The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) were a set of eight global development goals established by the UN in 2000. These goals aimed to address key challenges facing developing countries, including poverty, hunger, disease, illiteracy, and environmental degradation. The MDGs set specific targets and deadlines for achieving these goals, with 2015 as the target year for completion. While significant progress was made in areas such as poverty reduction and access to education, the MDGs also faced limitations, such as a lack of universal application and a limited focus on environmental sustainability. 

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), adopted by the United Nations in 2015, are a set of 17 interconnected global goals that aim to address a wide range of social, economic, and environmental challenges. These goals, designed to be achieved by 2030, encompass poverty eradication, hunger reduction, improved health and education, gender equality, clean water and sanitation, affordable and clean energy, sustainable cities and communities, responsible consumption and production, climate action, and many more. The SDGs emphasize the need for inclusive and sustainable development that leaves no one behind, recognizing the interconnectedness of these global challenges. 

The transition from the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) marks a significant shift in global development thinking. The SDGs build upon the successes of the MDGs while addressing their limitations, such as a limited scope and a lack of universal application. The SDGs are more comprehensive, encompassing 17 interconnected goals that address a wider range of social, economic, and environmental challenges.