The start of a new year is often a time for reflection and resolution. For the world, it means another opportunity to set things right for its future. For us, as individuals, it means we can start making a difference in the world by taking action on pressing matters.

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres shared a message with the world for 2018, saying:

“As we begin 2018, I call for unity. I truly believe we can make our world more safe and secure. We can settle conflicts, overcome hatred, and defend shared values. But we can only do that together. I urge leaders everywhere to make this New Year’s resolution: Narrow the gaps. Bridge the divides. Rebuild trust by bringing people together around common goals. Unity is the path. Our future depends on it.”

Here there are 17 new year’s resolutions that we should be striving to achieve on 2018. See the difference that can be made in the world if we achieve these goals:

1. No Poverty

1 in 7 people live on less than $1.25 a day. But if we reach Global Goal #1…

2. Zero Hunger

1 in 9 people live with chronic hunger everyday. But if we eradicate hunger…

3. Good Health and Well-Being

Every minute, 219 children get life-saving vaccines, but 11 under the age of 5 still die- mostly from preventable causes. But if we achieve the good health and well-being goal…

4. Quality Education

The same number of girls are going to primary school in the UK, as those NOT going to primary school in Ethiopia. But if we can guarantee quality education for children everywhere…

5. Gender Equality

39,000 girls under the age of 18 become child brides everyday. That’s more than a whole classroom of girls every single minute. But if we can create a world where gender equality is a reality…

6. Clean Water and Sanitation

More people own a mobile phone than have access to a toilet. But if we can achieve the clean water and sanitation goal…

7. Affordable and Clean Energy

1 in 6 people on the planet don’t have access to electricity. That’s like more than the whole of Europe and Northern America living without power. But if we can provide affordable and clean energy to all parts of the world…

8. Decent Work and Economic Growth

There were 168 million child laborers worldwide in 2012, more than 10x the number of people who visited Disneyland in the same year. But if we can reach the decent work and economic growth goal, then…

9. Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

80% of household in developed countries have internet access, compared with just 7% of household in the least developed countries. But if we can achieve the industry, innovation, and infrastructure goal…

10. Reduced Inequalities

The richest 85 people in the world own as much as the poorest half of humanity. But if we reduced inequalities around the world, then…

11. Sustainable Cities and Communities

More than half the people in urban sub-Saharan Africa live in slums. But if we can create sustainable cities and communities, then…

12. Responsible Consumption

In 1900, the world produced 300,000 tons of rubbish a day. In 2000, the world produced 3 million tons of rubbish a day. But if we can become responsible consumers, then…

13. Climate Action

200 million people were hit by natural disasters every year between 2000-2012. That’s the same as every Instagram user having their lives turned upside down, year on year. But if we can become more environmentally responsible, then…

14. Life Below Water

There are more than 5 trillion plastic particles floating in the world’s oceans. Together they weigh more than a thousand blue whales. But if we can create cleaner and healthier oceans…

15. Life on Land

10,000 species are going extinct every year. Since 2000 we’ve lost the Yangtze river dolphin, the West African black rhino, and the Formosan clouded leopard. But if we achieve the life on land goal, then…

16. Peace and Justice

1.8 billion of the world’s poorest people were not registered at birth so do not legally exist. That’s like every young person in the world aged 10-24 suddenly disappearing. But if we could achieve peace and justice around the world, then…

17. Partnerships for the Goals

in 2014, 30% of all aid went to the poorest and most vulnerable countries. But if the world worked together to make the Global Goals a reality, then…

THIS is why the #GlobalGoals are so important. Make sure 2018 is the year that we work together to solve some of the world’s most pressing issues. Get involved and take action TODAY! Let’s make 2018 the year we changed the direction of our world!