Not a moment to lose when our shared future is at stake

“The SDGs are not just 17 lofty goals. They represent real lives with real needs. They represent women and children, young and old, you and me, and a chance to fullfil our potential,” said UN DESA’s Under-Secretary-General Li Junhua. His comment came as the department is supporting preparations for the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development in July and the SDG Summit in September.

Leveraging innovations to secure our shared future

The international community finds itself at the halfway mark of the global race towards achieving the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030. Yet, the goals are still far off track in many areas and UN Secretary-General António Guterres recently warned, “unless we act now, the 2030 Agenda will become an epitaph for a world that might have been.”

Financing Sustainable Transformation: how industry and sustainability can come together

At the halfway point to the 2030 Agenda, vulnerable countries have been left reeling by multiple global shocks. The war in Ukraine, sharp increases in food and energy prices, and rapidly tightening financial conditions have increased hunger and poverty and reversed progress on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Uniting the world for water action

In 1977, world leaders, water experts and policymakers from around the world gathered in Mar del Plata, Argentina, for the UN Water Conference. Almost 50 years later, the global community will come together from 22 to 24 March in New York for the second ever UN 2023 Water Conference.

Somber economic forecast threatens progress on the global goals

“This is not the time for short-term thinking or knee-jerk fiscal austerity,” said UN Secretary-General António Guterres, as the World Economic Situation and Prospects 2023 released its grim global economic outlook on 25 January 2023.

A series of severe and mutually reinforcing shocks — the COVID-19 pandemic, the war in Ukraine and resulting food and energy crises, surging inflation, debt distress, as well as the climate emergency — battered the world economy in 2022.

Sustainable development events to look out for in 2023

As we’re opening the chapter on 2023, we’re entering a new and busy year, which will be critical for people, planet and our shared future. Here are the main sustainable development events to look out for this year.

Innovating for an accessible and equitable world

“Together, we have the tools to tackle the root causes of systemic marginalization of persons with disabilities in every corner of the world. Together, we can make sure that every person – no matter their circumstance – can fully participate in every aspect of life – social, economic, cultural, and political. Together, we can – and we will – advance our common future.”

8 billion strong – infinite possibilities for people and planet

Our world is approaching a landmark moment in human history. On 15 November 2022, the global population is projected to reach 8 billion people. Thanks to science, technology, and groundbreaking innovations, we now live longer and healthier. It took the human family 125 years to get from 1 billion to 2 billion. But only 12 years to grow from 7 to 8 billion.

Gender equality can’t wait – we must achieve it now for current and future generations

It will take 286 years to close gender gaps in legal protection and remove discriminatory laws against women, 140 years for equal representation in positions of power and at least 40 years to achieve gender parity in national parliaments. These numbers are truly alarming and calls for the world’s urgent action.

More than 20 years of data – and a vision of the future

So much has changed since the inaugural issue of the United Nations E-Government Survey in 2001. Back then, the Survey included assessment points that now seem firmly entrenched in the past. Fast forward to 21 years of publication, the Survey no longer measures telephone lines and televisions – instead it assesses mobile and broadband. Stay tuned for the latest edition out on 28 September.