By Jake Griffin
Contributing Writer

World leaders came together to create 17 goals in hopes of improving the world and quality of life for all of humanity within the next 15 years. The main objectives of these goals are: ending extreme poverty, fighting inequality and injustice, and fixing climate change, according to globalgoals.org.

“We cannot permit ourselves to postpone ‘certain agendas’ for the future,” Pope Francis said at the United Nations General Assembly Sept. 25. “The future demands of us critical and global decisions in the face of worldwide conflicts which increase the number of the excluded and those in need.” The pope, along with many others, is pushing for a change.

While these goals range from eradicating “inequality within and among countries” to ensuring “sustainable consumption and production patterns,” according to globalgoals.org, the UN’s number one goal is to eradicate poverty by 2030. More people need to get on board for these goals to succeed, according to globalgoals. org. The foundation is working to get the word out wherever possible: websites, billboards, television, radio and even classrooms and movie screens.

“Sometimes it’s said that our efforts to combat poverty and disease do not and cannot work, that there are some places beyond hope,” President Barack Obama said, at the assembly. “Today, we set aside the skepticism and we lift up the hope that is available to us through collective action.”

The Global Goals have created an app to help spread awareness of the campaign. It allows users to build an audience, to share goals and inspire action through photos, videos and other media.

“Because the world came together in an unprecedented effort, the global hunger rate has already been slashed,” Obama said. “In many of our nations, especially developed countries, there is, among our general population, a genuine compassion toward those in need.”

Julie Bishop, minister for foreign affairs of Australia, said at the U.N.: “Should we realize all 17 goals, we will transform our world for the betterment of humankind … We must ensure that the remarkable spirit of cooperation displayed during the negotiation process is maintained as we work to turn these ambitious goals into reality.”

The founding partners of Global Goals include companies such as Getty Images, Pearson Education and Standard Chartered PLC. The foundation also has delivery partners such as Google, eBay, Yahoo and Bing, along with many others pushing for a cleaner and safer world.

“The entire world can take enormous pride in these historic achievements,” Obama said. “So let the skeptics and cynics know development works.”