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The 17 Global Goals (also known as the Sustainable Development Goals or SDGs) launched late last month by the United Nations (UN) aim to achieve three main objectives in the next 15 years: end extreme poverty; fight inequality and injustice; and tackle climate change. Since the launch, various companies and leaders have pledged to do their part to achieve the goals; now, the latest push is to build worldwide public awareness of the goals through various efforts to "tell everyone" (#TellEveryone), including support from scores of celebrities:

Morgan Stanley (NYSE: MS) today announced a new goal to achieve carbon neutrality for global operations by 2022. Underpinning this goal is a long-standing commitment to reducing energy consumption, improving energy efficiency and procuring renewable energy. As part of this goal, Morgan Stanley will source 100 percent of its global energy needs from renewable energy. Since 2006, the Firm has reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 36 percent and has achieved its two previous emissions reductions goals ahead of schedule.

Mondelez International exceeded its goal to reduce manufacturing waste by 15 percent per metric ton of production by 2015, according to the company's most recent sustainability report. Through 2014, the snacking company achieved a 57 percent reduction - four times the original goal.

In a recent GreenBiz webcast, a panel of experts - including strategists from General MIlls, Kering and McDonald's - explained why going big on sustainability goals is increasingly a smart business strategy, as well as a good stewardship policy. They discussed the intersection of today's major frameworks, such as science-driven goal setting, the Science-Based Targets initiative (SBTI), planetary boundaries, Sustainable Development Goals, and more, and provided concrete business cases from several organizations on how they are conducting this transition.

Today, Walmart is taking the next step in its 11-year sustainability journey, as CEO Doug McMillon announces a series of 2025 goals. For the first time, the company is putting some hard targets and timetables on what had previously been largely aspirational goals. It's a big step forward.

High Liner Foods announced that it has achieved 99 percent of its goal to source all its seafood from "certified sustainable or responsible" fisheries and aquaculture. The company made a pledge in November 2010 to reach this goal by the end of 2013.

California Gov. Jerry Brown yesterday announced an executive order establishing the most ambitious greenhouse gas reduction target in North America - a goal to reduce emissions 40 percent below 1990 levels by 2030. PG&E said it applauds the new goal and says it is attainable "with the right structures."

NRG Energy introduced additional sustainability goals, which build on its science-based absolute GHG reduction goals set in 2014. The goals include: reducing water use 40% by 2030, reducing supply chain carbon and water intensity 25% by 2025, increasing recycling rate of coal combustion residuals 30% by 2022, and helping customers avoid 120 million metric tons of CO2-equivalent emissions by 2020.

The key global goal of limiting global warming to 2 degrees Celsius is already beyond reach as negotiators begin planning a 2015 climate treaty, experts say. "There is nothing that can be agreed in 2015 that would be consistent with the 2 degrees," said former United Nations climate chief Yvo de Boer. "The only way that a 2015 agreement can achieve a 2-degree goal is to shut down the whole global economy

NRG Energy, Inc. has announced ambitious sustainability goals as part of its continued corporate growth strategy. NRG says it estimates that its new carbon-reduction goals will avoid approximately 3 billion tons of CO2 emissions by 2050.

Tunisia has set a goal to source 33% of its total electricity needs from renewables by 2030. Energy and Mines Minister Mongi Marzouk said Tunisia's installed renewable energy capacity would have to reach 16 gigawatts to meet that goal, requiring an investment of about $7 billion.

Nestlé has introduced new 2020 sustainability and development targets, building on its first set of 2020 goals announced in 2013. The company also announced long-term ambitions in support of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including helping 50 million children lead healthier lives, helping to improve 30 million livelihoods in communities directly connected to its business activities, and striving for zero environmental impact in its operations

Hershey has exceeded three of its key environmental sustainability goals set in 2012 by two to three years.

Monsanto has set a goal of reducing its overall water usage by 25 percent by 2020.

Businesses in Boulder should be required to recycle - and food-related businesses to compost - to help the city meet its zero-waste goals, according to a report. Boulder is updating its Zero Waste Strategic Plan and has set a goal to reuse, recycle or compost at least 85 percent of its waste, rather than sending it to the landfill. As of 2013, Boulder businesses divert 28 percent of their waste, the city says.

Hyatt Hotels has committed to reducing water use per guest night by 25 percent by 2020 - one of the hotel chain's new environmental goals announced yesterday

Time Warner Cable Inc. (NYSE:TWC) has announced that its "Go Green" initiative has resulted in a 38 percent reduction in the company's carbon intensity over the past two years, far exceeding its goal of a 15 percent reduction set in 2012.

In 2014, General Mills reduced its greenhouse gas emissions rate by 23 percent against a 2005 baseline, surpassing its goal to reduce GHG emissions by 20 percent by 2015. The progress is largely due to the use of renewable energy sources at its Yoki facilities.

DuPont launched its 2020 Sustainability goals, which include investing $10 billion in research and development to enhance global food security, cutting GHG emissions intensity by 7% from a 2015 baseline, reducing non-renewable energy use by 10% from a 2010 baseline, and more.

The Procter & Gamble Company today announced it has achieved many of its 2020 environmental sustainability goals, has plans in place to meet the rest and has established new, broad-reaching goals for 2030. With "Ambition 2030," P&G aims to enable and inspire positive impact on the environment and society while creating value for the Company and consumers