Welcome to the United Nations
UN DESA Voice is an insider's look at the United Nations in the area of economic, social and sustainable development policy. It is produced by the Strategic Planning and Communications Services of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs with articles written by UN DESA staff. This is an electronic publication - no printed edition is generated.
The current edition
May 2024
Small Island Developing States (SIDS) face major challenges—climate change, geographic remoteness, a narrow export base—that make them vulnerable to external economic, environmental, and social shocks. But they also have innovative solutions, dynamic populations, and people ready to act.
2024
Small Island Developing States (SIDS) face major challenges—climate change, geographic remoteness, a narrow export base—that make them vulnerable to external economic, environmental, and social shocks. But they also have innovative solutions, dynamic populations, and people ready to act.
There are no better forecasters of resilience in the world than young people, who have been calling attention to critical sustainable development issues. They have become experts on adapting to an increasingly challenging global landscape, filled with images of conflicts, climate crisis impacts, and deepening inequalities. They experience the results of past unsustainable practices, facing present consequences and racing against the clock to curb a rising tide.
Taxes play a vital role in helping governments deliver key services that benefit both individual citizens and societies. Effective, efficient, and inclusive collaboration on tax matters among nations can drive the mobilization of domestic resources, promote investment, and stimulate economic growth. International tax cooperation is also key in helping countries to finance the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
When the last International Conference on Small Island Developing States was held in 2014, there was no COVID-19 pandemic and no global economic recession and much fewer geopolitical tensions. The climate emergency, while present, had not reached the heights it has today.
The world economy in 2023 proved to be resilient, exceeding expectations with an estimated growth rate of 2.7 per cent, higher than the 2.3 per cent forecast last May. However, this better-than-expected performance masks underlying short-term risks and structural vulnerabilities.