These conferences provided an opportunity for the international community to agree on steps needed to reduce poverty and achieve sustainable development. Each of the seven goals addresses an aspect of poverty. They should be viewed together because they are mutually reinforcing. Higher school enrolments, especially for girls, reduce poverty and mortality. Better basic health care increases enrolment and reduces poverty.
Many poor people earn their living from the environment.
So progress is needed on each of the seven goals. The goals will not be easy to achieve, but progress in some countries and regions shows what can be done. China reduced its number in poverty from 360 million in 1990 to about 210 million in 1998. Mauritius cut its military budget and invested heavily in health and education. And many Latin American countries moved much closer to gender equality in education.