SDGs

UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador Angelique Kidjo engages with children in the Housh el Refka informal settlement, in Lebanon's Bekaa Valley.
©UNICEF/Diego Ibarra Sanchez

UNICEF’s women Goodwill Ambassadors, give voice to the voiceless

24 September 2021
Global

Since the Taliban took control of Afghanistan in mid-August, the world has continued to watch anxiously, as the fate of women and girls throughout the country hangs in the balance.

Local school children eat their meals at a primary school in Xay District, Lao PDR.
FAO/Manan Vatsyayana

No improvement in young children’s diets over past decade: UNICEF

22 September 2021
Global

There has been little sign of improvement in the diets of the world’s youngest children over the last ten years, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) said on Wednesday. 

An aerial view over the UN headquarters in NY shows the giant 11,000 square meters (118,000 sq ft) biodegradable ephemeral fresco "Work in Progress II".
Valentin Flauraud for Saype

UNGA76: Giant eco-friendly artwork set to inspire world leaders

18 September 2021

A new 11,000 square metre ‘ephemeral fresco’ created by Swiss artist Saype, has set the stage at UN Headquarters in New York, to welcome world leaders for the General Assembly High Level Week. It shows two children building the world of the future using origami, highlighting the participation of young people. 

People cross a flooded river in western Haiti after a bridge was washed away by Hurricane Matthew. (file)
MINUSTAH/Logan Abassi

‘Tipping point’ for climate action: Time’s running out to avoid catastrophic heating

16 September 2021
Global

The temporary reduction in carbon emissions caused by global COVID-19 lockdowns did not slow the relentless advance of climate change. Greenhouse gas concentrations are at record levels, and the planet is on path towards dangerous overheating, a multi-agency climate report published on Thursday warns. 

Across the world, more incidents of extreme weather events are being recorded.
WMO/Daniel Pavlinovic

Climate and weather related disasters surge five-fold over 50 years, but early warnings save lives - WMO report

1 September 2021

Climate change and increasingly extreme weather events, have caused a surge in natural disasters over the past 50 years disproportionately impacting poorer countries, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) said on Wednesday.

A farmer works in a rice field in Bagré, Burkina Faso.
© FAO/Alessandra Benedetti

Food systems transformation a ‘silver lining’ in COVID crisis: UN deputy chief

28 July 2021
Global

A sustainable and prosperous planet can only be achieved through working together and in solidarity, the UN Deputy Secretary-General said on Wednesday at the end of a major global food security meeting.

UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed meets women producers at a farmers’ market in Circo Massimo, Rome.
UN Photo

Farmers the ‘lifeblood of our food systems’, deputy UN chief highlights, ahead of key summit

24 July 2021

Farmers, especially women and indigenous people, work tirelessly to put food on our tables. UN Deputy Secretary General Amina Mohammed met on Saturday women producers at a farmers’ market in Circo Massimo, Rome, ahead of the Food Systems Pre-Summit taking place next week.

FAO has provided aquaculture training to displaced men and women so they can breed fish for their own consumption and for sale.
© FAO Cameroon

FROM THE FIELD: Cameroon’s displaced, get hooked on fish

18 July 2021
Africa

Cameroonians who have been displaced by conflict and climate change in the north of the West African country are turning to aquaculture as an alternative source of income, thanks to support from the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

Floods have affected cities across Europe, including Zurich in Switzerland.
Unsplash/Claudio Schwarz

Deadly flooding, heatwaves in Europe, highlight urgency of climate action

16 July 2021

Heavy rainfall that has triggered deadly and catastrophic flooding in several western European countries, is just the latest indicator that all nations need to do more to hold back climate change-induced disasters, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) said on Friday.

Workers stack bricks at a factory near Dhaka in Bangladesh.
World Bank/Scott Wallace

‘Deeply negative impact’ of COVID pandemic, reverses SDG progress

15 July 2021
Global

Closing a key international development forum on Thursday, the deputy UN chief observed that a year of “immense challenges” has reversed progress on meeting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).