Morskie Oko lake in autumn colours, High Tatra Mountains, Poland.
Water, Natural Resources and the Environment

Lakes: the lifeblood of our planet

Lakes are among the most vital natural resources on our planet. They provide essential fresh water for drinking, agriculture, and industry. Lakes also play a key role in maintaining biodiversity and contributing to climate regulation. However, they are increasingly threatened by a combination of overuse, pollution and climate change. We must act now. On this first World Lake Day (27 August), let's raise awareness about the challenges lakes face. Let’s take action today to sustain life tomorrow.

Natural and artificial lakes contain more than 90% of the fresh water on the surface of the Earth.
Photo:pkazmierczak/Adobe Stock
Women use a water pump provided by UNICEF in a village in Sindh province, Pakistan.

One in four still lacks access to safe drinking water and sanitation

26 August 2025 — Despite progress over the past decade, billions worldwide still lack access to safe drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene, leaving them vulnerable to disease and social...

A woman carries the body of a newborn killed in an attack on Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, Gaza.

Killing of journalists in Gaza hospital attack ‘should shock the world’: UN rights office

26 August 2025 — The killing of five more Palestinian journalists in Gaza by Israeli forces – bringing the total killed overall to 247 since the war began – should shock the world into action, the...

Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, Gaza, has been hit several times by Israeli airstrikes since October 2023. (file)

Gaza: UN calls for probe following deadly strikes on Nasser Hospital

25 August 2025 — The head of the World Health Organization (WHO) renewed his call for a ceasefire in Gaza following two deadly Israeli air strikes on the Nasser Hospital in the southern Strip on...

UN Sustainable Development Goals

17 Goals to transform our world

The Sustainable Development Goals are a call for action by all countries — poor, rich and middle-income — to promote prosperity while protecting the planet.

hands holding megaphone and speech bubble

ActNow Campaign

ActNow is the UN campaign to inspire people to act for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In the lead up to the Summit of the Future, join the 1 Million Actions for our Common Future challenge to contribute to a more sustainable and peaceful world. Find new inspiring actions on the app and at un.org/actnow.

Thomas the Tank engine

Student Resources on the SDGs

Learn more about the Sustainable Development Goals! On our student resources page you will find plenty of materials for young people and adults alike. Share with your family and friends to help achieve a better world for all.

children holding up books

SDG Book Club

Reading and learning are essential to children’s growth and development; stories can fuel their imagination and raise awareness of new possibilities. The SDG Book Club aims to encourage them to learn about the Goals in a fun, engaging way, empowering them to make a difference.

Goal 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure

Goal of the month

 

Goal 9: Industries, Innovation and Infrastructure

Build resilient infrastructure, promote sustainable industrialization and foster innovation

More about the UN Sustainable Development Goals

More from the
United Nations

Featured stories from across the United Nations and our world-wide family of agencies, funds, and programmes.

A humanitarian food distribution scene in Haiti while several individuals are handing out white food containers. Humanitarian Aid, WFP

Humanitarian Day: Reports from Haiti and the Democratic Republic of the Congo

World Food Programme (WFP) staff reflect on life in two of the toughest places on earth. At dawn in northern Haiti, far from the violence of Port-au-Prince, aid workers travel safely to support farmers and schools. While insecurity hampers food distribution in the capital, resilience thrives. Over half of Haitians face hunger yet hope persists amid hardship. In January, M23 rebels seized Goma, DRC, killing nearly 1,000 people and triggering mass evacuations. UN staff fled as chaos erupted. WFP warehouses were looted, food stocks lost. Amid displacement and violence, aid efforts stalled, leaving vulnerable groups at greater risk. The hardest part is knowing how quickly everything can collapse – and how long it takes to rebuild.

A vaccination center with a medical professional in a blue administering an injection to a child. The child is being held by an adult dressed in an orange and yellow garment. Health, World Bank

Why Universal Health Coverage matters in West and Central Africa

Leaders from African governments and partners are gathering this week in Japan for the ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD), highlighting the importance of Universal Health Coverage as essential for all. With a rapidly growing youth population in West and Central Africa, investing in health and nutrition is vital for economic potential. Strong health systems are necessary for resilience against crises like COVID-19. Despite progress, challenges remain, including limited access to care and low health spending. The World Bank aims to support health services for 1.5 billion people worldwide by 2030 – including 200 million in West and Central Africa- and is working on strategies to enhance local health systems and boost medical manufacturing across the continent.

A group of women wearing blue aprons gathering around a table where there are several jars of pickled vegetables, including carrots and green peppers arranged in two rows. Agriculture and Food, FAO

Sealing jars, opening doors

In Jabal Saraj, Afghanistan, Hasina and 19 other women have found a livelihood by producing jams and pickles. With support from the FAO's Household Food and Livelihood Security project, funded by Luxembourg, they gather to peel, dice, and package fresh produce. Previously housewives facing financial struggles, they now earn an income, allowing them to provide essentials for their families, such as food, clothes, and school fees. The project equipped them with training and resources for processing and marketing their products, empowering these women to improve their lives and stand on their own feet.

A woman and her two children inside an Equatorian migrant house.
IOM

Ecuador: 374-Year-old House rescued, now home for migrants

In Quito’s historic house, migrants find refuge, community, and support from landlord Francisco. They share stories of resilience and hope while building new lives together.

a person holding a child in an outdoor area.
OHCHR

Women’s incarceration rooted in gender inequality and violence

In 2022, women and girls constituted less than 7% of the global prison population. Their number surged 60% since 2000, highlighting gender-based violence in detention.

Indigenous Peoples

Baka and Bantu women revive weaving traditions

The weaving practices of these communities in Cameroon are being revitalized to preserve cultural heritage and promote economic autonomy.

A child wearing a pink hoodie is sitting on a swing in an outdoor playground.
Economic Development

Strengthening urban services and communities in Lebanon

UNOPS is revitalizing public services and spaces in Lebanon – helping to strengthen local communities and foster greater resilience.

What we do

Due to the powers vested in its Charter and its unique international character, the United Nations can take action on the issues confronting humanity in the 21st century, including:

A UNIFIL peacekeeper from Spain on a regular patrol in the vicinity of Al Wazzani, south-eastern Lebanon as the sun sets in the horizon. Since 1948, more than a million women and men have served as UN peacekeepers.

Maintain International Peace and Security

The United Nations came into being in 1945, following the devastation of the Second World War, with one central mission: the maintenance of international peace and security. The UN does this by working to prevent conflict; helping parties in conflict make peace; peacekeeping; and creating the conditions to allow peace to hold and flourish. These activities often overlap and should reinforce one another, to be effective. The UN Security Council has the primary responsibility for international peace and security. The General Assembly and the Secretary-General play major, important, and complementary roles, along with other UN offices and bodies.

Students at Butkhak High School in Kabul, Afghanistan, cheer in unison on the last day of Global Action Week, an international campaign advocating free, quality education for all.

Protect Human Rights

The term “human rights” was mentioned seven times in the UN's founding Charter, making the promotion and protection of human rights a key purpose and guiding principle of the Organization.  In 1948, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights brought human rights into the realm of international law.  Since then, the Organization has diligently protected human rights through legal instruments and on-the-ground activities.

A child has a meal at a food distribution centre in the Rwanda camp for internally displaced persons (IDPs), near Tawila, North Darfur. More than 8,000 women and children living in the camp benefit from nutrition programmes run by the World Food Programme

Deliver Humanitarian Aid

One of the purposes of the United Nations, as stated in its Charter, is "to achieve international co-operation in solving international problems of an economic, social, cultural, or humanitarian character."  The UN first did this in the aftermath of the Second World War on the devastated continent of Europe, which it helped to rebuild.  The Organization is now relied upon by the international community to coordinate humanitarian relief operations due to natural and man-made disasters in areas beyond the relief capacity of national authorities alone.

Grace, a farmer from Kipilat village, and a leading member of the forest community in Ainabkoi, Kenya, planting a tree in 2012.

Promote Sustainable Development

From the start in 1945, one of the main priorities of the United Nations was to “achieve international co-operation in solving international problems of an economic, social, cultural, or humanitarian character and in promoting and encouraging respect for human rights and for fundamental freedoms for all without distinction as to race, sex, language, or religion.”  Improving people’s well-being continues to be one of the main focuses of the UN. The global understanding of development has changed over the years, and countries now have agreed that sustainable development offers the best path forward for improving the lives of people everywhere.

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) delivers its order on the request for the indication of provisional measures filed by Nicaragua on 11 October 2013 in the case concerning Construction of a Road in Costa Rica along the San Juan River.

Uphold International Law

The UN Charter, in its Preamble, set an objective: "to establish conditions under which justice and respect for the obligations arising from treaties and other sources of international law can be maintained."  Ever since, the development of, and respect for international law has been a key part of the work of the Organization.  This work is carried out in many ways - by courts, tribunals, multilateral treaties - and by the Security Council, which can approve peacekeeping missions, impose sanctions, or authorize the use of force when there is a threat to international peace and security, if it deems this necessary.  These powers are given to it by the UN Charter, which is considered an international treaty.  As such, it is an instrument of international law, and UN Member States are bound by it.  The UN Charter codifies the major principles of international relations, from sovereign equality of States to the prohibition of the use of force in international relations.

Structure of the
United Nations

The main parts of the UN structure are the General Assembly, the
Security Council, the Economic and Social Council, the Trusteeship Council, the International Court of Justice, and the UN Secretariat. All were established in 1945 when the UN was founded.

General Assembly

The General Assembly is the main deliberative, policymaking and representative organ of the UN. All 193 Member States of the UN are represented in the General Assembly, making it the only UN body with universal representation.

Security Council

The Security Council has primary responsibility, under the UN Charter, for the maintenance of international peace and security. It has 15 Members (5 permanent and 10 non-permanent members). Each Member has one vote. Under the Charter, all Member States are obligated to comply with Council decisions.

Economic and Social Council

The Economic and Social Council is the principal body for coordination, policy review, policy dialogue and recommendations on economic, social and environmental issues, as well as implementation of internationally agreed development goals.

Trusteeship Council

The Trusteeship Council was established in 1945 by the UN Charter, under Chapter XIII, to provide international supervision for 11 Trust Territories that had been placed under the administration of seven Member States, and ensure that adequate steps were taken to prepare the Territories for self-government and independence.

International Court of Justice

The International Court of Justice is the principal judicial organ of the United Nations. Its seat is at the Peace Palace in the Hague (Netherlands). It is the only one of the six principal organs of the United Nations not located in New York (United States of America).

Secretariat

The Secretariat comprises the Secretary-General and tens of thousands of international UN staff members who carry out the day-to-day work of the UN as mandated by the General Assembly and the Organization's other principal organs.

More about the structure of the United Nations

Learn more

General Assembly hall with the Secretary-General at the podium

The Essential UN

The United Nations is the only place on Earth where all the world's nations come together to discuss common problems and find shared solutions that benefit all of humanity. Learn about the main areas of the UN’s activities; how it makes a difference to the world’s people; and how every citizen can get involved and make a contribution. 

Climate Change

Climate change is the defining issue of our time and now is the defining moment to do something about it. There is still time to tackle climate change, but it will require an unprecedented effort from all sectors of society.

Women at UN CSW63 Side Event - “Take the Hot Seat”. Photo: UN Women/Ryan Brown

Gender Equality

Women and girls represent half of the world’s population and, therefore, also half of its potential. Gender equality, besides being a fundamental human right, is essential to achieve peaceful societies, with full human potential and sustainable development.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres is greeted on his visit to the Central African Republic

Ending Poverty

While global poverty rates have been cut by more than half since 2000, one in ten people in developing regions still lives on less than US$1.90 a day — the internationally agreed poverty line, and millions of others live on slightly more than this daily amount.

Watch and Listen

Video and audio from across the United Nations and our world-wide family of agencies, funds, and programmes.

2025 threatens to be deadliest year yet for humanitarian workers

2024 was the deadliest year ever for humanitarian workers. 2025 could be even worse. We repeat this grim line year after year – and fear it no longer shocks. Last year on World Humanitarian Day, we demanded protection for humanitarians in conflict zones. Resolutions were passed, promises were made. But nothing changed on the ground. The rules and the tools exist. Security Council resolution 2730 sets a path. A major political declaration is on the way. What we need now is the will – and the courage – from all with power or influence to #ActForHumanity.

Six grave violations against children in armed conflict

Severe violations against children have become a deadly new norm. UNICEF highlights the six most serious violations affecting children in armed conflicts.

Yemen: enhancing rural livelihoods

Yemen is one of the poorest countries in the world, with more than 19 million people in need of humanitarian assistance and an estimated 74% living below the poverty line. The ongoing conflicts and intense droughts have severely impacted Yemen’s social and economic infrastructure, especially in rural areas. To respond to these challenges, IFAD together with its partners and the Government of Yemen, launched the Rural Livelihoods Development Project.

UN Podcasts

Yacoub stands in the middle of a highway. Many journalist microphones at his face and a group of people in the distance behind wearing red jackets

When war comes home, with Yacoub El Hillo (AAN S11-E4)

“[Serving refugees] is not a job, it's a mission, and there's always fire in the belly that keeps you wanting to do more, but also never giving up. This is the UNHCR I joined.”

Yacoub El Hillo spent more than thirty years serving refugees and displaced people in some of the world’s worst conflict zones. But when cataclysmic war erupted in his hometown of Khartoum, Sudan, the Regional Director for Africa at the United Nations Development Coordination Office (DCO) had to help his own family flee the violence.

“I don't think there's any home in Khartoum that was spared … the assumption is that everything is gone.”

Having served in more than 16 duty stations, from Liberia to Syria, Somalia and Afghanistan, Yacoub El Hillo has rarely seen any conflict as devastating as the one currently decimating Sudan. In this episode, he reflects on the scale of the human suffering there, looks back on a rich and varied career with the UN, and shares why all nations deserve a chance to strive for a brighter future.

Photo: ©OCHA Syria

Latest Audio from UN News

The United Nations in Pictures

Images from across the United Nations and our world-wide family of agencies, funds, and programmes.

A sudanese woman with her two children seated on the ground.
Photo:UNHCR/Andrew McConnell

Six things to know about the humanitarian situation in Southern and Eastern Africa

Humanitarian needs across Southern and Eastern Africa have reached alarming levels this year– nearly 85 million people now need urgent assistance. But at the same time, brutal funding cuts are severely undermining humanitarian efforts, forcing aid agencies to scale back or suspend life-saving assistance. As a result, millions of people lack access to essential services and protection. By July, only 21 per cent of the US$10.5 billion required had been received. Your donation through the Regional Humanitarian Fund can help save lives and bring hope to the most vulnerable communities in Southern and Eastern Africa. You can donate to the Regional Fund.

Tall trees with thick trunks and extensive branches reaching upward viewed from below.
Photo:UNDP

Where the Land Speaks

In Colombia's mountains and forests, the spirit of Mother Earth resonates through nature, traditional chants, and misty landscapes. This profound connection inspired the Comunidades Indígenas por los Bosques (Indigenous Communities for the Forests) initiative, led by UNDP Colombia. Supported by the Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services Network (BES-Net) and Climate Promise, it aims to empower Indigenous Peoples' organizations in their efforts for biodiversity and climate resilience. The initiative is rooted in ancestral knowledge, cultural heritage, and Indigenous governance, highlighting the importance of preserving both the land and its traditions.

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