DESA News
Volume 15, No.1 - January 2011
Feature articles
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. FULL ARTICLEReviving the Rio Spirit
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. FULL ARTICLEGlobal economic outlook is marked by risks and uncertainties
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. FULL ARTICLEUN climate change talks pave way for new gains
Global dialogue on development
- High demand for consultative status
- Securing renewed political commitment for sustainable development
- Sustainable patterns of consumption and production
More on Global dialogue on development
Trends and analysis
- Indigenous peoples’ rights to forests
- Dealing with discrepancies and gaps of MDG data
- Advance international public policy issues for the Internet
More on Trends and analysis
Publications and websites
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. FULL ARTICLETechnical reports
Launch of the World Economic Situation and Prospects 2011
More on Publications and websites
Comings and goings
- 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
The following staff members were promoted in December:
More on Comings and goings
Calendar
- 9th session of the UN Forum on Forests (UNFF9), New York, 24 January – 4 February
- 2011 Regular Session of NGO Committee, New York, 31 January - 9 February
- First intersessional meeting of the UN Conference on Sustainable Development, New York, 10-11 January
All DESA calendar listings
