At the 2000 Millennium Summit, member states of the United Nations established global development targets to be achieved by the year 2015, termed the Millennium development goals (MDGs).  Recognising the lack of progress made in achieving these goals, in July 2007 Prime Minister Gordon Brown declared a "development emergency" and, with the support of the UN Secretary-General  Ban Ki-Moon, issued the MDG Call to Action.  The Call to Action aims to galvanise member states and global civil society to build a common vision of what needs to be done to get the MDGs "back on track".

The eight Millennium development goals (MDGs) were agreed at the United Nations Millennium Summit in September 2000. Nearly 190 countries have subsequently signed up to them. The eight Millennium Development Goals are:

• Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger
• Achieve universal primary education
• Promote gender equality and empower women
• Reduce child mortality
• Improve maternal health
• Combat HIV and AIDS, malaria and other diseases
• Ensure environmental sustainability
• Aid,Trade, Growth & Global Partnership

Call to action

The Call to Action is Prime Minister Gordon Brown's call to civil society and private sector to help meet the Millennium Development Goals by 2015.

Business Call to Action

As part of the Call to Action, the Business call to action is focused on getting big business to support economic growth in developing countries and help put the world on track for achieving the MDGs.