| DESA News Vol. 12, No. 04 | April 2008 |
Features
The greening of statistics
The intricate web of geophysical, economic, and social effects of climate change poses a special challenge for public policy-makers. While analysis of public and private activity tends to be sectoral in nature, these sectors interact in complex ways that are difficult to understand and measure. For policy-makers hoping to make sense of the total system, getting the data right is an essential first step.
Shifting populations
Profound changes in the distribution of world population, and in particular increasing urbanization, offer a number of opportunities that countries should seize while avoiding the negative consequences of urban growth. According to a recent DESA report, half of the world’s population now lives in cities. In 2008, the number of urban dwellers, at 3.4 billion, will equal the number of rural dwellers for the first time in history.
Climate change: Grave consequences for indigenous peoples
Elissavet Stamatopoulou, Chief of the Secretariat of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, briefed NGOs on 20 March on climate change, bio-cultural diversity and livelihoods, the theme of the Forum’s upcoming session. “Although indigenous peoples have hardly contributed to climate change,” noted Stamatopoulou, “they are bearing some of its gravest consequences.”
Global dialogue on development
Getting back on track to achieve the MDGs
Coherence, coordination and cooperation on the Monterrey Consensus
Trends and analysis
State capacity and good governance
Indigenous livelihoods, biocultural diversity at risk
Economic diversification in Europe and CIS
Technical cooperation
Counting the informal economy in Southern Africa
Mediterranean innovation, European know-how
African human resource officers join forces
Publications and websites
Public Enterprises: Unresolved Challenges and New Opportunities
This publication examines the role of public enterprises in today’s economy and performance monitoring, in particular within the context of the Millennium Development Goals. The report focuses on conceptual issues, theories and models associated with public enterprises, as well as on contemporary approaches to management.
UN Commodity Trade Statistics Database (Comtrade)
The UN Comtrade database has a fresh new face. Comtrade is one of the organization’s most expansive information resources with detailed imports and exports statistics reported by statistical authorities of close to 200 countries or areas.
Comings and goings
Comings
The following staff member was promoted in March:
Mr. Keiji Inoue, Economic Affairs Officer, Development Policy and Analysis Division
Calendar
Commission on Population and Development
41st session, New York, 7-11 April
Special High-level Meeting of the Economic and Social Council with the Bretton Woods Institutions, the World Trade Organization and UNCTAD
New York, 14 April
Committee of Experts on Public Administration
7th session, New York, 14-18 April