More from UN DESA

New training toolkit to support public servants in SDG delivery

Public servants play a key role in our global efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). They provide health care, education, water and sanitation and other key services to our societies. The COVID-19 pandemic has made the crucial and life-sustaining role public servants play even more visible. Without them the SDGs cannot be achieved.

Post-pandemic industrial policy: what will it look like?

Ever since the financial crisis over ten years ago, countries and local governments have been warming up to the idea of stimulating economies and creating jobs by generating solutions for climate change and the environmental breakdown. But these ideas had been slow to start and far from widespread. Can the recovery from the pandemic change all that?

The euro area’s economic pulse is coming back

The global pandemic has left deep scars on economies across the globe. This is certainly true for the euro area, which saw widespread lockdowns after the outbreak of the pandemic in the spring of 2020. As a response, a host of fiscal policies provided strong support across economies, and monetary policy has been maintaining a very accommodative stance. These have been major factors in the economic recovery of the euro area and the most recent bank lending survey by the European Central Bank is confirming a picture of vigorous economic revival.

It is time to build forward together

The COVID-19 pandemic that continues to grip the world has caused over 3.7 million deaths and is reversing decades of progress in the fight against poverty. It is a matter of fact that the impact of the coronavirus has been the hardest on people who - for generations - have lacked equal access to public goods and services, quality healthcare systems and strong social protection, making it harder to cope with global crises.

Achieving SDG7 will put us on a pathway to net-zero

By Damilola Ogunbiyi, CEO and Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Sustainable Energy for All and Co-Chair of UN-Energy

Global preparedness in focus for new ‘Future of the World’ series

The COVID-19 pandemic has made clear that universal social protection systems are the foundation for social inclusion and economic prosperity. Countries that had more social protections in place before the pandemic were better prepared for the multitude of socioeconomic issues related to health, jobs, gender equality and the environment.

Doing good while doing well – private sector and SDGs

In recent years, a new generation of consumers has begun demanding companies to act in the interest of sustainability. Purpose-driven businesses are also recognizing the benefits of focusing on the long-term. These leaders have committed to creating value for all stakeholders and taking concrete actions to align their business models with sustainable development principles. But we still need to do much more to mobilize private finance and align business practices with the Sustainable Development Goals.

Is unconventional monetary policy reaching its limits?

Since the onset of the pandemic, central banks around the world have deployed massive stimulus to limit the economic damage and support the recovery. Just like after the global financial crisis of 2007–08, unconventional monetary policy measures have played a crucial role in the response to COVID-19. Developed country central banks have purchased trillions worth of securities through quantitative easing programs, leading to an unprecedented expansion of their balance sheets.

Do you speak gender data?

Are you looking to learn more about gender data and why it matters? Look no further! The 8th United Nations Global Forum on Gender Statistics  with the theme “Building forward fairer with gender data at the centre”,  featuring a star line-up of panelists will discuss how gender equality and the production of gender statistics have changed in the aftermath of the pandemic and why.

Robust economic recovery is underway — for some

The past few months have brought a string of upbeat news on the global economy, suggesting a vigorous recovery from the COVID-19 crisis may be under way. But are these developments too good to be true?

World merchandise trade and industrial production have indeed soared and are already well above the pre-pandemic levels. Prices of key raw materials have reached record levels, with oil prices having climbed to a two-year high. Against this backdrop, macroeconomic forecasters have raised their global growth projections for 2021 and 2022 – often by a lot.