creates 2.2 jobs in
other sectors
o In developing countries, barely 30 per cent of agricultural production undergoes industrial processing. In high-income
countries, 98 per cent is processed. This suggests that there are great opportunities for developing countries in agribusiness

23. It is well documented that income inequality is on the rise, with the richest 10 percent earning up to 40 percent of total global
income. The poorest 10 percent earn only between 2 and 7 percent of total global income. In developing countries, inequality
has increased by 11 percent if we take into account the growth of population.These widening disparities are a call for action that
require the adoption of sound policies to empower the bottom percentile of income earners and promote economic inclusion of
all regardless of sex, race or ethnicity.
FACTS
On average—and taking into account population size—income inequality increased by 11 per cent in developing countries
between 1990 and 2010
A significant majority of households in developing countries—more than 75 per cent of the population—are living today in
societies where income is more unequally distributed than it was in the 1990s
Evidence shows that, beyond a certain threshold, inequality harms growth and poverty reduction, the quality of relations in the
public and political spheres and individuals’ sense of fulfilment and self-worth
There is nothing inevitable about growing income inequality; several countries have managed to contain or reduce income
inequality while achieving strong growth performance
Income inequality cannot be effectively tackled unless the underlying inequality of opportunities is addressed
Social protection has been significantly extended globally, yet persons with disabilities are up to five times more likely than
average to incur catastrophic health expenditures

25. The rapid growth of cities in the developing world, coupled with increasing rural to urban migration, has led to a boom in mega-
cities. In 1990, there were ten mega-cities with 10 million inhabitants or more. In 2014, there are 28 mega-cities, home to a total
453 million people. Extreme poverty is often concentrated in urban spaces, and national and city governments struggle to
accommodate the rising population in these areas
FACTS
o Half of humanity – 3.5 billion people – lives in cities today
o By 2030, almost 60 per cent of the world’s population will live in urban areas
o 95 per cent of urban expansion in the next decades will take place in developing world
o 828 million people live in slums today and the number keeps rising
o The world’s cities occupy just 3 per cent of the Earth’s land, but account for 60-80 per cent of energy consumption and 75 per
cent of carbon emissions
o Rapid urbanization is exerting pressure on fresh water supplies, sewage, the living environment, and public health
o But the high density of cities can bring efficiency gains and technological innovation while reducing resource and energy
consumption

27. Agriculture is the biggest user of water worldwide, and irrigation now claims close to 70 percent of all freshwater appropriated
for human use. The efficient management of our shared natural resources, and the way we dispose of toxic waste and
pollutants, are important targets to achieve this goal. A large share of the world population is still consuming far too little to
meet even their basic needs. Halving per capita global food waste at the retailer and consumer levels is also important for
creating more efficient production and supply chains only One-fifth of the world’s final energy consumption in 2013 was from
renewables.
FACTS
o Each year, an estimated one third of all food produced – equivalent to 1.3 billion tonnes worth around $1 trillion – ends up
rotting in the bins of consumers and retailers, or spoiling due to poor transportation and harvesting practices
o If people worldwide switched to energy efficient lightbulbs the world would save US$120 billion annually
o Should the global population reach 9.6 billion by 2050, the equivalent of almost three planets could be required to provide
the natural resources needed to sustain current lifestyles
o Less than 3 per cent of the world’s water is fresh (drinkable), of which 2.5 per cent is frozen in the Antarctica, Arctic and
glaciers. Humanity must therefore rely on 0.5 per cent for all of man’s ecosystem’s and fresh water needs.
o More than 1 billion people still do not have access to fresh water.
o Households consume 29 per cent of global energy and consequently contribute to 21 per cent of resultant CO2 emissions.
o 3 billion tonnes of food is wasted every year while almost 1 billion people go undernourished and another 1 billion hungry.
o Overconsumption of food is detrimental to our health and the environment.
o 5 billion people globally are overweight or obese.
o Land degradation, declining soil fertility, unsustainable water use, overfishing and marine environment degradation are all
lessening the ability of the natural resource base to supply food.
o The food sector accounts for around 30 per cent of the world’s total energy consumption and accounts for around 22 per
cent of total Greenhouse Gas emissions.

29. The annual average losses from just earthquakes, tsunamis, tropical cyclones and flooding count in the hundreds of billions of
dollars, requiring an investment of US$ 6 billion annually in disaster risk management alone. The goal aims to mobilize $100
billion annually by 2020 to address the needs of developing countries and help mitigate climate-related disasters.
FACTS
o From 1880 to 2012, average global temperature increased by 0.85°C. To put this into perspective, for each 1 degree of
temperature increase, grain yields decline by about 5 per cent. Maize, wheat and other major crops have experienced
significant yield reductions at the global level of 40 megatonnes per year between 1981 and 2002 due to a warmer climate.
o Oceans have warmed, the amounts of snow and ice have diminished and sea level has risen. From 1901 to 2010, the global
average sea level rose by 19 cm as oceans expanded due to warming and ice melted. The Arctic’s sea ice extent has shrunk in
every successive decade since 1979, with 1.07 million km² of ice loss every decade
o Given current concentrations and on-going emissions of greenhouse gases, it is likely that by the end of this century, the
increase in global temperature will exceed 1.5°C compared to 1850 to 1900 for all but one scenario. The world’s oceans will
warm and ice melt will continue. Average sea level rise is predicted as 24 – 30cm by 2065 and 40-63cm by 2100. Most aspects
of climate change will persist for many centuries even if emissions are stopped
o Global emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) have increased by almost 50 per cent since 1990
o Emissions grew more quickly between 2000 and 2010 than in each of the three previous decades
o It is still possible, using a wide array of technological measures and changes in behaviour, to limit the increase in global mean
temperature to two degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels

31. Over three billion people depend on marine and coastal biodiversity for their livelihoods. However, today we are seeing 30
percent of the world’s fish stocks overexploited, well below a level at which they can produce sustainable yields.
Oceans also absorb about 30 percent of the carbon dioxide produced by humans, and we are seeing a 26 percent rise in ocean
acidification since the beginning of the industrial revolution. Marine pollution, an overwhelming majority of which comes from
land-based sources, is reaching alarming levels, with an average of 13,000 pieces of plastic litter to be found on every square
kilometer of ocean.
FACTS
o Oceans cover three quarters of the Earth’s surface, contain 97 per cent of the Earth’s water, and represent 99 per cent of the
living space on the planet by volume
o Over three billion people depend on marine and coastal biodiversity for their livelihoods
o Globally, the market value of marine and coastal resources and industries is estimated at $3 trillion per year or about 5 per
cent of global GDP
o Oceans contain nearly 200,000 identified species, but actual numbers may lie in the millions
o Oceans absorb about 30 per cent of carbon dioxide produced by humans, buffering the impacts of global warming
o Oceans serve as the world’s largest source of protein, with more than 3 billion people depending on the oceans as their
primary source of protein
o Marine fisheries directly or indirectly employ over 200 million people
o Subsidies for fishing are contributing to the rapid depletion of many fish species and are preventing efforts to save and restore
global fisheries and related jobs, causing ocean fisheries to generate US$ 50 billion less per year than they could
o As much as 40 per cent of the world oceans are heavily affected by human activities, including pollution, depleted fisheries,
and loss of coastal habitats

33. Forests account for 30 percent of the Earth’s surface, providing vital habitats for millions of species and important sources for
clean air and water; as well as being crucial for combating climate change. Drought and desertification amounting to the loss of
12 million hectares and affects poor communities globally.
Forests
o Around 1.6 billion people depend on forests for their livelihood. This includes some 70 million indigenous people
o Forests are home to more than 80 per cent of all terrestrial species of animals, plants and insects
Desertification
o 2.6 billion people depend directly on agriculture, but 52 per cent of the land used for agriculture is moderately or severely
affected by soil degradation
o As of 2008, land degradation affected 1.5 billion people globally,Arable land loss is estimated at 30 to 35 times the historical
rate
o Due to drought and desertification each year 12 million hectares are lost (23 hectares per minute), where 20 million tons of
grain could have been grown
o 74 per cent of the poor are directly affected by land degradation globally
Biodiversity
o Of the 8,300 animal breeds known, 8 per cent are extinct and 22 per cent are at risk of extinction
o Of the over 80,000 tree species, less than 1 per cent have been studied for potential use
o Fish provide 20 per cent of animal protein to about 3 billion people. Only ten species provide about 30 per cent of marine
capture fisheries and ten species provide about 50 per cent of aquaculture production
o Over 80 per cent of the human diet is provided by plants. Only three cereal crops – rice, maize and wheat – provide 60 per
cent of energy intake
o As many as 80 per cent of people living in rural areas in developing countries rely on traditional plant-‐based medicines for
basic healthcare

35. High levels of armed violence and insecurity have a destructive impact on a country’s development, affecting economic growth
and often resulting in long standing grievances among communities that can last for generations. Sexual violence, crime,
exploitation and torture are also prevalent where there is conflict or no rule of law, and countries must take measures to protect
those who are most at risk.
FACTS
o Among the institutions most affected by corruption are the judiciary and police
o Corruption, bribery, theft and tax evasion cost some US $1.26 trillion for developing countries per year; this amount of money
could be used to lift those who are living on less than $1.25 a day above $1.25 for at least six years
o The rate of children leaving primary school in conflict affected countries reached 50 per cent in 2011, which accounts to 28.5
million children, showing the impact of unstable societies on one of the major goals of the post 2015 agenda: education.
o The rule of law and development have a significant interrelation and are mutually reinforcing, making it essential for
sustainable development at the national and international level

37. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) can only be realized with a strong commitment to global partnership and
cooperation. While official development assistance from developed countries increased by 66 percent between 2000
and 2014, humanitarian crises brought on by conflict or natural disasters continue to demand financial resources and
aid.
FACTS
o Official development assistance stood at $135.2 billion in 2014, the highest level ever recorded
o 79 per cent of imports from developing countries enter developed countries duty-free
o The debt burden on developing countries remains stable at about 3 per cent of export revenue
o The number of Internet users in Africa almost doubled in the past four years
o 30 per cent of the world’s youth are digital natives, active online for at least five years
o But more four billion people do not use the Internet, and 90 per cent of them are from the developing world

40. How were the goals chosen?
The UN has conducted the largest consultation programme in its history to gauge opinion on
what the SDGs should include.
The open working group, with representatives from 70 countries, had its first meeting in March
2013 and published its final draft, with its 17 suggestions, in July 2014. The draft was presented
to the UN general assembly in September last year followed by Member state negotiations
The UN conducted a series of “global conversations”. These included 11 thematic and 83 national
consultations, and door-to-door surveys.
The UN also launched an online My World survey asking people to prioritise the areas they’d like
to see addressed in the goals. The results of the consultations were fed into the working group’s
discussions.

41. Are governments happy about the proposed 17 goals?
The majority seem to be, but a handful of member states, including the UK and Japan, aren’t so
keen. Some countries feel that an agenda consisting of 17 goals is too unwieldy to implement or
sell to the public, and would prefer a narrower brief. Or so they say. Some believe the underlying
reason is to get rid of some of the more uncomfortable goals, such as those relating to the
environment. Britain’s prime minister, David Cameron, has publicly said he wants 12 goals at the
most, preferably 10. It’s not clear, though, which goals the UK government would like taken out if
they had the choice.
Amina Mohammed, the UN secretary general’s special adviser on post-2015 development
planning, said it had been a hard fight to get the number of goals down to 17, so there would be
strong resistance to reducing them further.
Some NGOs also believe there are too many goals, but there is a general consensus that it is
better to have 17 goals that include targets on women’s empowerment, good governance, and
peace and security, for example, than fewer goals that don’t address these issues.

42. How will the goals be funded?
That’s the trillion-dollar question. Rough calculations from the intergovernmental committee of
experts on sustainable development financing have put the cost of providing a social safety net
to eradicate extreme poverty at about $66bn (£43bn) a year, while annual investments in
improving infrastructure (water, agriculture, transport, power) could be up to a total of $7tn
globally.
Public finance and aid would be central to support the implementation of the SDGs.
Money generated from the private sector, through tax reforms,
A crackdown on illicit financial flows and corruption, was also vital.

43. How will the goals be measured?
The indicators are still being thrashed out by an expert group. Each indicator is being assessed for
its feasibility, suitability and relevance, and roughly two for each target are expected. The
indicators are due to be finalised in March 2016
When will the new goals come into force?
The SDGs will be officially adopted at a UN summit in New York in September, and will become
applicable from January 2016.
By 2020, enhance capacity-building support to developing countries, including for least
developed countries and small island developing States, to increase significantly the availability
of high-quality, timely and reliable data disaggregated by income, gender, age, race, ethnicity,
migratory status, disability, geographic location and other characteristics relevant in national
contexts
By 2030, build on existing initiatives to develop measurements of progress on sustainable
development that complement gross domestic product, and support statistical capacity-building
in developing countries.