The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals: Explained In 90 Seconds

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The United Nations officially adopted a new set of global goals on September 25, 2015 called the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (or SDGs). Take a look at all the goals in 90 seconds.

Known as Agenda 2030 after the deadline for meeting them, or often just as the Global Goals, they were adopted at the opening of a three-day summit meeting in New York at the United Nations which was attended by Pope Francis and leaders from 154 nations.

The SDGs have been called as the most comprehensive international effort ever to tackle the world's ills. The SDGs are a set of 17 goals and 169 targets and the estimated price tag for achieving them is $3 trillion. The SDGs are intended to be universal, applying to all countries rather than just the developing world.

To be met over the next 15 years, beginning on Jan. 1, 2016, the SDGs replace the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) which were adopted in 2000 and expire this year. Critics and supporters alike are declaring the SDGs to be highly ambitious. The MDGs dealt primarily with poverty, education and health. The SDGs hit all of those topics but also tackle global inequality, environmental issues and access to technology.