World makes great progress on energy access, but ambitious action needed to achieve sustainable energy goal by 2030, says UN
Remarkable progress has been made in broadening electricity access globally, but sustained political will and increased public and private finance are urgently needed to provide affordable and clean energy to the 1.2 billion people still living without access to electricity, a high-level United Nations conference concluded in Bangkok today. Read more ›
Life-saving numbers: how solid data can protect refugees and migrants
Judging by media reports alone, we might be led to believe that migration is the defining challenge of the 21st century; that it is an unprecedented strain on the social services of states and a threat to their values. Yet, recent UN DESA data shows that 96.6 per cent of all people live in the… Read more ›
Halting deforestation within reach if we step up action, say UN experts
Changing the way we manage lands, food production and forests is key to guaranteeing food security for a growing and more urbanized population, said Maria Helena Semedo, Deputy Director-General of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in her opening address to an international conference on halting deforestation, taking place in Rome from 20th to… Read more ›
Vibrant economy could send the Sustainable Development Goals on a fast track to success
“Fix the roof while the sun is shining” can best describe the unique opportunity that the international community has been given by the recovering economy. The global economic outlook has visibly strengthened, creating a favourable environment for countries to remove the barriers that are impeding the progress of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Read more ›
#SDGInsights challenge winner uses machine learning and geodata to identify water services
Water scarcity affects more than 40 per cent of the world’s population. Ensuring universal access to safe and affordable drinking water for all by 2030 is an essential element of Sustainable Development Goal 6. Locating communities and individuals still using unimproved water services in a country is an important step in designing drinking water infrastructure to deliver safe and… Read more ›
Energizing the 2030 Agenda – the Global SDG7 Conference
Energy is inextricably interlinked with many of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including poverty eradication, food security, clean water and sanitation, health, education, prosperity, jobs creation, and the empowerment of youth and women. Access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all is fundamental to human development. A shift toward sustainable energy solutions is… Read more ›
Countries urged to strengthen tax systems to promote inclusive economic growth
Major international organizations, including the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the United Nations and the World Bank Group today called on all governments to strengthen and increase the effectiveness of their tax systems to unlock much-needed domestic resources to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and promote inclusive… Read more ›
Fighting inequality becomes top priority for UN Social Development Commission
Following more than a week of discussions between a record number of ministers, vice-ministers and other high-level country officials, the UN Commission for Social Development closed its 56th session on Wednesday, with a call to tackle the threat that inequality poses to development. Read more ›
ABOUT UN DESA
UN DESA is a vital interface between global policies in the economic, social and environmental spheres and national action. Learn more
USG LIU ZHENMIN
Mr. LIU Zhenmin of China was appointed as the Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs effective 26 July 2017. Learn more
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