A better world, defined in 17 goals and 169 sub-goals – that was what the United Nations had planned. But at halftime it becomes clear that the path is much further than expected. There are even regressions.
There was a lot to celebrate in 2015. The United Nations took stock of its “Millennium Goals” and the progress was clear. The number of people in extreme poverty had fallen to 836 million – compared to 1.9 billion at the beginning of the 1990s. The proportion of illiterates fell, but more children attended primary school. Child mortality had fallen massively. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon praised the “most successful anti-poverty movement in history” at the time. Now it is time to tackle the next 15 years.