Feature

Young people: world shapers and leaders of the future

There are no better forecasters of resilience in the world than young people, who have been calling attention to critical sustainable development issues. They have become experts on adapting to an increasingly challenging global landscape, filled with images of conflicts, climate crisis impacts, and deepening inequalities. They experience the results of past unsustainable practices, facing present consequences and racing against the clock to curb a rising tide.

Fueling sustainable development for all through fair and inclusive taxes

Taxes play a vital role in helping governments deliver key services that benefit both individual citizens and societies. Effective, efficient, and inclusive collaboration on tax matters among nations can drive the mobilization of domestic resources, promote investment, and stimulate economic growth. International tax cooperation is also key in helping countries to finance the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Partnering with small islands for a resilient future

When the last International Conference on Small Island Developing States was held in 2014, there was no COVID-19 pandemic and no global economic recession and much fewer geopolitical tensions. The climate emergency, while present, had not reached the heights it has today.

Extended period of low economic growth looms large, undermining progress on sustainable development

The world economy in 2023 proved to be resilient, exceeding expectations with an estimated growth rate of 2.7 per cent, higher than the 2.3 per cent forecast last May. However, this better-than-expected performance masks underlying short-term risks and structural vulnerabilities.

Join UN DESA at the SDG Pavilion at COP 28!

“What happens in Antarctica doesn’t stay in Antarctica,” said United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres upon returning from his recent trip to the southernmost continent to witness the melting sea ice. “We live in an interconnected world.” Just ahead of the UN Climate Change Conference (COP28) in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, the Secretary-General issued a call for urgent global climate action to “not let the hopes of people around the world for a sustainable planet melt away.”

Giving young people a platform at the United Nations

In the recent 78th Session of the United Nations General Assembly, a remarkable 63 UN Youth Delegates from 37 Member States lent their voices to discussions on pressing global development challenges. But what exactly is the UN Youth Delegate (UNYD) Programme? Why is it important to prioritize meaningful youth engagement in UN processes, and how does UN DESA champion this cause?

Let's delve into six main takeaways:

Whole-of-society transformation pivotal to SDGs acceleration, say scientists in new UN report

A recent United Nations report by an independent group of scientists calls for transformational shifts rooted in science that would urgently reverse course and turbocharge the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Based on the latest data and scientific insights, the Global Sustainable Development Report 2023, entitled “Times of crisis, times of change: Science for accelerating transformations to sustainable development,” offers practical solutions to accelerate SDG implementation.

Recommitting to our global promise at the SDG Summit

Picture a world where poverty recedes, where hunger is but a distant memory, where inequalities dissolve, where girls and boys rise side by side, and where the environment thrives alongside humanity. The SDGs, conceived in 2015 with the world's collective voice, outlined this vision. But midway through our journey, we must confront the hard truths: our progress is slow and the challenges before us loom large.

This is how we can turbocharge the global goals

This month, government representatives, businesses, civil society organizations, young people and other international actors will gather for the High-level Political Forum (HLPF) on Sustainable Development, taking place on 10-19 July 2023 at UN Headquarters in New York. They all come together with one purpose: to review and assess progress to achieve the global goals.

Not a moment to lose when our shared future is at stake

“The SDGs are not just 17 lofty goals. They represent real lives with real needs. They represent women and children, young and old, you and me, and a chance to fullfil our potential,” said UN DESA’s Under-Secretary-General Li Junhua. His comment came as the department is supporting preparations for the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development in July and the SDG Summit in September.