By Chinedu Onyejelem

Renewed efforts aimed at ending world poverty by 2030 have been announced by the United Nations at a recent summit in New York.

The UN said world leaders have adopted a post-2015 development agenda which includes “a set of global goals to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure prosperity for all as part of a new sustainable development agenda.”

Succeeding from the Millennium Development Goals, the new proposal comprises 17 Sustainable Development Goals and 169 related targets that must be met over the next 15 years.

“For the goals to be reached,” said the UN in a statement, “everyone needs to do their part: governments, the private sector, civil society and people like you.”

Speaking ahead of the announcement, UN secretary-general Ban Ki-moon said: “We have a big, bold agenda before us – now we must work to make it real in people’s lives everywhere.”

Previously, the UN described 2015 as “a watershed year” for the organisation, in the agreement of new goals that will “change the paradigm about development” – and that gives a boost to the global climate change accord later this year.

In a historic address to the UN summit, Pope Francis repeated his call for urgent global action on climate change.

Meanwhile, the Irish NGO association Dochas has welcomed the announcement, with director Hans Zomer saying: “The goals focus on people, planet, prosperity, peace and partnership with a commitment to leave no one behind.

“The global goals will provide a framework for the work of the international development sector into the future and will impact on domestic and international policy making,” he added.

“This universal agreement will affect the lives of people north and south of the equator. It sets a challenge to all countries of the world to work in partnership to eradicate extreme poverty and combat climate change to achieve a more sustainable future for all.”