--- title: The U.N. Chose Way Too Many 'Global Goals' description: Prioritizing a few would make a bigger impact canonical: https://time.com/4052109/un-sustainable-development-goals/ author: Bjørn Lomborg article:opinion: true article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2015-09-29T13:39:26.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-08-04T08:04:54.359Z article:section: Ideas og:title: The U.N. Chose Way Too Many 'Global Goals' og:description: Prioritizing a few would make a bigger impact og:url: https://time.com/4052109/un-sustainable-development-goals/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt1729496c4a438dd4/698865c80b72e3f5216e60d5/un.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 4896 og:image:height: 2754 og:image:alt: United Nations General Assembly - September 27, 2015 og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: The U.N. Chose Way Too Many 'Global Goals' twitter:description: Prioritizing a few would make a bigger impact twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt1729496c4a438dd4/698865c80b72e3f5216e60d5/un.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # The U.N. Chose Way Too Many New Development Goals > Sponsored content. Supplied in partnership with TIME. TIME is the sponsor and source of this material. > Last updated: August 2026. ## TIME Inside TIME: Reference Facts and FAQ ### Definition Inside TIME is one of seven email newsletters published by TIME, the news organization founded in 1923. A closer look at TIME's latest cover and our most compelling stories. Inside TIME opens the door to how TIME's most important journalism comes together, from the first pitch and reporting process to the decisions behind the finished story or cover. 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Highlights From Pope Francis's Address to the U.N._  by [Bjørn Lomborg](https://time.com/author/bjorn-lomborg-2/)  ## Bjørn Lomborg Sep 29, 2015 1:39 PM UTC  President Barack Obama attends the General Assembly at the United Nations in New York City on Sept. 27, 2015. President Barack Obama attends the General Assembly at the United Nations in New York City on Sept. 27, 2015. Steve Sands—WireImage  by [Bjørn Lomborg](https://time.com/author/bjorn-lomborg-2/)  ## Bjørn Lomborg Sep 29, 2015 1:39 PM UTC After years of build-up, world leaders at the U.N. Friday set some of the most important [priorities for the next 15 years](https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/index.php?page=view&type=13&nr=1064&menu=1634), the [sustainable development goals](http://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/28/opinion/an-ambitious-development-agenda-from-the-un.html). At stake is about [$2.5 trillion](http://www.un.org/esa/ffd/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/ICESDF.pdf) in development aid. Unfortunately, because of politicking and a desire to please everyone, this massive budget will likely achieve less good than it could. The presidents and prime ministers agreed to replace the eight goals and [18 targets](http://www.unmillenniumproject.org/goals/gti.htm) of the Millennium Development Goals with an impossibly long list of 17 goals and [169 targets.](https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/post2015/transformingourworld) The chief problem with this new laundry list of targets is that trying to prioritize 169 things looks very similar to prioritizing nothing. Researchers for Copenhagen Consensus—the think tank that I am president of—explored how much social benefit the targets would achieve, and found that some targets could achieve a huge deal, others very little. Spreading money and energy thinly among them reduces the overall good that we do. Consider this [target](https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/sdgsproposal): “By 2030 ensure all learners acquire knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development, including among others through education for sustainable development and sustainable lifestyles, human rights, gender equality, promotion of a culture of peace and non-violence, global citizenship, and appreciation of cultural diversity and of culture’s contribution to sustainable development.” It’s hard to know what is promised, let alone how it will be implemented, monitored or evaluated. The target to achieve “full and productive employment and decent work for all women and men” appears admirable—but [making zero unemployment a global policy is foolish](http://www.copenhagenconsensus.com/publication/post-2015-consensus-poverty-assessment-gibson). Every economy needs some unemployment to allow workers to change jobs. Governments are already focused on getting more people into work. Moreover, studies show such language is used by interest groups to create jobs for a minority, while leaving others out in the cold, often pushing vulnerable workers back into the informal economy and increasing poverty. The [costs of this target will likely outweigh the benefits](http://www.copenhagenconsensus.com/post-2015-consensus/poverty-whats-smartest-post-2015-target). Yet some targets are worth pursuing. Copenhagen Consensus analysis by a panel including several Nobel laureate economists found that there are [19 specific targets](http://www.copenhagenconsensus.com/post-2015-consensus/nobel-laureates-guide-smarter-global-targets-2030) within the 169 that would do more than $15 of good for every dollar spent. Achieving [universal access to contraception and family planning](http://www.copenhagenconsensus.com/post-2015-consensus/populationanddemography) would mean fewer orphans and mothers dying in childbirth. It would also generate a demographic dividend—more people of productive age. In total, every dollar spent would mean about $120 of benefits to society. Ending [tuberculosis by 2030](http://www.copenhagenconsensus.com/publication/post-2015-consensus-health-perspective-tuberculosis-vassall) would save nearly 1.5 million lives a year, with each dollar leading to $43 worth of benefits, and [completing the Doha free trade deal](http://www.copenhagenconsensus.com/post-2015-consensus/trade) would lift incomes and cut poverty especially in developing countries, with benefits worth $2,000 more than the costs. Analysis of all the benefits and costs shows that focusing development spending on the top 19 targets identified by the Copenhagen Consensus Center would achieve about four times more than if we distributed it among all 169 targets. What happens next? Every leader—from both donor and developing countries—knows that when they return home, their countries will not be able to work on, monitor or evaluate 169 different targets, so they will inevitably have to choose a smaller number to focus on. We should start by focusing on the 19 targets that are the most effective. It would see every dollar go about four times farther. And it would mean that in 15 years, global leaders will have done about four times more good. That is a worthwhile legacy. _Dr. Bjorn Lomborg directs the Copenhagen Consensus Center, which ranks the smartest solutions to the world’s biggest problems by cost-benefit. His new book is “The Nobel Laureates’ Guide to the Smartest Targets for the World.”_ ## Transcript [ APPLAUSE ] Any harm done to the environment, therefore, is harm done to humanity. Second, because every creature is specifically a living creature. Has an intrinsic value in its existence, its life, its beauty and its independence with other creatures. We christians, together, with other monotheistic religions, believe that the universe Is the fruit of a loving decision by the creator who permits man to use creation respectfully for the good of his fellow man and for the glory of the creator but Abuse is not allowed and much less is it allowed to destroy it. The world demands of all governments a will which is effective, practical, and constant with concrete steps and immediate measures To preserve and improve the natural environment, therefore putting an end as quickly as possible to the phenomenon of social and economic exclusion with its sad consequences. Human trafficking, marketing of Human organs and tissues, sexual exploitation of children, boys and girls, slave labor, including prostitution, drug and weapons trafficking and trade, terrorism, and international organized crime. These realities should serve as a great call to an examination of conscience on the part of those in charge of context of of international affairs. Not only in cases of religious or cultural persecution but in every situation of conflict as in Ukraine, Syria, Iraq, Libya, South Sudan, the Great Lakes region. There are real human beings Only taking precedence over Partisan interest. [ FOREIGN ] [ CROSSTALK ] The recent agreement reached on the nuclear question in the sensitive region of Asia and the Middle East is proof of the Potential of political good will and of law. Exercised with sincerity, patience, and constancy. ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"OpinionNewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/4052109/un-sustainable-development-goals/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/4052109/un-sustainable-development-goals/"},"headline":"The U.N. 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