UN Secretary-General and top business leaders agree on steps to scale up investment in sustainable development
Meeting today with leaders of prominent financial institutions and businesses United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres called the private sector “more important than ever,” as the world struggles to recover from the devastating economic fall-out from the COVID-19 pandemic.
World Data Forum seeks to boost data capacity and partnerships to tackle COVID-19 and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals
More than 5,000 data experts will meet online to strengthen data for a changing world. As demand for trusted, inclusive, open and reliable data is surging in the face of unprecedented challenges, the global community of data experts and users will come together from 19 to 21 October in a virtual space at the United Nations World Data Forum to satisfy the need for quality data.
Countries step up innovation efforts, using over 500 digital apps to fight COVID-19
From chatbots in Singapore to drones in Oman; from robotic medical assistants in Indonesia to virtual doctors in Brazil; while the COVID-19 pandemic is wreaking havoc across the world, governments have been working hard to implement digital solutions to minimize the adverse impact of the virus and to ensure business continuity.
“A job for life is no longer a thing” – growing up in time of uncertainty
Coming of age during a global pandemic and devastating climate change, today’s youth find themselves managing their transition to an adulthood where nothing is certain except uncertainty. But they are not the first generation for whom growing up feels like a plunge into the unknown. An intergenerational dialogue organized by UN DESA this week invited people of all ages to discuss ways of coping with uncertainties and finding jobs in a worsening market
Responding today for a better tomorrow
UN DESA entered 2020 with a concrete plan of action, placing it on firm footing to respond quickly to the needs of Member States, when the COVID-19 pandemic abruptly upended our daily lives. “In responding to this emergency, the Department immediately pivoted our intellectual resources toward understanding and projecting the real and potential socioeconomic fallout of the pandemic and identifying policy recommendations and concrete actions for Member States to consider,” stated Under-Secretary-General Liu Zhenmin in the newly released UN DESA Highlights 2019-2020 report.
Listen to older people’s ‘suggestions and ideas’ for more inclusive societies
Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, the world is reckoning with the disproportionate and severe impact that the virus has wrought on the “health…rights and well being” of older persons, the UN chief has said, marking the international day highlighting their issues.
UN Forum redefines business leadership
Over 12,000 sustainability leaders, including Government Ministers, a Head of Government and 40 CEOs from around the world gathered virtually at the 5th SDG Business Forum on Wednesday to discuss how the private sector, can work with governments and civil society, to use the SDGs as a roadmap for long-term sustainability, and to address the three critical fragilities exposed by the COVID-19 pandemic – climate change and nature loss, economic exclusion and social inequality.
Making the case for sustainable business solutions
This year is like no other, for individuals and businesses alike. The world is facing new and unforeseen challenges at a time when the international community is five years into efforts to achieve the global goals and at the start of the Decade of Action. As companies struggle in a COVID-19 stricken world, some suggest that the gloomy economic forecast may make them less inclined to adopt sustainable business practices. The SDG Business Forum, taking place on 23 September, hopes to prove otherwise.
SDGs can fill the deep divides exposed by the pandemic, UN DESA chief says
A devastating global pandemic, inequalities, hunger, poverty and a burning climate emergency. As the United Nations celebrates its 75th anniversary, it must contend with an unprecedented onslaught of crises of global magnitude. Luckily, the world has a blueprint and tools to fight these crises and recover better. If we let the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) guide our response, the world will rise stronger.
One million people share hopes and fears for future with the UN
The results are in from a massive, unprecedented crowd-sourcing survey of international opinion, launched in January 2020 to mark the 75th anniversary of the United Nations. Participants from all walks of life, women, men, girls and boys in developed and developing countries were encouraged to share their hopes and fears for the future and how the UN can help to bring about change.
UN ‘only as strong as its members’ Guterres tells UN75 event, looking to the future
On Monday the UN marks the 75 years of the Organization with a High-level meeting featuring many world leaders. The theme is, “The future we want, the United Nations we need”, and there is a strong focus on the role of youth, and ensuring the UN remains relevant for future generations.
Sustainable Development goals are ‘the future’ Malala tells major UN event, urging countries to get on track
The Global Goals represent the future for millions of girls who want education, women who fight for equality, and youth fighting for clean air, UN Messenger of Peace Malala Yousafzai said on Friday, at a side event of the General Assembly, challenging Member States, “when are you planning to do the work”?
