Reviving the Rio Spirit

The Earth Summit, the first UN Conference on Sustainable Development held in Rio de Janeiro in 1992, shifted paradigms. For the first time, during this unprecedented UN meeting, governments and leaders from across the globe re-thought economic development and fully recognized the integral and interdependent nature of our home, the Earth. The summit’s shared message was to ensure a healthy planet by drastically changing our attitudes and behaviours. State leaders acknowledged the urgency of a deep change in consumption and production patterns. Read more

Global economic outlook is marked by risks and uncertainties

World economic recovery will be uneven in the coming years. Prospects for advanced economies are marred by persistent high unemployment, withdrawal of stimulus measures, and continued financial fragility. Sovereign debt distress and tensions over exchange rates risk affecting global stability, which could also affect the till now much more robust performance of most developing countries. Read more

UN climate change talks pave way for new gains

The United Nations climate change talks in Cancún concluded on 11 December with a package of decisions to help countries advance towards a low-emissions future, delivering a victory in the battle against one of today’s biggest challenges.

The outcome is an “important success for a world much in need of it,” Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said, following the conclusion of the two-week meeting. Read more

Technical reports

Launch of the World Economic Situation and Prospects 2011

The report, to be released worldwide on 18 January, predicts weaker global growth in 2011 and 2012 as the recovery has lost momentum since the middle of 2010. World gross product is forecast to expand by 3.1 per cent in 2011 and 3.5 per cent in 2012, following estimated growth of 3.6 per cent in 2010. The report emphasizes that the outlook remains uncertain and surrounded by serious downside risks. The cooperative spirit among major economies is waning, which has debilitated the effectiveness of responses to the crisis. Uncoordinated monetary responses, in particular, have become a source of turbulence and uncertainty in financial markets. Read more

The following staff members were promoted in December:

• Dinah Del Rosario-Ugay, Administrative Assistant, Division for Sustainable Development
• Laura Dix, Staff Assistant, Development Policy and Analysis Division
• Ana Marie Francia, Administrative Assistant, Division for Sustainable Development
• Renata Kaczmarska, Social Affairs Officer, Division for Social Policy and Development