Fighting Poverty and Climate Change

Global poverty and climate change can be averted by 2030. That’s according to Declan Kelly, a businessman from Portroe in Tipperary. Speaking on Ireland’s Late, Late Show in November, Kelly outlined “Global Goal Live: The Possible Dream,“ which aims to do just that.
The United Nations has 17 global goals for sustainable development and Kelly is focusing on three of those: gender equality, climate change, and poverty eradication. He was inspired to do so by a meeting with Hugh Evans, CEO of Global Citizen, an international movement aimed at ending extreme poverty by 2030.
“It changed my life when I met him because I suddenly realized there was something else worth doing that was much more important than what I was doing,” said Kelly.
Kelly co-founded Teneo in 2011 and it is now the world’s largest advisory firm, with 820 employees working in 20 countries. Now, he and Evans have planned a year-long fundraising campaign. “We’re going to raise awareness to get commitments up to $350 billion between now and the 26th of September next year,” said Kelly. “That’s what it costs, every year for the next 20 years, to eradicate global poverty and climate change.” Their campaign will culminate in a global media event that will span five continents. Like Live Aid before it, it will feature big-name music acts, but unlike Live Aid, people won’t be asked to donate money. Instead, Global Goal Live is calling on governments, philanthropists, and the private sector to provide the $350 billion that is needed.  ♦