Global

Students of the primary section of the Lycée français de New York (French School) protest climate change in the city’s Upper East Side neighbourhood (file photo).
Emmanuel Rouy/Lycée Français d

Climate change top challenge over the next decade, UNESCO global survey finds

31 March 2021
Climate and Environment

Climate change and loss of biodiversity is seen as the most pressing challenge over the decade, according to the World in 2030 Survey report published on Wednesday by the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). 

Women work in a vegetable garden in a village in Senegal. The village is part of the
© FAO/Eduardo Soteras

More climate action needed during ‘make-or-break year’ for people and planet 

31 March 2021
Climate and Environment

The world needs “a major breakthrough” to slow the pace of climate change and build resilience to protect the most vulnerable from increasingly severe and frequent climate impacts, the deputy UN chief told a crucial high-level meeting on Wednesday, looking ahead to November’s COP26. 

A baby plays with her mother’s mask at a nutrition support programme in Bertoua, Cameroon.
UNICEF/Frank Dejongh

World leaders call for new international treaty to improve pandemic response

30 March 2021
Health

A group of world leaders have joined the head of the World Health Organization (WHO) in calling for an international treaty to improve pandemic preparedness and response in the wake of COVID-19, for the sake of future generations. 

An interconnected network of greenery across Medellín city in Colombia has significantly improved the lives of its citizens.
Unsplash/Mike Swigunski

UN-Habitat report calls for cities post-pandemic to lead the way to a fairer, greener, healthier future

30 March 2021
SDGs

A new report on pandemics and cities from UN-Habitat, points the way to how hard-hit urban centres can reduce the impact of future outbreaks and become more equitable, healthy and environmentally friendly.

UN peacekeepers from Pakistan patrol in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
MONUSCO/Kevin N. Jordan

Action for Peacekeeping: Progress made, but the work’s ‘far from done’

29 March 2021
Peace and Security

Three years since the UN Secretary-General launched his Action for Peacekeeping (A4P) initiative to strengthening peacekeeping operations worldwide, “significant progress” has been made “but our work is far from done”, the peacekeeping chief said on Monday. 

A woman in Brazil signals her desire for a more equal world.
World Bank/Romel Simon

Gender equality, the ‘unfinished human rights struggle of this century’: UN chief

29 March 2021
Women

Achieving equal rights for women is “the unfinished human rights struggle of this century”, UN Secretary-General António Guterres said in remarks to the Generation Equality Forum which began online from Mexico City on Monday. 

Developing countries, in particular, have been hit hard by the impacts of the coronavirus pandemic. Pictured, here a daily wage earner during the COVID-19 lockdown in Kathmandu, Nepal.
UN News\Vibhu Mishra

Guterres urges ‘decisive action’ to stave off debt crisis in developing world

29 March 2021
Economic Development

Though significant steps have been taken to prevent debt crises across the world sparked by the COVID-19 crisis, they have not been sufficient to restore economic stability in many developing countries, according to a policy brief issued by the UN Secretary-General on Monday. 

An entrepreneur and her daughter run a small business in Bamyan, Afghanistan.
UN Women/Nangyalai Tanai

 UN commission pushes equality for women in decision-making

27 March 2021
Women

At the closing of the UN women’s commission, world leaders issued a strong pledge for the elimination of violence against women along with their full and effective participation in public life, including in decision-making. 

The UN joins landmarks around the world by turning off the lights at its New York Headquarters in observance Earth Hour. (file)
UN Photo/Evan Schneider

Earth Hour: ‘Make peace with nature’ – UN chief

27 March 2021
Climate and Environment

The world began to ripple to darkness on Saturday as countries globally dimmed their lights at 8:30 pm local time for Earth Hour – an event that, according to the UN, encourages individuals, communities, and businesses to turn off non-essential electric lights, for one hour.

AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines are delivered to Sri Lanka as part of the COVAX initiative.
© UNICEF

International equitable vaccine effort ships 32 million shots to 61 countries 

26 March 2021
Health

“COVAX works” the head of the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Friday, informing journalists that the UN-backed vaccine initiative has distributed more than 32 million vaccines to 61 countries in just one month.