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Things You Need To Know

Vol 25, No. 11 – November 2021

4 things you need to know about your toilet

Who really cares about toilets? 3.6 billion people do. Because they don’t have one. Today, nearly half the world’s population live without access to this important sanitary facility that many of us take for granted. As we are gearing up for World Toilet Day on 19 November, here are four things you should know about your toilet.

1. We should all care more about toilets

Vol 25, No. 10 – October 2021

4 things you need to know about data for people and planet

As the world continues to recover from COVID-19, we need quality data more than ever to support the decisions we make to improve people’s lives. Understanding the data that surrounds us is understanding how to use data to get back on track to achieve the global goals. Ahead of the UN World Data Forum this month, here are four things you need know about data:

1. Better data helps us recover better from COVID-19

Vol 25, No. 9 – September 2021

Four things you should know about food systems

Billions of people, from farmers to supermarket cashiers, to those who monitor food safety or install irrigation technologies contribute to the world’s food systems. This web of connected people and processes is at the heart of food security and nutrition for the world’s growing population. As the global community prepares for the Food Systems Summit this month, here are four things you should know about the world’s food systems:

1. Food systems are an entry point for achieving all 17 SDGs

Vol 25, No. 7 – July 2021

Six things you should know about the state of the SDGs

As we enter the second year of the COVID-19 pandemic, how devastating is its impacts on the global goals? Can the SDGs guide the global community to a brighter future? We are at a critical juncture, where the tragedy of COVID-19 must serve as the wake-up call for the world to work together to achieve the global goals. As UN DESA prepares to launch the Sustainable Development Goals Report 2021 at the High-level Political Forum, here are 6 things you need to know about the state of the SDGs.

Vol 25, No. 6 – June 2021

5 things you should know about persons with disabilities

Roughly 15% of the world’s population, around 1 billion people, live with a disability. It can be a physical, developmental, emotional or a sensory impairment. Each condition requires its own special attention to fulfil the needs of the individual. Here are five things you should know about persons who live with a disability today.

1. Independence is key

Vol 25, No. 5 – May 2021

5 things you should know about the state of the economy

Is this the year we overcome the global economic crisis caused by the pandemic? Are our jobs in danger? Who has lost the most in the crisis and what can be done to recover? As UN DESA prepares to launch the mid-year update of the 2021 World Economic Situation and Prospects report, here are five things you need to know about the state of the global economy.

Vol 25, No. 4 – April 2021

Four things you need to know about youth and SDGs

Youth are a major force for sustainable development and key agents for social change, economic growth and technological innovation. From calling for urgent climate action to tackling inequalities and gender biases, young people are driving the Decade of Action for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) forward. On 7-8 April, they will take the stage at the UN ECOSOC Youth Forum.

1. Youth are champions of climate action

Vol 25, No. 3 – March 2021

Four things you need to know about forests and health

Forests are good for our physical and mental wellbeing. Spending time around trees helps boost our immune system, lowers blood pressure and promotes relaxation. From cleaner air to providing natural cooling and the freshwater we drink, forests support our health in ways that may not be visible.

1. Forests provide us medicines