It’s time to tell everyone about the Global Goals

This post is part the LinkedIn Take Action series in which Influencers and members discuss how to drive change that matters. Read all the posts here and write your own; include the hashtag #2030NOW in the body of your post.

We are now in the most important few weeks, of the most important year that has ever been. This month, leaders from more than 193 Member States will come together at the UN in New York to adopt the Global Goals – a set of ambitious, but achievable milestones that can change the world for the better for everyone.

The Global Goals cover 17 key areas of sustainable development, which if carried out will eradicate poverty, fight inequality and injustice, and combat climate change. Our leaders have been tasked with making the brave decisions, but it’s up to all of us to commit to taking bold action. If we don’t hit these milestones in the next 15 years, the planet and every single being on it will be in a dangerous position.

No matter where you live, how much money you have, or how much you enjoy your life, you will still be affected if we pull up short of achieving these goals.

The Global Goals are about everyone and for everyone. Hunger, clean water, gender equality, peaceful societies, quality education, good health and wellbeing, clean energy, decent work and economic growth, industry innovation, inequality, sustainable cities, responsible consumption, climate action, poverty, ocean conservation, sustainable ecosystems and global partnerships are all on the table.

I’m proud to lend my voice to promoting the Global Goals, and I’m not alone. Stephen Hawkings, One Direction, Malala, Kate Winslet, Chris Martin, Pearl Jam, Beyoncé, Hugh Jackman, Matt Damon, Melinda Gates, plus so many more influential names have vouched to do all they can to get the word out there. Because if the goals are going to work, everyone needs to know about them.

We have seven days – from September 25th to October 2nd – to make the Global Goals famous. We must tell everyone. Once the goals are famous, they won’t be forgotten. And once all seven billion people in the world know about them we must act.

But it’s not just up to individuals, non-profit organisations and governments to act, businesses should step up too. Business can and should be a driving force for good – this is our purpose at Virgin, and is the reason for which, Virgin Unite-incubated initiative, the B Team was launched. We need to change business for good to do even more. Business can solve some of the world’s most pressing and challenging issues, by rethinking the way we work. Made up of company leaders from all over the globe, the B Team aims to do this by evolving business’ narrow focus on profit, to profit with purpose.

Fifteen years ago the Millennium Development Goals came into play, and as a result managed to halve extreme poverty. We should all take a moment to celebrate them and what they represent – they show us that hope is alive and through good information, government collaboration, and everyday citizens committing to take bold action, we can achieve whatever it is we put our minds to.

No matter who you are, it’s time to read up about the Global Goals and tell everyone you know about them. But don’t just stop there; find your focus and act. The clock is ticking. It’s now or never. We have 15 years to get the world on track to a better future. Let’s seize this very poignant and powerful moment in time. If we do, we can be the first generation to end extreme poverty, the most determined generation in history to end injustice and inequality, and the last generation to be threatened by climate change.

Find out more about the Global Goals and tell everyone.