It will take an estimated 137 years to end extreme poverty for women and 257 years to close the pay gap between women and men. But what if we choose not to wait? In 2025, the world can choose to invest in gender equality so all of society benefits. Instead of waiting centuries, let’s choose to do it now. 

Early warning systems mitigate climate risks, saving lives and minimizing losses, but challenges like funding, data gaps, and communication persist.

Angelbert Johnny, a 47-year-old from the Wapichan territory in Guyana, has been involved in environmental conservation for over 20 years after noticing a decline in local wildlife. He joined a group of friends to found the South Rupununi Conservation Society (SRCS) to protect the endangered Red Siskin bird. Initially a ranger, Angelbert later managed a new project focusing on conserving the giant armadillo and giant anteater in three South Rupununi communities. Launched in late 2023, the project aims to integrate traditional knowledge with scientific research to reverse the decline of these species. SRCS plans to establish community conservation agreements and create up to 120,000 hectares of Community Conservation Zones to be recognized on the ICCA Registry.

The United Nations Security Council estimates that a quarter of the world's population, or 2 billion people, live in conflict-affected areas. Delving deeper, the UNDP Multidimensional Poverty Index found that nearly 40 percent of multidimensionally poor people live in countries exposed to violent conflict. These figures crystalize what we know intuitively: conflict drives people and countries into poverty or keeps them there. Right now, violent conflict is at its highest level since the United Nations was founded 80 years ago. To strengthen a global culture of peace and improve the lives of people everywhere, UN Member States have declared 2025 the International Year of Peace and Trust. The General Assembly Resolution calls on the international community to redouble efforts to prevent and resolve conflicts through dialogue and diplomacy.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has the potential to significantly impact sustainable development, positively affecting 70% of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). However, there is an equity gap in AI development, with only 2% of the world’s data centers located in Africa and minimal investment in AI compared to the US. Additionally, one in three people globally lack internet access. To ensure equitable participation in the AI revolution, 2025 is critical, emphasizing the need for a foundation built on equity and sustainability to avoid widening existing disparities.

Fumbwa (Gnetum africanum) is a wild vine with thick leaves found in Africa's tropical forests. It's a staple food in Kongo Central, where local communities, guided by the Rural Initiative for Integrated Development (RIID), are working to preserve these forests that combat climate change. In Kasangulu, charcoal and firewood extraction dominate the economy, as only 11% of the DRC is connected to the electrical grid. The proximity to Kinshasa provides a profitable market for these fuels, but the exploitation of trees is leading to severe deforestation and environmental damage. Forests, which are vital for biodiversity, play a key role in addressing climate change and supporting 1.6 billion people worldwide. Despite their immense value, global deforestation remains a pressing issue, with 13 million hectares lost annually, contributing significantly to greenhouse gas emissions.

We live in turbulent times, with violent conflicts at their highest since World War Two and increasing climate disasters challenging global response efforts. Rapid responses can save lives and shorten recovery times, allowing communities to return to normalcy sooner. Artificial intelligence and digitalization are transforming crisis response. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is using these technologies to provide faster and smarter support for those affected by crises. Here’s how UNDP is currently using AI and our vision for future applications in crisis response.

In a year marked by crises, 2024 also brought moments of triumph and reasons for hope. From groundbreaking business innovations to examples of remarkable resilience during crisis, here are some stories that remind us that positivity and creativity still thrive even in the most turbulent times.

In 2025, we will begin the five-year countdown to the deadline for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and will also celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Paris Agreement on climate change. These events serve as crucial reminders of the urgent need to accelerate and expand vital development solutions. In November, world leaders will convene at the Second World Summit for Social Development to invigorate the implementation of the 2030 Agenda. Throughout the year, various key events and observances will provide opportunities to emphasize interconnected solutions and encourage action. A central theme across many of these events will focus on four key areas with the potential to transform our world: women, finance, artificial intelligence, and peace.

Mongolians lost more than 13 percent of their livestock during the last severe winter, known as the dzud. For rural communities, protecting biodiversity is not just about conserving wildlife—it’s about securing their own future. 

Reducing poverty and inequality. Promoting human rights and governance. Building resilience to disaster and crisis. UNDP works to improve lives in more than 170 countries and territories. Here are some of the highlights of its work from the past year.

Two decades ago, HIV infections peaked, with treatment available only to a select few. Since then, more affordable anti-retroviral medicines have transformed lives and improved prevention and testing efforts. However, progress does not equal success. Social and legal barriers still hinder access to HIV services, particularly for marginalized populations. Today, most new HIV infections occur outside sub-Saharan Africa. Although infections have declined more among women, adolescent girls and young women in sub-Saharan Africa face infection rates more than three times higher than men. Through its partnerships with the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) aims to end AIDS as a public health threat by 2030.

In the Peruvian Amazon, indigenous women are spearheading ecological restoration in the Cordillera Azul National Park buffer zone, addressing deforestation that has impacted over 7,945 hectares of forest. Communities like Santa Rosa de Aguaytía (Shipibo-Conibo) and Yamino and Mariscal Cáceres (Kakataibo) are restoring biodiversity while revitalizing ancestral knowledge. Leaders such as Nilda Vásquez plant native trees, like the endangered ishpingo, alongside agroforestry crops like cacao, creating wildlife corridors and boosting family incomes. Supported by the Sustainable Productive Landscapes project, 2,658 hectares have been restored, improving biodiversity and ecosystem services. This collective effort strengthens governance, climate resilience, and the communities' connection to their land, ensuring a sustainable future for people and nature.

Plastic is more widespread than we realize. While we recognize common items like bags and bottles, many everyday objects contain plastic in surprising ways. Ten unexpected sources of plastic include dust, air, clothing, fish, salt, drink cans, human blood, tea bags, paper cups, and snow. As countries work toward a global treaty to #BeatPlasticPollution, the fifth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-5) will be held in South Korea (25 November – 1 December), with the goal of creating a legally binding agreement to combat plastic pollution. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is tackling the plastic pollution crisis through more than 200 projects and 1,000 community initiatives in 132 countries, helping governments develop policies and regulation.

Comoros is leading global biodiversity conservation with ambitious sustainability projects, ecosystem protection, and international partnerships to combat climate change.

The Serbian spruce is an endemic, endangered conifer found in the Balkan region and the oldest living tree in Europe, unknown until the late 19th century. Milan Mataruga, a dedicated forester since childhood, faces the physical challenges of conservation but wouldn't choose a different path. He is a leading scientist in the conservation of this species. The ‘Sustainability of Protected Areas’ (SPA) project, funded by the Global Environment Facility and implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), aims to protect biodiversity in the region's native forests and provide sustainable management alternatives to mitigate climate change impacts.