Dear Rotarians and friends,
In 2015, all United Nations members adopted the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) targeting peace and prosperity for all people in the world by 2030. I was thrilled to have a roadmap to end extreme poverty within my lifetime.
In 2015, all United Nations members adopted the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) targeting peace and prosperity for all people in the world by 2030. I was thrilled to have a roadmap to end extreme poverty within my lifetime.
I began to organize my life around the Goals, seeking every professional and personal opportunity to contribute meaningfully. I visited the United Nations building in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia in 2019, and was in awe to be so close to where the most meaningful work on the Goals was happening.
We are now only 6 years away from the target completion date and the most recent SDG report from July 2024 does not look good. There was slow and steady progress when the Goals were initially set, but the pandemic and other factors, such as conflicts, political struggles and climate change, among other things, have led to massive shortcomings.
This Wednesday, we will have the opportunity to visit the United Nations headquarters building in New York City and hear from a UN representative about the path forward on the Goals. I am looking forward to the opportunity to get some answers about how to get back on track and I look forward to talking through the possibilities with members of STRC, Interact and Rotary Exchange.
In Rotary
Kate Hoath
President