As we usher in the new year, we find ourselves in a world fraught with uncertainty and challenges. On the surface, global macroeconomic indicators remain favourable, but they mask underlying risks and imbalances. Whether in international trade or environmental sustainability, truly global problems require truly global policy approaches. The sooner the global actors commit to that reality, the faster will we be able to grapple with the challenges that face our generation.

On Monday 21 January, UN DESA will launch the World Economic Situation and Prospects 2019, providing a detailed analysis of the driving forces behind the global economic growth. The report, a joint effort of UN DESA, the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) and the five UN Regional Commissions, with contributions from other UN agencies, is expected to issue a clarion call to safeguard and build on the multilateral policy framework. Our future – not only in economic terms – will depend on our ability to work together at this critical juncture.

Read more at DESA Voice: In this together – why cooperation is the only way forward for global economy