More from UN DESA - November 2023

Turning commodities into catalysts for sustainable development

Halfway towards the target date for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, many commodity-dependent countries are struggling with a lack of resources and high indebtedness. This moment requires a policy shift. Against this backdrop, the Second Committee of the General Assembly and the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) convened a dialogue on leveraging commodities for sustainable development on 10 October.

Amplifying small island voices: calling for stakeholders’ participation at the upcoming UN Small Island Developing States (SIDS) Conference

In May 2024, world leaders will be meeting in Antigua and Barbuda for the 4th International Conference on Small Island Developing States (SIDS4). The theme of this event "Charting the course toward resilient prosperity" embodies the shared vision of achieving sustainable development, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its Sustainable Development Goals.

Why a Conference on Small Island Developing States?

World Toilet Day 2023: Accelerating Change

There is a global sanitation crisis and the world is working too slowly to solve it. There is an urgent need to accelerate change.

The world is seriously off track to meet Sustainable Development Goal 6: to ensure “availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all” by 2030. We are on a countdown, with less than seven years left to correct the course. We have to accomplish this goal with a sense of urgency, building on the global momentum garnered by the ambitious UN 2023 Water Conference.

Eradication of poverty and other social development issues in focus as the General Assembly’s Third Committee convenes for its 78th session

The Third Committee of the UN General Assembly kicked off its 78th session on 28 September 2023 to debate a range of issues to advance social development. Although there has been significant progress since the World Summit for Social Development in 1995, the Committee observed that advancements have slowed down or even reversed since 2015. This serves as a reminder that progress is still fragile and inconsistent.