UN Secretary-General’s initiative aims to strengthen climate resilience of the world’s most vulnerable countries and people
UN Secretary-General’s Initiative Aims to Strengthen Climate Resilience of the World’s Most Vulnerable Countries and People
On Africa Industrialization Day, Ban warns gender inequity, youth unemployment risk continent’s progress
Marking the Africa Industrialization Day, United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon is calling for job creation in small and medium enterprises (SMEs) for women and youth to eradicate poverty and achieve sustainable industrial development on the continent.
Ahead of UN conference, Reykjavik and businesses sign declaration on climate change
Ahead of the UN climate change conference starting on 30 November, a declaration on climate issues has been signed in Iceland by the city of Reykjavik and more than one hundred businesses and institutions, all pledging to take active measures to cut global warming by reducing emissions of greenhouse gases and cut waste.
Ban lauds steps taken for Africa’s long-term development agenda
Africa Week 2015 kicked off at Headquarters Monday with Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon commending African Member States of the United Nations for taking an “important step” this year toward the establishment of a Continental Free Trade Area envisioned in the African Union’s Agenda 2063.
Ahead of Sustainable Development Summit, UN Secretariat building lights up to showcase sustainable development goals
Ahead of the United Nations Sustainable Development Summit from 25-27 September, and to mark the seventieth anniversary of the United Nations, a 10-minute film introducing the sustainable development goals was projected onto the United Nations Headquarters last night.
Consensus Reached on New Sustainable Development Agenda to be adopted by World Leaders in September
The 193 Member States of the United Nations reached agreement today on the draft outcome document that will constitute the new sustainable development agenda that will be adopted this September by world leaders at the Sustainable Development Summit in New York.
Forecasting positive 2015 world crop prospects, UN agency warns of food insecurity ‘hotspots’
Favorable worldwide conditions for cereal crops will lead to better-than-expected production this growing season at the global level, today said the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
New UN report finds drop in global foreign direct investment in 2014
Global foreign direct investment (FDI) declined in 2014 but flows to developing countries actually reached their highest level ever, says a new United Nations report released today that also calls for systematic reform of the current international investment agreement regime.
At UN-backed forum, Africa’s least developed countries pledge to transform their economies
Voicing determination to transform the structure of their economies and graduate from their status as some of the world's poorest nations, Ministers from the least developed countries (LDCs) in Africa at a United Nations-supported meeting in Milan have pledged to draw on their countries' great potential to boost growth and lock in sustainable development.
In Germany ahead of G7 summit, Ban rallies support for ‘once-in-a-generation’ UN sustainability agenda
The world has before it a unique opportunity to build a better future for all, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon declared today in Bonn, Germany, where he urged broad support for a trio of course-correcting United Nations events in 2015 that aim to lock down agreements on protecting the planet, ensuring sustainable development and unleashing the finances and technology to ensure these vital goals are achieved.
At Geneva jobs summit, UN labour chief urges a global debate on the future of work
Addressing some 4,000 government, worker and employer representatives, the head of the United Nations International Labour Organization (ILO) called for a global debate on the future of work at the 104th International Labour Conference in Geneva today.
‘Give young people decent jobs and they will create a better future’ – UN chief
When young people have decent jobs, political weight, negotiating muscle and real influence in the world, they will create a better future, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said today as he kicked off a Headquarters event on empowering youth through employment.
On Africa Day, UN chief spotlights continent’s achievements, reflects on challenges of 2015
Each year, Africa Day is an opportunity to celebrate the continent's achievements and to reflect on its challenges, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said today, highlighting the courage and determination it took to make remarkable progress to end the Ebola outbreak and urging leaders to commit to ending violence against women and empower them.
Most workers now employed in part-time or temporary jobs – UN labour agency
The International Labour Organization (ILO) today warned of widespread insecurity in the global employment market, saying that some 75 per cent of all workers are employed on temporary or short-term contracts in informal jobs often without any contract, under own-account arrangements or in unpaid family jobs.
New UN report calls for economic inclusivity to drive growth in Asia-Pacific region
While developing economies in the Asia-Pacific region continue to fare well in comparison to the rest of the world, structural weaknesses, like infrastructure shortages and excessive dependence on commodities will continue to hamper their growth potential, a new United Nations report on the region says, calling for greater economic inclusivity if sustainable development is to succeed.
Asia-Pacific countries agree to harness financial resources to accelerate sustainable development at UN meeting
Asia-Pacific policymakers, together with business and civil society representatives from around 40 countries in the region, today agreed to a landmark financing strategy to mobilize the region’s immense financial resources for inclusive and sustainable growth.
Senior UN officials stress need for employment, decent work to achieve sustainable development
Top United Nations officials today underlined the importance for States to create employment opportunities and decent work for all in order to achieve poverty eradication and sustainable development, and to fulfill the objectives of the new UN development agenda.
WATCH: Why risk-informed development makes communities more resilient
In the last 20 years, we've seen over 1.3 million people killed and more than 4 billion affected by disasters that have cost at least US$2 trillion. It is clear that we will never eradicate poverty or achieve sustainable development goals so long as disasters continue to set back progress. But it doesn't have to be this way. While weak development choices expose people to disasters, good, risk-informed development makes people and communities more resilient.
Top insurers call for urgent action to reduce risk from natural disasters
Top insurers from around the world have called on governments, Saturday, to step up global efforts to build resilience against natural disasters, highlighting that average economic losses from disasters in the last decade amounted to around US $190 billion annually, while average insured losses were at about US $60 billion.