SDGs

Creative and cultural industries globally can unlock a transformative potential to accelerate the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
© UNESCO/Yves Parfait Koffi

Use Africa’s rich heritage as ‘catalyst’ for transformation, urges Guterres 

26 May 2021
Africa

A call to use Africa’s rich cultural and natural heritage as a catalyst for growth and transformation is “the right appeal at the right time”, the UN chief told a three-day forum on the continent’s future held online on Wednesday. 

A pilot of the “Development of Sustainable Development Goals Villages” project in Hainan province aims to promote the Global Goals and help revitalize rural China.
©FAO

UN development system responds with ‘solid score’ in face of COVID-19 test 

18 May 2021
Global

As the world continues to tackle the multiple impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, from pushing some 131 million people into extreme poverty to reversing years of development progress, the UN chief said on Tuesday that a more coordinated approach is key to moving forward. 

A man kicks a soccer ball up the street during lockdown in Alexandra Township, Johannesburg.
IMF Photo/James Oatway

Vaccine inequity triggers ‘huge disconnect’ between countries

17 May 2021
Global

Although COVID-19 cases and deaths continue to decline globally for a second consecutive week, the UN health agency chief said on Monday that “a huge disconnect” is mounting between some highly vaccinated countries, which see the pandemic as largely resolved, while huge waves of infection continue to grip others where shots are scarce. 
 

Under the UN-backed COVAX initiative, UNICEF ships COVID-19 vaccine syringes from a warehouse in Dubai Logistics City, United Arab Emirates.
© UNICEF/Ruel Pableo

Islamic social financing initiative aims to help economic recovery, pandemic response

11 May 2021

As the world continues to grapple with the health and economic crisis sparked by the COVID-19 pandemic, the UN and Islamic Development Bank teamed up on Tuesday to help the most vulnerable. 

Peatland forests like this one in central Kalimantan, Indonesia, can store harmful carbon dioxide gasses.
CIFOR/Nanang Sujana

Guterres renews zero-emissions appeal to avoid falling into climate abyss

6 May 2021

All countries should commit to zero carbon emissions by 2050 if the world is to avoid a disastrous 2.4 degree Celsius temperature rise by the end of this century, UN Secretary General António Guterres said on Thursday.

Online retail or e-commerce sales have increased significantly during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Unsplash/rupixen

Global e-commerce jumps to $26.7 trillion, fuelled by COVID-19

3 May 2021
Global

Parts of the online economy have boomed since COVID-19 began, while some pre-pandemic big-hitters have seen a reversal of their fortunes in the last year, amid widespread movement restrictions, UN economists have found.