More from UN DESA

Expert report to urge government synergy in tackling climate and sustainable development crises

A new report by a UN-convened expert group will urge governments to break down siloes at national and international levels to address the climate and sustainable development crises and achieve transformative change. On 16 July, the 2024 report of the Expert Group on Climate and SDG Synergy - co-convened by UN DESA and UN Climate Change (UNFCCC) - will be presented to delegates at a special event of the UN High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) in New York.  

High-level Advisory Board set to discuss the ‘Future We Want’ at Global Policy Dialogue during HLPF

Past the midpoint of our timeline to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), only 17 per cent of the SDG targets are on track. The world is still facing wars, economic uncertainty and the climate crisis. Inequality is rising, and our progress towards gender equality is far from being met. There’s still a lot we need to do, together, to keep the 17 goals within reach by 2030.

International Youth Day 2024: Youth Digital Innovation for Sustainable Development

Digitalization is transforming our world, offering unprecedented opportunities to accelerate sustainable development. Digital technologies such as mobile devices, services, and artificial intelligence are instrumental in advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Data generated from digital interactions supports evidence-based decision-making.

Protecting the rights of Indigenous Peoples in voluntary isolation and initial contact

Around 200 groups of Indigenous Peoples currently live in voluntary isolation and initial contact. They reside in remote forests, rich in natural resources, in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, India, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Peru and Venezuela. They choose to live detached from the rest of the world, and their mobility patterns allow them to engage in gathering and hunting, thereby preserving their cultures and languages. These peoples have a strict dependency on their ecological environment.

World Oceans Day: A call to action to save our ocean

Oceans cover more than 70% of the Earth’s surface, produce over half of the world’s oxygen, regulate the climate and absorb nearly one-third of the carbon dioxide generated by human activities. Home to an incredible diversity of life, oceans provide food and livelihoods for billions of people. The health of the oceans is intrinsically linked to the health of our planet and its inhabitants.

Integrated big data informs policies on climate change and sustainable development

As the world grapples with numerous global challenges, including environmental issues, climate change, health crises, food insecurity, economic recovery, and human displacement, the need for knowledge integration has never been more critical. Amid a data landscape with fast-increasing volumes of big data, information remains compartmentalized to pre-defined scales and fields, rarely building its way up to collective knowledge. 

World Elder Abuse Awareness Day: Spotlight on older persons in emergencies

As the world prepares to observe World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD) on 15 June, this year UN DESA programme on ageing, in partnership with the International Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse (INPEA), will focus on the theme, "Spotlight on Older Persons in Emergencies," to highlight the critical need to protect and support older persons during crises. 

Established by the United Nations in 2011, WEAAD aims to raise awareness about the abuse, neglect, and exploitation that older persons face, while promoting respect and dignity for this population.

Hopeful horizons: Open-Ended Working Group on Ageing gears up for crucial session in May

The 14th session of the Open-Ended Working Group on Ageing (OEWG) from 20 to 22 and 24 May 2024 is an opportunity to ensure that older persons everywhere can age with security and dignity and participate fully in their societies as citizens with equal rights.

ECOSOC examines AI to advance sustainable development

Artificial intelligence (AI) has become a powerful social and economic force, influencing industries and the job market around the globe. AI, which involves machines simulating human intelligence processes, includes a variety of technologies such as machine learning, natural language processing, computer vision, and robotics. These frontier technologies have the capacity to transform how we tackle complex societal issues, including those outlined in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Amidst intersecting crises and challenges, stakeholders examine ways to accelerate SDG 16 progress

Conflict, inequality, corruption, and failure to respect human rights continue to pose substantial, intersecting and growing challenges to societies. These challenges are reflected in Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions – a prerequisite for sustainable development and an enabler of all other SDGs.