In a historic moment, world leaders from the United Nations have decided to adopt the most ambitious agenda ever conceptualized to combat poverty, inequality, climate change, and a number of other pertinent issues. Dubbed the 17 Sustainable Development Goals, or SDGs for short, the plan is set to be implemented over the next 15 years with a massive global push that includes both public and political support, according to Reuters.
The monumental decision was formally adopted against the backdrop of the worst refugee crisis in history since the Second World War. Nevertheless, its proponents believe that since the plan has been set in motion, it is now time for "a little less conversation, a little more action."
While the adoption of the SDGs was a historic moment unto itself, the implementation of the mammoth plan has been found to be much more daunting, with the toughest challenges being the sheer scope of the agenda, a practical checks and balances system and the funding of the project, reports MSN News.
Estimates for the project's optimal implementation is projected at around $3 trillion dollars a year. Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) Secretary-General Angel Gurria has stated that the active participation of the private sector is extremely critical, while governments must strengthen tax and regulatory systems to encourage investment, according to Yahoo! News.
"Without the private sector, it is not going to happen, as we have budgetary constraints in every country," Gurria said.
Pledges for the project have started rolling in, however, with with U.N. Secretary Ban-Ki-moon announcing more than $25 billion in initial commitments over five years from 40 countries and more than 100 international organizations.
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