The United Nations is pleased with the ongoing global efforts to implement the Sustainable Development Goals countries committed to implement to improve the lives of their citizens, according to Jan Eliasson, U.N. Deputy Secretary-General.

Last September, 190 world leaders pledged their commitment to 17 SDGs to end extreme poverty, fix climate change, and fight inequality and injustice, in a bid to attain an equitable, more prosperous and sustainable world.  The SGDs are intended to stimulate action during the next 15 years in areas of critical importance.

In an exclusive interview with VOA, Eliasson expressed optimism about how the SDGs are being translated into national realities, strategies and plans.

“They are already starting to implement them on a national level.  This is the first year, this is the second month, and already we have close to 25 nations wanting to tell us, in summer when we have a big meeting about implementation, what they are doing,” said Eliasson.