VATICAN CITY -- Mayors emboldened by an appeal from Pope Francis are committing themselves to a new set of UN goals to end poverty and promote sustainable development over the next 15 years.
At the end of a two-day Vatican summit on Wednesday, several dozen mayors from around the world unanimously adopted a declaration pledging to endorse the goals and work to implement them in their home cities.
World leaders are set to adopt the 17 "sustainable development goals" at a UN summit in September that will be opened by Francis. Among other things, the goals commit leaders to end extreme poverty and hunger by 2030, ensure health care, education, access to water, sustainable energy and growth for all -- and take urgent action to combat climate change and protect the Earth.
