Unpredictable crises like the catastrophe in Haiti show once again both the fragility of life on our planet but also the very human instinct to come to the assistance of those in need. The first decade of this millennium was striking for the way concern over global poverty finally captured headlines and attracted sustained political and popular attention.

In the years immediately after the breakthrough agreement on Millennium Development Goals, great strides were made and there were genuine grounds for optimism.

Now, a convergence of global crises - economic and environmental - threatens to reverse recent gains and end an era of progress when it has only just begun.

So faced with two grievous and simultaneous challenges, I believe that the 12 months of 2010 will be as decisive as the 10 years of the last decade.

Our resolve and our mission must be both to deliver past pledges and pursue new ways to answer climate change and overcome the economic constraints that could imprison hundreds of millions in permanent poverty and despair.

First, we must stay the course to make poverty history. Britain will not only keep our aid promises in 2010, we will exceed them. That is why the UK is publishing draft legislation that would make it the first country in the world to give a permanent guarantee we will reach and maintain the United Nations aid target of 0.7 per cent. Every country must honour their pledges too. And they must ensure that there is new and additional funding to equip developing countries to adapt and mitigate the effects of climate change.

In recent weeks we have seen the beginnings of a movement in Africa to abolish user fees and create free NHS-style services; we must support these efforts that offer hope to millions.

The terrible events in Haiti also remind us of the need not just for development assistance but humanitarian relief to save lives in emergencies. The UK has already sent specialist teams and pledged £6 million to help kick start the aid effort. We know that much more will be needed as we move from relief to recovery.

Second, given the scale of the challenges we must find new and innovative sources of finance to fight poverty and climate change. We have already generated billions of pounds by selling bonds and from public donations but I am convinced that more is practical as well as possible.

Third, we must ensure that developing countries not only deal with the crises but invest in the future. As in the UK, investing in education is critical to future growth.

Fourth, we must encourage the capacity of developing countries to grow their own way out of poverty.

There is, through the G20, a new opportunity to pursue genuinely global growth that includes and benefits low-income economies.

This year, we have all the international means that we could wish for to embed progress and account for the pledges we undertook at Gleneagles at the climax of the Make Poverty History campaign.

Most crucial is the UN Poverty Summit in September, where I believe we must agree a substantive global action plan - underpinned by specific national commitments - that sets out clearly how we will achieve the Millennium Development Goals.

To build momentum, we must build high-level political resolve early. The year 2010 is a test of the world's concern for the poorest and their faith in us. In conscience and in our own self-interest, for their sake and ours, we dare not fail. We must act now to give the entire world back its future and its hope.