SDG Blog

If we can rescue banks, we can rescue the hopes of developing countries

By António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations

The meltdown of several major banks in recent months made headlines around the world. More than $250 billion was mobilized during the course of just one weekend to protect banks in the United States and Switzerland.

But there has been no such rescue attempt for scores of developing countries struggling to deal with a cascade of crises, from climate-related shocks to the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russian war in Ukraine. They are treated as though failure is an acceptable option.

How science, technology and innovation can be leveraged to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic and achieve the 2030 Agenda

By Ambassador Mathu Joyini and Ambassador Tom Woodroffe, Co-Chairs of the 8th Annual Multi-Stakeholder Forum on Science, Technology, and Innovation for the SDGs

We must secure financing to prevent a sustainable development divide

By Navid Hanif, Assistant Secretary-General for Economic Development

Our world is experiencing unprecedented multifaceted crises that threaten the implementation of the Addis Ababa Action Agenda. Many developing countries are still coping with the scarring effects of the COVID-19 pandemic making their economies recover at a very slow pace. While the war in Ukraine poses a serious threat to global peace and security, it also caused a significant increase in food and energy prices that are unsustainable for the most vulnerable populations around the world.

We need actions and solutions that drive the change we need

− Improving the governance of water is an urgent priority for all of humankind

By Henk Ovink, Special Envoy for International Water Affairs, Kingdom of the Netherlands and Sulton Rahimzoda, Special Envoy of the President of Tajikistan for Water and Chairman of the Executive Committee of the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea

Amid crisis there is reason to hope – if we come together to pursue social justice

By Gilbert F. Houngbo, Director-General, International Labour Organization

Coming out of the recent World Economic Forum at Davos, I reflected on what the current state of affairs means for the world of work and the Sustainable Development Goals.

Action, agility and accountability will help us deliver on the global goals

By Li Junhua, Under-Secretary-General of UN DESA

I joined UN DESA in September 2022, and what a whirlwind four months it has been.

I am keenly aware that my term started at a time when a confluence of global crises has set us back in advancing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

The Sustainable Development Goals and a Longevity Agenda

By Professor Andrew Scott, Department of Economics, London Business School and Research Fellow, Center for Economic and Policy Research 

The world population has reached 8 billion, a fourfold increase since the early 20th century. Achieving long-run prosperity for all in the face of this increase has been a motivating force for the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.

8 billion people, 8 billion opportunities

By Dr. Natalia Kanem, Executive Director, United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) 

On November 15th, the world’s population will hit 8 billion.

From the Internet Governance Forum to Our Common Agenda

By Krzysztof Szubert, High Representative of the Prime Minister for European Digital Policy, Member of the UN IGF Leadership Panel, Republic of Poland

Last December, Poland was the proud host of the United Nations Internet Governance Forum (IGF). The global, multi-stakeholder platform that we all know, was this time held under quite unusual circumstances, as we all had to face the COVID pandemic rules and restrictions. At the same time, we wanted the IGF annual meeting to be available and accessible to everyone who would like to join the global discussion. And we did it!

Crisis in education for SDGs: The long-term impact of COVID-19 and the digital transformation

By Eun Mee Kim, President of Ewha Womans University