Why are the Millennium Development Goals important?

"The global community cannot turn its back on the poor and the vulnerable. We must strengthen global cooperation and solidarity, and redouble our efforts to reach the MDGs and advance the broader development agenda."

Ban Ki Moon
UN Secretary-General
The Millennium Development Goals Report 2009

The adoption of the Millennium Declaration represented a historic global commitment. It was the first time that so many governments and global institutions came together to pledge their commitment to tackling poverty. Recognising that mass poverty is unacceptable given today's wealth and technological achievements, the international community created a blueprint for their development efforts, one that is the most ambitious and comprehensive to date.

Not only do the goals explicitly recognise that poverty has many dimensions that need to be addressed, but they also define the responsibilities of all development actors involved. This provides the opportunity for us to hold our leaders to account on their pledge. There is no excuse for failure. The solutions have been outlined and the political framework established, all that is needed is action.

If the goals were to be achieved by 2015 -

• 500 million people will be lifted out of poverty
• 300 million people will no longer suffer from hunger
• 350 million fewer people will live without access to safe drinking water
• 650 million fewer people will live without basic sanitation

For the billion-plus living in poverty, the achievement of the goals represents an escape from their abject living conditions and the means to a productive life.