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.

Top business leaders to explore private sector’s solutions for the SDG Stimulus

The Global Investors for Sustainable Development (GISD) Alliance will meet with UN Secretary-General António Guterres on 31 October for their 5th Annual Meeting. They will present transformative solutions to bridge the SDG financing gap in developing countries.

Fulfilling the promises of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights across generations

This year marks the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which was the first document to outline fundamental human rights that should be protected universally. However, the existing norms and procedures have become fragmented, and their limitations have resulted in a failure to adequately recognize and protect the human rights of older people at the international level.

Empowering SDG actions with new tools for tracking SDG progress

During the SDG Summit, the UN DESA’s Statistics Division, partnering with Google.org, launched the UN Data Commons for the SDGs. This new platform integrates authoritative SDG data and insights from across the UN System into a publicly available tool with AI-powered search functionality and an innovative, user-friendly interface.

SDG action - front and center at UNGA high-level week

Heads of State and Governments from all over the globe will be convening in New York, at the United Nations Headquarters this September for the SDG Summit, marking a new chapter in the international progress towards the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

ActNow SDG Summit Challenge – 100K Actions for the Goals!

In the lead up to the 2023 UN SDG Summit in September, we call on everyone to take actions towards a more sustainable future for all. The 17 SDGs can improve life for all of us. From cleaner air, safer cities, to equality, these issues matter to everyone.

Scaling up energy action

A number of events under the umbrella of the SDG7 Action Forum 2023 are taking place during 16-25 September around New York City to help drive momentum on key Energy Compacts, including those promoting no new coal, 24/7 carbon-free energy, electrification of health clinics in energy-poor countries, clean cooking technologies, sustainable water and energy solutions and other important initiatives.

Green skills for youth: Towards a sustainable world

On 12 August, the world will observe International Youth Day. This day celebrates the contributions, ideas, energy and creativity of young people to foster positive change, not only for themselves, but also for their communities and the rest of the world. This year, on International Youth Day, UN DESA is highlighting the importance of green skills in building back better towards a more sustainable future.

Indigenous youth as agents of change

The UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) affirms that Indigenous Peoples, including children and youth, have the right to self-determination, and have an equal right to govern themselves, equal to all other peoples. Indigenous youth are playing an increasingly active role in exercising their right to self-determination, working as agents of change at the forefront of some of the most pressing crises facing humanity, as their future depends on the decisions that are made today.