UN Report: Frontier technologies have huge potential to drive prosperity and protect planet, but only if properly managed
New frontier technologies — everything from renewable energy technologies to biodegradable plastics, artificial intelligence and electric vehicles — hold immense potential to improve people’s lives and significantly accelerate efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals and address climate change. But without appropriate policies, they can also drive greater inequality and increase social dislocations, according to… Read more ›
Integrated approaches to water and energy can be a climate solution, experts say
Just as climate change is affecting the implementation of all of the Sustainable Development Goals, the solutions to this global challenge will have to come from all stakeholders, including water and energy providers, said experts at a United Nations General Assembly side event focused on integrating the approaches to these sectors. Read more ›
Third Committee signals urgent need for new initiatives to spur social development
In the wake of a busy UN high-level week, the UN General Assembly’s Third Committee, covering social, humanitarian and cultural affairs, kicked off its seventy-third session on 2 October. Chaired by Ambassador Mahmoud Saikal of Afghanistan, the Committee will be deliberating a range of issues related to the advancement of women, the protection of children,… Read more ›
Reducing inequality remains a priority amidst rising trade tensions
Reducing inequality and accelerating growth of median incomes remain crucial challenges in many countries across the world. While several developing countries made progress towards reducing inequality during the commodity price boom of the 2000s, these improvements were largely cyclical and subject to volatility in global commodity markets. More significant improvements in line with the global… Read more ›
Strengthening laws to tackle wildlife crime in Central, West and Southern Africa
Illegal wildlife trade poses a serious threat to certain species of animals and plants across many parts of the world. In a number of high-level regional political declarations, governments across Africa have committed to redouble their efforts to prevent, detect and penalize wildlife crimes. They will do this by strengthening their legal frameworks, stepping up… Read more ›
USG Liu Zhenmin welcomes efforts by SIDA and UN DESA for Global SDG Investor Network
Under Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs Liu Zhenmin welcomed efforts by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA) and UN DESA to explore the establishment of a global investor network to advocate for the scaling up of long-term finance and investment for sustainable development. Read more ›
Governments urged to ‘do the hard work’ to better manage global migration
As world leaders met at the United Nations on Wednesday to discuss the first global agreement designed to better manage international migration, a leading voice on migrants’ rights urged them to “do the hard work” of turning words into action. Read more ›
Tech experts discuss better ways to bridge the digital divide
While the rapid technological progress the world has seen in the past 20 years has generated tremendous economic wealth and social benefits, speakers at a tech-for-good event on 24 September, on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, agreed that much more needs to be done to prevent these advances from increasing inequalities within… Read more ›
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