News

Our news page provides you with a round up of UN news related to economic development, humanitarian aid, climate change, and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). You will find the summary of news articles together with a link to the news source.

News
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‘Green industrial age’ can be sustainable development breakthrough

05 Apr 2023

The UN on Wednesday called for a “sustainable industrial transformation” to close the widening development gap between countries, meet ambitious climate targets, and reach the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, or SDGs.

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‘Green industrial age’ can be sustainable development breakthrough

05 Apr 2023

The UN on Wednesday called for a “sustainable industrial transformation” to close the widening development gap between countries, meet ambitious climate targets, and reach the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, or SDGs.

New WFP chief Cindy McCain warns of funding crunch in fight against hunger

05 Apr 2023

Cindy McCain of the United States takes the helm of the UN emergency food relief agency amid “unprecedented” global hunger fuelled by conflict, climate change and soaring fertilizer prices, the World Food Programme (WFP) said on Wednesday.

Somalia: $2.6 billion appeal to aid millions still on the brink of famine

05 Apr 2023

The UN’s Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Somalia, Adam Abdelmoula, made a passionate appeal for sustained support for the country’s most vulnerable on Wednesday, where climate shocks and protracted conflict have created one of the worst humanitarian crises in the world.

Humanitarians launch $877 million plan for Burkina Faso

04 Apr 2023

A staggering 4.7 million people in Burkina Faso, a fifth of the population, will need humanitarian assistance this year, the UN and partners said on Tuesday, announcing a $877 million response plan to meet urgent needs. 

INTERVIEW: Olympic ‘game changer’ boosts sustainability in sport

04 Apr 2023

Measures adopted by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and supported by the UN have been described as a “game changer” for future Olympic events in terms of driving sustainability in sport and fighting climate change. Tania Braga, who heads the IOC legacy department, helps host countries stay on track to score global climate action and sustainability goals. She says the 2024 Paris Games will be the first event to implement a full range of new measures aligning sport with development and climate action. UN News spoke with Ms.

Child deaths hit ‘tragic milestone’ in Ukraine

03 Apr 2023

Child casualties in Ukraine have hit a “tragic milestone”, the head of the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said on Monday, as the UN human rights office (OHCHR) released its latest report on rising numbers of deaths and injuries in the country since Russia launched a full-scale invasion in February 2022.

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WMO calls for more investment in integrated weather and climate services

03 Apr 2023

The global transition to renewable energy will require greater investment in integrated weather and climate services, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) said on Monday. 

Republic of Korea: Breaking barriers, one brushstroke at a time

02 Apr 2023

A periodic exhibit at the Seoul Art Centre in the Republic of Korea features dozens of artists living with autism while reframing some of their developmental disabilities through the fresh perspective of empowerment.

First Person: ‘Simple dreams’ of Syrians following earthquake

01 Apr 2023

Syrians whose lives have been upended by a 12-year civil war and a catastrophic earthquake are looking to return home and rebuild their lives.

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UNAIDS launches campaign to advocate for rights of transgender children

31 Mar 2023

A razor, nail polish, and beads are part of the new Unbox Me campaign, launched by UNAIDS to raise awareness among parents, teachers, and the wider community about gender identity during childhood, as the world marked International Transgender Day of Visibility on Friday.

Türkiye, Syria quake response continues, food security threat rising

31 Mar 2023

Almost two months after deadly earthquakes struck Türkiye and northern Syria, a large-scale humanitarian operation is underway for which funding is still desperately needed, the UN Humanitarian Affairs coordination office (OCHA) said on Friday.

Zero Waste Day: UN calls for a war on garbage

30 Mar 2023

The planet is literally drowning in garbage, and it is high time to clean up, UN Secretary-General António Guterres said on Thursday, at an event in the General Assembly Hall marking the first-ever International Day of Zero Waste. 

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General Assembly votes to seek world court’s opinion, in quest for ‘bolder’ climate action

29 Mar 2023

The UN General Assembly will seek the opinion of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on countries’ obligations to address climate change, following the adoption by consensus of a resolution on Wednesday. 

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ILO calls for fresh support as job losses grip post-quake Türkiye and Syria

28 Mar 2023

Urgent support is needed to prevent a slide into poverty and an increase in child labour and hand-to-mouth jobs, following the devastating earthquakes in Türkiye and Syria in February, the International Labour Organization (ILO) said on Tuesday in new assessment reports.

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ILO calls for fresh support as job losses grip post-quake Türkiye and Syria

28 Mar 2023

Urgent support is needed to prevent a slide into poverty and an increase in child labour and hand-to-mouth jobs, following the devastating earthquakes in Türkiye and Syria in February, the International Labour Organization (ILO) said on Tuesday in new assessment reports.

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Cosmic crops poised for harvest on Earth

27 Mar 2023

UN food and atomic energy agencies are readying to reap the rewards of a ground-breaking ‘astrobotany’ investigation, announcing on Monday that seeds sent to space in 2022 are now poised to return to Earth.

Ukraine: End war so children can ‘regain their childhoods’

27 Mar 2023

The head of the UN atomic energy agency on Monday met with Ukraine’s President to discuss safety issues at Europe’s largest nuclear power plant, as UN Goodwill Ambassador Orlando Bloom concluded a visit to the country, calling for an end to the war so children can “regain their childhoods”.

Holistic approach urgent for health of people, animals and environment

27 Mar 2023

UN agency chiefs issued a call on Monday for global action to balance and optimize the health of people, animals and the environment, as part of a new “One Health” approach.

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First Person: The Indonesian power ranger

25 Mar 2023

Conservation jobs are scarce in the leafy village of Toraut, Indonesia, so when 27-year-old Fadlun Arrayan Bonde returned from university, she answered a call for women to help to patrol the neighbouring national park. She ended up forging a dynamic new career path to protect nature while transforming her community.

New agenda sets sail with bold action as UN Water Conference closes

24 Mar 2023

The UN 2023 Water Conference closed on Friday with the adoption of the Water Action Agenda, a “milestone” action plan containing almost 700 commitments to protect “humanity’s most precious global common good”.

UNICEF alert to save millions from desperate hunger in Yemen

24 Mar 2023

Without urgent action, millions in Yemen could face ever greater risks of hunger and malnourishment, the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) warned on Friday.

UN Water Conference: reducing cross-border tensions

24 Mar 2023

As water scarcity and the potential for conflicts between countries over resources increase, the UN is urging more nations to sign up to the Water Convention, designed to reduce tensions and improve international cooperation.

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Amid recent slowdown in global trade, ‘green goods’ are the winning ticket

23 Mar 2023

Global trade slowed down in the second half of 2022, but demand for environmentally friendly goods stayed strong, the UN Conference on Trade and Development, UNCTAD, said on Thursday. 

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Amid recent slowdown in global trade, ‘green goods’ are the winning ticket

23 Mar 2023

Global trade slowed down in the second half of 2022, but demand for environmentally friendly goods stayed strong, the UN Conference on Trade and Development, UNCTAD, said on Thursday. 

UN’s nuclear agency and food and agriculture wing announce key commitments to tackle global water crisis

23 Mar 2023

On the penultimate day of the United Nations Water Conference, two UN agencies announced several potentially game-changing commitments that could enable countries to quickly gather data on the state of their water resources, and boost efficiency of water use for more sustainable agriculture practices. 

Haiti: Amid rising hunger levels, ‘world cannot wait for disaster before it acts’, WFP warns

23 Mar 2023

A growing crisis is pushing a higher number of people into hunger in Haiti, the UN food agency warned on Thursday.

Southern Africa: Cyclone Freddy aftermath brings diseases, healthcare gaps

23 Mar 2023

Southern African countries hit hard by tropical Cyclone Freddy are reeling from disease outbreaks, with health services stretched to the limit, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Thursday.

Deadly Syria earthquake provides chance to move forward: UN envoy

23 Mar 2023

Renewed diplomatic attention on Syria, and the suffering of its people following the recent deadly earthquake, create new obligations and opportunities to forge lasting peace, UN Special Envoy Geir Pedersen told the Security Council on Thursday. 

UN chief calls on EU to help world get ‘back on track’

23 Mar 2023

UN Secretary-General António Guterres attended an EU summit in Brussels on Thursday, seeking support for action on climate change, sustainable development and addressing the ongoing challenges linked to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.