News
World needs generation of self-empowered ‘superheroes’, UN youth forum told
The United Nations needs to spend more time talking directly to young people across the world, beyond simply talking about their concerns, said the President of the General Assembly on Wednesday, opening a major Youth Dialogue event at UN Headquar
Tonga’s flamboyant Olympic flag-bearer brings inspiring message of self-belief to youth at UN Headquarters
He is best known for his bare-chested appearances at the Rio and Pyeongchang Olympic Games, but Pita Taufatofua now wants to use his social media muscle to empower youth, and get them to share their stories.
Promoting biodiversity across all agricultural sectors ‘fundamental’ — FAO chief
Changing how countries across the world produce food is “fundamental” to protecting the future of the Earth’s ecosystem, said the head of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) on Tuesday.
‘What is good for Africa is good for the world’ says UN chief on International Day
Praising efforts by African countries to alleviate poverty and build more stable societies, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres pledged his on-going support for ending conflict and building peace across the continent.
Transforming the world requires input from all society: UN deputy chief
International efforts to create a world where no one is left behind will only become a reality if all sectors in society participate, the United Nations Deputy Secretary-General told ambassadors in New York on Wednesday.
Rich variety of life on earth essential says UN chief Guterres, marking biological diversity day
The welfare and prosperity of people now and in the future, depends on a “rich variety of life on earth” said United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres in his message for the International Day for Biological Diversity, marked on Tuesday. <
‘Done right,’ expanded partnerships can deliver more sustainable results – deputy UN chief
Cooperation over development is critical in delivering the ambitious 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the UN deputy chief said on Monday, calling for strengthened “multi-stakeholder” partnerships, and better policy coordination.
In Washington D.C., Guterres signs pact with World Bank, meets US President Trump
The United Nations and the World Bank Group on Friday signed an agreement to work closer together to help countries implement the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and achieve measurable results to transform their economies and societies.
Economic growth ‘exceeds expectations’ but trade tensions are rising: UN report
Global economic growth is exceeding expectations this year but heightened geopolitical tension and uncertainty over international trade could thwart progress, according to a new United Nations report.
Celebrate love, strengthen partnerships to end AIDS epidemic by 2030 says UN agency
Marking the International Day against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia, the United Nations is calling for strengthened partnerships to support lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) people and their families.
Climate change: An 'existential threat' to humanity, UN chief warns global summit
None of the world’s challenges loom as large as climate change, the United Nations chief told a major climate action summit on Tuesday, reiterating his belief that global warming poses an “existential threat” to humanity.
Key UN forum in Asia-Pacific sets its sights on combatting inequality
With concern growing that the divide between rich and poor is continuing to widen – especially in the Asia-Pacific region – top United Nations officials are calling for greater emphasis on growth that leads to fairer societies and a healthier plan
UN health agency aims to save millions of lives by ‘elimination’ of trans-fatty acids from global food chain
Industrially-produced trans-fats may give food a longer shelf life, but each year they also lead to the death of more than 500,000 people from cardiovascular and heart disease, according to the United Nations health agency.
Save our planet by protecting migratory birds and their ‘epic journeys,’ urges UN chief
As they make their global journeys, migratory birds not only set birdwatchers’ binoculars agog, they also help the planet maintain its essential ecological balance.
New UN agency guidelines aim to sustain forest benefits for future generations
New guidelines designed to give poor and isolated communities more of a say in how tropical forests are used and preserved around the world were published on Thursday, by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
Amid a ‘crisis of solidarity,’ seek inspiration from the Buddha’s message of empathy, urges UN chief
At an event commemorating the Day of Vesak, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres urged the global community to draw inspiration from the Buddha’s teachings and message of tolerance, empathy and humanism.
Nations begin drafting ‘operating manual’ for climate action at UN conference in Bonn
The latest round of United Nations climate change negotiations began on Monday in Bonn, Germany, to further develop the “operating manual” for implementing the landmark 2015 Paris Agreement, which aims to keep temperature rises this century, well
Disasters could cost Asia-Pacific region $160 billion per year by 2030, UN warns
Economic losses to disasters in Asia and the Pacific could exceed $160 billion annually by 2030, the United Nations development arm in the region warned on Tuesday, urging greater innovation in disaster risk financing.
A new bond with nature is goal of UN’s Mother Earth Day celebration
Harmony with Nature – living a better quality of life while minimizing the use of toxic materials and preserving natural resources – was the focus of the International Mother Earth Day celebration Monday at the United Nations.
At development financing forum, top UN officials urge breakaway from ‘short-termism’
The United Nations will support countries’ path to sustainable development by brokering partnerships, pursuing innovative finance, leveraging resources and building the necessary capacities, senior officials said Monday, highlighting the need for
UN launches initiative to improve road safety worldwide
With some 1.3 million drivers, passengers and pedestrians dying each year on the world’s roads, the United Nations took a major step to address this tragedy by launching on Thursday a trust fund to spur action that could save lives and prevent the
With fair play, tolerance and team spirit, sport can score for peace and development, say UN officials
The United Nations can make its voice heard on the power of sport in promoting both peace and development, a senior UN official said Monday, urging participants at a special Headquarters event to “bring out our inner sports fans,” and harness spor
Universal health coverage key to safer, fairer world, says WHO chief on eve of World Health Day
The head of the World Health Organization (WHO) on Friday marked World Health Day, and the agency’s 70th anniversary, with a strong call for universal health coverage, to ensure that all people can get quality health services, where and when they
The world banks on sunshine, UN says in renewable energy report
In 2017, solar energy dominated global investment in new power generation like never before, according to a new United Nations-backed report, which shows a steady move away from fossil fuel-based power production to ‘green’ power sources.
Marking Sport for Development Day, Japanese athletes take UN Global Goals forward
Ahead of the International Day of Sport, world renowned Japanese athletes are joining a United Nations-backed campaign to promote global development goals through the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games their country will host in 2020.
Business leaders at UN forum challenged to invest in a more sustainable future for all
Three years into the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the United Nations continues brokering new partnerships between governments, the private sector and civil society to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), participants told
Climate chaos to continue in 2018, UN chief warns; Will the world rise to challenge?
Climate change “is still moving much faster than we are,” United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres warned on Thursday, calling for the political will, innovation and financing to cut global emissions by at least 25 per cent over the next
UN forum examines role partnerships play in tackling global migration challenge
Partnerships at local, national, regional and international levels are crucial to ensuring global migration is better managed, the United Nations migration agency chief said Monday in New York.
Earth Hour: UN joins iconic landmarks ‘going dark’ globally with a call to protect environment
The United Nations this evening turned off the lights at its iconic Headquarters in New York as well as at other facilities around the world in observance of “Earth Hour” – a global event highlighting the need for climate action and sustainable en
Heatwaves, hurricanes, floods: 2017 costliest year ever for extreme weather and climate events, says UN
Hurricanes, monsoon floods and continuing severe drought made 2017 the costliest year ever for severe weather and climate events, according to a new report by the United Nations weather agency launched on the eve of World Meteorological Day.