The pope v the UN: who will save the world first?

Both Pope Francis and the United Nations have issued big statements about where they feel the world should be going. So far, the pontiff is winning by a country mile

Everyone, it seems, recognises that Pope Francis's encyclical is a striking document. But to really appreciate its significance, it's worth contrasting it with another document that purports to tackle the same challenge: the UN's sustainable development goals (SDGs).

The SDGs have emerged from a long, complex process, stretching over the past four years. They are hanging on a promise to be able to eradicate "all poverty, in all its forms, everywhere" by 2030, and to do so in a way that moves us to a more environmentally sustainable economy.