Final answer:
The UN prioritizes eradicating extreme poverty and hunger because these are foundational for a sustainable future, and they impact numerous other areas of development. These issues are addressed through immediate aid and long-term solutions like grants, loans, and technical assistance to ensure food availability, access, and proper nutrition.
Step-by-step explanation:
The United Nations (UN) considers eradicating extreme poverty and hunger as its top goal because these issues are fundamental to achieving a sustainable future. Poverty and hunger thwart progress in many areas, including education, gender equality, health, and economic development. The UN, along with other global organizations like the World Food Program (WFP), World Bank, Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), strive to provide not only immediate humanitarian aid but also long-term solutions through grants, loans, and technical assistance.
Reducing the percentage of people living on less than $1.90 a day to no more than 3% by 2030 and promoting the income growth of the bottom 40% in every country are crucial steps towards achieving shared prosperity. While improvements in agricultural productivity are necessary to increase incomes and food availability, they alone are not enough—the focus must also be on ensuring that all individuals have economic, social, and physical access to food and proper nutrition. The complexity of food security requires a comprehensive approach that includes availability, access, and utilization of food for active and healthy living.
Despite progress, approximately 795 million people worldwide still experience hunger, and even more live in poverty. Addressing these issues is pivotal because they are the foundation upon which other social improvements rest. By tackling poverty and hunger, we unlock the potential for advancements in other Sustainable Development Goals, such as education, health, and environmental sustainability.