It’s been less than one year since the Sustainable Development Goals came to life. And already, there is evidence that governments are taking them seriously.

The Sustainable Development Goals were signed by heads of state at a UN summit last September and officially came into force on January 1 this year. They are a set of 17 goals that commit the world to end poverty and hunger, curb preventable diseases, promote maternal and child health, boost energy production and ensure that the benefits of economic development reach the farthest corners of the earth–all in a sustainable, climate neutral way. The target date is 2030.

All this week at the United Nations, there is a flurry of activity by governments, civil society and the private sector that demonstrate that even before its first birthday, the SDGs are fundamentally changing how the international community is approaching the fight to end extreme poverty and promote sustainable development.

Image: Afroreggae raised a flag to represent Goal 10, Reduced Inequalities, in Morro de Alem‹o in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, to support the UN Global Goals for Sustainable Development. Credit: Cristina Granato