Category: sdgs

Adopting a United States-led draft resolution without a vote, the Assembly also highlighted the respect, protection and promotion of human rights in the design, development, deployment and the use of AI. The text was “co-sponsored” or backed by more than 120 other Member States. The General Assembly also recognized AI systems’ potential to accelerate and… Continue reading General Assembly adopts landmark resolution on Artificial Intelligence

“After decades of progress, women’s rights are being undermined and reversed,” said Secretary-General António Guterres. Pointing to several ominous examples, he said women’s rights are severely restricted in Afghanistan, sexual violence is being reported during the ongoing Israel-Palestine conflict and the patriarchy is pushing back against hard-won rights women have striven to achieve. “The women… Continue reading ‘The patriarchy may be pushing back, but so are we’, UN chief tells CSW68

Adopted by world leaders in 2015, the 17 Goals focus on ending extreme poverty and hunger, ensuring access to clean water and sanitation, and providing quality universal education, among other targets, by 2030. The 2024 SDG Progress Report, launched by the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), highlighted persisting challenges… Continue reading Asia-Pacific off track on path to SDGs, UN data shows

Addressing the General Assembly with a list of priority areas for action, António Guterres underscored that the UN was founded on the pursuit of peace. “Peace is our raison d’être. Yet, as I scan the landscape of today’s world, the one thing missing most dramatically is peace,” he said. From the conflict in Gaza to the… Continue reading Peace is UN’s raison d’être: Guterres

One of 38 people members of the new UN advisory body on machine learning, Mr. Ndiaye spoke with UN News about the landscape ahead, building on his experience in helping to drive Senegal’s digital transformation in higher education, serving as an expert to the African Union in drafting the Pan-African Strategy on AI and in contributing… Continue reading INTERVIEW: AI expert warns of ‘digital colonization’ in Africa

Launched in 2015, the initiative set out a 15-year plan to realize 17 interconnected targets, known as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Since then, the ambitious goals have shaped national action plans, from building resilient cities and reducing inequalities to taking climate action and forging strong public and private sector partnerships.  This two-part series looks… Continue reading Report card 1: Half-way to the global goals deadline

Launched in 2015, the Agenda set out a 15-year plan to realize 17 interconnected targets, known as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and change that trajectory. In the second of a two-part series, UN News looks at how far the world has come since 2015 in tackling climate change, creating clean energy and sustainable food production… Continue reading Report card 2: Half-way to the global goals deadline

“This is a pivotal day. We are here to rebuild a foundation of hope – hope that we need now, perhaps more than ever, at this sombre moment in history,” Volker Türk, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights said, addressing participants which included leaders from Poland, Slovenia, Estonia, Greece Senegal, Colombia and the Maldives, taking to… Continue reading ‘Rebuild a foundation of hope’ for global human rights: Türk

Global perspective Human stories Civil society organizations demand reparations for the loss and damage caused by climate change. 11 December 2023Climate and Environment The latest COP28 draft outcome text released to negotiators in Dubai Monday evening dropped a call to ‘phaseout’ fossil fuels, prompting outcry from climate vulnerable countries and civil society. The 21-page text,… Continue reading Climate advocates slam COP28 draft text that drops language on fossil fuel ‘phasedown’

This year, the anti-corruption conference, as the Conference of the States Parties (CoSP) is popularly known, marks the 20th anniversary of the landmark Convention. “Corruption not only robs resources, it robs people of hope,” Mr. Guterres said in a video message, urging all Parties to use this opportunity to strengthen international cooperation to prevent, detect,… Continue reading World News in Brief: UN anti-corruption conference, global hunger ‘set to soar’, healthy diets unaffordable in Asia-Pacific

Convened by the Government of the United Kingdom, the day-long conference brought together representatives from more than 20 countries to shore up efforts to achieve zero hunger and end malnutrition, in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Far off track  Speaking during a session on creating new approaches to ending preventable child deaths, WHO… Continue reading Child deaths from wasting are predictable and preventable: WHO chief

Global perspective Human stories Marlon Brando speaks at UNICEF’s New York Headquarters about the desperate needs of many of the world’s children. (file) 16 November 2023SDGs What do Bolivia, Marlon Brando and the UN have in common? The Oscar-winning actor helped the UN amplify the need for clean water in a South American village in… Continue reading Stories from the UN Archive: Marlon Brando, the UN’s first frontman for water

The finding comes in the latest WHO Global Tuberculosis Report which reveals that 7.5 million people were diagnosed with TB in 2022 – the highest figure ever since the UN agency began global monitoring in 1995. TB is an infectious disease that mainly affects the lungs.  It is caused by a type of bacteria and… Continue reading More action needed to write ‘final chapter’ of TB

2 November 2023Human Rights The UN Secretary-General on Thursday stressed that global oversight of emerging artificial intelligence (AI) technology should be based on the UN Charter’s core principles and ensure full respect for human rights. Addressing the Summit on Artificial Intelligence Safety convened by the United Kingdom, at the famous Bletchley Park estate – where… Continue reading At UK’s AI Summit, Guterres says risks outweigh rewards without global oversight

31 October 2023SDGs Marking World Cities Day on Tuesday, the UN Secretary-General emphasised the vital role cities play in sustainable development as catalysts for economic growth and innovation. “World Cities Day is a time to consider the pivotal role cities play in sustainable development,” said António Guterres, setting the stage for a global call to action.… Continue reading UN calls for global action to turn cities into engines of sustainable development

The members of the AI Advisory Body – launched on Thursday by Secretary-General António Guterres – will examine the risks, opportunities and international governance of these technologies. Mr. Guterres pointed to the extraordinary advance in the capabilities and use of AI over the past year, including through chatbots, voice cloning, image generators and video apps. … Continue reading New UN Advisory Body aims to harness AI for the common good

16 October 2023Economic Development UN Secretary-General António Guterres on Monday called for increased action to deliver $500 billion a year in affordable, long-term financing to developing countries at the eighth World Investment Forum held in Abu Dhabi. The weeklong forum, organized by the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), focuses on the challenges faced… Continue reading Global leaders call for action to meet ambitious development boost

Other key priorities to emerge were the state of the environment and ensuring responsible use of new technologies, such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), Secretary-General António Guterres added. Against this backdrop, the UN’s visionary Our Common Agenda presents proposals and ideas that can bridge the gap, “between the world as it is and the world as… Continue reading UN chief reinforces call for multilateral reform, outlines next steps

1 October 2023Human Rights Protecting the dignity and human rights of older persons, and addressing the challenges they face in society will ultimately benefit all of humanity, UN Secretary-General António Guterres has said. In a message commemorating Sunday’s International Day of Older Persons, the UN chief underscored the pervasive issue of ageism in society and… Continue reading Protecting older persons’ rights benefit everyone: UN chief

30 September 2023Human Rights Protecting the dignity and human rights of older persons, and addressing the challenges they face in society will ultimately benefit all of humanity, UN Secretary-General António Guterres has said. In a message commemorating Sunday’s International Day of Older Persons, the UN chief underscored the pervasive issue of ageism in society and… Continue reading Protecting older persons’ rights benefit everyone: UN chief

Mr. Grandi stressed that UN refugee agency (UNHCR) convoys with more relief supplies are on the way.  “We are ready to mobilize additional resources to support the humanitarian efforts of the Government and people of Armenia,” he said. UNHCR said earlier this week that most of those streaming across are vulnerable, including mainly older people, women and… Continue reading World News in Brief: Karabakh exodus continues, indigenous rights, UN steps up bid to curb food waste

The document lays out ambitious new targets for the next five years that include reaching 90 per cent of people with TB prevention and care services, providing social benefit packages to those who have the disease, and licensing at least one new vaccine. TB is the second leading infectious killer worldwide after COVID-19, with some… Continue reading New global action pledge to end TB by 2030

“Your strong engagement during our deliberations today reaffirms that multilateralism is neither dead nor obsolete,” said Dennis Francis in his opening remarks to a preparatory meeting for next year’s Summit of the Future. Scheduled for September 2024, it is billed as a once-in-a-generation opportunity to reinvigorate multilateralism, address gaps in global governance, and reaffirm existing commitments, including to the Sustainable… Continue reading Summit of the Future ‘unique opportunity’ to rebuild trust: Guterres

Without health, the world is badly hobbled in its race to realize the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its 17 Goals; the recently opened 78th session of the UN General Assembly aims to change that. On the docket is a fresh global strategy to prevent, prepare, and respond to future pandemics on the heels of… Continue reading Global leaders discuss healthier future for all: Top 5 fast facts

He was speaking at the conclusion of the two-day SDG Summit at UN Headquarters, where world leaders adopted a political declaration to ramp up progress to achieve the 17 goals, which are in danger of derailment due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and other global crises. Goals that address hunger, health, biodiversity, strong… Continue reading Invest in SDGs ‘like never before’ implores UN chief

Mr. Guterres was speaking at the opening of a high-level forum at UN Headquarters where world leaders adopted a political declaration to accelerate action to achieve the 17 goals, which aim to drive economic prosperity and well-being for all people while protecting the environment. “The SDGs aren’t just a list of goals. They carry the hopes, dreams, rights and expectations of people everywhere,” he said.  Concerted,… Continue reading UN General Assembly adopts declaration to accelerate SDGs

The 2023 SDG Summit The SDG Summit aims to adopt a forward-looking political declaration reaffirming commitment to the central, transformative promise of the 2030 Agenda to leave no one behind. Over two days, they will agree on how best to move forward. Here are five things you need to know: A young girl stands outside a… Continue reading How the UN SDG Summit aims to transform the world

That’s according to Joanna Kazana, the UN Resident Coordinator for Trinidad and Tobago, Aruba, Curacao, and Sint Maarten. On 18 September, countries from around the world will come together at the SDG Summit in New York to take stock of what progress has been made ahead of the 2030 deadline for the goals to realized. “For a… Continue reading ‘Staggering proposition’ reaching SDGs for small island States: A UN Resident Coordinator blog

16 September 2023UN Affairs With several high-profile world leaders opting out of the UN General Assembly’s annual opening session next week, Secretary-General António Guterres has said that he cares less about who comes to New York and more about what gets done, especially to revive the lagging Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). “This is not a… Continue reading UNGA78: UN chief brushes off absence of key leaders, says nations must deliver on climate and development promises

16 September 2023SDGs UN Secretary-General António Guterres on Saturday rallied a diverse cross section of civil society actors to use their passionate voices and energetic grassroots networks to “help rescue the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and fight for the better future every person deserves.”  With world leaders set to convene next week for the annual high-level… Continue reading ‘We all need to step up’ to rescue the SDG’s and fight for a better future: UN chief

Achieving peace is neither automatic nor a vision, Mr. Guterres said in a video message to a special event on youth for peace. “Peace is the result of action. Let us commit to build, drive and sustain peace for all,” he emphasized. The event showcased the actions and commitments of young people – in their… Continue reading ‘Peace begins with you’, youth activist tells UN forum

14 September 2023SDGs The SDG Summit, taking place at the start of the UN General Assembly High Level Week, marks halftime for the crucial Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).  “This is a moment of solidarity for our global village at our global Town Hall – the United Nations,” said Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed.  Halftime Talks During… Continue reading UN marks halftime for the SDGs

A new UN report delivers a strong message to world leaders heading to New York for the General Assembly’s annual high-level week: tackling the climate and sustainable development crises together will help accelerate overall progress on the 2030 Agenda. 

Mr. Guterres made the appeal at a ceremony commemorating the International Day of Peace, which is observed annually on 21 September. He emphasized the interconnectedness of peace with the wellbeing of both humanity and the environment and as a way of addressing challenges ranging from poverty and inequality to biodiversity loss. ‘Push for peace’ “For people… Continue reading Peace our ‘most fundamental job’, says Guterres

12 September 2023SDGs To highlight the importance of ongoing cooperation between countries of the Global South, the UN commemorated its annual Day for South-South Cooperation on Tuesday. This year’s official theme is “Solidarity, Equity, and Partnership: Unlocking South-South Cooperation to Achieve the SDGs.” South-South cooperation is a manifestation of solidarity contributing to national well-being, national and… Continue reading Cooperation across Global South, key to reaching SDGs

Streets around UN HQ in Midtown Manhattan will be cordoned off, roadblocks erected, and security heightened and tightened, as world leaders gather to take the pulse of the planet during a week of high-level events and come together to tackle global challenges. The 78th session of UNGA begins on 6 September and will be followed by… Continue reading Taking the pulse of the planet as the world gathers at the UN

This transformation in skills and culture, encapsulated in the Secretary-General’s vision of a UN 2.0, is focused on fostering cutting-edge capabilities in data, digital, innovation, foresight and behavioural science – to deliver stronger results, better Member State support, and faster progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals. During a roundtable with Member States, a group of UN… Continue reading UN 2.0: Reimagining our global organization for a world in flux

7 September 2023SDGs The world is falling worryingly short in terms of closing the gender gap as part of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) warned UN Women on Thursday. The new Gender Snapshot report from the UN’s gender equality agency at this midway point towards the SDGs warns that if current trends continue, over 340 million… Continue reading Gender gap persists on road to the SDGs: UN Women

Publicly available GenAI platforms are used by hundreds of millions around the world, including many students. 7 September 2023SDGs The UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) on Thursday called on governments to regulate the use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) in education and research, including age limits for users. The agency is also calling… Continue reading UNESCO calls for regulations on AI use in schools

It details how systemic racism, marginalization and exclusion, rooted in the legacies of enslavement and colonialism, continue to have a negative effect on all aspects of life. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk urged States to “accelerate action towards meaningful, inclusive and safe participation for people of African descent in every aspect of… Continue reading People of African descent facing ‘immense challenges’ in public square

5 September 2023SDGs The 77th session of the UN General Assembly closed on Tuesday morning in New York, with outgoing President Csaba Kőrösi underscoring that amid geopolitical rivalries, cooperation among countries is indispensable. “Our survival depends on our cooperation,” he said, pointing to global road blocks such as accelerating climate change, biodiversity loss, education and… Continue reading Humanity’s survival ‘depends on our cooperation’: Outgoing General Assembly President

1 September 2023SDGs UN Secretary-General António Guterres has underlined support for South Africa in the wake of the deadly fire in Johannesburg on Thursday which killed at least 74 people, including 12 children.  The overnight blaze ripped through a five-storey rundown building in the city centre occupied by homeless people and squatters. Dozens were injured.… Continue reading UN ready to assist people affected by deadly blaze in South Africa

Organized in partnership with the Global Disability Innovation Hub (GDI Hub) and the Global Network of Young Persons with Disabilities (GNYPWD), the competition offers financial support to social enterprises that craft innovative solutions aimed at dismantling inequalities and fostering empowerment among young individuals with disabilities.  The challenge prompted participants to submit innovative ideas to address topics such as… Continue reading UNFPA reveals winners of AccessAbility innovation challenge

“Knock out hate,” declares Yokasta Valle who has suffered discrimination both for being a woman in a male-dominated sport and as a migrant who journeyed to Costa Rica from Nicaragua.  “Many of my colleagues told me that if they, as men, could not become champions, even less so could I as a woman,” she says.… Continue reading Champion woman boxer knocks out hate in Central America

16 August 2023SDGs A Venezuelan woman has been talking about how she made a perilous journey across the Caribbean Sea to the tourist island of Curaçao and how she is now forced to live a secretive existence due to her illegal status. Genesis, not her real name, is one of more than seven million people… Continue reading From the Field: The secret life of Venezuelan migrants in Curaçao

4 August 2023SDGs Global food prices rose for the first time in months following the collapse of the landmark agreement to ship grain from war-torn Ukraine to the rest of the world, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) said on Friday. The UN agency has issued its latest Food Price Index (FPI), which tracks the monthly international prices of cereals, vegetable… Continue reading Black Sea deal collapse sparks rise in global food prices: FAO

27 July 2023UN Affairs The Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) which oversees sustainable development across the UN, elected its new President on Thursday, marking the start of its new session. The 54-member body, which is one of the six main pillars of the UN system, elected Paula Narváez Ojeda of Chile to the top seat.… Continue reading New Economic and Social Council leadership takes the helm

A small holder farmer processes maize in Ethiopia’s Gambella Region. 26 July 2023SDGs The UN on Wednesday launched an initiative for accelerated transformation in food systems, with the Deputy Secretary-General highlighting key objectives to help get the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) back on track. According to development indicators, almost half of the SDG targets are… Continue reading Transforming food systems, key to get SDGs back on track: Mohammed

UNESCO’s report on technology in education urges countries to carefully consider how technology is used in schools. It emphasises the need for a “human-centered vision” where digital technology serves as a tool rather than taking precedence.  Speaking to UN News, UNESCO’s Manos Antoninis also warned of the danger of data leaks in educational tech, as… Continue reading UNESCO calls for global ban on smartphones in schools

25 July 2023SDGs A full-scale Africa-led agrifood systems transformation will not be possible without game changing solutions, greater investments in smallholder farmers, embracing new technology and new partnerships at all levels.  Those were some of the takeaways from a high-level special event held on the sidelines of the UN Food Systems Summit +2 Stocktaking Moment on Africa’s… Continue reading Africa’s food ‘transformation’ impossible without game changing solutions: FAO

Addressing the UN Food Systems Summit +2 Stocktaking Moment, in Rome, Mr. Guterres said that in a world of plenty, “it is outrageous that people continue to suffer and die from hunger.” Broken system “Global food systems are broken – and billions of people are paying the price.” According to UN estimates, over 780 million… Continue reading Global food systems ‘broken’, says UN chief, urging transformation in how we produce, consume food

The Thai authorities are working alongside UN agencies to not just improve the availability of services following the change in the way people are sentenced for drugs crimes, but also reduce the stigmatization of people who use drugs and ensure they have access to services where they feel comfortable. UN News spoke with the UNAIDS Country… Continue reading HIV a ‘critical health concern’ amongst people who use drugs in Thailand

The discussions centred around a UN report that offers recommendations to bolster collaboration towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Africa, specifically those on financing for development and affordable green energy. The report reveals that almost 600 million people on the continent still do not have access to sustainable energy due to two main… Continue reading Sustainable Africa key to global security

20 July 2023Human Rights The President of the General Assembly Csaba Kőrösi on Thursday announced the winners of the prestigious United Nations Prize in the Field of Human Rights for 2023.  Established by the General Assembly in 1966, the Prize was awarded for the first time in 1968 on what is now Human Rights Day, 10 December, and… Continue reading Winners of 2023 UN Human Rights Prize Announced

19 July 2023SDGs Youth participation in global decision-making processes must be the norm and not the exception, UN Secretary-General António Guterres said on Wednesday.  “I will continue to stand with you as we shape a more prosperous, equal and resilient future for all,” he said in a video message to launch his latest Progress Report… Continue reading Guterres launches latest report on youth participation in UN processes

Nearly 12 million people are imprisoned globally, with almost one third awaiting sentencing, at a time when prisons are overcrowded in half of all countries, according to a new UN report released on Tuesday. On the occasion of Nelson Mandela International Day, marked on 18 July, UN News took a look at some ongoing efforts. The legacy of… Continue reading Mandela’s legacy thrives as today’s blueprint for prisoners’ rights

UN Secretary-General António Guterres said that while ambition, urgency and solidarity have been lacking to overcome the myriad challenges, many countries are now staring into “a financial abyss”, strangling the resources needed to realize the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. “The annual SDG funding gap has risen from $2.5 trillion before the pandemic to an… Continue reading Halfway to 2030, world ‘nowhere near’ reaching Global Goals, UN warns

12 July 2023Human Rights As many as 783 million people faced hunger worldwide in 2022 in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, repeated weather shocks and conflicts, including in Ukraine, according to a study launched by five United Nations agencies on Wednesday. The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World revealed that between… Continue reading Hunger afflicts one in ten globally, UN report finds

12 July 2023Economic Development Half of humanity lives in countries that are forced to spend more on servicing their debt than on health and education, which is nothing less than a development disaster, UN Secretary-General António Guterres said on Wednesday. According to a new report by the UN Global Crisis Response Group, entitled A World of Debt, a… Continue reading ‘Crushing’ debt crisis spells development disaster for billions: UN chief

11 July 2023SDGs Twenty five countries, including some of the world’s biggest economies, have halved their poverty indices, but lack of post-COVID-19 pandemic data obscures the situation facing almost a billion people globally, a new United Nations-University of Oxford study has found.  According to the updated global Multidimensional Poverty Index, revealed on Tuesday by the UN Development Programme (UNDP)… Continue reading Rapid poverty reduction in some countries, data missing in many others

Addressing the Human Rights Council, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk noted that the tome was the “core of faith” for well over one billion Muslims. Those who had burned the Quran most likely did so “to express contempt and inflame anger”, Mr. Türk said, as he warned that these acts also aimed… Continue reading Türk calls for respect as rights council urgently debates Quran burnings

“Halfway to the 2030 deadline the Sustainable Development Goals are dangerously off track,” he warned.  “Gender equality is almost 300 years away. Progress on maternal health and access to family planning has been glacial.” World Population Day is commemorated annually on 11 July and this year’s focus is on unleashing the power of gender equality… Continue reading UN calls for gender quality push, central to SDGs

Here are five key things you need to know: 1. Getting back on track The COVID-19 pandemic set back gains made towards realizing the SDGs by decades, and, if present trends persist, by 2030, a staggering 575 million people will remain trapped in extreme poverty, according to the new UN report. Average global temperatures have… Continue reading Halfway there: 5 ways the UN is turbocharging the race to the SDGs

Leading efforts by 25 UN entities and several partners for the last four years, she has been reflecting on efforts to achieve national sustainable development priorities that tap into Mozambique’s immense resources and potential. Myrta Kaulard, United Nations Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator for Mozambique from July 2019 to June 2023. “Mozambique and the Mozambican… Continue reading Building resilience in Mozambique: A UN Resident Coordinator blog

As artificial intelligence (AI) sprouts new, powerful learning abilities, nations are working on strategies to govern it, according to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), which is hosting the two-day summit to showcase a bevy of new technologies, including a range of robots who can handle everything from healthcare to rock music. Prospering from a machine-assisted… Continue reading Meet the robots who are making the world a better place

4 July 2023SDGs The United Nations kicked off a new campaign on Wednesday to turbocharge the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the roadmap for people and planet adopted by world leaders in 2015.   Ahead of the critical SDG Summit in September, the campaign will amplify an urgent call for ambitious new action, showcase the Goals as the blueprint… Continue reading Boost global action and ambition to reach SDGs, urges new UN campaign

People around the world should be able to play a more significant role in decision and policy-making processes that impact them and their communities in order to uphold democracy; that’s according to participants in a discussion at the UN focusing on strengthening democratic governance. In recent years, the UN has increasingly been looking at ways to… Continue reading Activating ‘citizen mode’ to support democracy from the ground up

“Since my arrival in Madagascar as the UN Resident Coordinator at the end of 2020, the country has been hit by unprecedented cyclones and experienced the most severe drought in 40 years. Coupled with other extreme weather events, the drought caused widespread hunger and pushed thousands into near famine-like conditions. In the south of the… Continue reading From seeds to solar power in Madagascar: A UN Resident Coordinator blog

“If we want a healthy world, then it needs to be a kind and welcoming one too,” said Benedict Phillips, the UNAIDS Director of Communications and Global Advocacy. That means ensuring all communities are included, especially marginalized groups, he said. However, in many countries, stigma, discrimination, and criminalization tend to make transgender people invisible, with extreme… Continue reading Pride Month: UN’s transgender rights campaign goes global

21 June 2023Health Celebrating the union of body, mind and soul, hundreds of yoga enthusiasts – including UN officials and staffers – filled the green expanse of the North Lawn at UN Headquarters in New York on Wednesday to mark the ninth celebration of the International Day of Yoga, observed each 21 June. This year’s… Continue reading In a dangerous and divided world, yoga yields ‘precious’ benefits

Social media’s role in crushing hate speech From COVID-19 to climate change, hateful exchanges among those with opposing views is a growing concern, said Latifa Akharbach, president of the High Authority of Audiovisual Communication (HACA) in Morocco. The international community’s “failure” in managing and regulating migration “fuels the sponsors of hate speech” and helps them… Continue reading Countering ‘dark age of intolerance’ starts by tackling hate speech

14 June 2023SDGs Social justice must underpin the global transition to more just and sustainable jobs for all, UN Secretary-Antonio Guterres said in a video message to the opening of the World of Work Summit in Geneva on Wednesday.  The two-day meeting has been organized by the International Labour Organization (ILO) to inform its proposal for a Global Coalition… Continue reading Social justice must be the foundation for the changing world of work: Guterres

Alarm over the potential threat posed by the rapid development of generative artificial intelligence (AI) must not obscure the damage already being done by digital technologies that enable the spread of online hate speech, as well as mis- and disinformation, he said.   The policy brief argues that they should be integral players in upholding the… Continue reading UN chief calls for new era of social media integrity in bid to stem misinformation

“Half of people worldwide still believe men make better political leaders than women, and more than 40 per cent believe men make better business executives than women,” according to the UN Development Programme (UNDP) in its latest Gender Social Norms Index (GSNI) report. “Social norms that impair women’s rights are detrimental to society more broadly,… Continue reading New UN report reveals chronic bias against women over last decade

“The compulsory wearing of safety belts, as well as helmets for two-wheelers, and increased political commitment to road safety, played a decisive role in the reduction of road deaths throughout Europe from the 1970s onwards,” said Jean Todt, UN Special Envoy for Road Safety. Using safety belts by front-seat passengers reduces the risk of fatal… Continue reading Buckling up to save lives: UN celebrates five decades of seat belt laws

The UN human rights office, OHCHR, and its mandate has become a powerful vehicle for change, progress, dignity, and justice, yet “this is far from enough to meet today’s challenges”, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk said in his keynote address at the +30 Symposium, Vienna World Conference: 30 Years On: Our Rights… Continue reading Human rights for all, still ‘work in progress’ warns Türk

He was speaking at UN Headquarters in New York, where he presented three new policy briefs on these themes to Member States.  Serious challenges   “They touch on some of the most serious challenges we face – challenges that may determine whether we are able to achieve the vision of the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable… Continue reading New UN reports aim to avert continued social, economic and environmental ‘breakdown’

“I want to make the most of my time, even in prison, and this training should help me find a job later,” said Denny, 31, who has just over two years left of a five-year prison sentence. “Of course, I knew how to make a coffee before, but here I am learning about different flavours,… Continue reading Baristas behind bars: From serving time to serving lattes

Ambassador Dennis Francis – who has had a nearly 40-year-career – will take the helm of the UN’s main policy-making body, starting in September.  He was elected by acclamation during a ceremony in the iconic General Assembly Hall at UN Headquarters in New York.  Promoting meaningful dialogue  The General Assembly consists of all 193 UN… Continue reading New General Assembly President to prioritize ‘Peace, Prosperity, Progress and Sustainability’

António Guterres was addressing the first high stakes meeting of the UN Economic and Social Council’s (ECOSOC) Operational Activities for Development Segment at UN Headquarters in New York, which he described as “an important first step” towards providing accelerated action for reaching the 17 ambitious SDGs, by the 2030 deadline. ‘Weak and insufficient’ He said… Continue reading UN ‘determined’ to end backsliding on development goals, Guterres tells ECOSOC

“On the International Day for Biological Diversity, we reflect on our relationship with humanity’s life-support system, from the air we breathe and the food we eat, to the energy that fuels us and the medicines that heal us, our lives are wholly dependent on healthy ecosystems,” UN Secretary-General António Guterres said. “Yet, our actions are… Continue reading Biodiversity Day: Protecting humanity’s ‘life-support system’

In the first of a series of features exploring the fight against trafficking in the Sahel, UN News takes a closer look at what’s behind the growth of the phenomenon. A tangled trafficking web has been woven across the Sahel, which spans almost 6,000 kilometres from the Atlantic Ocean to the Red Sea, and is… Continue reading Trafficking in the Sahel: Guns, gas, and gold

Planting awareness Zaid Sa’ad has a degree in media and communications, but has always been a farmer and beekeeper in Al Qurnah, Iraq. “Our community has a relationship with our land that is hard to describe; our fathers and grandfathers were also farmers,” he said. “Our work and life cycle on these farms are interdependent.”… Continue reading Plenty abuzz on World Bee Day

Countries met to review progress on implementing the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction – a landmark 2015 agreement to reduce damage, losses and deaths from natural and man-made hazards by the end of the decade.  During the meeting, they adopted a political declaration which in part calls for improving national mechanisms to share disaster risk… Continue reading ‘Weak and insufficient’ progress made towards disaster risk reduction

16 May 2023Health As excitement builds throughout health and information systems worldwide over the rich potential benefits of new tools generated by artificial intelligence (AI), the UN health agency on Tuesday called for action to ensure that patients are properly protected. Cautionary measures normally applied to any new technology are not being exercised consistently with… Continue reading Untested AI-based tools could harm patients, WHO warns

Increasingly grim accident statistics provided the impetus for action, including two bus crashes in Senegal that claimed 62 lives in January. In nearby Côte d’Ivoire, the daily number of fatal road accidents has risen to 46, from just 12 in 2012. In the world’s region most affected by road crashes, sub-Saharan Africa’s fatality rate is… Continue reading Road Safety Week: African nations steer towards reducing deaths

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus was speaking to journalists in Geneva, a day after the emergency committee which made the emergency recommendation last July, advised the Director-General to declare it over. ‘Significant challenges’ remain “However, as with COVID-19, that does not mean that the work is over. Mpox continues to pose significant public health challenges that need… Continue reading Mpox public health emergency declared over

6 May 2023SDGs Born in a Tanzanian village with no electricity, Gibson Kawago, decided to start a business producing off-grid clean electricity for communities like his own. His successes led to his appointment as one of the UN Young Leaders for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Mr. Kawago is the founder and Chief Technical Officer… Continue reading First Person: The young leader bringing clean power to Tanzanian villages

“It is welcome news that health systems in the majority of countries are starting to restore essential health services for millions of people who missed them during the pandemic,” said Dr. Rudi Eggers, director for integrated health services at the World Health Organization (WHO). “But, we need to ensure that all countries continue to close… Continue reading Health systems show first major signs of post-COVID-19 recovery

27 April 2023SDGs Activists striving to achieve a more just and equitable future for all people and the planet, are being encouraged to apply for a UN award that celebrates initiatives and individuals working to make the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) a reality.  The 2023 UN SDG Action Awards will be presented in Rome, Italy,… Continue reading Activists encouraged to apply for UN SDG Action Awards

25 April 2023Human Rights Secretary-General António Guterres led tributes from across the UN on Tuesday to the legendary singer, entertainer, and civil rights activist, Harry Belafonte, who has died, aged 96. “At this moment of sorrow, let us be inspired by his example and strive to defend the dignity and rights of every human being,… Continue reading UN salutes ‘inspiring’ life of civil rights champion Harry Belafonte

Their call was answered by top UN officials. “Our world needs you more than ever,” UN Secretary-General António Guterres said, in a video message for the event. Organized by the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA), the three day forum and its dozens of side events will elaborate on the 2023 theme of… Continue reading SDG ‘warriors’ open Youth Forum with advice for building better world

The main driver of these trends is the fertility level in the two nations, said John Wilmoth, Director of the UN Population Division. Together, China and India’s collective populations equal more than one third of the world’s eight billion citizens. By the end of April, India’s population is expected to reach 1,425,775,850 people, with projections… Continue reading India poised to become world’s most populous nation

24 April 2023SDGs UN Secretary-General António Guterres has issued a major call at a UN forum to find new ways to harness data today, to shape a peaceful and prosperous tomorrow, for all people and the planet. “Three years ago, we launched the United Nations Data Strategy to build more data expertise across the UN… Continue reading UN Data Forum: Fast-tracking solutions to reach the SDGs

From 25 to 27 April, thousands of youth leaders from around the world are poised to gather at the 2023 Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) Youth Forum. In person and online, they are bringing their solutions, recommendations, and initiatives, sharing their ideas for ensuring a sustainable future is possible for all. The three-day event centres… Continue reading Youth Forum: How change-makers are shaping more sustainable world

Instead of instituting these measures, policy and law makers must work to empower women to achieve their individual reproductive goals. Speaking to UN News, Marielle Sander, the Fund’s Resident Representative in Papua New Guinea, explained why the current global population of 8 billion marks an opportunity for a broader conversation on how to make reproductive… Continue reading INTERVIEW: Making family planning choices simpler for 8 billion

The report calls for expanding and strengthening youth participation in public policy making and decision-making at all levels, to realize the promise of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.  A ‘driving force’ for change  The UN chief emphasized that youth are key to identifying new solutions for the breakthroughs that the world urgently needs.  “Young… Continue reading ‘Meaningful’ youth involvement in decision-making critical to sustainable future: Guterres

Launched by the UN’s High-Level Advisory Board on Effective Multilateralism, A Breakthrough for People and Planet: Effective and Inclusive Global Governance for Today and the Future, outlines an ambitious plan to overhaul the global architecture. Co-chaired by former President of Liberia, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, and former Prime Minister of Sweden, Stefan Löfven, the Advisory Board… Continue reading UN advisory board charts fresh path to better global governance

Indigenous peoples “hold many of the solutions to the climate crisis and are guardians of the world’s biodiversity,” in places as varied as the Amazon, the Sahel, and the Himalayas, said Mr. Guterres. Exploitation, evictions The UN chief acknowledged that indigenous peoples struggle to adapt to the climate crisis, and face the exploitation of their… Continue reading ‘Let us learn from indigenous peoples’, UN chief declares

In a special meeting of the Human Rights Council in Geneva to review progress on achieving the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the 2030 Agenda, Michelle Bachelet insisted that “overall, we are not on track” to meet its ambitious aims: It is a promise extended to people previously locked out of development: the marginalized, disempowered and… Continue reading More urgency needed to help increasing numbers ‘locked out’, before 2030, says UN’s Bachelet

15 January 2019SDGs Revitalizing the United Nations to “strengthen a multilateral rule-based world order” tops a list of priorities the General Assembly President told UN Member States on Tuesday. Convinced that “revitalizing the UN and advancing multilateralism go hand-in-hand”, Assembly President Maria Fernanda Espinosa Garces said that she was engaging with world leaders in New… Continue reading Advancing multilateralism goes ‘hand-in-hand’ with work of the UN

“Palestine and its citizens have first-hand experience of some of the most challenging and dramatic global issues we face” said Mr. Guterres in his remarks at the annual ceremony for handover of the rotating Chairmanship of the G77. Egypt was the previous Chair of the bloc, a coalition of 134 developing countries, along with China.… Continue reading ‘Historic’ moment: Palestine takes reins of UN coalition of developing countries

In her opening address to the 80th Session of the Committee on the Rights of the Child, in Geneva – which reviews the records of Member States according to the Convention on the Rights of the Child – the High Commissioner noted that 2019 marked the pact’s 30th anniversary, and that it was “by far… Continue reading World ‘not yet on track’ to ensure children a better future: UN rights chief

14 January 2019SDGs With rising sea levels due to climate change already affecting coastal communities in Liberia, there are fears that densely populated parts of the capital Monrovia could be submerged, unless action is taken. It’s projected that a one-metre sea level rise could permanently inundate 95 square kilometres of land in Liberia’s coastal zone,… Continue reading FROM THE FIELD: Liberia boosts efforts to guard against rising seas

In this, the second in our ongoing series looking at how the headlines generated by the pronouncements of UN officials and world leaders are translated into action, we find out the Committee is breaking down this task. Many of the topics discussed during the Committee session were relevant to the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs);… Continue reading THE COMMITTEES: Setting out to ‘transform the world’ in the General Assembly’s Second Committee

UNDP Somalia/Said Isse Sand dams in Puntland, Somalia, can harvest water above and below ground and help to build the resilience of local people. (2017) ​​​UNDP Somalia/Said Isse Parts of the Horn of Africa nation have not received rain for three consecutive years and, as a result, crops and livestock have perished. Many fear a repeat… Continue reading CLIMATE CHANGE FOCUS: Fighting drought with Somalia’s sand dams

18 December 2018Human Rights As the most basic rights of rural people continue to be trampled on in many parts of the world, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, welcomed Monday the adoption on Monday by the UN General Assembly of a new declaration to help safeguard them. “Globally, peasants feed… Continue reading UN rights chief welcomes new text to protect rights of peasants and other rural workers

Recapping his recent participations in the successful adoption of the Global Compact on Migration in Marrakech, an agreement on a ‘rulebook’ in Poland laying out the way forward for the 2015 Paris climate accord , and a breakthrough in Yemen peace talks in Sweden, Mr. Guterres said  “each of these… underline a core reality in today’s world.” … Continue reading Most ‘precious’ and ‘scarce’ resource of our time is dialogue, UN chief tells Doha policy forum

12 December 2018Humanitarian Aid With around one in every 60 people across the world caught up in a crisis that requires urgent humanitarian assistance, the UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed told a top panel on the issue on Wednesday that maintaining a “fire-fighting approach is not sustainable” in the long term. Although the international humanitarian… Continue reading ‘Fire-fighting approach’ to humanitarian aid ‘not sustainable’: Deputy UN chief

7 December 2018SDGs Marking International Civil Aviation Day, the United Nations aviation agency, ICAO, is showcasing the socio-economic benefits and “tremendous” opportunities presented by the global journey towards sustainable development.  “International civil aviation remains our most remarkable example of successful human cooperation and effective global partnership,” President of the International Civil Aviation Organization’s Council, Olumuyiwa… Continue reading On flight to sustainable development, ‘leave no country behind’, urges aviation agency

International Telecommunication Union (ITU) global and regional estimates for 2018 are “a pointer to the great strides the world is making towards building a more inclusive global information society,” Houlin Zhao, ITU Secretary-General, said. The record figure of 3.9 billion people, or 51.2 per cent that will be online by the end of December, is… Continue reading Internet milestone reached, as more than 50 per cent go online: UN telecoms agency

An electric and driverless car displayed at the United Kingdom Pavilion at COP24, in Katowice, Poland. December 2018. The conference has brought together thousands of climate action decision-makers, advocates and activists, with the objective of adopting global guidelines for the 197 parties of the 2015 Paris Agreement, when countries committed to limiting global warming to… Continue reading Taking fast road to ‘e-mobility’ central to a sustainable future: COP24

A girl runs through a dried field in Mynmar’s Sagaing region. Once a fertile farmland, the soil has degraded and may not sustain crops for many years to come. 5 December 2018SDGs Soil is a “treasure beneath our feet,” essential to human lives and well-being, a senior United Nations official has highlighted, warning, however, that… Continue reading Soil pollution ‘jeopardizing’ life on Earth, UN agency warns on World Day

Maria Fernanda Espinosa told journalists at UN Headquarters in New York, that her Campaign Against Plastic Pollution – a priority during her year in office –  will hold both consumers and decision-makers accountable, urging the phasing out of single-use plastics such as water bottles, and raising awareness of the impact plastic pollution has on human… Continue reading Assembly President launches new initiative to purge plastics and purify oceans

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres briefing on the 2019 Climate summit at COP24 in Katowice, Poland. 4 December 2018. To his left is Special Envoy for 2019 Climate Summit, Luis Alfonso de Alba. “The Summit will focus on delivering three key outcomes: raising real ambition; transformative action in the real economy; and an unprecedented citizen… Continue reading Ambition, transformation, active citizenship: COP24 looks to next year’s big UN Climate Change Summit

4 December 2018Peace and Security The power of sport to help make sustainable development a reality and, in particular, the 2030 Agenda – the United Nations’ blueprint to transform the world for the benefit of all – has been explicitly recognized by a General Assembly resolution, adopted at UN Headquarters on Monday. The resolution encourages… Continue reading UN recognises role of sport in achieving sustainable development

3 December 2018Health Obesity affects millions of people, and several billion suffer from diseases caused by vitamin- or mineral-deficient diets, known as micronutrient deficiencies, according to the UN agriculture chief, who called on Monday for “transformative changes” to our food systems. “The coexistence of undernutrition, obesity and micronutrient deficiencies – what we know as the triple… Continue reading UN agriculture chief urges ‘transformative changes’ to how we eat

A UN-supported initiative in Ukraine promotes sustainable tourism, development and protects the environment. © UNDP SGP Ukraine/2017 The “eco-routes” which are supported by the UN Development Programme (UNDP) contribute to the protection of the European plains, boost rural development and encourage sustainable tourism. People with disabilities, including those who are visually impaired, have been joining other… Continue reading FROM THE FIELD: Persons with disabilities bike towards sustainability

3 December 2018SDGs During her current trip to South Africa, Deputy-Secretary-General Amina Mohammed has spoken at several events in Johannesburg, on the importance of the 2030 Agenda for sustainable development – the UN’s blueprint to end extreme poverty, fight injustice, and protect the planet, ensuring that no one is left behind. Gender-equality Ms. Mohammed’s packed… Continue reading ‘We need to do more’ to transform the world, deputy UN chief tells African audiences

Days after the UN sounded the alarm on the unprecedented levels of greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere, the world is gathering to define how the 2015 Paris Agreement will be implemented and moved forward.  Under the agreement, all countries have committed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in order to limit the global average rise… Continue reading COP24: green, gender focus, as UN’s crucial climate change conference gets underway

30 November 2018Climate and Environment During press briefings at the beginning of the G20 meeting of industrialized nations in Buenos Aires, UN Secretary António Guterres described the event as an essential forum, citing a lack of confidence and high level of confrontation within the international community. As well as mistrust between nations, and the risk of… Continue reading G20 told crucial COP24 climate change conference ‘must succeed’: Guterres

UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina J. Mohammed addressing the Africa Youth Development Summit, in Johannesburg, South Africa. 30 November 2018SDGs Young people are the leaders and torchbearers the world “desperately needs” but they also face serious challenges when it comes to realizing their potential, the United Nations Deputy Secretary-General has said. Addressing the African Youth Development… Continue reading ‘Be the change’ we desperately need, UN deputy chief urges global youth

29 November 2018Climate and Environment As global temperatures continue to rise, climate action is lagging and the window of opportunity is closing. On Sunday, the United Nations will kick off critical negotiations on how to address the problem collectively and urgently, during a two-week climate change conference in Katowice, Poland, known as “COP24”. Thousands of… Continue reading COP24: UN climate change conference, what’s at stake and what you need to know

29 November 2018Economic Development 10 years on, governments are experiencing collective amnesia towards of one of the biggest factors behind the 2008 global financial crash –the housing crisis – which has not been addressed and is only getting worse, said Leilani Farha, UN Special Rapporteur on adequate housing, in a statement on Thursday. Ms. Farha,… Continue reading ‘Collective amnesia’ over causes of global financial crash – human rights expert

28 November 2018SDGs On the eve of the G20 international forum in Argentina, and ahead of next week’s COP24 climate conference in Katowice, Poland, UN Secretary-General António Guterres has called for global leadership to be stepped up, “at a time of declining global trust.” In a press briefing on Wednesday, Mr. Guterres said that the… Continue reading ‘Global trust’ declining, ‘our world needs stepped-up global leadership’

28 November 2018Economic Development Better transport, logistics and foreign investment are essential to smooth the way for the African continent to reduce trade hurdles, according to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD). “Africa faces a moment when the market access gains that have been negotiated over the past two decades can be… Continue reading Africa Forum aims to boost business, reduce costs, help countries trade out of poverty

27 November 2018Economic Development UN Secretary-General António Guterres has urged countries to fund a new initiative designed to reduce vulnerability, advance sustainable development and create decent living conditions for millions of people living around the Aral Sea, whose basin encompasses Uzbekistan, and six other countries in Central Asia. The high-level event, held to launch the… Continue reading UN launches new fund to advance sustainable development in Aral Sea region

27 November 2018SDGs Between 2010 and 2015, forests around the Mediterranean have expanded by two per cent, but that has come at the price of significant degradation and increasing vulnerability to climate change, population pressures, wildfires and water scarcity, warned a new UN report launched on Tuesday. The State of Mediterranean Forests 2018, from the… Continue reading ‘At risk’ Mediterranean forests make ‘vital contributions’ to development

22 November 2018Climate and Environment Levels of heat-trapping greenhouse gases in the atmosphere have reached another new record high, according to a report issued on Thursday by the United Nations weather agency, which reveals that there is no sign of reversal of this trend, responsible for climate change, sea level rise, ocean acidification and extreme… Continue reading Greenhouse gas levels in atmosphere break another record, UN report shows

Delivering remarks at a forum on reform held during the Spring Meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank, she called for course correction now – the halfway point to achieve the goals by 2030.  In recent years, developing countries have been battered by soaring energy and food costs, the climate emergency,… Continue reading Reform global financial architecture to achieve sustainable development: UN deputy chief

The issue is under the microscope this week at the latest session of the Commission on Population and Development (CPD), taking place at UN Headquarters in New York.  Delivering opening remarks, Ms. Mohammed began by highlighting the situation of women and girls in Afghanistan, who have been banned from high school and university, calling this “one… Continue reading UN commission examines threats to global education goal

The annual commemoration, now in its 10th year, highlights the positive role sport plays in communities and lives across the globe.   Elite and amateur athletes of all ages joined industry experts, diplomats and UN officials for the event – the first to be held in-person since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.  This year,… Continue reading Athletes score for people and the planet on International Day of Sport

UN News: As the Olympics continues to grow, both in terms of sports and participation, are there any considerations and discussions on the impact on the environment? Tania Braga: The Games are not growing. There is a limit in the numbers of athletes that can participate, and even with new sports, the total number of… Continue reading INTERVIEW: Olympic ‘game changer’ boosts sustainability in sport

“There is no such thing as disability in the world of art,” said Soomi Jeon, Director of the Vichae Art Museum. “We often think the persons with disabilities are the receivers of charity, and we are the givers,” she explained. “This belief actually divides us. It is not sharing. I planned this exhibition to break… Continue reading Republic of Korea: Breaking barriers, one brushstroke at a time

31 March 2023SDGs A razor, nail polish, and beads are part of the new Unbox Me campaign, launched by UNAIDS to raise awareness among parents, teachers, and the wider community about gender identity during childhood, as the world marked International Transgender Day of Visibility on Friday. “Many of us take our gender identity for granted,… Continue reading UNAIDS launches campaign to advocate for rights of transgender children

The high-level meeting was held to raise awareness of the urgent need to transition to a “green” and circular economy that promotes sustainable production and consumption patterns. The move could save governments billions and create hundreds of thousands of jobs. Humanity currently generates more than two billion tonnes of municipal solid waste annually, which includes… Continue reading Zero Waste Day: UN calls for a war on garbage

On the sidelines of the historic Conference – held at UN Headquarters from 22 to 24 March – the SDG Media Zone is an informal setting for experts and senior officials to discuss a wide range of topics related to water. On the first day of the Conference, Conor Lennon from UN News led a… Continue reading UN Water Conference: ‘we need a renewed sense of action’

As the UN Water Conference continues at UN headquarters in New York, Simona Marinescu, the UN Resident Coordinator in Cook Islands, Niue, Samoa and Tokelau explains why finding a solution to provide all people access to clean and safe water remains a priority for the UN.   “Water is life. No other definition captures quite so aptly… Continue reading Water, source of Samoa’s ‘cultural identity’ and national wealth: A UN Resident Coordinator Blog

The UN Water Conference, which opened on Wednesday, is taking place as this vital natural resource is being depleted, polluted and mismanaged.  The three-day event – co-hosted by the Kingdom of the Netherlands and Tajikistan – falls at the halfway point for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which include the promise of ensuring all… Continue reading UN Conference seeks solutions to global water crisis

“Let me be frank: we are not doing well. Our progress towards the SDGs has faltered and even gone into reverse on some important targets and Goals, leaving many behind,” she said in opening remarks to the Arab Regional Forum on Sustainable Development (AFSD) in Beirut, Lebanon.  World leaders adopted the 17 SDGs in 2015,… Continue reading UN deputy chief warns of faltering progress towards SDGs

These forward-looking policy briefs are designed to feed into UN Member States’ consultations analysing how the multilateral system can be strengthened for tomorrow’s world, said UN chief António Guterres, unveiling the latest strategy documents, at UN Headquarters in New York. “The goal is simple”, he said, “to breathe new life into the multilateral system so that it can deliver on… Continue reading Guterres bids to ‘breathe new life’ into our global future

9 March 2023SDGs The COVID-19 pandemic, climate disasters and ongoing conflict have deepened inequalities among children in Europe and Central Asia, the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said in a report published on Thursday, calling for more robust support for boys and girls at risk of poverty and social exclusion.  The report on children’s rights is… Continue reading UNICEF warns of deepening inequalities in Europe and Central Asia

“Unhealthy diets are a leading cause of death and disease globally, and excessive sodium intake is one of the main culprits,” the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus declared. A first-of-its-kind WHO global report on sodium intake reduction shows that the world is off-track to achieve its global target of reducing sodium intake… Continue reading A pinch (less) of salt can save lives, WHO says in new report

1 March 2023Human Rights UN rights chief Volker Türk has issued an urgent appeal to all countries to support people’s right to development, as a way out of the world’s current “destructive spiral”. Adding her voice to the High Commissioner’s call for action, UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed warned in a video message that the… Continue reading Right to development can save world from ‘destructive spiral’: Türk

1 March 2023SDGs The number of children worldwide without access to social protection continues to rise, putting them at risk of poverty, hunger and discrimination, the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said in a report published on Wednesday.  Between 2016 and 2020, an additional 50 million boys and girls aged… Continue reading Governments urged to strengthen child social protection

As the continent weathers the full impact of fallouts from the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change and the war in Ukraine, she underscored the need for greater action to achieve UN and African Union roadmaps that promise an inclusive and sustainable future for all.  Countries off track  “At the mid-point of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)… Continue reading Solidarity, leadership and commitment needed to reach 2030 development goals: Mohammed

Three countries, this week alone, have reported outbreaks, WHO cholera team leader Philippe Barboza told reporters at a press conference on Friday. For the first time, WHO is asking donors for help to fight the outbreaks, he said. Right now, 22 countries across the world are fighting outbreaks of the acute diarrhoeal infection caused by… Continue reading Over 1 billion in 43 nations at risk amid cholera outbreaks, WHO says

The call comes against a backdrop of Marburg and mpox outbreaks, the more than 10,000 COVID-19 deaths still being reported weekly, and the ongoing emergency response to the deadly earthquake in Syria and Türkiye, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said. “Together, these current conditions point to the critical need for all countries to build health… Continue reading Outbreaks underline critical need to ramp up health systems: Tedros

15 February 2023Health An independent UN human rights expert on Wednesday called on Bangladesh to draft laws to better protect those affected by leprosy. “Leprosy is hidden beneath multiple layers of systemic exclusion, structural discrimination, and institutional neglect,” said UN Special Rapporteur on discrimination against persons with leprosy, Alice Cruz, following an eight-day visit to… Continue reading UN rights expert calls on Bangladesh to draft anti-discrimination leprosy laws

While European prisons managed adequate COVID-19 pandemic responses for inmates, concerns remain about poor mental health services, overcrowding and suicide rates, the report stated. “Prisons are embedded in communities and investments made in the health of people in prison becomes a community dividend,” said Dr. Hans Henri P. Kluge, regional director of the WHO regional… Continue reading WHO reveals one-third of prisoners in Europe suffer mental health disorders

Almost 400 women leaders from 15 African countries joined the UN-backed three-day conference, which opened on Monday, including former and current presidents. The goal is to advance progress, tackle pressing concerns and find sustainable solutions to issues affecting women and girls in South Sudan and across Africa. The conference’s theme is GuwaTaMara, meaning the strength… Continue reading Equality drive launched by African women leaders at landmark conference

“Today, we are here to start the job of moving the recommendations in Our Common Agenda from ideas to action – from abstract to concrete,” UN Secretary-General António Guterres said. Briefing the world body on Our Common Agenda, launched in 2021 amid the COVID-19 pandemic as a guide to realizing the 17 Sustainable Development Goals… Continue reading Turn words into action to get world back on track for 2030 goals

Price indices for vegetable oils, dairy and sugar drove the January decline, the UN food agency said, issuing two new reports on food production expectations. The FAO food price index fell 17.9 per cent below its all-time peak, reached in March 2022 following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The downward pricing trend was helped in… Continue reading Downward slide in global food prices continues: FAO

The so-called UN Food Systems Stocktaking Moment is the first global follow-up to a 2021 summit convened to change how the world produces, consumes and thinks about food.  The high-level event falls at the halfway point for achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the 17 Sustainable Development (SDGs), which provide a blueprint for… Continue reading Transforming how we eat, ‘a critical accelerator’ towards 2030 development goals: Deputy UN chief

30 May 2018SDGs He is best known for his bare-chested appearances at the Rio and Pyeongchang Olympic Games, but Pita Taufatofua now wants to use his social media muscle to empower youth, and get them to share their stories.  “The young people are the people who are going to dictate our future,” Mr. Taufatofua said… Continue reading Tonga’s flamboyant Olympic flag-bearer brings inspiring message of self-belief to youth at UN Headquarters

“They still feel they are excluded, from the decisions that are affecting their lives,” said Miroslav Lajčák,  adding that “we want this to be an event when we take a step back, and we listen to young people, talking to each other.” Quite often, he said,  “they have a feeling that when they speak, no… Continue reading World needs generation of self-empowered ‘superheroes’, UN youth forum told

29 May 2018SDGs Changing how countries across the world produce food is “fundamental” to protecting the future of the Earth’s ecosystem, said the head of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) on Tuesday. With large swathes of the planet’s surface used to grow food, raise animals or produce products such as timber; the agricultural sector… Continue reading Promoting biodiversity across all agricultural sectors ‘fundamental’ — FAO chief

25 May 2018SDGs Praising efforts by African countries to alleviate poverty and build more stable societies, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres pledged his on-going support for ending conflict and building peace across the continent. “Peace and sustainable development are two sides of the same coin – one cannot be achieved without the other,” said Mr.… Continue reading ‘What is good for Africa is good for the world’ says UN chief on International Day

21 May 2018SDGs Cooperation over development is critical in delivering the ambitious 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the UN deputy chief said on Monday, calling for strengthened “multi-stakeholder” partnerships, and better policy coordination. Speaking at the Development Cooperation Forum – a high-level meeting seeking greater policy coherence – Deputy Secretary-General Amina J. Mohammed said that… Continue reading ‘Done right,’ expanded partnerships can deliver more sustainable results – deputy UN chief

Since December 1993, when the Convention on Biological Diversity entered into force, its parties have acted to conserve the earth’s flora and fauna, in a sustainable and fair way, said the UN chief. “Achieving these objectives is integral to meet our goals for sustainable development,” Mr. Guterres stressed, underscoring the importance of protecting, restoring and… Continue reading Rich variety of life on earth essential says UN chief Guterres, marking biological diversity day

18 May 2018SDGs The United Nations and the World Bank Group on Friday signed an agreement to work closer together to help countries implement the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and achieve measurable results to transform their economies and societies. The agreement, known as the Strategic Partnership Framework (SPF), includes four key areas of cooperation.… Continue reading In Washington D.C., Guterres signs pact with World Bank, meets US President Trump

17 May 2018Health Marking the International Day against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia, the United Nations is calling for strengthened partnerships to support lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) people and their families. “Stigma, discrimination and social and physical violence against sexual and gender minorities prevents them from accessing health services,” Michel Sidibé, Executive Director… Continue reading Celebrate love, strengthen partnerships to end AIDS epidemic by 2030 says UN agency

15 May 2018Climate and Environment None of the world’s challenges loom as large as climate change, the United Nations chief told a major climate action summit on Tuesday, reiterating his belief that global warming poses an “existential threat” to humanity. Both leadership and innovation are essential for climate action, Secretary-General António Guterres said in his keynote… Continue reading Climate change: An ‘existential threat’ to humanity, UN chief warns global summit

14 May 2018Health Industrially-produced trans-fats may give food a longer shelf life, but each year they also lead to the death of more than 500,000 people from cardiovascular and heart disease, according to the United Nations health agency. Now, the World Health Organization (WHO) has released guidance which is hopes will help make it possible… Continue reading UN health agency aims to save millions of lives by ‘elimination’ of trans-fatty acids from global food chain

In a video message to the opening of the 74th session of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), UN Secretary-General António Guterres highlighted the potential offered by the region. “The Asia-Pacific region is an engine of global growth, trade and investment and the creation of jobs all over the world,”… Continue reading Key UN forum in Asia-Pacific sets its sights on combatting inequality

11 May 2018Climate and Environment As they make their global journeys, migratory birds not only set birdwatchers’ binoculars agog, they also help the planet maintain its essential ecological balance. That’s one of the key messages from United Nations chief Antonio Guterres, for World Migratory Bird Day, celebrated on Saturday, with the soaring message: “Unifying Our Voices… Continue reading Save our planet by protecting migratory birds and their ‘epic journeys,’ urges UN chief

10 May 2018SDGs New guidelines designed to give poor and isolated communities more of a say in how tropical forests are used and preserved around the world were published on Thursday, by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). The FAO is the lead United Nations agency on the sustainable use of forests, and the voluntary… Continue reading New UN agency guidelines aim to sustain forest benefits for future generations

2 May 2018SDGs At an event commemorating the Day of Vesak, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres urged the global community to draw inspiration from the Buddha’s teachings and message of tolerance, empathy and humanism. “The world faces numerous challenges, from conflict to climate change, from prejudice to growing inequality. We see people turning inwards and… Continue reading Amid a ‘crisis of solidarity,’ seek inspiration from the Buddha’s message of empathy, urges UN chief

30 April 2018Climate and Environment The latest round of United Nations climate change negotiations began on Monday in Bonn, Germany, to further develop the “operating manual” for implementing the landmark 2015 Paris Agreement, which aims to keep temperature rises this century, well below 2 degrees Celsius. “We are witnessing the severe impacts of climate change… Continue reading Nations begin drafting ‘operating manual’ for climate action at UN conference in Bonn

24 April 2018SDGs Economic losses to disasters in Asia and the Pacific could exceed $160 billion annually by 2030, the United Nations development arm in the region warned on Tuesday, urging greater innovation in disaster risk financing. The need is all the more pressing given that only eight per cent of region’s losses are insured,… Continue reading Disasters could cost Asia-Pacific region $160 billion per year by 2030, UN warns

A woman with an umbrella walks in the rain in a field. To the left is a rainbow. Photo: WMO 23 April 2018SDGs  Harmony with Nature – living a better quality of life while minimizing the use of toxic materials and preserving natural resources – was the focus of the International Mother Earth Day celebration… Continue reading A new bond with nature is goal of UN’s Mother Earth Day celebration

12 April 2018SDGs With some 1.3 million drivers, passengers and pedestrians dying each year on the world’s roads, the United Nations took a major step to address this tragedy by launching on Thursday a trust fund to spur action that could save lives and prevent the loss of opportunity associated with road accidents. Speaking at the… Continue reading UN launches initiative to improve road safety worldwide

“Fair play, tolerance and team spirit – sports have a unique potential to help develop and reinforce positive life skills and values, and expand prospects, Yury Fedotov, Executive Director of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC),” told a Headquarters event on ‘Crime Prevention and Sustainable Development through Sport.’ He underscored that sports offer… Continue reading With fair play, tolerance and team spirit, sport can score for peace and development, say UN officials

“Health is a human right. No one should get sick and die just because they are poor, or because they cannot access the health service they need,” said WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus in his message prior to the Day, which is marked annually on 7 April. According to WHO, at least half the world’s population… Continue reading Universal health coverage key to safer, fairer world, says WHO chief on eve of World Health Day

5 April 2018SDGs Ahead of the International Day of Sport, world renowned Japanese athletes are joining a United Nations-backed campaign to promote global development goals through the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games their country will host in 2020. “Let’s use the 2020 Olympics and Paralympics as an opportunity to let the world know about the… Continue reading Marking Sport for Development Day, Japanese athletes take UN Global Goals forward

“Business as usual approaches won’t work,” said Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed at the 2018 ECOSOC [Economic and Social Council] Partnership Forum, an annual event promoting inclusive societies, including through innovative business models and mobilizing big data for public good.  “We need action – and bold action – to build an inclusive, resilient and sustainable future… Continue reading Business leaders at UN forum challenged to invest in a more sustainable future for all

“Partnerships must include all stakeholders: Government, international organizations and civil society,” William Lacy Swing, Director General of International Organization for Migration (IOM), told the International Dialogue on Migration, a two-day forum that is part the year-long UN-led effort to craft a Global Compact to cover all dimensions of international migration.   “Partnerships are not just… Continue reading UN forum examines role partnerships play in tackling global migration challenge

Most directly linked to Sustainable Development Goal 6, safe water and adequate sanitation are indispensable for healthy ecosystems, reducing poverty, and achieving inclusive growth, social well-being and sustainable livelihoods – the targets for many of the 17 Goals. However, growing demands, poor management and climate change have increased water stresses and scarcity of water is… Continue reading World cannot take water for granted, say UN officials at launch of global decade for action

19 March 2018SDGs Making information and communication technology (ICT) readily available for vulnerable countries and harnessing it’s potential to help tackle a raft of ills – from disaster risk reduction to reaching ‘zero hunger’ – will be among the issues on the agenda at an annual United Nations information forum that kicked off Monday in… Continue reading UN forum to spotlight ways ICT can help beat poverty and boost development

“We need new solutions in managing water resources so as to meet emerging challenges to water security caused by population growth and climate change,” said Audrey Azoulay, head of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), in the foreword of the UN World Water Development Report 2018. “If we do nothing, some five billion… Continue reading UN spotlights rainwater recycling, artificial wetlands among ‘green’ solutions to global water crisis

“Across the world, women are telling their stories and provoking important and necessary conversations – in villages and cities; in boardrooms and bedrooms; in the streets and in the corridors of power,” said Secretary-General António Guterres, opening the 62nd session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW62). “From ‘MeToo’ to ‘Time’s Up’ and ‘The… Continue reading UN women’s commission opens annual session at ‘pivotal moment’ for gender equality movement

25 January 2023SDGs Countries in Latin America and the Caribbean “can and must step up” to tackle rising levels of hunger, poverty and inequality, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization, FAO, said on Wednesday.  According to the UN agency, between 2019 and 2021, the number of people who went hungry in the region increased by… Continue reading Latin America, Caribbean ‘must step up’ to tackle rising hunger: FAO

The World Social Report 2023 calls for concrete measures to support the greying global population, amidst escalating pension and healthcare costs.  Population ageing is a defining global trend of our time, according to the study, published by the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA).   Countries can reap the benefits by giving everyone… Continue reading UN report calls for re-thinking social protection as the world ages

The UN agency has published its latest Food Price Index (FFPI) which tracks the monthly international prices of cereals, vegetable oil, dairy, meat and sugar.  The FFPI averaged 132.4 points last month, which is one per cent lower than the previous December.    However, it averaged 143.7 points last year – more than 14 per… Continue reading Food prices decline in December following ‘two very volatile years’: FAO

“The costs have been catastrophic”, Secretary-General António Guterres said in a statement marking the day. Since the pandemic struck, he pointed out that millions of lives have been lost, as hundreds of millions fallen ill. And economies have been shattered, health systems stretched, and trillions of dollars lost. Moreover, progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals… Continue reading UN chief issues global ‘wake-up call’ on Day of Epidemic Preparedness

14 December 2022SDGs Countries must ramp up investments to provide safe drinking water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) to all people by 2030, the World Health Organization (WHO) and partners said on Wednesday in a bid to save more lives.  Although 45 per cent of countries are on track to achieve drinking water targets by the… Continue reading Step up investment to ensure water and sanitation access for all

Be Active: Bring the Moves for Health For All, has been organized by FIFA, the World Health Organization (WHO), the Education Above All Foundation (EAAF) and Qatar’s Ministry of Public Health, featuring special appearances by stars from the world of dance, music and of course, the beautiful game itself. The event is part of Education… Continue reading World Cup joins team UN to kick-off Universal Health Coverage Day

risks, building resilience and accelerating research, there is every reason to dream of a malaria-free future”. Lifesaving bednets   In 2020, more insecticide treated bednets (ITNs) – the primary defense in most malaria-endemic countries – were distributed than in any year on record.   And distributions in 2021 were strong overall, similar to pre-pandemic levels.  However, Benin,… Continue reading Countries held the line against malaria cases and deaths in 2021: WHO report  

Global monthly wages fell in real terms to -0.9 per cent in the first half of the year, the study found, marking the first instance of negative growth this century.  As a result, the purchasing power of middle-class families has been reduced, while low-income households have been hit particularly hard.   Tens of millions affected … Continue reading Rising inflation, falling wages threaten increased poverty and unrest: ILO

29 November 2022SDGs Humanitarian aid alone cannot overcome record levels of internal displacement globally, the UN Development Programme (UNDP) said in a report published on Tuesday, calling for urgent action to support people uprooted by climate, conflict and crisis.  For the first time ever, the number of people forced to flee their homes surpassed 100… Continue reading Numbers forced to flee passes 100 million; many displaced for decades: UNDP

29 November 2022SDGs The annual UN forum on Internet governance is under way this week in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, aiming to deliver bold solutions for an open, free, inclusive and secure digital future for all, in particular for the 2.7 billion people with no Internet access.  “With the right policies in place, digital technology can… Continue reading UN Forum tackles ‘digital poverty’ facing 2.7 billion people  

Every year, 1.3 million people die in road accidents and 50 million more are injured, he said, making this the leading cause of death for children and young people.  The UN chief’s remarks came in his message to mark the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims, observed annually on 20 November.  “One of… Continue reading Honour traffic victims by making roads safer: Guterres

17 November 2022SDGs Ahead of World Toilet Day on 19 November, the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) is launching a new game plan to help governments achieve safely managed sanitation for their populations and meet the sanitation target laid out in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). “SDG 6.2 is about ending open defecation and providing access to safe sanitation and hygiene,… Continue reading UN’s game plan for sanitation for all

Some 16.6 million people – more than half the population — now find themselves without regular access to enough safe and nutritious food. It’s a shocking reversal for Peru, an upper middle-income country according to the World Bank, that can grow all the food it needs. According to a 2021 FAO study, 51 per cent… Continue reading Peru’s food crisis grows amid soaring prices and poverty: FAO

While fewer risks and increased life expectancy are to be lauded, the moment is also a clarion call to look beyond the numbers, and for governments to share responsibility for protect people and the planet – starting with the most vulnerable. “Unless we bridge the yawning chasm between the global haves and have-nots, we are… Continue reading ‘Milestone for humanity’ as UN celebrates 8 billionth birth

Long before the country’s first-ever international debt default in May 2022 and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which added to the country’s problems, tea estate labourer Nagamma had already cut back on meals, as global trade froze during the coronavirus pandemic.  Blood, sweat and leeches  Her precarious situation in Sri Lanka’s central highlands hasn’t changed, but… Continue reading Sri Lanka: Cost-of-living crunch threatens to sink millions already facing hard choices 

The new forecast of $1.94 trillion would represent an all-time high and a 10 per cent increase over the record level of 2021.  However, the pace of increase is expected to slow down in response to higher food prices and the depreciation of currencies against the United States dollar, according to the latest Food Outlook report. … Continue reading Global food imports on track to reach all-time high: FAO

11 November 2022SDGs Next week, the world’s population is due to reach eight billion, which the UN chief is describing as “a testament to scientific breakthroughs and improvements in nutrition, public health and sanitation”. “But as our human family grows larger, it is also growing more divided”, warned Secretary-General António Guterres in an editorial penned ahead… Continue reading Eight billion people, one humanity; Development milestone ‘testament’ to power of health and science

He believes the world also can move forward in stamping out negative attitudes towards the millions of people worldwide who are struggling just to get by. “People are stereotyped and discriminated against purely because they are poor. This is frankly sickening and a stain on our society,” he told the General Assembly recently. Humiliation and… Continue reading Like racism and sexism, ‘povertyism’ should be illegal, UN rights expert says

The Executive Action Plan for the Early Warnings for All initiative, calls for initial new targeted investments of $ 3.1 billion between 2023 and 2027, equivalent to a cost of just 50 cents per person per year.  Mr. Guterres announced the plan at the COP27 climate change conference, underway in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, during a… Continue reading COP27: $3.1 billion plan to achieve early warning systems for all by 2027

UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed, and the head of its urban development agency, UN-Habitat, Maimunah Mohd Sharif, were in Spain in the context of World Cities Day, observed annually on 31 October, and the event took advantage of their visit.  Young people are an integral part of a growing network of local and global voices… Continue reading The UN belongs to you, deputy chief tells youth advocates in Spain

In his message marking World Cities Day, the UN chief highlighted the critical role urban areas have in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).  The SDGs outline global action and targets across 17 critical areas including poverty reduction, gender equality and clean energy.  “On World Cities Day, let us resolve to work with cities to… Continue reading ‘Act Local to Go Global’ provides universal theme for World Cities Day

31 October 2022Economic Development The outlook for global labour markets has worsened in recent months and if current trends continue, vacancies will grow more scarce while global jobs growth will deteriorate significantly during the rest of the year, according to a new report by the International Labour Organization (ILO). Estimates from ILO for the third quarter of 2022, indicate that… Continue reading Global jobs market set to deteriorate amid Ukraine war shocks: ILO

Ambassadors and UN leaders recently reaffirmed their support for the Organization’s Resident Coordinators, who lead teams servicing more than 160 countries and territories. These 130 senior officials are the Secretary-General’s designated representatives in the field and coordinate UN operational activities for development. They are critical to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), agreed by the… Continue reading UN Resident Coordinators a key link in achieving development goals

25 October 2022SDGs A €2 million agreement between the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the UNDP Development Programme (UNDP), announced on Tuesday, will help restore damaged public buildings in Ukraine and contribute to recovery and reconstruction that is green, resilient, and inclusive. The partners signed the deal at an international conference in Berlin to support… Continue reading UNDP to support refurbishment of damaged public buildings in Ukraine

19 October 2022SDGs UN Secretary-General António Guterres is in India, and he began his official visit on Wednesday by attending a tribute to the victims of the 2008 terrorist attacks that took place at the Taj Mahal Palace hotel in Mumbai. Afterwards, he went to the Indian Institute of Technology in India’s business capital, where he delivered a lecture, hailing… Continue reading Guterres highlights UN partnership with India, as powerhouse for the SDGs

17 October 2022SDGs A flagship UN poverty study released on Monday, the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, finds that significant poverty reduction is possible, and new ways of calculating the problem can help humanitarians and governments better target aid. The Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI), a joint analysis from the UN Development Programme (UNDP)… Continue reading Lifting 100 million out of poverty by 2025 still possible, despite recession threat

Every problem we face is a problem that we created – so it’s a problem we can solve together, declared UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed on Saturday, rallying the crowd gathered in New York’s Central Park for the 2022 Global Citizen Festival to keep holding their leaders accountable: with hope and action, a world free… Continue reading ‘We need all hands on deck!’ The world’s ‘to-do list’ is long and time is short, UN deputy chief tells Global Citizen Festival

The UN Secretary-General and the President of the 77TH General Assembly joined world leaders and Goodwill Ambassadors on Monday in a global call to rescue the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and get back on track to building a better world that “leaves no one behind”.

From the Amazon to the Andes and the snowy depths of Patagonia, extreme weather and climate change are causing mega-drought, extreme rainfall, deforestation and glacier melt across the Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) region, according to a UN report published on Friday.

Every problem we face is a problem that we created – so it’s a problem we can solve together, declared UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed on Saturday, rallying the crowd gathered in New York’s Central Park for the 2022 Global Citizen Festival to keep making their voices heard and holding their leaders accountable: with hope… Continue reading ‘We need all hands on deck!’ The world’s ‘to-do list’ is long and time is short, UN deputy chief tells Global Citizen Festival

On Wednesday, the UN announced the 2022 cohort of Young Leaders for the Sustainable Development Goals, recognizing their efforts to bring about a fairer future for people and the planet. Every two years, the Office of the Secretary-General’s Envoy on Youth picks out young change-makers who are at the forefront of attempts to combat the… Continue reading Influential young changemakers recognized by UN

The UN Secretary-General and the President of the 77TH General Assembly joined world leaders and Goodwill Ambassadors on Monday in a global call to rescue the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and get back on track to building a better world that “leaves no one behind”. The 2022 SDG Moment, which places an annual spotlight on… Continue reading Rescuing the SDGs: General Assembly highlights ‘world’s to-do list’

From climate change to worsening inequalities and COVID-19 fallouts, top UN officials told a major forum in Bangkok, Thailand, on Monday that greater cooperation among developing countries, known as the global South, was needed to overcome a multitude of challenges. At the opening of the Global South-South Development Expo 2022, Secretary-General António Guterres encouraged through a… Continue reading Global UN forum showcases need, impact of South-South cooperation

South-South cooperation is unity among people and countries of the developing world, known as the global South, which contributes to national well-being, collective self-reliance and achieving the global goals.  “South-South and triangular cooperation are critical for developing countries to mitigate and adapt to climate disruption, address the global health crisis, including COVID-19 recovery, and achieve… Continue reading ‘Solutions lie in solidarity’ UN chief says on South-South Cooperation Day

Denied decent work opportunities and highly vulnerable to systemic shocks such as pandemics or economic downturns, workers in Asia and the Pacific are under pressure, according to a report launched on Tuesday by the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP). “Our region spends less than half of the global average… Continue reading New social contract needed to lift half of Asia and Pacific region’s workforce out of poverty

World food prices have fallen for a fifth consecutive month but are still nearly eight per cent higher than a year ago, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) reported on Friday.  Its latest Food Price Index shows that the prices of five commodities – cereals, vegetable oil, dairy, meat and sugar – were lower… Continue reading World food prices drop for fifth consecutive month: FAO

Ms. Mohammed was in the country to attend the eighth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD8), which concluded that day. The conference has been organized by Japan since 1993, under the philosophy of “African Development for African people.” It is co-hosted by the UN, the UN Development Programme (UNDP), the World Bank, and the… Continue reading In meetings in Tunisia, UN deputy chief upholds relevance of SDGs, education for all

His appeal comes in a message to mark the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples, observed annually on 9 August.  This year the focus is on the role indigenous women have in preserving and passing on traditional knowledge.  Cultural champions  “Indigenous women are knowledge keepers of traditional food systems and medicines. They are champions… Continue reading Indigenous women’s work to preserve traditional knowledge celebrated on International Day

Food prices dropped significantly in July, marking the fifth consecutive monthly decline since hitting record highs earlier in the year in the wake of the war in Ukraine, the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) reported on Friday.  The UN agency has published its latest eagerly awaited Food Price Index, the barometer that tracks monthly changes… Continue reading Major fall in global food prices for July, but future supply worries remain

Ambassador Lachezara Stoeva said in her opening statement that she was “honoured and humbled” to have been elected to lead one of the principal organs of the UN, while noting that the upcoming session will be “especially challenging for the world”.  In addition to COVID recovery, she highlighted the ongoing war in Ukraine, which has “triggered massive food… Continue reading New ECOSOC President aims to ease crises which have ‘engulfed our societies’

Factors including the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change and ongoing conflicts resulted in nearly a billion people going hungry last year, he said.  Meanwhile, the World Bank has warned that the conflict in Ukraine will plunge an additional 95 million people into extreme poverty, and 50 million into severe hunger, this year.   Already falling short … Continue reading UN and partners meet to address ‘critical’ state of global food crisis

“We have advanced the substantive programme of the [Economic and Social] Council (ECOSOC) and initiated concrete foundational action to implement the decisions of the General Assembly” in resolutions on strengthening the HLPF and ECOSOC, said the body’s president, Collen Kelapile. Urgency and ambition Although the COVID pandemic continues, “we are moving on in the road… Continue reading Key UN forum closes with ‘enthusiasm, passion and high-energy’ to reach the SDGs

The figures released by the World Health Organization (WHO) and UN Children’s Fund UNICEF, show the percentage of children who received three doses of the vaccine against diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (DTP3) – a marker for immunization coverage within and across countries – fell five points between 2019 and 2021, to 81 per cent. 1⃣8⃣… Continue reading COVID-19 fuels slowest rate of childhood vaccination in three decades, leaving millions at risk

Collen V. Kelapile, President of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), was delivering opening remarks to the ministerial segment of its ongoing High Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF).  Countries are meeting in the General Assembly Hall to examine how recovery policies can reverse the pandemic’s negative impacts on the common goal of creating… Continue reading Sustainable Development Goals can be reached ‘despite our grim times’: ECOSOC President

The number of people affected by hunger globally rose to as many as 828 million in 2021, according to a new UN report that provides fresh evidence that the world is moving in reverse, away from the Sustainable Development Goal of ending hunger, food insecurity and malnutrition in all its forms, by 2030, when the… Continue reading World is moving backwards on eliminating hunger and malnutrition, UN report reveals

He opened the in-person High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) “on a note characterized by high hope and optimism” arguing that “we can and shall overcome our challenges”.   Optimistic, ‘against all odds’ The senior UN official outlined five reasons for his optimism “against all odds”, beginning with successes in controlling the COVID-19 pandemic,… Continue reading ECOSOC President champions optimism ‘against all odds’ at key UN development conference

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are characterized by a “shallow commitment” to racial justice and equality, an independent UN-appointed rights expert told the UN Human Rights Council on Tuesday, adding that they fail to address systematic racism and xenophobia.    “Despite the 2030 Agenda’s promising rhetoric, it largely… Continue reading 2030 development agenda ‘fails’ on racial equality and non-discrimination

“Today’s meeting…is a key opportunity and platform for us to make the changes needed: To strengthen political will, scale up investment, and draw on lessons learned,” said Abdulla Shahid. It also acts to accelerate action on the Global Plan for the Decade of Action on Road Safety, which kicked off last year, he added. Enough is enough After… Continue reading Save lives, support development, and ‘steer our world to safer roads ahead’: Guterres 

Hundreds of delegates from across the globe will be attending the World Urban Forum, which opened on Sunday in the southern Polish city of Katowice. WUF11 is taking place at a critical time, as cities tackle the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic, the climate emergency and conflict. Making cities more inclusive must be part of… Continue reading Inclusive cities critical to post-pandemic recovery: Guterres

 Yet this improbable marine wonder is in danger. Scientists, local experts, passionate activists, and islanders are sounding the alarm about the deterioration of one of the richest ecosystems in the Caribbean Sea, even as they work together on innovative ways to restore it. Get the band saws ready! It’s 9 am on a Monday in… Continue reading Exploring the largest ocean reef restoration project in the Americas: ‘One Million Corals for Colombia’

The United Nations has underlined its support for the men and women working at sea, whose immeasurable contributions help to keep global trade moving. Secretary-General António Guterres highlighted both their critical role, as well as the challenges they face, In his message to mark the Day of the Seafarer on Saturday. “The world counts on seafarers,” he… Continue reading Seafarers’ Day honours maritime journeys and voyages

“Together, we can make sure that every person…can fully participate in every aspect of life – social, economic, cultural, and political”, said Secretary-General António Guterres, adding that “we can, and we will, advance our common future.” Forward motion He hailed the progress driven by the disability convention as being “broad, swift, and tangible.” “With 185 ratifications since… Continue reading Disabilities convention supports ‘inclusive, accessible, and sustainable world’

The joint UN-Tajikistan document, which was signed on Tuesday by Prime Minister Kokhir Rasulzoda and UN Resident Coordinator Sezin Sinanoglu, sets out national development priorities and goals for the next four years.  “This Cooperation Framework has ambitious aims to improve the lives of people in Tajikistan and create equal opportunities for each person to realize… Continue reading UN and Tajikistan reaffirm ‘strong partnership’ in new cooperation agreement 

Safe food is one of the most critical guarantors for good health, the UN said on Tuesday – the fourth global World Food Safety Day – aiming to mobilize action for preventing, detecting and managing foodborne risks and improving human health.  Benefits of safe food for well-being include improved nutrition and reduced absenteeism in schools… Continue reading World Food Safety Day highlights need to improve health, prevent foodborne risks 

Currently, 733 million people worldwide still do not have access to electricity, and 2.4 billion people still cook using fuels detrimental to their health and the environment.  At the current rate of progress, 670 million people will remain without electricity by 2030 – 10 million more than projected last year.  The findings are from the… Continue reading Pandemic hampers progress to achieve universal energy access by 2030

From the economic repercussions of the COVID pandemic to food insecurity exacerbated by the Ukraine war, Secretary-General António Guterres painted a picture of accumulating crises that have put the drive towards the global goals into reverse. “We must rise higher to rescue the SDGs – and stay true to our promise of a world of peace, dignity… Continue reading Rescuing global goals, world’s ‘highest common priority’ – UN chief

The strong call for urgent action at the conference taking pace in Durban, aims to combat an uptick in the numbers of children being forced into work. Latest figures indicate that 160 million children  – almost one in ten worldwide – are still being affected. Furthermore, numbers are on the rise, with the pandemic threating to reverse… Continue reading ‘We cannot rest’ until child labour is eliminated, ILO chief tells UN conference

Produced jointly by the World Health Organization (WHO) and UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), The Global Report on Assistive Technology presents new evidence of the global need for – and access to – tech that can make a fundamental difference. “Assistive technology is a life changer – it opens the door to education for children with… Continue reading Assistive technology: a ‘life changer’ for those most in need

The first Open-ended Working Group on Reducing Space Threats that’s been meeting all week in the Swiss city, is the result of a UN General Assembly resolution last December, seeking to promote “norms, rules and principles of responsible behaviours” among countries already present in the cosmos – or which are planning to have a presence in space. “The situation… Continue reading Unity among nations, in push for greater space security at UN-led talks

Ensuring everyone has access to a healthy diet is among the goals of a UN-backed initiative launched on Friday in line with efforts to transform food systems globally.  The Coalition of Action for Healthy Diets from Sustainable Food Systems for all (HDSFS), brings together governments, UN agencies, civil society organizations, academic institutions, and social movements. … Continue reading ‘Coalition of the willing’ to ensure healthy diets from sustainable food systems

Recent deep cuts to overseas aid budgets by governments, will have “direct, negative impacts” on the ability of the world to reach the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the UN chief warned on Friday. Secretary-General António Guterres expressed his concern over the fall in Overseas Development Aid (ODA) following a meeting of the UN Chief Executives… Continue reading Sustainable Development Goals in peril due to overseas aid cuts: Guterres

Amid the global energy crisis and worsening climate emergency, the United Nations and partners on Wednesday launched two new initiatives to accelerate action towards achieving clean, affordable energy for all, and the ambitious goal of net-zero carbon emissions.  The UN-Energy Plan of Action Towards 2025 delivers on commitments made at a high-level meeting in September… Continue reading New plan to accelerate clean energy access for millions globally

With six in 10 people expected to be living in cities by the end of the decade, the UN General Assembly met on Thursday to examine progress towards implementing a 2016 framework on sustainable urbanization.  The New Urban Agenda presents a shared global vision for how to build, manage, and live in cities, through urbanization… Continue reading General Assembly reviews global progress towards sustainable urbanization

Gathered in the UN General Assembly Hall for the first time in three years, indigenous representatives were welcomed in a traditional ceremony led by Katsenhaienton Lazare of the Bear Clan, Mohawk of the Haudenosaunee, who acknowledged nature in its great diversity – the winds, thunders, lightening, sun and other life forces – which give purpose… Continue reading Extractive projects cause irreparable harm to indigenous cultures, languages, lives, speakers tell Permanent Forum

Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the past year has seen “significant breakthroughs in malaria prevention and control”, a senior official of the UN health agency said on Monday, World Malaria Day. “Landmark recommendations on the use of the first vaccine against malaria – WHO Regional Director for Africa, RTS,S – were released by the World Health… Continue reading Working towards a malaria-free world

“Young people are…leading the way in the fight against climate change, standing up for racial justice and gender equality…holding leaders to account…[and] are at the forefront of our efforts to secure a more inclusive, peaceful, and prosperous future for all,” Secretary-General António Guterres said on the second of a two-day forum on youth. Under the theme Youth… Continue reading Guterres urges youth: Keep pushing, mobilizing, ‘bringing your ideas to the table’

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Athletes are among the most influential people on the planet and together with their managers, fans and others involved in organized sport, must contribute to global efforts to combat climate change.  That was the message UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed delivered on Wednesday to a virtual event marking the International Day of Sport for Development… Continue reading Sport must show leadership amidst climate crisis: UN deputy chief

An estimated 6.3 million children under five, in six countries in Africa’s Sahel region, will suffer from wasting this year, UN agencies and their partners warned in a publication issued on Wednesday.  The West and Central Africa Nutrition working group fears at least 900,000 young lives could be at risk across Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali,… Continue reading Scale-up action to combat child malnutrition in Africa’s Sahel

In his message to mark World Autism Awareness Day on Saturday, 2 April, the UN chief revealed how the COVID-19 pandemic has worsened inequalities affecting people with the condition.   “On this World Autism Awareness Day, let us reaffirm our commitment to an inclusive, equitable and sustainable world for persons with autism,” he said.  Varying… Continue reading UN chief calls for greater inclusion, marking World Autism Awareness Day

The United Nations Deputy Secretary-General on Monday called on countries in Asia and the Pacific to speed up the shift from fossil fuels to new, low-carbon development models, in a just and inclusive way. “Moving away from coal and fossil fuels in a region that accounts for 75 per cent of global coal-fired generation capacity… Continue reading Moving away from coal ‘will not be easy’ but it is essential for our common future, UN deputy chief says

Greater investment in care services could create nearly 300 million jobs by 2035, the UN’s labour agency, ILO, said in a report published on Monday ahead of International Women’s Day, celebrated annually on 8 May.  The move would benefit hundreds of millions of workers with family responsibilities who lack adequate protection, such as maternity leave… Continue reading Invest in care services to generate jobs, support working parents: ILO report

Global food prices reached an all-time high in February, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) reported on Friday. The Food Price Index, which tracks the international prices of a items such as vegetable oils and dairy products, averaged 140.7 points last month, or nearly four per cent up from January. Global #foodprices rise to record high in… Continue reading Food Price Index hit record high in February, UN agency reports

On World Obesity Day, marked on Friday, the World Health Organization (WHO) urged countries to do more to reverse what is a preventable health crisis. According to recent data, more than one billion people worldwide are obese, including 650 million adults, 340 million adolescents and 39 million children. With the numbers still increasing, WHO estimates… Continue reading Over one billion obese people globally, health crisis must be reversed – WHO

The Africa Regional Forum on Sustainable Development is being held to review progress towards implementing the SDGs and the African Union’s (AU) Agenda 2063. The three-day meeting was convened by the UN Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA).  Ms. Mohammed outlined five priority areas to guide the deliberations, starting with the pandemic.  Vaccination is critical  “Vaccinating… Continue reading Ending pandemic, building resilience, key to sustainable development: UN deputy chief

People must be at the heart of post-pandemic recovery, UN Secretary-General António Guterres told a global meeting that opened on Tuesday to examine the economic and social impact of the crisis.  Although COVID-19 caught the world unprepared, “we cannot let this happen again,” he said in a video message to the Global Forum for Human-centred… Continue reading Pandemic recovery must put people first: UN Secretary-General

Building political support and inclusive responses to sustainable recovery, was the theme of the 2022 Parliamentary Hearing, a joint initiative between the President of the General Assembly and the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), was Assembly President Abdulla Shahid opened the proceedings by drawing on his 25 years of parliamentary service. “The parliament is home, where my… Continue reading Meeting commitments, requires UN to work in ‘lockstep’ with parliamentarians

“The Fund is in a position to bridge the gap in giving and impact investing”, said Hiro Mizuno, UN Special Envoy on Innovative Finance and Sustainable Investments, adding that it offers “a sustainable investment model by leveraging the power of markets to accelerate businesses, empower communities, and provide a clear path to self-sufficiency.”.   From health in… Continue reading ‘Historic expansion’ of joint UN fund to boost sustainable development 

“The well-being of people around the world, the health of our planet, and the survival of future generations depend on our willingness to come together around a commitment to collective problem-solving and action”, said UN chief António Guterres. “We don’t have a moment to lose”.     He urged those attending the first of five thematic consultations at… Continue reading Not a moment to lose, in race to meet Sustainable Development Goals: Guterres

With more children and young people spending time online, cyberbullying is the top concern for their safety when using the internet, according to a survey carried about by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) on two social media platforms.  In the lead up to Safer Internet Day this Tuesday, 8 February, the UN agency polled its… Continue reading Cyberbullying a top concern on Safer Internet Day

Even citizens living in countries that enjoy some of the highest levels of good health, wealth, and education outcomes, are reporting even greater anxiety than a decade ago.  Apprehensive about the future  “Despite global wealth being higher than ever before, a majority of people are feeling apprehensive about the future and these feelings have likely… Continue reading In an anxious world, time to redefine progress: new UN report

More than $138 million is needed to assist rural communities affected by extended drought in the Horn of Africa, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) said on Monday, launching a comprehensive response plan for the region.  A third consecutive year of poor rains is posing a major threat to food security in countries already… Continue reading FAO launches $138 million plan to avert hunger crisis in Horn of Africa

Supporting innovations in the food system in Rwanda is the goal of a UN-backed initiative launched in the capital, Kigali, on Wednesday.  The IGNITE Food Systems Challenge comes amid worsening food insecurity in East Africa due to rising conflict, climate change, natural disasters, and the COVID-19 pandemic.  Both technical support and a total of $300,000… Continue reading WFP-backed challenge boosts food system in Rwanda and beyond

COVID-19 led to rising food insecurity for around 54 million people living in the vast Asia-Pacific region during 2020, according to a joint UN agency report published on Wednesday. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF)’s 2021 Asia and the Pacific Regional Overview of Food Security and Nutrition also pointed out… Continue reading COVID-19 leads to over 50 million more hungry people in Asia-Pacific

The UN Climate Change Conference (COP26), held last month in Glasgow, was defined by a “reinvigorated multilateralism”, a top UN official said on Tuesday during an online discussion on how the summit’s outcomes will impact climate action and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). “The Glasgow Climate Pact to keep global warming to 1.5C and the… Continue reading COP26 defined by ‘reinvigorated multilateralism’

UN Secretary‑General António Guterres announced on Friday, that Catherine Russell of the United States will become the next Executive Director of the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF). She will succeed Henrietta Fore, who said she was “delighted to hand over to someone with her knowledge, experience, and deep care for children and women”. “Ms. Russell brings… Continue reading Senior White House official Catherine Russell appointed new UNICEF chief

The widespread impact of the pandemic continues to deepen, the report warned, increasing poverty, entrenching inequality and threatening the rights of children like never before.  “The COVID-19 pandemic has been the biggest threat to progress for children in our 75-year history,” said Henrietta Fore, the UNICEF Executive Director.  “While the number of children who are… Continue reading COVID-19 is biggest threat to child progress in UNICEF’s 75-year history

Women, children and other vulnerable groups are more likely to have their human rights impacted by unilateral sanctions, an independent UN human rights expert alerted on Wednesday. According to the independent expert, “unilateral sanctions hurt all, but are particularly harmful to vulnerable groups within the populations of countries targeted by the sanctions.” Negative impact For… Continue reading Unilateral sanctions particularly harmful to women, children, other vulnerable groups

Leveraging the power of the Internet while tackling the risks of cyberspace is the focus of a UN meeting underway in Katowice, Poland, this week.  The Internet Governance Forum (IGF) brings together more than 7,000 innovators, big tech executives, young people, ministers and parliamentarians to spur efforts to build an open, secure and free digital… Continue reading Internet Governance Forum promotes inclusive digital future for all

Speaking in an exclusive interview with Alexandre Soares of UN News, Martina Donlon acknowledged that after two weeks of tough negotiations, the text that serves as the conference’s outcome is “a compromise that it is not enough”, especially for small island States and other vulnerable countries.  However, it does provide some “positive steps forward”.  Indeed, she said, with the agreement by negotiators at COP26 to begin moving away from fossil fuels, “we will see more electric cars… Continue reading Interview: The most impactful actions at COP26 point to progress on climate change   

UN Secretary-General António Guterres has urged countries to keep their promise to leave no one behind and deliver health and sanitation to all.  In his message for World Toilet Day on Friday, the UN chief affirmed that everyone should have access to hygienic, safe and sustainable sanitation.  Life without a toilet is dirty, dangerous and undignified. Every day, 700 children under… Continue reading Safe sanitation for all benefits people and the planet: UN chief

On the grounds of the Hôpital de Référence Communautaire de l’Asile in the southwest of Haiti, Désir Murielle rests with her newborn son in a tent just steps away from twisted, metal and fissured concrete hunks that were once the hospital’s maternity wing. “He was born this morning, and he is called Yves”, said Ms.… Continue reading In post-quake Haiti, rebuilding lives and welcoming new ones

Speaking ahead of the COP26 UN climate conference, which wraps up this weekend in Glasgow, Scotland, Ms. Mohammed underlined the need for greater funding and commitment, as well as solidarity.   “Climate change doesn’t pause, and neither must we,” she said in her address to the TED Countdown Summitin her recently livestreamed TED Talk held recently in nearby Edinburgh and livestreamed globally.    Another climate change ‘victim’  Ms. Mohammed, who is from Nigeria, recalled her childhood walks along the shores of… Continue reading Climate action can deliver a sustainable future for all: UN deputy chief

Effective action and strong leadership are essential to end child labour by 2025, the head of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) said on Tuesday. Qu Dongyu, the FAO Director-General, was among UN agency chiefs addressing the opening of the Global Solutions Forum on child labour.   The two-day virtual meeting aims to identify and… Continue reading Act now to stamp out child labour by 2025: FAO chief

Forests in at least 10 World Heritage sites have become net sources of carbon, due to pressure from human activity and climate change, according to a new report released on Thursday, by the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).  The agency’s new analysis, World Heritage forests: Carbon sinks under pressure , shows that instead of helping mitigate global warming,… Continue reading World Heritage forests releasing more carbon than they absorb: UNESCO 

Tuesday’s new Emissions Gap Report shows that updated Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) – the efforts by each country to reduce national emissions, as well as other commitments made for 2030 but not yet officially submitted – would only lead to an additional 7.5 per cent reduction in annual greenhouse emissions in 2030, compared to previous… Continue reading ‘Vague’ net zero promises not enough: planet still on track for catastrophic heating, UN report warns

The Middle East Green Initiative launch in Saudi Arabia on Monday was hailed by the UN’s deputy chief as a valuable commitment and strategic vision, to transition regional economies away from unsustainable development, to a model “fit for the challenges of the 21st century”. With only a few days until the G20 Summit of leading… Continue reading Middle East Green Initiative: ‘pathbreaking work’ to protect the planet

To understand the richness of biodiversity across World Heritage marine sites, the UN scientific organization launched on Monday a project to protect and preserve biodiversity, based on the study of environmental DNA – cellular material released from living things into their surroundings.  Launching the new programme, the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) said that scientists and local residents would take samples of genetic material from fish waste, mucous membranes or… Continue reading UNESCO ‘eDNA’ initiative to ‘unlock’ knowledge for biodiversity protection  

An Ethiopian farmer has been talking about how avocados have transformed the lives of not just his family but also of people living in his community. Bogale Borena set up an avocado nursery in Yirgalem in the south of Ethiopia, and has been so successful with the venture that he was named as one of 17 Food… Continue reading Food Heroes: Ethiopian avocado farmer’s ‘transformational’ crop

Describing current levels of poverty as “a moral indictment of our times”, Secretary-General António Guterres said that the COVID-19 pandemic has wreaked havoc on economies and societies around the world, with some 120 million more people falling into poverty last year.  “A lopsided recovery is further deepening inequalities between the Global North and South”, said Mr. Guterres. “Solidarity is missing in action – just when we need it most”. … Continue reading Rising poverty a ‘moral indictment of our times’: Guterres 

Although rural women and girls have an essential role in food systems, they still do not have equal power with men, therefore earn less, and experience higher levels of food insecurity, according to UN Women, the agency supporting countries to reach gender equality.  On the International Day of Rural Women, observed this Friday, UN Women is calling for an end to this paradox by dismantling the… Continue reading International Day honours rural women’s critical role in feeding the world

In recent months, some 260 different clean-up operations have been undertaken across, aimed at protecting life under the sea, with the UN and European Union’s #EUBeachCleanUp campaign, managing to remove some 50 tons of trash from some of the EU’s finest shorelines. Every year, millions of tons of litter end up in the ocean, often having a direct… Continue reading Portuguese beaches lead the way during UN, EU clean-up campaign 

More than 100 countries on Wednesday committed to develop, adopt and implement an effective post-2020 global framework, that aims to put biodiversity on a path to recovery, by 2030 at the latest.   The Kunming Declaration, adopted at the end of the UN Biodiversity Conference’s latest High Level Segment, which took place in Kunming, China, calls on the States Parties to act urgently on biodiversity protection in decision-making and recognise the importance of conservation in protecting human health.  Biodiversity Fund  The Segment opened on Monday –… Continue reading Biodiversity commitment builds hope for ‘living in harmony with nature’

From electric cars and buses to zero-carbon producing energy sources, new and emerging technologies along with innovative policy changes, are critical for combating climate change. But to be effective, they must ensure that transport strategies benefit everyone, including the poorest, according to a new UN multi-agency report launched on Tuesday. The “clock is ticking on… Continue reading With clock ticking, sustainable transport key to Global Goals

A farmer in the central European country, Georgia, has been sharing her lifetime of knowledge with other women farmers in the region, saying that “there is nothing in agriculture that a man can do and a woman can’t.” Irina Vasilyeva has been chosen as one of 17 Food Heroes by the UN’s Food and Agriculture Agency (FAO),… Continue reading Food Heroes: Cultivating women farmers in Georgia

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a major impact on mental health worldwide, and action must be taken to “redress the glaring inequalities exposed by the pandemic”, including over access to vital services, declared UN Secretary-General António Guterres, ahead of World Mental Health Day, marked on Sunday.  Reminding that millions of people face grief over lost family members and friends, that many… Continue reading Make mental healthcare for all a reality, urges Guterres 

Since 2017, a campaign by South Korean superstars BTS, and the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has reached almost every country in the world with a positive message of self-love and self-care, gathering more than 50 million interactions from Twitter users. “We started LOVE MYSELF as a way to reach young people and help improve their… Continue reading BTS and UNICEF celebrate 4 years of the ‘Love Myself’ campaign to promote child self-esteem

Between 2009 and 2018, the continuous rise in sea temperature cost the world 14 per cent of its coral reefs – that’s more than the size of Australia’s reefs combined – a UN-backed report revealed on Tuesday. In the Sixth Status of Corals of the World: 2020 Report, experts from the Global Coral Reef Monitoring… Continue reading Decade of climate breakdown saw 14 per cent of coral reefs vanish

The forum, which takes place from 3-6 October in Bern, Switzerland, comes at “a critical time as the world is still dealing with the pandemic,” Stefan Schweinfest, Director of the United Nations Statistics Division said. “Disaggregated data is needed to contain the disease and for citizens to understand the world around them and guide their… Continue reading UN World Data Forum meets at ‘critical time’ with COVID battle ongoing