Expert Voices

The state of our global goals

How are today’s global crises affecting efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)? On 7 July, the international community will find out as the annual report tracking SDG progress will be launched. To learn more about this year’s edition and why the data it presents is critical, we spoke with UN DESA’s Yongyi Min.

What do you want people to know about the Sustainable Development Goals Report; why is it important for the global community?

“This is the year to stop the decline of the ocean’s health”

“With every breath we take, we are connected to the ocean,” says UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for the Ocean, Ambassador Peter Thomson. Ahead of the UN Ocean Conference taking place in Lisbon this month, we catch up with him about the current state of the ocean and why this year will be critical to turn the tide to improving its health.

Why is the ocean’s health in trouble?

Making waves for a blue economy

Our ocean is critical for all life on Earth. It regulates the climate and provides livelihoods for millions. But our ocean’s health is in danger. How can the blue economy help restore and protect this vital planetary resource? Ahead of the 2022 UN Ocean Conference this June, we spoke with UN DESA’s Madhushree Chatterjee who explains.

What do we mean when we talk about the blue economy?

Credit ratings – why they matter for the global goals

Did you know that much like report cards for students, countries too have “grades” associated with them? One type of these “grades”, called credit ratings, affect countries’ cost of borrowing money. The ratings are given by just a handful of private companies, known as credit rating agencies (CRAs). To gain more insights on this topic, we talked to Shari Spiegel in UN DESA’s Financing for Sustainable Development Office (FSDO).

Trees for life – an inspiration to live more sustainably

“Regardless of where we live, the world’s forests sustain us all,” says Yan Lang, Programme Management Officer, in UN DESA’s Forum on Forests Secretariat, as we catch up ahead of the International Day of Forests on 21 March. Ms. Lang describes the current state of our forests and what actions we can take to protect them.

Forests play a critical role for life on Earth. Can you explain why and give some examples?

Ending poverty and hunger once and for all – is it possible?

The COVID-19 crisis has led to the first rise in extreme poverty and food insecurity in 20 years. Is it realistic to end these two scourges once and for all? Ahead of the Commission for Social Development this month, we ask UN DESA’s Wenyan Yang about this and what is needed to ensure that all people, everywhere, can live a healthy life in dignity.

People have been suffering poverty and hunger for as long as our species exists. Is it realistic to end these two scourges once and for all?

Behind the numbers: predicting the state of our global economy

Every year, UN DESA’s economists crunch the numbers to project the latest global economy trends. On 13 January, the new estimates for 2022 and beyond will be released. What goes into this work and why is it important for people and our planet? To find out, we spoke with Helena Afonso and Sebastian Vergara, who are part of the World Economic Situation and Prospects report team.

Shaping a future where everyone is included

Around the world, 1 billion people live with some form of disability. How can we make sure that our societies embrace and empower everyone regardless of their abilities? Ahead of International Day of Persons with Disabilities, we spoke with UN DESA’s Daniela Bas to find out and to learn more about celebrations happening worldwide to mark the day.

Faced with increasing inequalities and political divides, how can the world shape a future that includes everyone?

Sustainable transport – where do we go from here?

Responsible for over a quarter of all direct greenhouse gas emissions from burning fossil fuels, transport is a key element of the climate action puzzle. As we transition to a zero-emissions future, can we decarbonize our transport in a way that leaves no one behind? We ask Julie Powell, Sustainable Development Officer at UN DESA.

The landmark second Global Sustainable Transport Conference just wrapped up in Beijing. What did it achieve?

Big business means business on sustainable investment

You know something is shifting in the markets when global business heavyweights move to issue standards, industry-specific metrics and even ready-to-invest financial vehicles, all aligned with one trend. That “new” hot investment opportunity is sustainable development and we talk about it with the Co‑Chairs of the Global Investors for Sustainable Development (GISD) Alliance, the CEO of the Johannesburg Stock Exchange Leila Fourie and the CEO of Allianz Oliver Bäte.