United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 1: Poverty Eradication

Eradicating poverty is the first of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), carrying the vision of achieving social justice and equality on a global scale.

Eliminating Poverty

The Multidimensional Issue of Poverty

SDG 1 recognizes that poverty is not justa matter of insufficient income; it also manifests in various forms such ashunger and malnutrition, lack of access to education and other basic publicservices, social discrimination and exclusion, and inability to participate indecision-making. Inclusive economic growth must provide sustainable employment opportunities and promote fairness to ensure that everyone can share in thefruits of development. We have observed an increasing number of young students engaging in social practices, researching rural development issues, and combining their knowledge to help revitalize local villages.

Young students visiting villagers' homes for research | Photo source:Southwestern University of Finance and Economics

Social Security and Access to Resources

One of the ways to achieve the goal ofpoverty eradication is to implement a comprehensive social security system and measures suitable for each country's conditions, including minimum standards,to cover the poor and vulnerable groups. In addition, ensuring that all men andwomen, especially the poor and vulnerable groups, have equal rights to accesseconomic resources, including land ownership, inheritance, and access tonatural resources and financial services, including microcredit, is key toachieving economic independence and enhancing disaster resilience.

Global Cooperation and Resource Mobilization

The realization of SDG 1 requires global cooperation.This includes the support of developed countries for developing countries, aswell as the special attention of the international community to the least developed countries. Ensuring the full mobilization of resources from various sources to provide sufficient and predictable means for the implementation ofrelevant plans and policies is the foundation for accelerating povertyeradication actions.

Progress and Challenges

Although the global extreme poverty ratehas significantly decreased since 1990, a large number of people still livebelow the poverty line. Many people are still at risk of falling back into poverty in the face of hunger, disease, and lack of education. In addition,factors such as climate change, conflicts, and economic recession have also increased the complexity of the poverty issue.

Young students entering the community to carry out science popularization activities| Photo source: Southwestern University of Finance and Economics

Call to Action

It is time to take action, contribute to the realization of SDG 1 by changing our living habits and making environmentally friendly choices. This is not only the responsibility of governments and international organizations but also the common mission of every individual, enterprise, and community. Through joint efforts, we can build a more sustainable and fair world where everyone can enjoy dignity and opportunities.