These goals recognize that ending poverty and other deprivations must go hand-in-hand with strategies that improve health and education, reduce inequality, and spur economic growth, all with the sustainability of our climate, oceans, and forests in mind.

While much progress has been made in recent decades, ongoing systemic issues persist, leading to continued cycles of poverty, food scarcity, and violence. Through investments up-front, sustainable development pays dividends in the long run, both in societal benefits and economic growth and stability.