Highlights

Frontier technologies for a sustainable future

Frontier technologies are innovative and often grow fast, with the potential to transform societies, economies and the environment. In recent years, we have seen examples of this in the form of artificial intelligence and machine learning, renewable energy technologies, energy storage technologies, electric and autonomous vehicles and drones, genetic engineering, as well as cryptocurrencies and blockchains. These frontier technologies can help eradicate hunger and epidemics, increase life expectancy, reduce carbon emissions, automate manual and repetitive tasks, create decent jobs, improve quality of life and facilitate complex decision-making processes. In other words, these technologies can make sustainable development a reality, improving people’s lives, promoting prosperity and protecting the planet.

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UN General Assembly kicks off work in Second and Third Committees

During the General Assembly’s 73rd session, the Assembly’s Second and Third Committees will continue its work to support the realization of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Three years after the agenda’s adoption, there are opportunities, yet also challenges in the international community’s efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). As highlighted in the 2018 Sustainable Development Goals Report, there is a pressing need to move forward, and to do it faster. It is against this background that these two Committees begin their work in early October.

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Get involved

Calling all innovative public institutions, who strive to excel in public service delivery for the SDGs!

Every year, the United Nations awards innovative public-service initiatives that support the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through its United Nations Public Service Awards (UNPSA). The Award aims to promote and reward innovative achievements and contributions of public institutions for realizing the goals. It is open to all public organizations, including central and local governments and public institutions engaged in public-private partnerships for delivering services. The nominations for the 2019 award has just opened, and UN DESA is now calling for recommendations! 

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Expert voices

En route to ensure safety and dignity for people on the move

Around the world, there are 258 million international migrants. This means that one out of every 30 people, has changed his or her country of usual residence. The data also tells us that 50 million are children. To ensure their safety and dignity, the international community is preparing to adopt the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration this December. Ahead of this event, we spoke to Bela Hovy, who led the work on migration data in UN DESA’s Population Division for more than a decade, about why this agreement is so critical and what role data play to ensure the safety and dignity of people on the move.

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In case you missed it

Secretary-General launches new strategy to fund the global goals

On 24 September, UN Secretary-General António Guterres gathered global leaders from government, business and philanthropy for the High Level Meeting on Financing the 2030 Agenda to find innovative ways to increase financing for the global goals. At the event, taking place in the ECOSOC Chamber on the first day of UN high-level week, Mr. Guterres launched his new Strategy to support Financing the 2030 Agenda.

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More from UNDESA

Upcoming Events

2 October - 21 November, New York Third Committee of the General Assembly
4 October - 29 November, New York Second Committee of the General Assembly
8 October, New York Launch of the World Economic and Social Survey 2018
16-19 October, Geneva 17th Session of the Committee of Experts on International Cooperation in Tax Matters
22-24 October, Dubai UN World Data Forum 2018
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