SDGs

Girls stand outside their storm-damanged school on the shores of Lake Tanganyika in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
© UNICEF/Nicolas Rice-Chudeau

‘Vague’ net zero promises not enough: planet still on track for catastrophic heating, UN report warns

26 October 2021

New and updated commitments made ahead of the pivotal climate conference COP26 in the past months are a positive step forward, but the world remains on track for a dangerous global temperature rise of at least 2.7°C this century even if fully met, a new report by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) has warned.

Kaede Maegawa is competing for Japan at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games.
Kaede Maegawa

Tokyo Paralympics: leaping towards a more inclusive society

28 August 2021
Global

Innovators are joining Paralympians to discuss how sport can help to build a more inclusive society in a series of online discussions organized by the UN to coincide with the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics, which continues until 5 September.

An older man in Peru receives a COVID-19 vaccination.
© UNICEF/Jose Vilca

Act now to provide COVID-19 vaccines for all: ECOSOC President

16 July 2021
Global

Ensuring COVID-19 vaccines for all will be critical if the world is to defeat the pandemic, the President of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), Munir Akram, said on Friday in his address to the closing its high-level segment.

A strong, sustainable and inclusive recovery from the COVID pandemic is needed to keep the promise of the 2030 Agenda.
© UNICEF/Ashmita Parelkar

UN chief says race to reach SDGs ‘can and must’ be turned around 

13 July 2021
Global

The COVID pandemic has taken four million lives, devastated the global economy, pushed a further 124 million people into extreme poverty and continues to inflict profound suffering – dramatically impacting progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the UN chief said on Tuesday at a key international forum. 

Children play on the beach in Epi island, Vanuatu, an archipelago in the western Pacific which is home to about 300,000 people.
UNICEF/Jason Chute

Prioritize people and planet, UN chief urges Asian and Pacific nations

26 April 2021
Asia Pacific

The UN Secretary-General on Monday called on Asian and Pacific countries not to base their pandemic recovery strategies on “outdated and unsustainable economic models”, and to ensure that the world’s most populous region protects its environment and provides opportunities for all.

In Mongolia, plastic bottles, which otherwise would end up in landfill sites, are being recycled into footstools.
UNDP Mongolia

‘Inequality virus’ threatens ‘catastrophe for all’ unless crisis can be overcome together

15 April 2021
Global

The COVID-19 pandemic is leading to “an even more unequal world”, the Deputy UN chief said on Thursday, speaking at the closing session of the Financing for Development (FfD) Forum, with many lower-income countries now seeing development gains reversed.  

Traders at this market in Luanda, Angola, have adopted measures to keep themselves safe during the COVID-19 pandemic.
© FAO/ C. Marinheiro

Guterres calls for ‘paradigm shift’ to recover from COVID setbacks

12 April 2021
Global

A “paradigm shift” aligning the private sector with the global goals is needed to address the challenges of the future, including those triggered by COVID-19, the UN chief said on Monday, addressing the Financing for Development (FfD) Forum. 

A forest path.
Unsplash/Lukasz Szmigiel

Forest restoration provides a path to pandemic recovery, greener future

20 March 2021
Global

Recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic should lead to stronger action to safeguard the world’s forests, a senior UN official said on Friday, highlighting how these natural resources have helped to protect health and well-being during the global crisis. 

A woman in Madagascar walks for up to 14km a day to find clean water.
© UNICEF/Safidy Andrianantenain

Billions without clean water and sanitation a ‘moral failure’: UN General Assembly President

18 March 2021
Global

Access to water is not just about “liquid in a bottle” but instead touches on universal issues such as dignity, opportunity and equality, the UN General Assembly President said on Thursday, in opening a high-level meeting on ensuring water and sanitation are available to all. 

Ecuador advocates for greater control of money laundering from illicit activities. (file)
UNODC

Financial transparency, 'sound governance and accountability’ essential to reach Global Goals

25 February 2021
Global

Financial integrity is “paramount to the success of the 2030 Agenda”, the President of the UN General Assembly said on Thursday, launching a new report that offers a blueprint to address a range of obstacles, particularly surrounding illicit finance flows.