U.N. sounds alarm on universal roadmap to lift people out of poverty
Just 15% of the SDGs – which include 169 specific targets and 17 broad goals that the world agreed to in 2015 – is on track.
Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, the U.N.'s 193 member nations adopted the 17 Sustainable Development Goals to achieve universal peace and prosperity by 2030. Despite progress on some fronts, including sustainable consumption and ocean conservation, the U.N. says 85% of the agenda is off-track due to the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change, biodiversity loss, pollution, and Russia's war on Ukraine.
Central bankers urge tax raises or spending cuts to tackle infation
The Bank for International Settlements' general manager said the key policy challenge remains fully taming inflation.
For world's poorest nations, economic outlook is bleak
As interest rates soar and the economy slows, the World Bank sees an 'enduring setback' for developing economies due to high interest rates, war in Europe and the pandemic.
Italy undecided about exiting China's Belt and Road Initiative
As the only G-7 member to have joined Beijing's sprawling global pact, Italy had indicated it would leave. But now Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni says the decision is still up in the air.
Economic sanctions as a modern tool: Cruel to the most vulnerable?
A new study finds economic sanctions in target countries contribute to increases in mortality, poverty, and inequality, and to declines in per-capita income and human rights.
Nations agree to add pollutants under hazardous management
Methoxychlor, a pesticide, and two industrial chemicals, Dechlorane Plus and UV-328, are to be eliminated.
Global talks kick off on hazardous chemicals and waste management
Virtually all the world's nations are negotiating proposals under the legally binding Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions to limit toxic chemicals, pollutants and wastes.
Developing nations forecast to lose US$800B from debt and slowdown
UNCTAD said it expects global growth in 2023 to drop to 2.1% but only if the financial fallout from higher interest rates is contained to the bank runs and bailouts of the first quarter.
A year of firsts for Somalia's U.N.-backed all-women media team
Bilan is marking its first anniversary with a look back at what U.N. Development Program calls "a year of smashing taboos and shining a light on stories other media have long ignored."
Slower trade growth projected in 2023 mainly due to war in Ukraine
The World Trade Organization expects trade growth to slow to 1.7% this year because of Russia's war in Ukraine, high inflation, tight monetary policy and market uncertainty.
'Multiple challenges' undermine A.U.'s flagship peace plan for 2030
As the continent faces a raft of complications, the African Union's ambitious goal of tackling structural root causes and drivers of conflict for sustainable development is in doubt.
Nations back ambitious clean water and sanitation goals this decade
The voluntary commitments that came from the conference – the first such gathering since a U.N. water conference in Argentina in 1977 – fall far short of a legally binding agreement like the 2015 Paris Agreement for climate change.
Swiss devise US$3.25B deal for UBS to aquire 'too big to fail' Credit Suisse
The Financial Stability Board designated Switzerland's two biggest banks as so huge and critical to the world's global financial architecture that they must not be allowed to fail.
Study says bottled water industry undercuts safe drinking water for all
It finds the expanding bottled water industry – expected to grow to US$500 billion a year in sales by 2030 – isn't aligned with the U.N.'s 17 Sustainable Development Goals for 2030.
Researchers find 1.77B children worldwide lack basic safety net
The number of children without basic social protections is increasing worldwide, UNICEF and ILO say in a new study.
Biden picks former Mastercard CEO to replace the World Bank's leader
As the largest shareholder in the World Bank, the United States traditionally nominates candidates for a five-year term as president. They are vetted by the bank’s executive board.