The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and 17 Global Goals

The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) were the eight international development goals for the year 2015 that had been established following the Millennium Summit of the United Nations in 2000, following the adoption of the United Nations Millennium Declaration. 

All 191 United Nations member states at that time, and at least 22 international organizations, committed to help achieve the following Millennium Development Goals by 2015:

•To eradicate extreme poverty and hunger

•To achieve universal primary education

•To promote gender equality and empower women

•To reduce child mortality

•To improve maternal health

•To combat HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other diseases

•To ensure environmental sustainability

•To develop a global partnership for development

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) (or Global Goals for Sustainable Development, the 17 Global Goals, the Global Goals or simply the Goals) are a collection of 17 global goals set by the United Nations General Assembly in 2015.

The SDGs are part of Resolution 70/1 of the United Nations General Assembly    -  "Transforming our World: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development".

That has been shortened to "2030 Agenda". 

The goals are broad and interdependent, yet each has a separate list of targets to achieve. 

Achieving all 169 targets would signal accomplishing all 17 goals.

The SDGs cover social and economic development issues including poverty, hunger, health, education, 

global warming, gender equality, water, sanitation, energy, 

urbanization, environment and social justice.