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The Sustainable Development Goals in India
India is critical in determining the success of the SDGs, globally. At the UN Sustainable Development Summit in 2015, Prime Minister Narendra Modi noted, “Sustainable development of one-sixth of humanity will be of great consequence to the world and our beautiful planet. It will be a world of fewer challenges and greater hope; and, more confident of its success”. NITI Aayog, the Government of India’s premier think tank, has been entrusted with the task of coordinating the SDGs, mapping schemes related to the SDGs and their targets, and identifying lead and supporting ministries for each target. In addition, the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) has been leading discussions for developing national indicators for the SDGs. State governments are key to India’s progress on the SDGs as they are best placed to ‘put people first’ and to ensuring that ‘no one is left behind’. The UN Country Team in India supports NITI Aayog, Union ministries and state governments in their efforts to address the interconnectedness of the goals, to ensure that no one is left behind and to advocate for adequate financing to achieve the SDGs.
Publication
08 July 2025
UN in India Digest June 2025
In this edition of the UN India Digest, #TeamUNinIndia takes you through some of the impactful work we've been part of this past month. From driving AI innovation in telecom networks to supporting inclusive urban planning in Odisha, and tackling plastic pollution in India, learn more about our work to deliver on the Sustainable Development Goals.
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Speech
02 January 2025
Celebrating the dynamic UN-India partnership!
As we step into the New Year, it is a moment to both reflect and look forward. From breakthroughs in public health and food security to major advances in poverty reduction, technology and climate action, 2024 has proven to be another transformative year in India – as it has been for us at the United Nations in India, all 26 entities partnering with government, civil society and business across every State and Union Territory, as well as with our international development partners. Fresh off hosting the G20 presidency last year, India reinforced its role as a leading ‘voice of the Global South,’ driving international discourse on climate justice, food security and health equity among other issues central to the Sustainable Development Goals. In an era of deep political polarization and tensions worldwide, it also demonstrated the strength and resilience of its democracy, the world’s largest, with more than 640 million people voting in the national election. In parallel, India hosted major UN gatherings on key multilateral issues old and new. At the 2024 ITU World Telecommunication Standardization Assembly, held in New Delhi, new global agreements were reached on critical issues such as artificial intelligence (AI), sustainability and digital governance. With a strong focus on digital public infrastructure and emergency communications, India is at the forefront of setting digital standards that will impact the world for years to come.
The country’s cultural heritage shone brightly on the global stage as India played host to the annual UNESCO World Heritage Committee meeting for the first time. Notably, Assam’s moidams — the Mound-Burial System of the Ahom Dynasty — became India’s 43rd site on the World Heritage List.
On the ground, too, 2024 saw significant innovations across the country tackling India’s most pressing challenges with the UN proud to play a role. For example, Odisha launched a new 24-hour ‘Grain ATM’, a collaboration between WFP and the State Government. This technological advancement streamlines the public distribution system, reducing waiting times and ensuring that the most vulnerable have greater food security. UN Women led collective action on gender equality, globally the ‘unfinished business of our time’ in the words of the UN Secretary-General, while ILO convened the system to help unleash India’s unequalled potential demographic dividend.
Another major milestone was reached with India formally declaring the end of trachoma as a public health problem, overcoming one of the leading global causes of blindness. By implementing the WHO SAFE strategy — targeting treatment, prevention, and hygiene — India dramatically reduced infection rates. This success underscores the power of coordinated efforts between government, health-care workers, and international partners. India’s digital public infrastructure continues to set global benchmarks. The U-WIN platform, supported by UNDP, has been instrumental in modernizing vaccine distribution, ensuring accessibility and equity in immunization. This leap builds on previous successes like eVIN and CoWIN, and links with work of WHO and UNICEF, strengthening India’s ability to respond to public health challenges both now and in the future.
This year saw the update and release of the India’s National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (2024-2030) supported by UNDP. This strategic plan aims to set nature on a recovery trajectory by embracing a 'whole-of-government' and 'whole-of-society' approach.
The UN family in India also celebrated several milestones in 2024. UNICEF marked 75 years of programming in the country to improve the health, safety and rights of children, while UNFPA commemorated 50 years, having contributed significantly to advancing sexual and reproductive health, especially for women and girls.Inclusion remained a central theme of the UN’s work in India this year. A joint non-discrimination statement on the employment of persons with disabilities was signed by all 26 UN agencies operating in the country.We formed a Multilateral Coordination Group with the government to bring together UN agencies, tailor programs for the welfare of persons with disabilities, and adapt global best practices to the Indian context.
As we approach the UN’s 80th anniversary next year, the momentum gained this past year will be crucial in advancing the initiatives outlined in the Pact for the Future that was adopted by all UN Member States, including India, at UN Headquarters in September. This landmark agreement, along with its key annexes — the Global Digital Compact and the Declaration on Future Generations — reflects a global commitment to building a peaceful, sustainable, and inclusive future, and to making the UN more effective and relevant for dealing with tomorrow’s challenges. India’s leadership in adopting and advancing these resolutions, particularly in strengthening South-South cooperation and prioritizing the voices of youth, will be vital in shaping the future.
Across six outcome groups of the Cooperation Framework, the UN in India has consistently driven impactful results through collective action and partnerships. Just a few of the highlights include:Health and well-being: Through the U-WIN platform, over 17 million pregnant women and 59 million children have been digitally registered, and more than 264 million vaccine doses have been tracked.Nutrition and food security: More than 12.3 million Indians, including children and breastfeeding mothers, received nutritious fortified foods.Quality education: We helped train 18,000 teachers as Health and Wellness Ambassadors across 26,000 schools spanning 33 districts.Economic growth and decent work: Conducted health and safety training to improve the working conditions at nearly 300 tea-growing estates.Environment, climate, WASH, and resilience: 2.9 million tons of CO2 emissions reduced through energy conservation and climate-friendly initiatives Empowering people, communities, and institutions: Supported the government in expanding gender-responsive budgeting in six states, leading to increased funding for women’s empowerment and gender equality.One of the standout moments of 2024 was when Major Radhika Sen from the Indian Army, serving as an Indian peacekeeper in the Democratic Republic of Congo, received this year’s UN Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award.
Additionally, the fourth edition of the SDG India Index produced by NITI Aayog with support from the UN showed India’s score rising to 71 out of 100, up from 66 in the previous edition.As we enter 2025, the race to achieve the SDGs enters a critical phase. With only half of the Decade of Action left, the urgency is unmistakable. This year has demonstrated the power of purpose and partnerships. From safeguarding cultural heritage to pioneering advancements in technology, India is showing how nations can drive sustainable growth while addressing global challenges. The United Nations, a humble partner working alongside India in this journey, remains committed to ensuring that progress benefits everyone. As I could not have begun to fully cover here the wide range of collaborations in which the UNCT is engaged, please have a look at our monthly newsletters on our website, or the annual report which will be issued within the first quarter of 2025, for more exhaustive stories of our work. The path ahead is steep, but with shared resolve, a more equitable and sustainable future is within reach. India is uniquely positioned among nations to accelerate development results at a scale and pace sufficient to give the global SDG push a vital boost, and with it optimism towards 2030.On behalf of the UN in India family, I am pleased to share our deep appreciation for your partnership in the year that was, and in anticipation of the important collective path ahead.Dhanyavaad!Shombi Sharp
United Nations Resident Coordinator, India
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Story
15 January 2025
WMO joins IMD’s 150th celebration
India recorded its hottest year on record in 2024, with extreme heat impacting human health, agriculture, water resources, and energy. Celeste Saulo, Secretary-General of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), highlighted these challenges during the 150th anniversary celebrations of the India Meteorological Department (IMD) on 14 January. The event, attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Minister of Earth Sciences Jitendra Singh, celebrated IMD’s achievements and introduced Vision-2047, aimed at making India a climate-resilient nation by the time it celebrates 100 years of independence.“We aim to modernise meteorology and reduce weather-related fatalities,” Modi said. “This Vision will contribute to a sustainable future.”Saulo praised IMD’s role in disaster risk reduction and its support to sectors such as agriculture, water resource management, and public health.“IMD’s legacy has significantly enhanced India’s resilience and contributed to global efforts,” she said.India, a founding member of WMO since 1950, has been represented on its Executive Board for over 60 years, longer than any other country in the Asia-Pacific region. IMD’s role in severe weather forecasting, flash flood warnings, and seasonal climate outlooks was also acknowledged. “Accurate forecasts and coordinated disaster management have saved countless lives,” Saulo remarked, noting that IMD’s commitment to early warning systems aligns with WMO’s Early Warnings for All campaign to safeguard people from extreme weather worldwide.
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Story
16 October 2024
Global conference begins on future of digital tech standards
Thousands of tech experts, industry leaders, policymakers, researchers and government officials have gathered in New Delhi for a global United Nations-run conference on the future of technology standards. The World Telecommunication Standardization Assembly (WTSA) formally opened on 15 October in the capital’s Bharat Mandapam venue with an opening ceremony featuring Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. WTSA, taking place in the Asia-Pacific region for the first time, runs until 24 October. It is being held alongside the India Mobile Congress. Held every four years, WTSA sets out priorities for experts around the world who work year-round to develop the standards established by the UN’s International Telecommunication Union (ITU). The assembly’s opening heard calls for universal connectivity, the need for ethical artificial intelligence (AI) and how digital inclusion can make a meaningful difference to people’s lives.
In his remarks, Mr. Modi stressed that “security, dignity and equity” are the principles on which discussions at the assembly and congress should be based.
“Our objective should be that no country, no region and no community should be left behind the in this digital era,” he said.
ITU Secretary-General Doreen Bogdan-Martin said the world had a lot to learn from what India has already accomplished with its digital public infrastructure. “This global gathering calls for bold, collective action. In the next 10 days, we can strengthen the role of international standards as the bedrock of global digital governance,” she said.
ITU's standardization work is driven by the contributions and consensus decisions of the agency’s membership, which includes 194 Member States and more than 1,000 member companies, universities, and international and regional organizations.
WTSA reviews the strategy, structure and working methods of ITU's standardization arm every four years. It also approves the mandates and appoints the leadership teams of expert groups for international standardization.
***
In his remarks, Mr. Modi stressed that “security, dignity and equity” are the principles on which discussions at the assembly and congress should be based.
“Our objective should be that no country, no region and no community should be left behind the in this digital era,” he said.
ITU Secretary-General Doreen Bogdan-Martin said the world had a lot to learn from what India has already accomplished with its digital public infrastructure. “This global gathering calls for bold, collective action. In the next 10 days, we can strengthen the role of international standards as the bedrock of global digital governance,” she said.
ITU's standardization work is driven by the contributions and consensus decisions of the agency’s membership, which includes 194 Member States and more than 1,000 member companies, universities, and international and regional organizations.
WTSA reviews the strategy, structure and working methods of ITU's standardization arm every four years. It also approves the mandates and appoints the leadership teams of expert groups for international standardization.
***
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Story
31 October 2025
UNESCO enshrines Lucknow on world’s culinary map
From its famous street foods to its royal kitchen traditions, Lucknow’s cuisine has brought together history, innovation and community spirit for centuries. Now the city has earned a place on the official global culinary map after UNESCO named it a Creative City of Gastronomy. The designation was announced by UNESCO on 31 October, World Cities Day, as part of 58 additions this year to its Creative Cities Network (UCCN). Lucknow becomes the second Indian city to be added to UCCN’s gastronomy category, after Hyderabad was named in 2019. Announcing the designation, UNESCO paid tribute to Lucknow’s historic Awadhi cuisine as well as its flair for culinary creativity. The city is renowned for many distinct dishes, including its succulent kebabs and distinctive take on biryani. With this recognition, Lucknow becomes one of 408 cities across more than 100 countries that have been acknowledged for their contributions to creative industries such as crafts and folk art, design, film, gastronomy, literature, media arts, and music. This year, architecture has been introduced as a new creative field within the network. “Lucknow’s recognition as a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy is a testament to its deep-rooted culinary traditions and vibrant food ecosystem. This designation honors the city’s rich cultural legacy while opening new avenues for international collaboration,” said Tim Curtis, Director and Representative, UNESCO Regional Office for South Asia. The UCCN aims to strengthen international cooperation among cities that recognize culture and creativity as drivers of sustainable urban development. Launched in 2004, it supports cities that invest in cultural industries, empower creative professionals, and engage communities to promote inclusion, jobs and economic vitality. ***
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24 October 2025
Weaving sustainability into fashion at the Circular Design Challenge
Runway-ready pieces made from chicken feathers, a minimalist wardrobe crafted from banana leather and stainless steel scraps, and a glimpse of an exciting new world of ingenious sustainable couture at the 2025 edition of the Circular Design Challenge. In a fitting finale to the year-long search for the winner of India’s largest award for sustainable fashion, designer Varshne B took home the coveted prize for her collection ‘Symbiosis’, from her eco-conscious label CIRCLE, which includes multifunctional unisex pieces in clean silhouettes woven out of biodegradable plant-based fabrics, including Calotropis fibres, Korai grass, banana leather and repurposed deadstock or leftover fabrics. The runners-up, designers Radhesh Agrahari and Muskan Sainik, were applauded for their unique approach to transform chicken feathers and poultry waste to build outfits made of lightweight, natural fibre with a wool-like texture, and handmade papers for their brand, Golden Feathers.
Six finalists walked the runway at the Lakme Fashion Week in partnership with FDCI in the Indian capital on a crisp October evening, their designs picked out by jury panels of fashion industry leaders and sustainability experts across continents from a pool of more than 160 applicants — the largest cohort yet for the Reliance Industries Limited and the United Nations in India Circular Design Challenge since its inception in 2018. The challenge, which looks to embed sustainability at the heart of fashion, has helped unearth fresh global design talent and innovation by weaving values including responsible production, design-led innovation and closed-loop manufacturing into the fabric of the fashion industry to set up a future-proof fashion ecosystem that is ethical, responsive, and inclusive. “This is the future of fashion where innovation meets creativity and churns out designs with circularity at the core,” United Nations Resident Coordinator in India Shombi Sharp said, as he joined a jury panel including Kimi Dangor, Kulsum Shadab Wahab, Orsola de Castro, Payal Jain and Serge Carreira to shortlist the winners at UN House in New Delhi. The finalists, including British designer and UK shortlist winner Maximilian Raynor, EU winner and founder of Italian brand Cavia Martina Boero, Jesica Pullo's Argentine-Italian fashion brand BIOTICO, and Indian label Farak from designer Rishabh Kumar, also had the opportunity to showcase their designs before Government of India Ministry of Textiles Additional Secretary Rohit Kansal during the final jury meeting, held days before the finale.
The designers were celebrated for their efforts to exemplify the United Nations ethos of 'Leave No One Behind' that is central to the idea of sustainability. Jesica Pullo’s Biotico, from Buenos Aires, for example, is co-created with persons with disabilities through skill building craft, while Rishab Kumar’s Farak, from Jaipur in India, works alongside traditional artisans to revive a centuries-old art of printing using wooden blocks. Chennai-based designer Varshne B, who works with artists who weave traditional korai grass mats in in Tamil Nadu, sources banana leather from Jinali Mody, who was recently awarded the UNEP Young Champion of the Earth 2025 for her material-science startup that turns banana crop waste into a plant-based leather alternative.
The two finalists were awarded seed funding and a mentorship, with the winning label CIRCLE earning a runway showcase for the winning collection at the Lakmē Fashion Week x FDCI in March 2026.
Six finalists walked the runway at the Lakme Fashion Week in partnership with FDCI in the Indian capital on a crisp October evening, their designs picked out by jury panels of fashion industry leaders and sustainability experts across continents from a pool of more than 160 applicants — the largest cohort yet for the Reliance Industries Limited and the United Nations in India Circular Design Challenge since its inception in 2018. The challenge, which looks to embed sustainability at the heart of fashion, has helped unearth fresh global design talent and innovation by weaving values including responsible production, design-led innovation and closed-loop manufacturing into the fabric of the fashion industry to set up a future-proof fashion ecosystem that is ethical, responsive, and inclusive. “This is the future of fashion where innovation meets creativity and churns out designs with circularity at the core,” United Nations Resident Coordinator in India Shombi Sharp said, as he joined a jury panel including Kimi Dangor, Kulsum Shadab Wahab, Orsola de Castro, Payal Jain and Serge Carreira to shortlist the winners at UN House in New Delhi. The finalists, including British designer and UK shortlist winner Maximilian Raynor, EU winner and founder of Italian brand Cavia Martina Boero, Jesica Pullo's Argentine-Italian fashion brand BIOTICO, and Indian label Farak from designer Rishabh Kumar, also had the opportunity to showcase their designs before Government of India Ministry of Textiles Additional Secretary Rohit Kansal during the final jury meeting, held days before the finale.
The designers were celebrated for their efforts to exemplify the United Nations ethos of 'Leave No One Behind' that is central to the idea of sustainability. Jesica Pullo’s Biotico, from Buenos Aires, for example, is co-created with persons with disabilities through skill building craft, while Rishab Kumar’s Farak, from Jaipur in India, works alongside traditional artisans to revive a centuries-old art of printing using wooden blocks. Chennai-based designer Varshne B, who works with artists who weave traditional korai grass mats in in Tamil Nadu, sources banana leather from Jinali Mody, who was recently awarded the UNEP Young Champion of the Earth 2025 for her material-science startup that turns banana crop waste into a plant-based leather alternative.
The two finalists were awarded seed funding and a mentorship, with the winning label CIRCLE earning a runway showcase for the winning collection at the Lakmē Fashion Week x FDCI in March 2026.
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Story
24 October 2025
UN Day 2025
Under the global theme Building Our Future Together, the United Nations marked its 80th anniversary, a moment to celebrate eight decades of peace, human rights, and international cooperation, while renewing the collective commitment to a shared and sustainable future.Eighty years on, the United Nations remains a living legacy of multilateralism. Its story is one of endurance and purpose, shaped by generations who believed that dialogue and cooperation must prevail over conflict and isolation. The anniversary serves not only as a tribute to that legacy but also as a call to strengthen it — to make the UN more inclusive, more effective, and more responsive to the needs of the next generation.Senior UN leaders reflected on this milestone and the vision it represents. Secretary-General António Guterres reminded the world, ““We are all privileged to be part of one of the most ambitious and profound undertakings in human history. The decision, despite our differences, to solve problems together, to work sincerely, creatively and humbly toward a better future for all.”President of the General Assembly Annalena Baerbock observed that “we often forget in the trenches of bureaucracy, politics, and diplomacy, how much this institution matters to ordinary people.”UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed spoke of unity and renewal, noting that “in this 80th year of the United Nations, it is time to make that choice again and to move forward better together as one human family, as one institution serving humanity.”Under-Secretary-General for Global Communications Melissa Fleming reflected that “we have a United Nations that has an amazing and rich history that we can all be proud of. But that we also have at 80, a United Nations that is renewed, and together, we can be part of its living legacy.”In India, the day was marked with the unveiling of a commemorative UN Day 2025 postage stamp by External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar at the Ministry of External Affairs. Later in the evening, UN House in New Delhi hosted a reception that brought together diplomats, government officials, and cultural performers to celebrate both United Nations Day and the organisation’s 80th anniversary, an occasion that reflected the spirit of unity and shared purpose.Around the world, the United Nations is marking this milestone with the global photo exhibition Shared Lives, Shared Future, organised by the UN Department of Global Communications in collaboration with the Governments of Italy, Slovenia, and Switzerland. The exhibition features over 200 human stories from all 193 Member States and celebrates the diversity and resilience that define our shared global journey. It remains on view at UN Headquarters in New York until January 2026 and can also be explored online at un.org/en/exhibits/exhibit/un80.
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21 October 2025
FAO celebrates 80 years of partnership with India on World Food Day
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations marked its 80th anniversary alongside the celebration of World Food Day 2025, reaffirming eight decades of partnership with the Government of India in transforming India’s agrifood systems — from food shortage to food surplus and beyond. The event was organized in alignment with World Food Day 2025’s theme, “Hand in Hand for Better Food and a Better Future,” and brought together senior officials from the Government of India, representatives from UN agencies and Rome-based agencies (RBAs), development partners, and farmers from across India. The celebration reflected on FAO’s enduring contribution to India’s agrifood systems transformation and its progress toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). From food-deficient beginnings at the dawn of independence, India’s achievements in food and agriculture have been truly remarkable. The country has transformed into a food-surplus nation that feeds 1.4 billion people and contributes to global food security. This progress has been driven by visionary policies, scientific innovations, and strong international collaboration spearheaded by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare (MoA&FW) in close partnership with FAO. As a founding member of FAO since 1945, India’s journey exemplifies how hunger and malnutrition can be reduced at scale when production systems, delivery mechanisms, and policy innovation work in unison. The Chief Guest, Dr Devesh Chaturvedi, Secretary, MoA&FW, Government of India, delivered the keynote address, recognizing FAO’s technical expertise and partnership with the Ministry in achieving self-sufficiency in food grains, promoting crop diversification, and enhancing farmer resilience through innovation and sustainable practices. He reaffirmed India’s commitment to working with FAO and the global community, to build sustainable, resilient, and equitable food systems, ensuring better food and a better future for all. A.P. Das Joshi, Secretary, Ministry of Food Processing Industries, highlighted the growing importance of food processing, value addition, and entrepreneurship in enhancing farmer incomes, reducing post-harvest losses, and strengthening agrifood value chains. The segment “FAO Through the Years” featured a special video message from Mr. Daniel Gustafson, Special Representative of the FAO Director-General, and an address by Professor R.B. Singh, former Assistant Director-General, FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific. Professor Singh reflected on FAO’s pioneering work in strengthening agricultural research, capacity building, and farmer empowerment in India. A Farmers’ Spotlight session followed, where farmers from Andhra Pradesh, Haryana, Odisha, and Punjab, shared their experiences of adopting sustainable, climate-smart, and innovative farming practices supported by FAO and its partners — embodying the spirit of resilience, innovation, and hope that defines FAO’s legacy. As FAO looks to the future, its partnership with the Government of India continues to evolve — from ensuring food security to achieving nutrition security, from producing abundantly to producing sustainably. The MoA&FW and FAO reaffirm their shared vision to ensure that India not only feeds its people but nourishes them; not only secures food today but guarantees nutrition for tomorrow.
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17 October 2025
Counting everyone, caring for all: Why inclusive censuses power disability rights, health equity, and dignity
The ballroom in sunny Goa wore a cheerful shade of purple as delegates from nearly 15 countries gathered under the banner of the International Purple Fest 2025. It was not just another policy meet. The music, the laughter, the art on the walls, the excitement, all of it stood testament to the power of inclusion and diversity to build a better world for all.Amid the applause came a hard conversation: the world still doesn’t know how many of its citizens live with disabilities.According to the World Health Organization (WHO) Globally, one in six people - over a billion human beings - live with some form of disability,
Yet governments around the world continue to undercount. India’s own official statistics report just 2.2 percent, a number experts say conceals millions because of stigma, narrow definitions, and outdated survey tools.“Without accurate data, even the best laws remain empty promises,” said Dr. Mohummed Asheel, WHO’s National Professional Officer for Disabilities and Rehabilitation in India. “We have policies, but we cannot plan rehabilitation or health services without knowing who and where people are.”Dr. Asheel recalled Kerala’s 2016 disability-specific census - an experiment that introduced geo-tagging and individual care planning. “We learned that data can save lives,” he said. “During the 2018 floods, the ability to locate people with specific disabilities made rescue more effective. Imagine if every country could do that in their next census.”
That idea resonated far beyond India. Yonten Jamesho, Program Officer from Disabled People's Organization of Bhutan (DPO Bhutan) described how his country uses the philosophy of Gross National Happiness to weave inclusion into policy. “Counting is not just arithmetic,” he said. “It tells us whether happiness is equally shared. We follow the Washington Group’s international questions so our data can be compared globally. If India now counts 21 disability types, that sets a model we want to follow.”
Across sessions, UN agencies echoed the same theme: a data revolution for inclusion.
The UNICEF panel on children’s rights added another missing layer. Vandhana Khandari, Child Protection Specialist at UNICEF India, spoke about the invisibility of children with disabilities. “Globally, we estimate that children with disabilities face up to three times higher risk of violence and neglect,” she said. “In South Asia, many are still not even counted. A child unseen in data is a child unseen in life.”
She described pilot projects in Uttar Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, where volunteers now identify children early, link them to services, and feed the information back into district planning. “This is what inclusive enumeration looks like,” she said. “Counting becomes care.”From the Maldives, Fathimah Ibrahim, President of Disability Council and a two-time Paralympian, called for stronger, connected disability databases. “Our islands are scattered,” she said. “Without reliable data, people fall through the cracks. How do you design universities, jobs, or sports programs if you don’t know who needs them? A good census means a fair future.”Working with the government on 2027 census in India, UNFPA’s Population and Research Specialist, Dr. Sanjay Kumar, described the technical challenge. “We are in dialogue with the Registrar General to make the 2027 Census truly inclusive,” he said. “In the last census, the ‘multiple disability’ category hid many realities. Now, we’re designing digital tools and mobile apps for enumerators - so that every household can be reached, and every person properly represented.” Planning Inclusive Health Systems
The WHO team brought a health equity lens. Regional Advisor, WHO South-East Asia Regional Office, Dr. Tashi Tobgay reminded the audience that inclusive data and health systems go hand in hand. “We always say Universal Health Coverage, Leave No One Behind, and Nothing About Us Without Us,” she said. “But we must translate those into standards - accessible hospitals, inclusive diagnostics, and data that convinces policymakers that disability inclusion is a public health priority.”
Across countries, health systems remain structurally inaccessible: few clinics have ramps or tactile paving, and rural residents often travel hundreds of kilometres for tests that should be free. High out-of-pocket costs for assistive devices and medications keep families in debt, while private insurers often deny coverage for pre-existing disabilities, despite global conventions that prohibit such discrimination.
From Russia came a broader challenge. President of All-Russia Association of the Blind (VOS) Vladimir Sipkin, urged the United Nations to establish a global standard for disability measurement and healthcare. “Every country counts differently, categorizes differently, and treats differently,” he said. “We need one unified framework - a universal health system for persons with disabilities, where care follows the person, not the passport.” His call drew applause from across the hall.
And Member of Parliament from Armenia, Zaruhi Batoyan shared what happens after the counting begins. “We passed our disability rights law in 2021, built on the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities,” she said. “But a law alone doesn’t change lives. We must make every other law - education, health, housing - sensitive to disability. That’s what true inclusion means.”
UN Resident Coordinator in India, Shombi Sharp summed up, “The Purple Fest fills us with joy and wonder - but also with purpose. Inclusion is not a challenge to solve; it is the most beautiful form of innovation we have. When we create accessible environments, persons with disabilities don’t just adapt - they excel. They show us what progress really means.”
That data is dignity, visibility is power, and inclusion begins with counting everyone - If the next global round of censuses - embraces that lesson, the invisible billion may finally become visible in policy, in healthcare, and in the everyday story of human progress.
Translated from UN News. Click here to read the story in Hindi.
Yet governments around the world continue to undercount. India’s own official statistics report just 2.2 percent, a number experts say conceals millions because of stigma, narrow definitions, and outdated survey tools.“Without accurate data, even the best laws remain empty promises,” said Dr. Mohummed Asheel, WHO’s National Professional Officer for Disabilities and Rehabilitation in India. “We have policies, but we cannot plan rehabilitation or health services without knowing who and where people are.”Dr. Asheel recalled Kerala’s 2016 disability-specific census - an experiment that introduced geo-tagging and individual care planning. “We learned that data can save lives,” he said. “During the 2018 floods, the ability to locate people with specific disabilities made rescue more effective. Imagine if every country could do that in their next census.”
That idea resonated far beyond India. Yonten Jamesho, Program Officer from Disabled People's Organization of Bhutan (DPO Bhutan) described how his country uses the philosophy of Gross National Happiness to weave inclusion into policy. “Counting is not just arithmetic,” he said. “It tells us whether happiness is equally shared. We follow the Washington Group’s international questions so our data can be compared globally. If India now counts 21 disability types, that sets a model we want to follow.”
Across sessions, UN agencies echoed the same theme: a data revolution for inclusion.
The UNICEF panel on children’s rights added another missing layer. Vandhana Khandari, Child Protection Specialist at UNICEF India, spoke about the invisibility of children with disabilities. “Globally, we estimate that children with disabilities face up to three times higher risk of violence and neglect,” she said. “In South Asia, many are still not even counted. A child unseen in data is a child unseen in life.”
She described pilot projects in Uttar Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, where volunteers now identify children early, link them to services, and feed the information back into district planning. “This is what inclusive enumeration looks like,” she said. “Counting becomes care.”From the Maldives, Fathimah Ibrahim, President of Disability Council and a two-time Paralympian, called for stronger, connected disability databases. “Our islands are scattered,” she said. “Without reliable data, people fall through the cracks. How do you design universities, jobs, or sports programs if you don’t know who needs them? A good census means a fair future.”Working with the government on 2027 census in India, UNFPA’s Population and Research Specialist, Dr. Sanjay Kumar, described the technical challenge. “We are in dialogue with the Registrar General to make the 2027 Census truly inclusive,” he said. “In the last census, the ‘multiple disability’ category hid many realities. Now, we’re designing digital tools and mobile apps for enumerators - so that every household can be reached, and every person properly represented.” Planning Inclusive Health Systems
The WHO team brought a health equity lens. Regional Advisor, WHO South-East Asia Regional Office, Dr. Tashi Tobgay reminded the audience that inclusive data and health systems go hand in hand. “We always say Universal Health Coverage, Leave No One Behind, and Nothing About Us Without Us,” she said. “But we must translate those into standards - accessible hospitals, inclusive diagnostics, and data that convinces policymakers that disability inclusion is a public health priority.”
Across countries, health systems remain structurally inaccessible: few clinics have ramps or tactile paving, and rural residents often travel hundreds of kilometres for tests that should be free. High out-of-pocket costs for assistive devices and medications keep families in debt, while private insurers often deny coverage for pre-existing disabilities, despite global conventions that prohibit such discrimination.
From Russia came a broader challenge. President of All-Russia Association of the Blind (VOS) Vladimir Sipkin, urged the United Nations to establish a global standard for disability measurement and healthcare. “Every country counts differently, categorizes differently, and treats differently,” he said. “We need one unified framework - a universal health system for persons with disabilities, where care follows the person, not the passport.” His call drew applause from across the hall.
And Member of Parliament from Armenia, Zaruhi Batoyan shared what happens after the counting begins. “We passed our disability rights law in 2021, built on the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities,” she said. “But a law alone doesn’t change lives. We must make every other law - education, health, housing - sensitive to disability. That’s what true inclusion means.”
UN Resident Coordinator in India, Shombi Sharp summed up, “The Purple Fest fills us with joy and wonder - but also with purpose. Inclusion is not a challenge to solve; it is the most beautiful form of innovation we have. When we create accessible environments, persons with disabilities don’t just adapt - they excel. They show us what progress really means.”
That data is dignity, visibility is power, and inclusion begins with counting everyone - If the next global round of censuses - embraces that lesson, the invisible billion may finally become visible in policy, in healthcare, and in the everyday story of human progress.
Translated from UN News. Click here to read the story in Hindi.
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Press Release
08 November 2025
Secretary-General: Renewables Are ‘Powering Prosperity’
The global energy landscape is changing at lightning speed.Last year, 90 per cent of new power capacity came from renewables; global investment in clean energy reached $2 trillion -- $800 billion more than fossil fuels; renewables are now the cheapest source of new electricity in nearly every country.They are powering prosperity and empowering communities long left in the dark.Every dollar invested in renewables creates three times more jobs than a dollar invested in fossil fuels -- and clean energy jobs now outnumber fossil fuel jobs worldwide.The renewables revolution is here. But we must go much faster -- and ensure all nations share the benefits.At COP28, countries agreed to transition away from fossil fuels in a just, orderly and equitable manner; and to triple renewable energy capacity and double energy efficiency by 2030.The mandate is clear -- now we must close the delivery gap.
And this, Excellencies, is where we are falling dangerously short. Even if new national commitments are fully implemented, the world is still heading for clearly more than 2°C of warming.That means more floods, more heat, more suffering -- everywhere.
Scientists tell us that overshooting 1.5°C is now inevitable -- starting, at the latest, in the early 2030s. But how high and how long that overshoot lasts depends on the speed and scale of our actions today.To return below 1.5°C by century’s end, global emissions must fall by almost half by 2030, reach net zero by 2050 and go net negative afterwards.So, what must we do? First, provide clarity and coherence: Align laws, policies and incentives with a just energy transition; and eliminate fossil fuel subsidies that distort markets and lock us into the past.Second, put people and equity at the centre of the transition; support workers and communities whose livelihoods still depend on coal, oil and gas; provide training, protection and new opportunities -- especially for young people and women.Third, invest in grids, storage and efficiency. Renewables are surging, infrastructure must catch up -- fast.Fourth, meet all new electricity demand with clean power -- including from the data centres driving the artificial intelligence (AI) revolution. Technology must be part of the solution, not a new source of strain.And fifth, unlock finance at scale for developing countries. Today, Africa receives 2 per cent of global [clean] energy investment. We need international cooperation to tear down barriers, cut the cost of capital and crowd in private investment.The pathways for each country may look different, but the destination must be the same: A net-zero world, followed consistently by a net negative world -- powered by renewables.We must support developing countries to implement their commitment to transition away from fossil fuels: Through stronger cooperation, investment and technology transfer -- and calibrated to different capacities and dependencies.Let us move with speed and solidarity. Make fairness the engine of acceleration -- and build economies that are clean, inclusive and resilient.
Turn climate necessity into development opportunity -- everywhere.The fossil fuel age is ending. Clean energy is rising. Let us make the transition fair, fast and final. Thank you.[END]
And this, Excellencies, is where we are falling dangerously short. Even if new national commitments are fully implemented, the world is still heading for clearly more than 2°C of warming.That means more floods, more heat, more suffering -- everywhere.
Scientists tell us that overshooting 1.5°C is now inevitable -- starting, at the latest, in the early 2030s. But how high and how long that overshoot lasts depends on the speed and scale of our actions today.To return below 1.5°C by century’s end, global emissions must fall by almost half by 2030, reach net zero by 2050 and go net negative afterwards.So, what must we do? First, provide clarity and coherence: Align laws, policies and incentives with a just energy transition; and eliminate fossil fuel subsidies that distort markets and lock us into the past.Second, put people and equity at the centre of the transition; support workers and communities whose livelihoods still depend on coal, oil and gas; provide training, protection and new opportunities -- especially for young people and women.Third, invest in grids, storage and efficiency. Renewables are surging, infrastructure must catch up -- fast.Fourth, meet all new electricity demand with clean power -- including from the data centres driving the artificial intelligence (AI) revolution. Technology must be part of the solution, not a new source of strain.And fifth, unlock finance at scale for developing countries. Today, Africa receives 2 per cent of global [clean] energy investment. We need international cooperation to tear down barriers, cut the cost of capital and crowd in private investment.The pathways for each country may look different, but the destination must be the same: A net-zero world, followed consistently by a net negative world -- powered by renewables.We must support developing countries to implement their commitment to transition away from fossil fuels: Through stronger cooperation, investment and technology transfer -- and calibrated to different capacities and dependencies.Let us move with speed and solidarity. Make fairness the engine of acceleration -- and build economies that are clean, inclusive and resilient.
Turn climate necessity into development opportunity -- everywhere.The fossil fuel age is ending. Clean energy is rising. Let us make the transition fair, fast and final. Thank you.[END]
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Press Release
07 November 2025
Secretary-General: We must halt deforestation to keep 1.5°C
We gather in Belém, where the world’s greatest rainforest meets rivers that feed the ocean. A place that reminds us that nature’s fate is humanity’s fate. Here in Belém, that shared fate sits on a knife-edge. Science shows that 1.5°C by the end of the century remains within reach.But, a temporary overshoot is now inevitable. We must act now to keep it as small and as short as possible – and to bend the curve back to 1.5°C.Every fraction of a degree matters, and any delay is indefensible. This includes safeguarding our forests and oceans. They are essential for climate stability, biodiversity, and the survival of millions. Yet, we continue to destroy and degrade them. That must end now.First, forests. Today, we celebrated a major new initiative for tropical forests. But, vital forests stretch beyond the tropics -- across boreal and temperate regions. They store carbon and regulate rainfall shielding us from floods, droughts and deadly heat.We must halt deforestation by 2030 to keep 1.5°C within reach -- protecting intact tropical and boreal forests, conserving peatlands, ending illegal logging and eliminating deforestation from supply chains. We must also restore degraded land, with nature-based solutions that protect watersheds, reduce disaster risk and create green jobs.Second, oceans. Our oceans absorb a quarter of human CO2 emissions and most of the excess heat trapped in our atmosphere. They cool the planet, underpin food security, livelihoods and coastal protection. Yet, they are warming, acidifying and rising -- threatening lives, economies and the very existence of entire communities.We must enhance coastal protection and early warning systems; restore coral reefs, seagrass and mangroves; tackle plastic and nutrient pollution; expand effectively managed marine protected areas – including by rapidly implementing the Agreement on Marine Biological Diversity of Areas beyond National Jurisdiction; and deliver “30 by 30” -- protecting 30 per cent of land and ocean by 2030.This year, in a historic advisory opinion on climate change, the International Court of Justice held that sea-level rise poses economic, social, cultural and humanitarian challenges, and made clear that nations are obligated to cooperate in this context.That call for unity and justice begins with Indigenous Peoples. They have safeguarded lands and waters for millennia -- preserving biodiversity and sustaining the ecosystems that sustain us all.Yet, they receive only a fraction of climate finance -- and far too little recognition. We must honour and support them by upholding land rights, ensuring full participation in decision-making and investing in their leadership as the planet’s true guardians.Protecting forests and oceans is not charity. It is a legal and moral responsibility – and smart economics. Let us honour that duty: By safeguarding these foundations of life, investing in nature’s recovery and ensuring that people and planet thrive together -- now and for generations to come. Thank you.
[END]
[END]
1 of 5
Press Release
07 November 2025
Secretary-General Urges to Speed Fossil Fuel Phase-Out, Reach Global Net Zero by 2050
President Lula, you have called this the [Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change] COP of truth.
I could not agree more. The hard truth is that we have failed to ensure we remain below 1.5°C.Science now tells us that a temporary overshoot beyond the 1.5°C limit -- starting at the latest in the early 2030s -- is inevitable. We need a paradigm shift to limit this overshoot’s magnitude and duration and quickly drive it down.Even a temporary overshoot will have dramatic consequences. It could push ecosystems past irreversible tipping points, expose billions to unliveable conditions and amplify threats to peace and security.Every fraction of a degree means more hunger, displacement and loss -- especially for those least responsible. This is moral failure -- and deadly negligence.Yes, the newly submitted Nationally Determined Contributions represent progress -- but they still fall short of what is needed. Even if fully implemented, they would put us on a pathway well above 2°C of global warming.Meanwhile, the climate crisis is accelerating. Record-breaking wildfires, deadly floods, super storms… shattering lives, economies, and decades of progress. Last year, emissions reached another record high. And today, as we have seen, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) confirmed that emissions continued to rise this year.Let us be clear: the 1.5°C limit is a red line for humanity. It must be kept within reach. And scientists also tell us that this is still possible.If we act now, at speed and scale, we can make the overshoot as small, as short and as safe as possible -- and bring temperatures back below 1.5°C before century’s end.Small -- by peaking global emissions immediately; cutting them deeply this decade, accelerating the phase out of fossil fuels, slashing methane and safeguarding forests and oceans -- nature’s carbon sinks.Short -- by reaching global net zero by 2050 and moving swiftly to sustained net-negative emissions afterwards.Safe -- by drastically increasing investments in adaptation and resilience, and delivering Early Warnings for All by 2027.The United Nations will not give up on the 1.5°C goal.Because another truth is evident: We have never been better equipped to fight back.A clean energy revolution has taken hold. Solar and wind are now the cheapest sources of power -- and the fastest growing sources of electricity in history. Last year, almost all new power capacity came from renewables.The clean-energy economy is creating jobs and driving development. It is reshaping geopolitics -- delivering energy security and price stability. And it is connecting millions to clean and affordable energy for the first time.
The economics have shifted. In 2024, investors poured $2 trillion into clean energy -- $800 billion more than fossil fuels.Clean energy is winning on price, performance and potential -- offering the solutions to transform our economies and protect our populations.What’s still missing is political courage. Fossil fuels still command vast subsidies -- taxpayers’ money. Too many corporations are making record profits from climate devastation -- with billions spent on lobbying, deceiving the public and obstructing progress.Too many leaders remain captive to these entrenched interests.Too many countries are starved of the resources to adapt -- and locked out of the clean energy transition.And too many people are losing hope that their leaders will act.
We need to move faster -- and move together.This COP must ignite a decade of acceleration and delivery.First -- countries must agree on a bold and credible response plan to close the [Nationally Determined Contribution] NDC ambition gap to 1.5°C.Common But Differentiated Responsibilities must apply, but that should not be an excuse for any country not to assume its fair share.This means supercharging renewables, electrification and energy efficiency; building modern grids and large-scale storage; halting and reversing deforestation by 2030; cutting methane emissions; and setting near-term, 1.5°C-aligned coal phase-out schedules.I have consistently advocated against more coal plants or fossil fuel exploration and expansion.At [the twenty-eighth session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change] COP28 in Dubai, countries committed to transition away from fossil fuels. No more greenwashing. No loopholes.We must turn that commitment into action -- while supporting low- and middle-income developing countries that are highly dependent on fossil fuels.We must also dismantle structural barriers and provide the conditions for developing countries to deliver and exceed their NDC commitments.
Trade and investment policies must support climate ambition, not undermine it.Second -- we must demonstrate a clear and credible path to reaching the $1.3 trillion-a-year in climate finance for developing countries by 2035, as agreed at COP29 in Baku.Developed countries must take the lead in mobilizing $300 billion annually -- delivering affordable, predictable finance at the agreed scale.
All providers must show they will contribute to meeting the $300 billion and $1.3 trillion milestones.It’s no longer time for negotiations. It’s time for implementation, implementation and implementation -- with independent tracking, faster disbursement and terms that reflect climate vulnerability, including debt relief.And third -- developing countries must leave Belém equipped with a climate justice package that delivers equity, dignity and opportunity.That means a concrete plan to close the adaptation finance gap: Ensuring that developed countries honour their pledge to provide $40 billion [in] adaptation finance by the end of this year; and giving confidence that affordable adaptation finance will be scaled up beyond 2025 -- and delivered swiftly to the communities on the frontlines.It also means placing justice at the heart of the transition, with concrete measures to support developing countries to navigate it -- protecting workers, empowering communities and creating new opportunities; and significant contributions and simplified access to the Loss and Damage Fund.A just transition also means Indigenous Peoples leading the way. Their knowledge and full participation light the path to a liveable planet.
You can count on the United Nations. Through our Climate Promise, over a hundred developing countries received support in the preparation of their new Nationally Determined Contributions.I have directed the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to build on this architecture and work across the system to support developing countries during the implementation plan.The challenge is immense. But the choices are clear.No one can bargain with physics. But we can choose to lead -- or be led to ruin. Choose to make Belém the turning point.Stand with science.Stand for justice.Stand for future generations.Thank you.
[END]
I could not agree more. The hard truth is that we have failed to ensure we remain below 1.5°C.Science now tells us that a temporary overshoot beyond the 1.5°C limit -- starting at the latest in the early 2030s -- is inevitable. We need a paradigm shift to limit this overshoot’s magnitude and duration and quickly drive it down.Even a temporary overshoot will have dramatic consequences. It could push ecosystems past irreversible tipping points, expose billions to unliveable conditions and amplify threats to peace and security.Every fraction of a degree means more hunger, displacement and loss -- especially for those least responsible. This is moral failure -- and deadly negligence.Yes, the newly submitted Nationally Determined Contributions represent progress -- but they still fall short of what is needed. Even if fully implemented, they would put us on a pathway well above 2°C of global warming.Meanwhile, the climate crisis is accelerating. Record-breaking wildfires, deadly floods, super storms… shattering lives, economies, and decades of progress. Last year, emissions reached another record high. And today, as we have seen, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) confirmed that emissions continued to rise this year.Let us be clear: the 1.5°C limit is a red line for humanity. It must be kept within reach. And scientists also tell us that this is still possible.If we act now, at speed and scale, we can make the overshoot as small, as short and as safe as possible -- and bring temperatures back below 1.5°C before century’s end.Small -- by peaking global emissions immediately; cutting them deeply this decade, accelerating the phase out of fossil fuels, slashing methane and safeguarding forests and oceans -- nature’s carbon sinks.Short -- by reaching global net zero by 2050 and moving swiftly to sustained net-negative emissions afterwards.Safe -- by drastically increasing investments in adaptation and resilience, and delivering Early Warnings for All by 2027.The United Nations will not give up on the 1.5°C goal.Because another truth is evident: We have never been better equipped to fight back.A clean energy revolution has taken hold. Solar and wind are now the cheapest sources of power -- and the fastest growing sources of electricity in history. Last year, almost all new power capacity came from renewables.The clean-energy economy is creating jobs and driving development. It is reshaping geopolitics -- delivering energy security and price stability. And it is connecting millions to clean and affordable energy for the first time.
The economics have shifted. In 2024, investors poured $2 trillion into clean energy -- $800 billion more than fossil fuels.Clean energy is winning on price, performance and potential -- offering the solutions to transform our economies and protect our populations.What’s still missing is political courage. Fossil fuels still command vast subsidies -- taxpayers’ money. Too many corporations are making record profits from climate devastation -- with billions spent on lobbying, deceiving the public and obstructing progress.Too many leaders remain captive to these entrenched interests.Too many countries are starved of the resources to adapt -- and locked out of the clean energy transition.And too many people are losing hope that their leaders will act.
We need to move faster -- and move together.This COP must ignite a decade of acceleration and delivery.First -- countries must agree on a bold and credible response plan to close the [Nationally Determined Contribution] NDC ambition gap to 1.5°C.Common But Differentiated Responsibilities must apply, but that should not be an excuse for any country not to assume its fair share.This means supercharging renewables, electrification and energy efficiency; building modern grids and large-scale storage; halting and reversing deforestation by 2030; cutting methane emissions; and setting near-term, 1.5°C-aligned coal phase-out schedules.I have consistently advocated against more coal plants or fossil fuel exploration and expansion.At [the twenty-eighth session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change] COP28 in Dubai, countries committed to transition away from fossil fuels. No more greenwashing. No loopholes.We must turn that commitment into action -- while supporting low- and middle-income developing countries that are highly dependent on fossil fuels.We must also dismantle structural barriers and provide the conditions for developing countries to deliver and exceed their NDC commitments.
Trade and investment policies must support climate ambition, not undermine it.Second -- we must demonstrate a clear and credible path to reaching the $1.3 trillion-a-year in climate finance for developing countries by 2035, as agreed at COP29 in Baku.Developed countries must take the lead in mobilizing $300 billion annually -- delivering affordable, predictable finance at the agreed scale.
All providers must show they will contribute to meeting the $300 billion and $1.3 trillion milestones.It’s no longer time for negotiations. It’s time for implementation, implementation and implementation -- with independent tracking, faster disbursement and terms that reflect climate vulnerability, including debt relief.And third -- developing countries must leave Belém equipped with a climate justice package that delivers equity, dignity and opportunity.That means a concrete plan to close the adaptation finance gap: Ensuring that developed countries honour their pledge to provide $40 billion [in] adaptation finance by the end of this year; and giving confidence that affordable adaptation finance will be scaled up beyond 2025 -- and delivered swiftly to the communities on the frontlines.It also means placing justice at the heart of the transition, with concrete measures to support developing countries to navigate it -- protecting workers, empowering communities and creating new opportunities; and significant contributions and simplified access to the Loss and Damage Fund.A just transition also means Indigenous Peoples leading the way. Their knowledge and full participation light the path to a liveable planet.
You can count on the United Nations. Through our Climate Promise, over a hundred developing countries received support in the preparation of their new Nationally Determined Contributions.I have directed the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to build on this architecture and work across the system to support developing countries during the implementation plan.The challenge is immense. But the choices are clear.No one can bargain with physics. But we can choose to lead -- or be led to ruin. Choose to make Belém the turning point.Stand with science.Stand for justice.Stand for future generations.Thank you.
[END]
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Press Release
07 November 2025
Secretary-General: Without Tropical Forests ‘No Path’ to 1.5°C Limit on Global Warming
It is an honour to join you for the launch of the Tropical Forest Forever Facility.I thank President Lula and the Government and people of Brazil for their leadership -- here in Belém, in the heart of the Amazon and centre of climate action.Tropical forests breathe life into our planet.Yet they remain under relentless assault -- treated as short-term profit, not long-term value. Last year, the world lost the equivalent of 18 football fields of tropical primary forest -- every minute.The Tropical Forest Forever Facility is a bold mechanism to make standing forests more valuable than cleared land -- aligning conservation with opportunity, and solidarity with shared prosperity.Tropical forests are vital to climate stability. They protect water and soils, store and remove billions of tonnes of carbon, regulate rainfall, shape weather patterns across continents and sustain millions of people.Without tropical forests, there is no path to limiting global warming to 1.5°C by the end of the century.We are dangerously close to a tipping point that could push these ecosystems beyond recovery.Crossing that line would unleash droughts, fires, and biodiversity loss on a scale humanity cannot control.We have pledged to halt and reverse forest loss by 2030.Now we must deliver. That means supporting forest nations -- not as a favour, but as a shared duty; cutting emissions from deforestation; and preserving forests’ immense capacity to store carbon.By rewarding countries for keeping forests standing, we boost resilience.
By supporting Indigenous Peoples and forest communities, we advance climate justice and safeguard cultures whose knowledge has stewarded nature for millennia.And by mobilizing long-term, predictable and affordable finance, we close one of the most persistent gaps in global climate action.Fairness, inclusion and integrity must be front and centre.Finance must reach the ground -- those protecting forests with their hands, hearts, and heritage.Today’s launch is a statement of solidarity and hope. It shows that developing countries -- while bearing the heaviest impacts of the climate crisis -- are leading with solutions for all.From the Amazon to the Congo Basin to South-East Asia, forest nations prove that protecting nature can drive growth, stability and dignity.Now the world must respond with matching ambition. Governments, development banks and the private sector must join forces to close the finance gap, unlock investment for sustainable forest economies and scale up monitoring and restoration.Together, we can ensure tropical forests stand forever -- as living pillars of climate stability, biodiversity, resilience and peace. Thank you.
[END]
By supporting Indigenous Peoples and forest communities, we advance climate justice and safeguard cultures whose knowledge has stewarded nature for millennia.And by mobilizing long-term, predictable and affordable finance, we close one of the most persistent gaps in global climate action.Fairness, inclusion and integrity must be front and centre.Finance must reach the ground -- those protecting forests with their hands, hearts, and heritage.Today’s launch is a statement of solidarity and hope. It shows that developing countries -- while bearing the heaviest impacts of the climate crisis -- are leading with solutions for all.From the Amazon to the Congo Basin to South-East Asia, forest nations prove that protecting nature can drive growth, stability and dignity.Now the world must respond with matching ambition. Governments, development banks and the private sector must join forces to close the finance gap, unlock investment for sustainable forest economies and scale up monitoring and restoration.Together, we can ensure tropical forests stand forever -- as living pillars of climate stability, biodiversity, resilience and peace. Thank you.
[END]
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Press Release
06 November 2025
‘Beyond GDP’ Powerful Tool for Advancing Social Development
Thirty years ago, Governments from around the world came together in Copenhagen to promote social development as the foundation of human dignity and flourishing. Their Declaration stated “that our societies must respond more effectively to the material and spiritual needs of individuals, their families and the communities in which they live throughout our diverse countries and regions”.This was not a polite request for delivering better services or making policies slightly more progressive.Rather, it was a demand for a fundamental reassessment of people’s needs -- and a reorientation of societies so that meeting those needs is positioned as the central goal.Over the last 30 years, progress has been made.What has remained unchanged is our overreliance on Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to assess our performance and inform decision making.
GDP is a useful and versatile measure of economic output, but it is woefully ill-suited to capture the needs and aspirations of our world.The urgency to look beyond GDP has only intensified since Copenhagen.The world has been rocked by multiple crises: The Great Recession that undermined trust in our economic systems; the COVID-19 pandemic that had lasting impact on our physical and psychological health; the triple planetary crisis; and the rapid and accelerating technological change that is upending labour markets in the short- and long-term and is transforming our everyday lives at a frightening speed.These factors have led to a growing gap between peoples’ experiences and the limited picture that GDP is able to provide about societies’ progress. And they have fed an erosion of trust in Governments across the globe.Last year, at the Summit for the Future, Member States agreed that the time has come for a change. They asked the Secretary-General to appoint a High-Level Expert Group to propose a credible, practical framework that can complement GDP with measures of well-being, inclusiveness and equity and sustainability.In today’s event, we will hear about the progress of the Expert Group, as they present their interim report.The role of the UN in this effort is significant.The UN, as the global village, is uniquely placed to convene the global community to agree what matters and what we measure.We did this with the Sustainable Development Goals, which introduced the principle of leaving no one behind, and the forging of concerns for people and planet.More recently, the UN has nurtured the Multidimensional Vulnerability Index, revealing the multiple structural challenges that impede sustainable development, and making a powerful case for a new approach to assess countries’ financial needs.Now our efforts turn towards Beyond GDP -- and you all have a critical role to play.The World Social Summit is a unique opportunity to inform the work of the Expert Group as it seeks to identify measures that capture what we intrinsically value, including the social dimensions of sustainable development.Going Beyond GDP can be a powerful vehicle to advance social development by re-conceptualizing how societies and Government approach their quest for progress.The task for the Expert Group is not an easy one.Allow me to share three lessons from my involvement in the process that led to the adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals.First, consultations and engagements with a variety of stakeholders are key for the legitimacy and quality of the process. I am encouraged by the efforts of the Experts to speak with a variety of stakeholders.
Second, change does not happen overnight. These processes require patience and tenacity -- especially if their recommendations are to resonate in all countries.Finally, ambition is crucial. One of the key elements that led to the universal adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals was the recognition that citizens across the world can no longer wait for their hopes and aspirations to remain unmet.We are now in a similar situation. Citizens should no longer be told that the metric for the success of their society can be expressed in a single number.We need a visionary proposal for how to conceptualize a dignified and good life today and tomorrow.Today’s event is a key milestone.But our journey does not end here, and we rely on your help going forward: Participating in ongoing consultations by the Expert Group; engaging with [the] Group’s final report during the eightieth session of the UN General Assembly; supporting the intergovernmental process that will deliberate on the Group’s recommendations; and operationalizing the Beyond GDP framework in countries around the world. We count on your support. Thank you.
[END]
GDP is a useful and versatile measure of economic output, but it is woefully ill-suited to capture the needs and aspirations of our world.The urgency to look beyond GDP has only intensified since Copenhagen.The world has been rocked by multiple crises: The Great Recession that undermined trust in our economic systems; the COVID-19 pandemic that had lasting impact on our physical and psychological health; the triple planetary crisis; and the rapid and accelerating technological change that is upending labour markets in the short- and long-term and is transforming our everyday lives at a frightening speed.These factors have led to a growing gap between peoples’ experiences and the limited picture that GDP is able to provide about societies’ progress. And they have fed an erosion of trust in Governments across the globe.Last year, at the Summit for the Future, Member States agreed that the time has come for a change. They asked the Secretary-General to appoint a High-Level Expert Group to propose a credible, practical framework that can complement GDP with measures of well-being, inclusiveness and equity and sustainability.In today’s event, we will hear about the progress of the Expert Group, as they present their interim report.The role of the UN in this effort is significant.The UN, as the global village, is uniquely placed to convene the global community to agree what matters and what we measure.We did this with the Sustainable Development Goals, which introduced the principle of leaving no one behind, and the forging of concerns for people and planet.More recently, the UN has nurtured the Multidimensional Vulnerability Index, revealing the multiple structural challenges that impede sustainable development, and making a powerful case for a new approach to assess countries’ financial needs.Now our efforts turn towards Beyond GDP -- and you all have a critical role to play.The World Social Summit is a unique opportunity to inform the work of the Expert Group as it seeks to identify measures that capture what we intrinsically value, including the social dimensions of sustainable development.Going Beyond GDP can be a powerful vehicle to advance social development by re-conceptualizing how societies and Government approach their quest for progress.The task for the Expert Group is not an easy one.Allow me to share three lessons from my involvement in the process that led to the adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals.First, consultations and engagements with a variety of stakeholders are key for the legitimacy and quality of the process. I am encouraged by the efforts of the Experts to speak with a variety of stakeholders.
Second, change does not happen overnight. These processes require patience and tenacity -- especially if their recommendations are to resonate in all countries.Finally, ambition is crucial. One of the key elements that led to the universal adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals was the recognition that citizens across the world can no longer wait for their hopes and aspirations to remain unmet.We are now in a similar situation. Citizens should no longer be told that the metric for the success of their society can be expressed in a single number.We need a visionary proposal for how to conceptualize a dignified and good life today and tomorrow.Today’s event is a key milestone.But our journey does not end here, and we rely on your help going forward: Participating in ongoing consultations by the Expert Group; engaging with [the] Group’s final report during the eightieth session of the UN General Assembly; supporting the intergovernmental process that will deliberate on the Group’s recommendations; and operationalizing the Beyond GDP framework in countries around the world. We count on your support. Thank you.
[END]
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