What are the MDG's?
Millennium Development Goals are the most broadly supported, comprehensive, and specific poverty reduction targets the world has ever established.
In 2000, the largest gathering of world leaders in history adopted the UN Millennium Declaration, committing their nations to a new global partnership to reduce poverty, improve health, and promote peace, human rights, gender equality, and environmental sustainability.
The plan involves achieving eight goals called the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Each country - including Australia - promised to take action to help developing countries reach these goals.
The goals aim to tackle issues such as hunger, universal primary education, child mortality, maternal health and the spread of HIV. Specific targets have been set for each goal but many of these targets are behind schedule.
Organisations such as the International Business Leadership Forum (IBLF) and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) have recognised that the achievement of the goals remains unrealistic unless businesses of all sizes contribute their skills, resources and economic development power to the targets.