United Nations 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.

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30 July 2026

Climate alarm ‘blaring from every direction’

Climate-driven disasters are reaching “nightmare proportions” due to humanity’s “addiction” to fossil fuels, a top UN official warned on Tuesday.“The climate alarm is blaring from every direction,” said UN Climate Change Executive Secretary Simon Stiell in a statement.“With the mercury set to soar again this week, the awful costs of this climate crisis – both human and economic – are now reaching national emergency levels.”Why it mattersOver 250,000 hectares of land in Europe has burned, with 1,254 fires detected since the start of 2026Record-breaking wildfires are tearing through France, Spain and other parts of Europe, forcing mass evacuations and hammering regional and national economies, follow brutal heatwaves that have dried out landscapesIn North Africa, temperatures are approaching 49°C, putting lives and livelihoods in grave jeopardy, and putting hospitals and power systems under severe strainIn Chile, deadly storms have destroyed homes and livesIn Japan, records are tumbling as temperatures soar, now reaching the longest 40°C heat streak ever recorded.Clear solutions Mr. Stiell said these “spiralling disasters” are now the lived reality for billions in a world getting rapidly hotter as humanity moves too slowly from fossil fuels to clean energy – and fails to sufficiently protect forests. The science on the cause is unequivocal, he explained, emphasising that global heating, driven by humanity burning “colossal amounts” of coal, oil and gas, is making protracted heatwaves, severe floods and violent mega-storms more frequent, more intense and more costly.“What needs to be done is equally clear: leave coal, oil and gas behind faster, scale up renewables and protect people where the impacts are already hitting hardest,” Mr. Stiell said.Many vulnerable countries on the frontlines need support to move at the speed and scale necessary, to avert disaster.Wildfires’ far reachIn 2023, dangerous smoke from Canadian wildfires wafted across the northeastern United States and then across the Atlantic Ocean, causing health threats while demonstrating their far reach. This summer, Canada’s wildfires have again cast a pall of orange smoke pollution across the skies of New York state, leading to air quality warnings across the region.Indeed, smoke from wildfires can travel thousands of kilometres, crossing borders, oceans and continents. Understanding where it will go next has become an increasingly important scientific challenge, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has reported.Understanding and addressing the threat wildfire smoke poses is paramount. Advance warning is important so governments and communities can implement timely protective measures.Read the full story here.Early warnings are keyWMO said that reliable monitoring, forecasting, cross-border data sharing and early warnings are critical to protect lives, livelihoods and ecosystems.Through the Early Warnings for All initiative, WMO is advancing these efforts by promoting standardised frameworks, enhancing interoperability and fostering international collaboration on fire weather services.Learn more about the initiative here.This story was first published here ***

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28 July 2026

From Skills to Opportunity: Women Entrepreneurs Come Together in Chennai

For many women entrepreneurs, a small business begins with a simple idea: a product made at home, a skill passed down through generations, or a determination to build a better future for their families. But turning that idea into a growing business often requires access to technology, markets and the right support.This week in Chennai, around 100 women entrepreneurs are taking an important step forward. Led by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), the two-day national training programme in digital transformation for women entrepreneurs brings together women from different communities and backgrounds, including women entrepreneurs with disabilities and 18 Sri Lankan Tamil from camps, who are participating.The programme is organized in collaboration with the Office of the United Nations Resident Coordinator in India, UNHCR, women associations (UBUNTU CONSOTIUM) and government partners. It has received strong support from the Department of Commerce, Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), Government e-Marketplace (GeM) of government of India, the Government of Tamil Nadu, DAKSHIN and other institutions.Over two days (28-29 July), participants are learning how to use e-commerce, artificial intelligence, digital marketing and online government platforms to grow their businesses and reach new customers. They are also receiving practical guidance on export procedures, logistics and market access.For ESCAP, the training is not only about introducing new tools. It is about helping women build confidence, connect with institutions and see new possibilities for their businesses.Each participant arrives with a different story, but they share a common ambition: to create a more secure and independent future through entrepreneurship. By bringing women, government agencies, United Nations organizations and business networks together, the Chennai programme is helping turn that ambition into practical opportunity.When women gain skills and access to markets, the benefits go far beyond one business. They strengthen families, create jobs and build more inclusive communities.

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28 July 2026

Global HIV response at risk as funding cuts raise fears of epidemic resurgence

Reductions in international funding and cuts to HIV prevention and community services are likely to lead to a resurgence of the HIV epidemic, according to a new UNAIDS report released ahead of the 26th International AIDS Conference in Rio de Janeiro.The report says that although new HIV infections and AIDS related deaths are at their lowest levels in more than 30 years, the global HIV response is now "extremely fragile". Efforts to end AIDS as a public health threat by 2030 are at risk unless global solidarity is restored and inequalities are addressed.In 2025, 1.2 million people acquired HIV, while 570,000 people died of AIDS related illnesses as the world fell short of global targets. Without urgent action to meet the 2030 goals, more than three million people could become infected with HIV by 2030.Progress remains uneven. New HIV infections increased in three regions and 21 countries in 2025. Around nine million of the 41 million people living with HIV were not on treatment and almost half of all children living with HIV did not have access to antiretroviral therapy.At the same time, seven countries achieved an almost 80 per cent reduction in new HIV infections since 2010, while 11 countries reached the 95 95 95 treatment targets, showing that progress is possible.The report highlights major advances in HIV prevention, with monthly and six monthly injectable medicines offering close to vaccine like protection against HIV beginning to reach the market. However, it says the challenge remains scaling up access and ensuring equitable availability. Current efforts aim to reach three million people with lenacapavir by 2028, while UNAIDS estimates that around 20 million people need access to antiretroviral based prevention to have a real impact on stopping new HIV infections.The report also points to a sharp decline in international financing. Global development assistance fell by 23 per cent in 2025, the steepest drop on record, with HIV programmes among those hardest hit. International financing for HIV declined from US$8.8 billion in 2024 to US$7.3 billion in 2025, the lowest level in nearly two decades.Without stronger domestic investment and renewed international support, HIV prevention and community led HIV service delivery risk total collapse. Funding for condoms has been cut by more than 90 per cent in some countries, while community led services have been sharply reduced across several populations most affected by HIV.The report also highlights growing setbacks in human rights, noting that criminalization of marginalized populations increased for the first time since UNAIDS began tracking these trends. It says such laws continue to undermine access to HIV services.Despite these challenges, the report says ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030 remains within reach. In June 2026, 149 Member States adopted a Political Declaration on HIV and AIDS aligned with the UNAIDS Global AIDS Strategy 2026 to 2031. If fully implemented, the commitments could avert an additional 3.2 million new HIV infections and 1.3 million AIDS related deaths by 2030.Read the document here ***

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27 July 2026

Ancient Buddhist Site of Sarnath inscribed on UNESCO World Heritage List

The Ancient Buddhist Site, Sarnath, in Uttar Pradesh, India, has been inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List during the 48th session of the World Heritage Committee – underway in the Republic of Korea. With this inscription, India now has 45 World Heritage sites. Located in Varanasi, one of the world's oldest inhabited cities, the property preserves the architectural and archaeological remains of Sarnath. According to sacred Buddhist texts, the Buddha traveled to Sarnath in the sixth century BCE after attaining enlightenment. It was here that he met his first disciples and delivered his first sermon, an event regarded as the beginning of the spread of Buddhist teachings. Over the centuries, Sarnath evolved into a major centre of Buddhist learning and pilgrimage. Successive rulers, patrons and monastic communities erected stupas, temples and viharas, transforming the site into one of the four key destinations of Buddhist pilgrimage in the world. Today, this legacy survives in two protected archaeological sites: the Chaukhandi Stupa and the Archaeological Remains of Sarnath, which include the Dhamek Stupa and the Dharmarajika Stupa. Together, these monuments form the historic landscape widely known as Deer Park. In Buddhist tradition, the site is also referred to as Rishipatana, Isipatana, and/or Mrigadava – names preserved in different sacred texts through varying historical accounts and legends. The inscription follows a decision by the World Heritage Committee, the body responsible for implementing the 1972 World Heritage Convention. The Committee identifies places of Outstanding Universal Value—sites whose cultural or natural significance transcends national boundaries and is considered part of humanity's shared heritage. Since the Convention's adoption in 1972, the World Heritage List has grown to include 1,248 cultural, natural and mixed properties across 170 countries. This article was first published here ***

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21 July 2026

"Clean energy is the fast track for India to cement itself as a global economic giant", UN climate chief says

India is well placed to strengthen its economy and reinforce its energy security by accelerating its transition to clean energy, the head of UN Climate Change said on Tuesday, pointing to the country's growing leadership in renewable energy and clean technology."Globally, clean energy, infrastructure and services are the next industrial revolution. Nationally, they are the fast track for India to cement itself as a global economic giant," Simon Stiell, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), said at a press conference in New Delhi.Mr. Stiell said India's clean energy transition has become central to its development strategy, noting that fossil fuel free power now accounts for half of the country's installed electricity capacity, a milestone reached five years ahead of schedule.He described India as a "solar superpower", highlighting that installed solar capacity has increased more than fifty-fold since 2014, while solar manufacturing capacity has expanded seventy fivefold. According to the International Renewable Energy Agency, renewable energy saved India US$18 billion in fossil fuel purchases last year and has made it the world's most competitive solar market in terms of generation costs.Those advances, he said, have given India powerful competitive advantages in the global clean energy race, particularly through its manufacturing capabilities and tech savvy workforce. Expanding investment in clean energy, electricity grids, storage and electrification would generate jobs, strengthen growth and further reduce dependence on imported fossil fuels.Mr. Stiell warned, however, that continued reliance on fossil fuels leaves countries exposed to geopolitical instability and volatile energy prices."The brutal costs of fossil fuel imports have hit all nations hard, including India, which imports 90 per cent of its crude oil," he said. "Oil and gas import vulnerability means supplies disrupted and prices rising when crises hit."He said the impacts of global heating, including extreme heat and changing rainfall patterns across Asia, further reinforce the need to accelerate both clean energy deployment and climate resilience.Mr. Stiell also highlighted the role of the UN climate process in supporting implementation of the Paris Agreement, including the operationalisation of the UN carbon market and efforts to translate climate commitments into projects on the ground. He called on developed countries to honour their climate finance commitments, including delivering US$300 billion annually by 2035 as part of a pathway towards mobilising US$1.3 trillion a year for developing countries.Calling India a longstanding partner in climate multilateralism, Mr. Stiell said the country has an opportunity to build on its achievements in renewable energy while pursuing long term energy independence and economic growth."Almost eighty years since India won its independence, this nation has the chance to achieve full energy independence, and lock in a next generation of economic might," he said. Video of the press conference organized by the UN Information Centre can be replayed here. Editor's note: Simon Stiell is on an official visit to India from 20 to 22 July, during which he is meeting senior government officials, UN representatives, private sector leaders and civil society to discuss India's clean energy transition, preparations for the UN Climate Change Conference (COP31), and opportunities to accelerate implementation of the Paris Agreement. His programme includes engagements in New Delhi and Mumbai. ***

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Press Release

28 July 2026

Global HIV response falters as reemergence looms

RIO DE JANEIRO/GENEVA, 27 July 2026—A special report released by UNAIDS for the 26th International AIDS Conference taking place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil from 27 to 31 July, shows that reductions to international funding and cuts to HIV prevention and community services are likely to lead to a resurgence of the epidemic. Although new HIV infections and AIDS-related deaths are at their lowest levels in more than 30 years, the current HIV response is extremely fragile. Efforts to end AIDS as a public health threat by 2030 are at risk unless global solidarity is restored and inequalities are addressed. In 2025, 1.2 million people acquired HIV, but progress is uneven. New HIV infections rose in three regions and 21 countries in 2025. Around 9 million of the 41 million people living with HIV were not on treatment and almost half of all children living with HIV did not have access to antiretroviral therapy in 2025. More than half a million people (570 000) died of AIDS-related illnesses in 2025. Positively seven countries* achieved an almost 80% reduction in new infections since 2010 and 11 countries achieved the 95-95-95** treatment targets showing that progress is possible. Science and innovation offer a major opportunity. The world is on the cusp of an HIV prevention revolution in prevention medicines which offer close to vaccine like protection against HIV. Monthly and six-monthly injections are slowly trickling into the market, and monthly pills are in late-stage trials. What is coming to market and in the pipeline is extraordinary, however the challenge remains scale and inequitable access. “Scientific breakthroughs are giving us tools that previous generations could only dream of,” said Ms Byanyima. “However, innovation without access is not innovation, it is injustice. The test of success is not whether medicines exist—it is whether the people who need them can get them, and at an affordable price.” Brazil has increased the number of people accessing HIV prevention medicines at least once in the past year by 41%. Ethiopia and Uganda also took action to expand access through domestic and other funding, and South Africa is continuing to negotiate pricing deals for the twice-yearly prevention injections lenacapavir. However, despite being part of the trials for lenacapavir, Brazil has not been granted voluntary licensing from producer Gilead to enable cost-effective pricing or the introduction of generic alternatives and is considering compulsory licensing. UNITAID, the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria and partners have pulled money together to start rolling out lenacapavir to reach 3 million 2028 which is welcome news, but this remains a drop in the ocean, currently reaching just a few thousand people. UNAIDS estimates that 20 million people need of access to antiretroviral based prevention to have a real impact in stopping new HIV infections. Overseas development assistance (ODA) has collapsed. Global development assistance from multiple countries fell by 23% in 2025—the sharpest drop on record—a large proportion of which was for global health and HIV programmes have been hit hard. High burden, highly indebted, low-income countries of Africa depended on ODA for the success of their AIDS responses. Many of these countries were more than 90% dependent on ODA for their HIV responses. “The era of relying on international aid is over,” said Winnie Byanyima, Executive Director of UNAIDS. “Countries cannot wait and they cannot go backwards. The world must urgently fix the broken financial system and accelerate debt restructuring so that governments can invest in what matters most—the health, education and futures of their people.” International financing for HIV from multiple countries declined by more than US$ 1.5 billion, from US$ 8.8 billion in 2024 to US$ 7.3 billion in 2025, an 18% reduction and the lowest level in nearly two decades. HIV prevention services were largely funded from international funding. For example, in sub-Saharan Africa, 80% of prevention funding came from international aid. Community-led organizations received up to 25% of foreign HIV assistance in 2024. Surveys show that in some countries these organizations reached 22% of people living with HIV and up to 60% of marginalized populations with life-saving services. With the absence of donor support and stronger domestic investment, HIV prevention and community-led HIV service delivery risk total collapse. Funding for condoms has been cut by more than 90% in some countries. A 2026 study, across 47 countries, found steep reductions in community-led services—50% for community-led support for prevention medicines and HIV care—85% for services for gay men and other men who have sex with men—82% for sex workers—and 72% for survivors of gender-based violence. Human rights are under attack and there is a reversal of rights including the sexual and reproductive rights of women and girls and marginalized populations. For the first time since UNAIDS has been tracking these trends, criminalization of marginalized populations increased. In 2025, Burkina Faso and Niger introduced criminalization of same-sex sexual activity, and Senegal increased penalties for same-sex sexual activity in 2026. In 2026, 168 countries criminalized sex work, 152 countries criminalized possession of small amounts of drugs, 66 countries criminalized same sex sexual relations, and 14 countries criminalized transgender people. “You cannot end AIDS while criminalizing people living with and most at risk of HIV,” said Ms Byanyima. “When people fear arrest, violence or discrimination, they stay away from HIV services. Human rights are not separate from the HIV response—they are essential to its success.” Despite the push back on human rights, in June 2026, 149 Member States adopted a progressive Political Declaration on HIV and AIDS aligned with the UNAIDS Global AIDS Strategy 2026–2031 and its 2030 targets. The new 2030 targets include 40 million people on life-saving treatment, 20 million with access to antiretroviral-based prevention. The targets also include less than 10% of people living with or at risk of HIV experiencing stigma and discrimination, less than 10% of women and girls and people living with or at risk of HIV experiencing gender inequality and violence, and less than 10% of countries having punitive legal and policy environments that deny or limit access to HIV services. If fully achieved, the commitments would avert an additional 3.2 million new HIV infections and 1.3 million AIDS-related deaths by 2030.  “Despite enormous challenges ending AIDS is still within reach,” said Ms Byanyima. “At AIDS 2026 UNAIDS is urging all partners and governments to remobilize and push forward to achieve the ambitious targets in the Political Declaration. This will require renewed solidarity, sustained financing and unwavering commitment to human rights. The choice before us is clear: retreat and risk resurgence, or rethink, rebuild and rise to end AIDS as a public health threat by 2030.” *Benin, Eswatini, Kenya, Lesotho, Nepal, Rwanda and Zimbabwe **95% of all people living with HIV who know their status, 95% of all people with diagnosed HIV infection accessing antiretroviral therapy, 95% of all people accessing ART who are virally suppressed. Contact UNAIDS Geneva | Sophie Barton Knott | tel. +41 79 514 6896 | bartonknotts@unaids.org

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Press Release

23 July 2026

Secretary-General: Rising seas are sinking futures

I am pleased to be with you today, at a moment of great challenge to international law.

The work of this Commission has rarely been more vital, and I say so with full awareness of how often those words are spoken in these halls.

These are trying times for the rule of law, for multilateralism, and for the United Nations itself.

The norms that form the bedrock of the international legal order are being challenged, eroded – and at times openly defied.

Institutions that represent decades of hard-won achievement are under mounting strain – and in some quarters, under open attack.

And impunity is on the rise.

Finding legal solutions to today’s crises is a fundamental duty for us all.

And shaping the future of international law – by anticipating tomorrow’s challenges – falls with particular weight on this Commission.

Let us be clear: international law is under pressure – but it will prevail.

Most States continue to defend it – and trust in it.

The dockets of international tribunals demonstrate as much.
And its language is invoked even by those who do not always honour it.

That is a testament to the enduring authority of the framework this Commission helps develop and codify.

I welcome the recent convening of diplomatic conferences on two issues born of work done in this very house.

First, on the prevention and punishment of crimes against humanity.

And second, on the protection of persons in the event of disasters.

They are living proof that the progressive development and codification of international law endures – and advances.

I also offer my warm congratulations to the Commission for completing, in 2025, its landmark report on sea-level rise in relation to international law.

This is a seminal contribution to the international legal order: rigorous, forward-looking, and of lasting consequence.

Rising seas are sinking futures.

They endanger coastlines, livelihoods – and even the very existence of States themselves.

For small island developing States – the least responsible for this crisis – the threat is existential.

Sea-level rise is a threat multiplier.

We must act now to close the gaps in existing legal frameworks – before it’s too late.

The Commission’s report lays essential groundwork for the work the General Assembly will take up later this year.

And the next steps now rest with Member States.

My hope is that the international community will rise to the moment with the same resolve this Commission has brought to the task.

The world needs rigorous legal thinking – drawing on different legal traditions, diverse points of view and backgrounds.

It needs the wisdom and lived experience that the women and men in this room bring to the work of the Commission.

It needs the patient, careful development of legal norms and rules that can hold firm under pressure.

And the steady conviction that law – not power – must govern relations among nations.

I look forward to the results of this session, and I am deeply grateful for your dedication.

When I opened the general debate of the General Assembly last year, I challenged world leaders to reaffirm the imperative of international law;

To reassert the centrality of multilateralism; to reinforce justice and human rights;

And, simultaneously, to recognize the purposes and principles that gave rise to this Organization.

That call rings more urgently today than ever.

The work of this Commission is one of its clearest answers.

And I congratulate you for your extremely important contribution to the rule of law in today’s world.

Thank you.

[END]

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Press Release

23 July 2026

Executive Secretary of UN Climate Change: India is now a solar superpower, and that’s turbocharged your economy, pushed up living standards

I’m delighted to be back in India. I’ve had very productive talks with ministers and business leaders over the past two days, with more coming up. A constant theme runs through the discussions: Climate action is game-changing for India, its economy and its people. I'm from the Caribbean – a fellow cricket-loving region, so let me use an analogy: India’s clean energy growth is like Sachin Tendulkar and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi ... rolled into one: a stellar record, but the story is just getting started – and if India keeps doubling down on renewables and clean tech, the next chapters promise to be truly extraordinary. Decarbonisation is central to India’s impressive development strategy. Which is forging a new path for others to follow. And fossil-fuel-free power now makes up half of India’s installed capacity – a milestone you've hit five years early. Credit goes to the Modi government, working with India’s people and businesses. India’s EV sales are growing – led by national champions like Tata Motors, Mahindra & Mahindra, and JSW MG Motor India. And solar installed capacity has surged more than 50 times since 2014. India is now a solar superpower – that has turbocharged your economy, pushed up living standards, and – along with other renewables – saved you US$18 billion in fossil fuel purchases last year alone – according to the International Renewable Energy Agency. India’s solar manufacturing capacity has increased 75-fold since 2014. New data from IRENA shows India is currently the most competitive solar market in the world on generation cost, producing cheaper power than any other major economy. India is a leader in a global trend. As every nation declared unanimously at COP30, the global energy transition is now irreversible. Last year, over US$2 trillion was invested in clean energy. Globally, clean energy, infrastructure and services are the next industrial revolution. Nationally, they are the fast track for India to cement itself as a global economic giant. And it makes total economic sense to move even faster to clean energy – in India and around the world. Conflict has exacted a terrible human toll, and sent fossil fuel cost chaos reverberating through the global economy. And tragically it’s not over yet. The brutal costs of fossil fuel imports have hit all nations hard, including India, which imports 90% of its crude oil. For all nations, oil and gas import vulnerability means supplies disrupted and prices rising when crises hit. That means fuel and fertiliser supplies constricted. And higher bills for businesses everywhere, and billions of households across the globe. Global heating compounds these pressures. And it’s inflicting large-scale suffering across every region of the world, including Asia, where devastating heat is claiming lives and livelihoods.Monsoon rains are lacking, and El Niño is biting, threatening harvests with failure, and households with rising costs. Clean energy and resilience are vital parts of the solution. And – as in all countries – the faster and stronger your climate action, the more lives and livelihoods will be protected, as climate-driven disasters get rapidly worse, and the greater the dividends for India’s people, businesses and national finances. Accelerating the shift to clean energy – and reducing dependence on coal – means cleaner air in towns and cities, boosting the health of millions of people. That can deliver major budget savings, and higher productivity, supporting even stronger economic growth. As Minister Pralhad Joshi has said, renewables mean lower bills, and greater energy security – which can enhance food security and health. Clean technologies protect households and businesses from fossil fuel cost chaos, and boost economic stability, and national sovereignty. Every step towards electrification means greater autonomy – helping to free India from volatile international energy markets, spiralling costs, and the whims of foreign powers waging unpredictable wars. Every solar panel installed moves India closer to energy independence and even greater economic strength. Colleagues, friends, The world has reached an historic point on climate. Because humanity continues to burn vast amounts of coal oil and gas, we are hurtling towards negative tipping points for our climate, and the ecosystems we depend on. But we are also hurtling towards positive economic tipping points, in the shift from polluting fossil fuels to clean energy. This is reshaping the global economy. And in the global clean energy race, India has powerful competitive advantages – particularly your tech-savvy workforce. You can seize the opportunity, by entrenching India as a clean tech manufacturing hub for the world.By positioning yourself as a leader in areas of comparative advantage – from electro-tech to green steel. And by supercharging clean energy investment – including in grids and storage – and electrifying India's economy – generating jobs and even stronger growth. UN-convened climate cooperation can help India bank these benefits. Over the years, climate multilateralism has unleashed the global energy revolution, which last year saw renewables overtake coal as the world’s top electricity source. Today, the COP process is boosting its focus on implementation, to turn commitments into projects on the ground, and more real-world benefits for billions more people, We have recently operationalised the UN carbon market – which can provide significant new funds for developing economies. And we are elevating the Global Climate Action Agenda within our process. This vital part of the Paris Agreement machinery brings together governments, business, investors, and civil society to turn climate targets into real-world results. The Turkish COP31 Presidency has announced Action Agenda targets for this year. That includes raising the share of final energy demand met by electricity to 35% by 2035. This focus on electrification at COP31 is a clear opportunity for India: To build on the immense advances you have made – particularly on electricity access and clean cooking. And to boost progress towards electrifying transport – including initiatives like Delhi’s new EV policy. International climate finance is vital for developing countries. All commitments must be honoured, and honoured in full. Developed countries must triple adaptation finance and deliver $300 billion a year by 2035, as part of a clear pathway to $1.3 trillion a year. And together, through international cooperation, we must continue to accelerate the global shift to clean, resilient economies. India has long been a strong partner in climate multilateralism. And it’s entirely in your interests to continue engaging. Almost eighty years since India won its independence, this nation has the chance to achieve full energy independence, and lock in a next generation of economic might. I thank you. [END]

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Press Release

23 July 2026

“We The Peoples: Shaping the Future of the UN | UN80 Initiative”

I am delighted to see such broad participation in this chamber today.Civil society organizations, large and small. Women and young people, out in force. Voices from every region. You reflect the true spirit of “We the peoples”. And I commend your tireless, principled work. Pushing for peace. For human rights. For equality. Calling for a revitalized multilateralism, with people at its centre. And demanding a more inclusive and effective United Nations. I hear you. We must renew our Organization to deliver better for people. That is why we launched the UN80 Initiative.Building on earlier reforms, it offers a bold set of proposals to make the UN more coherent, more fit for purpose, and more effective. It calls for change that is meaningful.Action that is concrete. And most of all impact that people can see, feel, and believe in - an impact that translates itself into more effective action in relation to the people we serve. UN80 is vital to our ability to succeed in an age of profound instability.Across our world, we see trust eroding and divisions deepening. Conflicts causing death and destruction on a shocking scale. Communities starved of resources for development and resilience. Climate action is delayed and climate justice is denied. And new technologies racing ahead without proper guardrails represent a threat to us all. These challenges are complex, but they point to a simple truth: The United Nations can only deliver on its promise if we dare to evolve.Renewal means earning trust through results, and that’s what UN80 is all about.Above all, it must strengthen our ability to realize existing commitments. I am thinking of commitments like the Sustainable Development Goals.The SDGs are our shared promise to people and planet.And the focus of the High-Level Political Forum now underway. But with less than five years to go, just 36 per cent of the targets are on track or making moderate progress, and 15 per cent have gone into reverse. We must correct course and pick up the pace. UN80 can help through stronger coordination and enhanced country-level delivery. I am also thinking of commitments like the Pact for the Future, our global pledge to tackle shared challenges together. The Pact spells out concrete actions to turbocharge the SDGs, which I believe you are fully aware of. These include urgent steps to strengthen peace and security. Accelerate sustainable development and tackle climate change. Share the benefits of science and technology more equitably, while reining in the risks. Empower youth and future generations. And transform global governance, so it’s more inclusive and effective.UN80 puts us in a much stronger position to deliver on these commitments. Through greater efficiencies. Stronger synergies within and across pillars. Easier access for our partners. And closer proximity to those we serve. I will never forget the pivotal ways civil society has already moved the needle. Driving local action to advance the SDGs. Bringing energy and ideas when we met two years ago in Nairobi. Building momentum ahead of the Summit of the Future. Persuading Member States to approve the Pact. And supporting its implementation on the ground. Because of you, we have made real headway despite fierce geopolitical headwinds. And you remain indispensable. As a partner bringing frontline knowledge and capacity. As a watchdog strengthening accountability and demanding follow-through. And as a bridge connecting global decisions with local realities. With your continued meaningful engagement, we can turn ambition into action – and action into impact. UN80 will only succeed if it strengthens our ability to deliver on the SDGs, implement the Pact for the Future, and work in partnership with civil society. And how we work together truly matters. You have shown us that genuine engagement must be structured, sustained, and linked to decision-making. That means moving from participation to partnerships, and from consultation to co-creation. And that is why we are strengthening our Interagency Civil Society Focal Point Network, to better facilitate our work together. And soon they will cover the whole of the UN system and all our Agencies, Funds and Programmes and other UN institutions. I am honoured to join this dialogue with civil society leaders from so many regions and constituencies. I am eager to hear your priorities, your proposals, and your concerns. I think probably people told you that you should ask me questions. I would strongly suggest that you can ask me all the questions you want. But beyond asking questions, please tell me what you think is wrong in what the UN is doing and what we should do in order to correct it and how we can improve how we deliver to the people we care for. So don’t worry with the script. The script can be changed at any moment. Please do spontaneously what you believe I need to hear, independently of the questions that you consider you would need to ask.I indeed welcome your ideas for strengthening our cooperation. Multilateralism works best when it draws on the collective strength of all key partners, including civil society. Only together can we build a peaceful, just, and sustainable future for all. Thank you very much for your patience. [END]

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Press Release

17 July 2026

Secretary-General: Technology that will shape the future of humanity must be shaped by all humanity

Thank you very much for your kind invitation and your warm hospitality in the wonderful city of Shanghai.Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen,Artificial intelligence can be humanity’s greatest opportunity in the 21st century.It could also become one of its greatest risks.As the Conference theme reminds us, a brighter future depends on partnerships. And I thank China for bringing us together in that spirit.The launch by President Xi in 2023 of the Global AI Governance Initiative was a very strong message of Chinese commitment and leadership, and WAICO is its natural development.Partnership is also at the centre of the Global Digital Compact adopted by the UN General Assembly – with the full support of China.The Compact made it clear: Technology that will shape the future of humanity must be shaped by all humanity. It cannot be governed by a handful of countries or a handful of companies.Every nation needs a seat at the table. And the table has now been built through the Global Dialogue on AI Governance – as called in by the Compact.The first such Dialogue, held this month in Geneva – and informed by the Independent International Scientific Panel – carried an overriding message: Technology must serve people – not the other way around.Few areas hold greater promise for our common future than the application of AI to sustainable development.AI can accelerate medical breakthroughs.Transform education. Strengthen food systems and agricultural productivity. Spur new industries and create decent jobs.In short, AI can help usher in a quantum leap across the Sustainable Development Goals.But it won’t happen if the historical injustices of the past are repeated in the technologies of the future.And yet one-third of humanity is still offline.

Many countries continue to face gaps in connectivity, infrastructure and energy access.Computing power, data resources and technical expertise remain concentrated.Hundreds of billions of dollars of private investment flood into artificial intelligence – while many developing countries receive just a trickle.AI risks pushing the world towards even greater inequalities … greater divides in income, in opportunity, in security … greater gaps between North and South.We cannot let that happen. The challenge before us is to ensure that artificial intelligence becomes a force for greater inclusion and shared progress.China has an essential role to play – and so do all of us.I am encouraged that over 20 countries -- including China -- have already responded to my invitation and nominated centres to a UN-supported Global Network for Exchange and Cooperation on AI Capacity Building at the service of developing countries.And I will also soon put forward recommendations for a Global Fund for AI with the same purpose.I ask for your full support for both initiatives.As we look ahead, let me highlight three priorities to help ensure all countries can benefit from the AI revolution.First – capacity.Developing countries bring enormous assets to the age of AI.Talent. Ideas. Young, dynamic populations.Every country should be able to shape this technology to its own needs: with its own skills, its own data, in its own languages.At the United Nations, China helped advance the first General Assembly resolution on AI capacity-building, adopted by consensus.And developing countries deserve support to build that capacity.The platforms and tools discussed here in Shanghai show what partnership can deliver.Technology built with developing countries, for developing countries.And that means open models countries can adapt.The open source strategy of China is an enormous global success.Computing power they can afford must be provided.And training for the people who will use them.Second – safety.Systems that cross borders need standards that cross borders.We need common approaches to testing, risk assessment, and responsibility.We need governance that is inclusive, networked, and anchored in international law.Human rights must be protected.Humans must keep control over every life-and-death decision.And no AI system should be put in a child’s hands before it has been proven safe.And third – sustainability.AI can help speed the energy transition – managing grids, integrating renewables, cutting waste.But its growing demands for energy, water and land must be brought into the open.I call on every major AI company to disclose the full environmental footprint of their systems – and power them with renewables by 2030.Several countries – and mainly China – already require data centres to use more renewable power every year.I ask all governments to follow this example – and make clean power for AI part of their national energy plans.
The defining question is not whether artificial intelligence will transform the world. It will.The defining question is whether that transformation will reduce inequalities or reinforce them.Whether it will concentrate power or expand opportunity.Whether it will bring the promise of progress for every country – or only to those already at the front of the pack.This is a test of technology – and a test of solidarity. Let us pass the test as partners for a brighter future – and make AI a force for dignity, opportunity, and sustainable development for all.And I thank you.[END]

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