The World Can’t Wait More Than a Century – Let's End Poverty Now!

Today, on End Poverty Day, we’re confronted with a harsh reality: nearly half of the world’s population lives on less than $6.85 a day. And at the current rate, it will take over a century to lift them out of poverty. A century – too long for anyone to wait for a chance at a better future.?

That's not all. Almost 700 million people – 8.5% of the global population – struggle to survive on less than $2.15 a day. These figures should belong to the past. Eliminating poverty at this level could take three decades. Maybe even more, depending on economic growth.?

How did we get there when, not long ago, we were experiencing decades of progress and had every reason to be hopeful? Between 1990 and 2015, over a billion people were lifted out of extreme poverty. Yet now, as we look toward 2030—the end of what was supposed to be a decade of sustainable action – only 69 million people are projected to escape extreme poverty.?

We know what went wrong: the 2020s have become a lost decade—not just for a few nations, but for the entire world. A mix of low economic growth, the lingering effects of COVID-19, climate change, and rising fragility has stalled global poverty reduction. This is what we call a “polycrisis”—overlapping crises, each amplifying the destructive impact of the others.?

So how do we get back on track? How do we forge a path out of this polycrisis???

Ending extreme poverty and boosting shared prosperity on a livable planet requires actions in two key areas: accelerating inclusive growth and protecting people from climate shocks. This means creating more and better jobs, investing in the workforce, and strengthening resilience through better risk management and faster climate change mitigation.?

Take growth – the most effective way to reduce poverty through opportunities. The challenge today is creating the right conditions for sustained, inclusive growth. Because people need real opportunities to climb the socioeconomic ladder, which can be achieved by improving labor markets and investing in human potential.?

On the other hand, the need to protect people from the impacts of climate change is undeniable. Nearly 1 in 5 people globally are likely to experience a severe weather shock in their lifetime, from which recovery will be painfully slow.?

What is clear is that future poverty reduction must come with economic growth that is less carbon-intensive than in the past. While eliminating extreme poverty would not come at a high cost for the planet, reducing poverty at the higher standard of $6.85 per day could lead to a considerable rise in emissions if not managed carefully.?

Policymakers face difficult choices, having to deal with limited budgets, high uncertainty, and conflicting interests. An almost impossible trade-off between growing incomes and lowering greenhouse gas emissions.?

This is where every country needs a tailored approach, prioritizing certain policies, while managing synergies and trade-offs. Check out our new Poverty, Prosperity, and Planet Report report’s recommendations for more. ?

This all leaves me with a sense of urgency to redouble our efforts to reduce poverty and improve prosperity on a livable planet. On End Poverty Day and every day.?