Leaders of more than 150 countries at a United Nations summit in September 2015 adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that must be achieved by 2030. Under the key principle that "no one will be left behind," the goals include "no poverty," "zero hunger," "good health and well-being," "quality education" and "gender equality" as well as "affordable and clean energy" and "climate action," and specific targets are set for each of the goals.

Achieving these goals will indeed contribute to enabling people all over the world to enjoy a secure and healthy life. Despite the significance of the 2030 Agenda and its goals, however, public recognition remains low in Japan. The government needs to take steps to enlighten people and various organizations about the SDGs' importance so they will take concrete action to help achieve the goals.

According to the U.N., about 10 percent of employed workers worldwide who live with family members were in extreme poverty as of 2016, earning less than $1.90 a day. The situation is particularly serious in sub-Saharan regions, with 34 percent of such workers reported to live in extreme poverty. The percentage of children younger than 5 suffering from growth retardation went down from 32.7 percent in 2000 to 22.9 percent last year. Still, an estimated 155 million children belong to that category, with those in South Asia and sub-Saharan regions accounting for 75 percent of the total. Women this year make up only 23.4 percent of members of parliamentary lower houses or unicameral chambers across the globe.