The United Nations' first Sustainable Development Goal (SDG 1) seeks to eradicate poverty in all its forms everywhere by 2030. Poverty remains one of the most pressing global challenges, with millions of people living in extreme poverty, unable to meet their basic needs for food, shelter, and clean water. SDG 1 focuses on creating equal opportunities for all, ensuring access to social protection, and addressing the underlying causes of poverty, such as inequality, economic exclusion, and lack of access to essential services like education and healthcare.
Key targets under SDG 1 include:
Eradicating extreme poverty, defined as people living on less than $1.90 a day.
Reducing the percentage of people living in poverty by at least half, through equal access to resources, services, and economic opportunities.
Ensuring that all men and women, particularly those in vulnerable situations, have equal rights to economic resources, access to basic services, and ownership of land and other forms of property.
Addressing the needs of those who are most vulnerable, including children, the elderly, and persons with disabilities.
Poverty reduction is fundamental for achieving all other SDGs, as it is a barrier to health, education, equality, and economic growth. Global efforts towards SDG 1 focus on empowering communities, creating sustainable livelihoods, and building social safety nets to ensure that no one is left behind.