NEW YORK:  World leaders on Friday pledged to end extreme poverty in 15 years, launching an ambitious UN development agenda that sets priorities for trillions of dollars in spending.

We need action from everyone, everywhere.

Pope Francis welcomed the new global goals as an “important sign of hope” in his address to the UN General Assembly and urged leaders to deliver on their promise to transform the world by 2030.

Critics say the goals lack precise definition and point to a history of grand pledges at the UN — without necessarily following through on them.