The Millennium Development Goals constituted
a clear breakthrough in the international community
and the international community was able to come together,
not only to build the Millennium Development Goals,
but to achieve most of the goals set forth in the plan.
But it was clear that there was much more to be done.
The Sustainable Development Goals,
or the 2030 Agenda,
are built on the success of the Millennium Development Goals' aim
to go further to end all forms of poverty.
The new goals are unique in that they call for action by all countries,
poor, rich, and middle income,
to promote prosperity while protecting the planet.
They recognize that ending poverty must go hand in
hand with the strategies that build economic growth,
and address a range of social needs including education, health,
social protection, and job opportunities,
while tackling climate change and environmental protection.
The new agenda is a promise by leaders to all people everywhere.
It is a universal,
integrated, and transformative vision for a better world.
It is an agenda for people to end poverty in all its forms.
An agenda for the planet, our common home,
an agenda for shared prosperity, peace and partnership.
It conveys the urgency of climate action,
it is rooted in gender equality
and respect for the rights of all.
On September 25 and 27,
during the seventieth session of the United Nations General Assembly,
the United Nations member states convened
a special summit for the adoption of the post 2015 development agenda.
Most of the world leaders came to New York
and I had even invited his holiness,
Pope Francis, to address the special summit session of the United Nations.
It was the first time that a Pope had been invited for such an occasion.
This special summit concluded with the adoption of the declaration,
Transforming our world, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
A universal call to action for the improvement of people, planet,
prosperity, peace and partnership,
which is unprecedented in both the scope and ambition.
I can still remember how much all member states,
the leaders were excited
and I have never seen such a long standing ovation.
The world leaders were united.
The whole world was together.
What the 2030 Agenda brings is,
not merely 17 goals and indexes the nations must achieve,
it symbolizes the cooperation of all the member states of the United Nations,
the local governments, the private sectors
and the civil society.
The SDGs are remarkable due to their complexity and comprehensive nature.
Compared to the Millennium Development Goals,
they involve more sections of society
and areas of life.
Therefore, the agenda aims to provide efficient,
effective development goals to be achieved by all member states,
in linking all parts of the earth,
from economy to environment.
It has upgraded the Millennium Development Goals to a new level
and offers hope to future generations,
as they take on the management of our planet.
The sustainable development agenda is an inclusive agenda
and pays special attention to the needs of the poorest
and the most vulnerable.
The strategies within the agenda are ambitious, action-oriented
and collaborative and adapt to different development levels in different nations.
I believe that this is the most far reaching,
most ambitious development agenda the United Nations has ever presented,
since its founding in 1945.
The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development touches four dimensions of society.
First, the Sustainable Development Goals build upon
the mission of the MDGs in eradicating extreme poverty.
The eradication of extreme poverty reflects
the economic development dimension of the Sustainable Development Agenda.
Economic development is the foundation of any development challenges,
like that of the MDGs.
The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development embraces
the roles and results that have come out of the MDGs,
but taking a much bigger role.
Although the MDGs provided some focus on social inclusion,
the SDGs include specific categories of people
whose social inclusion must be achieved for a more comprehensive society.
The social inclusion of youth,
women, and children in education,
community building and other partnerships are included in the 2030 Agenda.
The third dimension includes environmental sustainability.
When the MDGs were first introduced,
the fight for environmental protection was included, but since then,
major negotiations around the climate change protocols have been undertaken
and important breakthroughs have been achieved internationally.
The new global acceptance of climate change protocols is reflected in the 2030 Agenda.
The last dimension is of good governance.
This dimension is important since
the inclusion of developed countries in the 2030 Agenda.
Unlike the MDGs, the SDG is a goal and target for all nations,
whether or not they are developing or developed countries.
The role of good governance is crucial to
provide the foundation for sustainable society
and therefore has been named as one of the SDGs.
In conclusion, the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda
was created on the foundation of MDGs.
The 2030 Agenda has become much more inclusive
and comprehensive for all sectors
and for all areas.
The four dimensions of the SDGs show that the targets apply towards all.
Ban Ki-moonDistinguished Chair Professor
