Since we have a lot of new global citizens out there, I thought it would be important to explain why 2015 is such a pivotal year. And for all of you OG global citizens, this will be a nice little refresher!  

Let me start this off by saying that 2015 really is going to be THE year to change the course of history. SO EXCITING!! It’s the year that if we get it right, we be will be on track to actually see an end to extreme poverty by the year 2030. It’s also the year that some incredibly important decisions regarding the future of our environment will be made. The MOST exciting part is that we all get to play a part in this.

Let me explain.

So, one of the biggest reasons 2015 is so critical for the development sector and the future of our planet and its people, is that this is the year the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) will expire and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) will be introduced to the world.

The SDGs will be agreed and made official in September when the UN General Assembly meets in NYC. Once they are put into place, it will become THE framework to determine what sustainable development will look like over the next 15 years.

Pretty huge.

2015 is also the year of the highly anticipated UN Climate Conference in Paris where a new international agreement on climate will be established. This is extremely important, as the future of our planet literally hangs in the balance.   

Global citizens: From now until September, YOU have a chance to stand up and collectively raise your voices to make sure that this development agenda represents the needs of those who are most vulnerable. I don’t know about you, but I am SO ready to do my part to make the world a better place.  

The first step? Sign up on globalcitizen.org, get involved, take action and hold our leaders accountable to ending extreme poverty and protecting our environment.