More from UN DESA

Shaping the future of global statistics

The United Nations Statistical Commission is holding its 54th session from February 28 to March 3, 2023, at the UN headquarters in New York. Established in 1947, the Commission is the apex body responsible for the development of global statistical standards, bringing together chief statisticians from around the world to deliberate on a wide range of important statistical issues, such as data stewardship, data innovation, SDG indicators, social and demographic statistics, economic statistics, and many more topics.

Development policy and just transition

We can no longer talk about development policy without talking about both the risks and costs imposed by climate change and the challenges and opportunities related to climate action.

Cultivating and strengthening partnerships for the global goals

Under the overall theme of “Accelerating the recovery from the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and the full implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development at all levels”, the 2023 Partnership Forum of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) will take place on Tuesday, 31 January from 9:00 am to 5:45 pm (EDT), at the United Nations headquarters in New York.

Leveraging private capital to achieve the global goals

Malawi, a beautiful and tranquil country located in Sub-Saharan Africa, is one of the world’s Least Developed Countries (LDCs). It has a youthful population of 20 million people, and an agro-based economy growing at 2.9 per cent per annum.

Energy crisis poses threat to Europe’s industrial sector

Europe is facing a difficult and uncertain economic outlook.  Governments, households, and firms are grappling with an energy and cost-of-living crisis that was exacerbated by the war in Ukraine. Amid high inflation and rapidly tightening monetary policy, many European countries are expected to suffer a recession over the winter.

World Toilet Day 2022: Making the invisible visible

Groundwater is invisible, but its impact is visible everywhere. This World Toilet Day is all about making the invisible visible and taking action to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 6 on water and sanitation for all. The 3.6 billion people worldwide who lack access to safely managed sanitation depend on these efforts. Learn more about the day and ways to get involved.

What is the aim of World Toilet Day?

Economic downturn poses further risks for food security

Hunger is on the rise globally. The number of people affected by acute food insecurity nearly doubled in recent years and it is likely to climb to over 200 million in 2022. Close to one million people live in starvation conditions – ten times more than six years ago. The impact differs by gender, with women facing more food insecurity than men in every region of the world.

UN Big Data Hackathon calls for solutions to current global challenges

Close to 2,000 data scientists and statisticians from more than 70 counties will compete in the 2022 UN Big Data Hackathon from 8 to 11 November 2022 as part of the 7th International Conference on Big Data and Data Science for Official Statistics.

Big data and data science play a key role in addressing global challenges

The world faces many global challenges related to the environment, climate change, health, food insecurity, economic recovery and human displacement. COVID-19 and the ongoing military conflict in Ukraine have caused disruptions in supply chains and have raised energy and food prices significantly, making it difficult for millions of people around the world to cover their basic needs of food, water and shelter. The resilience of our societies is further tested by typhoons, flood, drought and other severe weather patterns.

Growing old and staying resilient

The COVID-19 pandemic has directly or indirectly caused the loss of lives of over 12 million older persons. Yet this constituency chose to commemorate the International Day of Older Persons, celebrated globally on 1 October, by calling for public recognition of their strength, participation, productivity, resourcefulness and humanity in sustainable development.