APBest warmly congratulates Justice Raul Bautista Villanueva on his appointment as Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines. His years of service in the judiciary, most recently as Court Administrator, show his deep commitment to justice and improving the court system. His work has helped make the courts more efficient and accessible to the public.
Justice Villanueva is known for being fair, hardworking, and dedicated to the law. His new role in the Supreme Court is a well-deserved recognition of his contributions. We wish him all the best as he takes on this important responsibility and continues to serve the country with integrity.
Milestone moments to protect the ocean, ensure online safety and secure financing for a sustainable future
This year, UN DESA is leading milestone events aimed at advancing sustainable development for all. Many of them are lining up this month, bringing together the international community to focus on promoting a healthy ocean, our digital future and unlocking financing to deliver the promise of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Amid busy preparations, UN DESA’s Under-Secretary-General Li Junhua discussed these events and their critical importance for our shared future on a healthy planet.
Overlooking the East River from the UN Headquarters, we started our conversation by discussing the current state of the ocean and what difference the UN Ocean Conference intends to make to protect this vital planetary resource.
“The ocean is in a state of emergency”
“The ocean is in a state of emergency,” Mr. Li said, describing an alarming situation where the health of the ocean is threatened by climate change, plastic pollution, ecosystem loss, and overexploitation of marine resources.
It is against this backdrop, Mr. Li stressed, that the third UN Ocean Conference is taking place, from 9 to 13 June in Nice, France, seeking to boost “urgent, coordinated efforts to reverse the ocean’s decline.”
Mr. Li described how the Conference will build on the outcomes from the two preceding conferences, feature 10 Action Panels, plenary sessions, special events and hundreds of side-events. “[The Conference] will offer a pivotal moment to change course,” Mr. Li said.
He went on to explain how the event will adopt an action-oriented outcome document, referred to as the “Nice Ocean Action Plan,” seeking to unite a broad coalition of actors with the ultimate goal of turning “ambition into action, and secure a healthy, resilient ocean for generations to come”.
Building trust and ensuring that the Internet works for everyone
Following the UN Ocean Conference, we will also mark 20 years of shaping our digital future when the Internet Governance Forum convenes in Lillestroem, Norway, from 23 to 27 June. We spoke with Mr. Li about how we can build trust and ensure that the Internet works for everyone.
“To ensure technologies work for everyone, we must build digital trust and resilience, foster sustainable and responsible innovation, bridge the digital divide and promote universal access and digital rights, and strengthen meaningful digital governance,” Mr. Li said.
He also underscored the importance of digital governance, while stressing that “building partnerships in the digital world demands inclusive, transparent, and sustained collaboration across all disciplines and sectors.”
We all know how the Internet plays a crucial role in our daily lives, as well as in development. But as Mr. Li underlined, “challenges like digital divides, cybersecurity, and misinformation persist.” He also explained that this year’s IGF will contribute to the UN General Assembly’s WSIS+20 review, which will evaluate past advancements made since the World Summit on the Information Society.
“IGF 2025 is not just a milestone — it is a decisive opportunity to reaffirm our commitment to an open, resilient, and inclusive Internet, and to ensure digital technologies are governed in ways that serve all humanity,” Mr. Li emphasized.
Unlocking financing to help deliver the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
After the IGF, world leaders will gather in Sevilla, Spain, for the fourth International Conference on Financing for Development (FFD4), taking place from 30 June to 3 July. We discussed with Mr. Li what actions and outcomes he hopes to see as a result of this milestone event.
“[The Conference] convenes during a challenging moment: aid levels are plunging, falling by seven per cent last year, and very likely falling even more dramatically this year; trade barriers are rising rapidly; and geopolitical uncertainty is high,” Mr. Li explained.
He continued, cautioning that “these shocks exacerbate an already off-track SDG financing gap, estimated at four trillion US dollars annually. We are now actually in a sustainable development crisis.”
Delivering an ambitious global financing framework in Sevilla will therefore be of critical importance this summer.
“Bold actions at FFD4 are essential to turn the corner on SDG financing and send a strong signal to the world that multilateralism can still deliver, and that we can still solve global problems through collective resolve and solidarity,” Mr. Li said. He also explained that there are two key avenues to close the financing gap, which are also highlighted in the draft outcome document, currently being negotiated by UN Member States.
“First, a large-scale impact-focused SDG investment push, led by public development banks, and leveraging private investment for impact; and second, ambitious reform of the international financial architecture to be more inclusive, effective, and fit for purpose for today’s challenges,” Mr. Li said.
As we wrapped up, Mr. Li shared the following message with UN DESA’s audiences: “Please join us and follow us at all these upcoming events as we work together towards a sustainable and prosperous future for everyone, for every country.”
To get a personal and a behind-the-scenes take of these and other major upcoming events, join and follow Mr. Li on his newly launched LinkedIn platform here.
As the Internet Governance Forum (IGF) marks two decades shaping global digital policy, the need to create an equitable online future has never been greater. This year’s Forum, held in Norway from 23 to 27 June 2025, faces complex challenges, with artificial intelligence transforming our online spaces, the ever-present digital divide and growing concerns about digital trust. Chengetai Masango, Head of Office at the IGF Secretariat, explains what’s at stake.
This year, IGF will commemorate 20 years of shaping the digital future. What are some key successes of Forum, and how can we keep this momentum to ensure the Internet is people-centred and equitable?
“Since its first annual meeting in Athens in 2006, the IGF has grown from just over 1,000 participants to nearly 11,000 in Riyadh in 2024. Today, there are 176 national and regional IGF initiatives (NRIs) – one for nearly every country and region in the world – that have emerged organically to replicate the IGF model and provide an invaluable, locally-based feedback mechanism into the global Forum.
This remarkable growth reflects increased global interest in digital governance and the importance of the IGF as an open and bottom-up platform for dialogue. Over time, the IGF has brought more voices into the conversation, particularly from underrepresented groups, youth, and the Global South, and has expanded the circle to include decision-making bodies like parliaments and judiciaries.
The Forum has remained responsive to a changing digital landscape, consistently engaging with new issues – whether AI, cybersecurity or digital fragmentation. Its structure allows it to evolve alongside technological and policy developments, while its multistakeholder model ensures that diverse perspectives are reflected in the discussion.
To maintain momentum requires strategic engagement, including the continued expansion of the IGF’s Parliamentary Track, which facilitates peer knowledge exchanges between parliamentarians and with other critical stakeholders. We need to keep engaging our youth and to cultivate their critical thinking skills online. We need to continue bringing in the marginalized. Billions remain offline, and many more lack meaningful access. Ensuring local and regional experiences inform global policy remains a key priority. The IGF can also support this work by continuing to generate action-oriented outputs and insights that impact policy, foster cooperation and improve digital inclusion.”
As frontier technologies like AI rapidly change the digital landscape, we need to build trustworthy online ecosystems. How can we make sure that our digital future is established upon integrity, security and transparency?
“Algorithmic computing has long been part of digital systems, but new developments, particularly large language models, are rapidly expanding its reach and visibility. These technologies can support progress across sectors if they are designed and used with people in mind. The focus must be on how AI systems are developed, deployed and governed in ways that uphold rights and responsibilities, and the IGF provides a space where these questions are openly debated on an equal footing by diverse stakeholders.
No single actor can tackle these challenges alone; it takes global cooperation and a multistakeholder approach. Through its Policy Network on AI (PNAI), the IGF has emphasized the importance of grounding AI governance in human rights, calling for transparency, accountability and inclusive oversight mechanisms as central to building trustworthy systems.
At the same time, trust in the digital environment has been affected by multiple factors: opaque algorithmic models, the spread of misinformation, unclear platform accountability, and growing concerns about surveillance and data misuse. Addressing these concerns requires coordinated approaches that prioritize transparency, safeguards, and public awareness.
Ultimately, making our digital future trustworthy means giving everyone a seat at the table and a role in shaping the outcome. When we work openly and cooperatively, we reinforce the values of integrity, security, and transparency online. Through collective effort and understanding, we can shape a digital ecosystem that benefits and protects all users.”
Digital technologies are already playing an integral role in addressing sustainable development challenges. What can they do to limit environmental impact and proactively promote affordability, accessibility and inclusion?
“Digital tools support sustainable development across areas such as agriculture, education, health, and disaster preparedness. They can improve efficiency, enable remote access to services and inform better decision-making through data. At the same time, digitalization has environmental costs that must be addressed, particularly the energy use of data centers, AI systems, and large-scale infrastructure. The IGF’s Policy Network on the Environment (PNE) has also drawn attention to the growing problem of e-waste, underscoring the need for sustainable product lifecycles and improved systems for reuse and recycling.
Limiting environmental impact will require stronger incentives for energy-efficient technologies. Open-source approaches can help by encouraging collaborative solutions that are less resource-intensive and better tailored to local contexts. Through its annual meeting and intersessional work, the IGF brings visibility to these concerns and surfaces good case studies from around the world.
Affordability and accessibility remain key barriers. Public infrastructure investment, local connectivity initiatives, and multilingual access are among the ways to reach more people. Inclusion must be embedded into the design of technologies so that everyone – not just those already connected – can benefit from and shape the digital future.”
3 things you should know about global efforts to save our ocean
All eyes will be on Nice, France, on 9-13 June 2025, when the international community will gather for the third UN Ocean Conference, co-hosted by France and Costa Rica. As climate change, plastic pollution, and overexploitation of marine resources pose serious threats, here are three things you should know about global efforts to turn the tide towards a healthy ocean.
1. Progress has been made since the last UN Ocean Conference in Lisbon in 2022
The vital role of the science-policy interface and science-based innovation in ocean action took center stage when the UN Ocean Decade Conference took place in April 2024 in Barcelona. Following this, the 4th International Conference on Small Island Developing States (SIDS4) in May 2024 saw unanimous calls for the protection and sustainable use of ocean resources for SIDS. Ocean-based solutions have been integrated into discussions at the Conferences of Parties (COP) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). This built critical connections among ocean, climate change, and biodiversity and world leaders will bring these outcomes to Nice.
3. 2025 Conference ramps up call for ocean investment
It is estimated that nearly $175 billion per year is needed to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 14 by 2030, but to date, this remains the most underinvested of all SDGs. The political declaration of the UN Ocean Conference covers a range of priorities, calling to invest in a sustainable ocean-based economy, to curb overfishing, to conclude a binding treaty addressing plastics pollution, and to advance ocean science, among others. The declaration also calls for increased ocean investment from all sources.
“It makes a difference when we get together as a global community”
Only a few weeks into her position, UN DESA’s new Assistant Secretary-General for Policy Coordination, Ms. Bjørg Sandkjær, met with UN DESA Voice for a one-on-one interview. Bringing over 26 years of experience from working within the area of policymaking and international development, we spoke about her background, her passion for international solidarity, her new role, and the difference that international development makes for people around the world.
As we caught up with Ms. Sandkjær in the middle of April, the excitement and energy stemming from the ongoing ECOSOC Youth Forum was palpable at UN Headquarters. Considering her own experience as a youth delegate, the setting was fitting. “There are lots of young people from all over the world coming together in support of multilateralism and the United Nations,” Ms. Sandkjær said. “I look forward to meeting them,” she added, referencing her participation in the event.
Early commitment to international solidarity
Ms. Sandkjær spent part of her childhood growing up in Zambia, where she witnessed first-hand some of the great injustices in society. “This was the start of my commitment to international solidarity,” she said.
“Given my great interest in international collaboration, in dialogue, in bringing countries together to find solutions, I really wanted to work for the United Nations,” Ms. Sandkjær continued. Eventually, her commitment resulted in her successfully passing the National Competitive Recruitment Examination in 2001.
“A dream come true for me,” she said, describing how she started her path at the UN Economic Commission for Africa as a demographer, before moving on within the UN system.
Change can be achieved when we work together
While speaking about efforts towards improving people’s lives around the world, Ms. Sandkjær reflected on how change can truly be achieved when we all work together.
“I have seen great progress in the years that I’ve been engaged in the multilateral arena,” she said, recalling the International Conference on Population and Development in Cairo in 1994, when she participated as a youth representative of the World Council of Churches.
“30 plus years since then, we’ve seen that shifts really manifest itself in people’s lives, in communities all over the world,” she said. “It means something that we get together in this space, that is the United Nations,” she said. “We make decisions and then we make them happen.”
“For me, it’s very rewarding to see people being able to raise their voice and to voice their opinion,” Ms. Sandkjær continued, reflecting on what she finds being the most fulfilling working with international development and policymaking.
“It’s quite amazing to be here in the General Assembly Hall, where […] the world gets together,” she said, adding that “we don’t have to agree on everything, but we discuss, we listen to each other, and we come to agreements around important issues for people’s lives.”
Data is the foundation of our work
Ms. Sandkjær also discussed the critical importance of data and how it is the foundation of our work. “It sounds boring, but it is really at the heart of knowing where the problems are, knowing where the issues are, and then being able to figure out how to address them,” she said, naming several vital areas where data makes a difference in our lives; like censuses, surveys, civil registration and tracking progress of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Discussing some of the events this year, and some of which she will also be overseeing in her role as Assistant Secretary-General, Ms. Sandkjær mentioned the Statistical Commission and the Commission on Population and Development, which completed their sessions earlier this spring. She also described the significance of the fourth International Conference on Financing for Development, the High-level Political Forum (HLPF) this summer, and her role in managing the planning and preparation for the Second World Summit of Social Development, which will take place in Qatar in November.
International development makes a difference
As we wrapped up our interview, we asked Ms. Sandkjær what she wants people to know about international development and the difference it makes for people on the ground? “The main message from me is that it works, it makes a difference,” she said.
“When we get together as civil society, as academia, as a private sector, as Member States, as the UN, we can eradicate poverty. We can achieve social justice, and we have the experience. We have the results and the examples to show that it really works.”
To learn more about Ms. Sandkjær’s background and experience, access her biography here. Follow Ms. Sandkjær on LinkedIn here.
Expert Voices
The 2025 STI Forum: A decade of bridging frontier knowledge and policy for global progress
Pioneering scientists and innovators will descend upon New York this month for the UN’s Science, Technology and Innovation Forum. We spoke with our expert, Alex Röhrl, ahead of the Forum about how the Forum has brought together governments, scientists, and entrepreneurs to share new ideas and technology solutions that are making a real difference in fighting poverty, protecting the planet, and improving lives around the world for the past decade.
This year, the Forum is celebrating its 10th anniversary. What impact has the Forum had so far, in leveraging science, technology and innovation to boost progress on the global goals?
“Since its inception in 2016, the UN’s Forum on Science, Technology and Innovation has become the UN’s principal multi-stakeholder hub for bridging science and policy to achieve humanity’s goals and aspirations.
As the flagship annual event of the Technology Facilitation Mechanism, it has reintegrated science and technology discourse into UN Headquarters after decades of absence, catalyzing a wave of initiatives across the UN system. The Forum has brought together governments with thousands of innovators, researchers and entrepreneurs – many new to the UN – stimulating cross-disciplinary, cross-sectoral dialogue.
The Forum has helped surface and scale innovative solutions – ranging from solar-powered health diagnostics to AI for sustainable agriculture. Its science-policy briefs, compiled through global open calls, have addressed frontier areas like synthetic biology, digital public goods and carbon removal.
The Mechanism’s Inter-Agency Task Team now spans 51 UN entities working collaboratively, among others, on capacity-building, including national science and technology roadmaps, and analysis of frontier science and technology developments. Importantly, the Forum fosters inclusivity, with high participation from women scientists and stakeholders from developing countries, ensuring global technological progress is informed by diverse voices.”
What are some of the recent innovations that will help us advance sustainable development and improve peoples’ lives?
“Recent innovations showcased at past Forums offer concrete pathways toward the achievement of our global goals and aspirations. In 2024, youth-led innovations included, among others, inflatable flood barriers for climate resilience, off-grid milk pasteurizers enhancing rural food safety and portable solar-powered air pollution detectors for urban health monitoring.
On the frontier of science, the convergence of biotechnology and AI is enabling “labs-on-a-chip” that democratize access to genomic analysis, empowering community health surveillance and local biotech development – even in resource-limited settings. AI models are now being developed to optimize water use in agriculture, predict crop yields and enable early disease detection in plants and livestock.
Another promising area is sustainable materials. Researchers are developing biodegradable alternatives to plastics using microbes and seaweed. Meanwhile, the miniaturization and affordability of clean energy tech – like low-cost solar panels and microgrids – is helping electrify last-mile communities.
Many of these innovations emerge from the Global South, reflecting the growing strength of distributed innovation ecosystems. The Forum’s role has been pivotal in elevating these solutions onto the global stage and connecting innovators with funders and policy platforms.”
During this year’s Forum, there are sessions that connect with major upcoming events to protect our ocean and advance financing for sustainable development. Can you tell us how the Forum connects with these events, and how it also works to help solve some of the pressing issues that these events address?
“The Forum’s 10th session strategically aligns with two major milestones: the 2025 UN Ocean Conference and the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development. This alignment isn’t accidental – it reflects the Forum’s growing role in broader sustainable development processes. This year’s Forum will have dedicated thematic sessions on oceans and coastal ecosystems and on financing science and technology.
On oceans, the Forum explores science-based innovations for marine protection, from satellite-based fisheries monitoring to ocean-based carbon removal and blue biotechnology. In previous sessions, it highlighted the need for better marine data ecosystems and equitable access to ocean technologies, especially for small island developing States.
On financing, the Forum plays a bridging role, linking innovators with development finance actors. It showcases scalable technologies requiring investment and emphasizes the need for STI-inclusive public finance frameworks. It also builds the case for larger investments in science and technology as catalytic for overall progress, offering co-benefits in health, education and climate.
By convening technologists, policymakers and financiers in one space, the Forum fosters integrated solutions—like financing mechanisms to support community-driven tech innovations or blended finance for climate-smart infrastructure. It operates as a connector, incubator and catalyst across both themes.”
Artificial intelligence is revolutionizing our world. What do you see as some of the actionable pathways for AI to reduce inequalities, promote innovation and empower communities worldwide?
“AI holds immense potential to address global inequalities—but only if deployed inclusively. The STI Forum has emphasized that we must not simply ‘apply’ AI to existing systems but co-design it with affected communities to avoid reproducing biases or exclusions.
Actionable pathways include expanding AI capacity-building in the Global South through open-source tools, partnerships with research institutions and South-South collaboration. Community-driven AI projects—like early warning systems for floods or AI-assisted translation for endangered languages—can enhance resilience and preserve cultural diversity.
Another promising avenue is AI for public services. AI-powered health diagnostics can bring advanced care to remote clinics. In agriculture, AI can empower smallholder farmers with real-time guidance on planting and irrigation, improving yields and incomes.
Crucially, the Forum has called for governance innovation. This includes global norms for ethical AI, inclusive data governance and human rights-based frameworks. It has also advocated for investment in and sharing of AI research and infrastructure and the establishment of interdisciplinary science-policy interfaces to guide responsible AI scaling.
The 2025 STI Forum will continue this momentum, with a special focus on AI, helping policymakers and technologists chart equitable, innovative paths forward.”
The world has seen extraordinary social and economic progress over the past three decades. Yet, most people are dissatisfied with their lives: 60 per cent of the world’s population are struggling and 12 per cent are suffering, according to a recent global poll. Many also believe that life is worse now than it was 50 years ago. These are some of the key findings from the newly released World Social Report 2025. Here are 6 main takeaways.
1. The social contract is under threat
Rising insecurity and inequality are eroding trust and straining social bonds. While recent crises put insecurity and distrust in the spotlight, these problems have been building for decades.
2. Many people remain one misfortune away from poverty
More than a third of the world’s population lives on between $2.15 and $6.85 a day. Even a minor setback can push people into extreme poverty. In South Africa, for instance, 80 per cent of people experienced poverty at least once between 2008 and 2015.
3. Inequalities persist
Two-thirds of the world’s population live in countries where income inequality is growing. Without urgent action, leaving no one behind will remain a distant goal by 2030.
4. Insecurity and inequality are undermining cohesion and fueling distrust
Over half of the global population has little or no trust in their government. Alarmingly, trust levels have been declining from one generation to the next. The rapid spread of disinformation is exacerbating these troubling trends.
5. Market-first policies have failed to deliver inclusive social progress
Decades of deregulation, privatization, and austerity have sparked social backlash, sowing distrust and political anger.
6. Governments and the international community can chart a different course
Overcoming today’s social crisis and accelerating progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals requires fundamental shifts in policy, institutions, norms, and mindsets. The World Social Report 2025: A New Policy Consensus to Accelerate Social Progress, builds the case for a new policy consensus anchored in three principles—equity, economic security for all, and solidarity—essential to strengthening the three dimensions of sustainable development.
The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) announced recently that it ordered Meralco to refund its consumers the total amount of PhP19.95 billion representing “Meralco’s over-recovery of rates for the lapsed period from 01 July 2022 to 31 December 2024.” In a decision split 3-2, the ERC directed Meralco to return this over-recovery by decreasing its distribution charges by PhP0.1189 per kilowatt-hour (kWh) across all customer categories of the distribution utility over three years, or until the entire PhP19.95 billion is refunded. In response to this announcement, NASECORE, a consumer group led by former DOE Undersecretary Pete Ilagan, expressed that the decision favors Meralco and is detrimental to consumers, especially residential customers who face higher distribution charges compared to other customer categories. The group suggested an immediate audit of Meralco’s over-recovery and a full refund of the PhP19.95 billion, rather than spreading it over three years.
As a Meralco customer, I am pleased with any forthcoming rate reductions. However, I am frustrated that over the years, the ERC has permitted Meralco to implement interim distribution charges instead of fixed and final rates. This has allowed Meralco to collect more from its customers than it would have if the distribution charges had been pre-approved by the ERC, rather than relying on the current and legally questionable “lapsed period rate regulation,” which is tantamount to retroactive rate-making. This approach has led to various uncertainties and inequities, some of which NASECORE has highlighted. Despite the ERC’s recent refund order, the harm to all Meralco consumers, both large and small, has already been inflicted, and Meralco has already benefited from additional free cash to support its past operations.
Why has the situation arisen where Meralco is periodically required to refund billions of pesos based on the ERC’s true-up calculation of its “Actual Weighted Average Tariff (AWAT) compared to the Approved Final Distribution Rate Implemented During the Lapsed Period?” The explanation is straightforward – over the last decade or so, the ERC has not managed to conduct, finalize, and issue a conclusive rate-reset decision or Final Determination on Meralco’s rates. Had this been done, the concept of “lapsed period rate regulation” would not have been invented. Consequently, there would have been no over-recoveries in the implementation of Meralco’s distribution rates during the lapsed period, and no necessity for any refunds.
To be fair, the situation is not unique to Meralco. All other private distribution utilities (DUs) under performance-based rate-making face the same dilemma. Worse for them, rather, their customers, there seems to have been no urgency for them disclose and update all of their distribution charge over-recoveries to ERC and for ERC to direct them, similar to Meralco, to already implement their own refunds.
Over-recoveries and refunds are not gifts from the ERC to us, the consumers. Whether the refund is given all at once, as NASECORE suggests, or spread over three years, as decided by the 3-2 ERC majority, the PhP19.95 billion refund Order is a reminder of the ERC’s failure to effectively and timely regulate distribution tariffs, not only for Meralco but for all DUs, including all the Electric Cooperatives, across the country. Instead of celebrating the refund Order or debating the length of the refund period, we should collectively demand an improved system of distribution rate regulation that altogether eliminates the occasion and need for over-recoveries and refunds.
Partnering with youth to shape our sustainable future together
“We have witnessed how youth can mobilize global action,” said UN DESA’s Under-Secretary-General Li Junhua, stressing the importance of young people’s involvement in shaping a future that is more inclusive, peaceful, sustainable and fair. “Young people [are] showing up, contributing their skills, expertise, ideas and energy to solve the pressing challenges we are facing today so that future generations are better off,” Mr. Li said.
Mr. Li’s message was delivered to a room filled with youth leaders who had gathered for the 2024 edition of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) Youth Forum. Now it’s that time of the year again, when UN Headquarters will open its doors to young people from across the world, inviting them to be part of negotiations and actions that will help the world deliver a more sustainable future, that benefits us all.
Stressing how ECOSOC aims to put inclusivity front and center, its President, Ambassador Bob Rae (Canada), is emphasizing: “We bring together actors across different sectors to identify and commit to action that is going to be transformative and can have a tangible impact in countries and communities. […] I am committed to ensuring that we are leveraging these opportunities in an inclusive manner to promote action, ambition, innovation and engagement.”
As the world faces multiple crises, the demand for global solidarity and action is urgent. Described as the largest UN annual gathering of young people, the annual ECOSOC Youth Forum invites youth leaders to participate in discussions that will impact the future of their generation, and generations to come.
“Young people – young experts – need to be engaged in all the challenges that humanity faces today,” said Mr. Li Junhua. And the need has never been greater.
Taking place on 15-17 April 2025 at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, young people will work side-by-side with high-level UN officials and government representatives, delving into a range of pressing issues. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) under review at the 2025 High-level Political Forum (HLPF) on Sustainable Development will also be in focus at this year’s event.
Youth will be able to share their perspectives on good health and well-being (SDG 3), gender equality (SDG 5), decent work and economic growth (SDG 8), life below water (SDG 14), and partnerships for the goals (SDG 17). By emphasizing science- and evidence-based solutions, the Forum will also encourage innovative and data-driven approaches to addressing today’s most urgent challenges.
Indigenous Peoples spearhead action to claim their rights
Later this month, the 24th session of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII) kicks off at UN Headquarters in New York, bringing together Indigenous Peoples, government representatives, UN agencies and civil society from around the world. Ahead of the session, we spoke with Ms. Hindou Oumarou Ibrahim, Chair of UNPFII, about key developments and issues related to Indigenous Peoples and their rights.
In 2007, the UN General Assembly adopted the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. Where do we stand on its realization around the world?
“The UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) adopted in 2007, has significantly influenced global policies, but its full realization remains uneven. Some States have incorporated its principles into laws, supporting land rights, self-determination and cultural preservation. However, many Indigenous Peoples still face land dispossession, discrimination and violence. Implementation challenges stem from political resistance, economic interests and legal barriers. One of the main problems continues to be the recognition of Indigenous Peoples by some Member States. While international bodies and advocacy groups push for stronger enforcement, Indigenous Peoples continue to lead efforts for their rights. Progress varies, but UNDRIP remains a vital framework for advancing Indigenous Peoples’ rights worldwide.”
With the many crises around the world such as climate change and biodiversity loss, what are some of the biggest challenges that Indigenous Peoples face? How can Indigenous Peoples’ knowledge and practices contribute to environmental protection, climate adaptation and mitigation?
“Indigenous Peoples are guardians and stewards of Nature. We possess the knowledge of our lands, territories and environments. This knowledge is not theoretical; it has been tried and tested since time immemorial and for many generations. As Indigenous Peoples, we are dependent and interconnected with Mother Earth and vice versa. So, when the environment is impacted by the effects of climate change, Indigenous Peoples are directly impacted, as climate change affects our livelihoods, our food sovereignty, our cultures and traditions and our ability to live on our ancestral lands. At the same time, the world needs to listen to Indigenous Peoples, as we have solutions and knowledge. Through supporting Indigenous Peoples and ensuring their voices are included in important dialogues and decision-making on biodiversity and climate change, as well as ensuring that financial resources is provided directly to Indigenous Peoples, we can work together to mitigate climate change for all.”
In what ways does the UNPFII address the unique challenges faced by Indigenous women and girls?
“The UNPFII has always served as a critical platform to amplify the already strong voices of Indigenous women and girls. Indigenous women and girls face intersectional discrimination, because their gender and their identity as Indigenous Peoples. With this intersectionality in mind, Indigenous women and girls face marginalization in many facets of their lives, including economic, political and social development, culture, environment, education, health and human rights.
However, Indigenous women are essential to society – we possess unique knowledge, transmit this knowledge, culture and traditions and are critical leaders in our own communities and families. Over the two decades since the UNPFII was established, through the Forum as well as beyond the halls of the United Nations, Indigenous women and girls have advocated to secure their rights. This has resulted in achievements such as the realization of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, the ILO Convention 169 and more recently, the adoption of General Recommendation No. 39 of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Again Women (CEDAW), which provides an important tool to advance the implementation of Indigenous women’s rights and should be integrated into this broader discussion.”
For more information: UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Peoples
Photo credit: AFPAT.
Things You Need To Know
5 things you should know about financing for sustainable development
Financing is the fuel of development. With adequate financing, the world can tackle poverty, inequalities, hunger, education, and the climate crisis. Yet, the world faces a stark financing divide and shrinking fiscal space. Here are 5 things you should know about financing for sustainable development.
1. Sustainable development is a good investment
Investment in sustainable development is good value for money. For example, every $1 invested in girls’ education can generate a $2.80 return. Every $1 invested in water and sanitation can reduce health care costs by $4.30.
2. Financing gaps are large and growing
The SDG financing gap – an estimated $4 trillion shortfall in annual investment – has never been so large. This is up from an estimated $2.5 trillion in 2019.
3. Developing countries are facing high debt burdens that crowd out other spending
In 2023, developing countries spent a record $1.4 trillion to service their foreign debt. Around 3.3 billion people live in countries that spend more on debt interest payments than on health or education.
4. The international financial architecture needs urgent changes to ensure affordable access to finance
Many developing countries can’t access finance at affordable rates, especially during times of crisis. On average, developing countries face borrowing costs that are two to four times higher than developed countries pay.
5. The fourth International Conference on Financing for Development (FFD4) is a once-in-a-decade opportunity for change
In June, world leaders will come together at FFD4 in Sevilla, Spain to take action to deliver an SDG investment push. They will also work on reforming the international financial architecture to enable the transformative change that the world urgently needs. FFD4 will showcase the power of multilateral cooperation to tackle these global challenges, which far exceed the capacity of any single country to respond to.
Statisticians come together with a shared vision to secure trusted data
“Data are critically important for everyone,” says Stefan Schweinfest, Director of UN DESA’s Statistics Division. “All the decisions that you take in your life, you’re basing them on data,” he stressed, as we spoke on the important work of the UN Statistical Commission. On 4-7 March 2025, some 600 statisticians from across the world will come together at UN Headquarters in New York to ensure better data, better lives.
From everyday choices – what clothes to wear based on temperature data; or what route to take when commuting; to informing decisions that matter for improving peoples’ lives – it is all based on data. “You need to know how many people you have in your country and what groups you have to take particular care of,” Mr. Schweinfest said, explaining the importance of data in managing services like health care and education.
Commission to focus on two big topics this year
A veteran in the statistical community, we met Mr. Schweinfest on the eve of the Commission’s 56th session. He shared that two big topics will be addressed this year – the 2025 Systems of National Accounts, and the 2030 World Population and Housing Census Programme.
“We will adopt a new system of national accounts,” he explained, describing its most recognized element, the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). “The system of national accounts is the guidebook to measure your economy the same way, whether you are in Mongolia or in Paraguay,” he said, noting that using the same statistical language enables countries to successfully exchange information and experiences.
“Every decade, the United Nations calls and declares a census round,” Mr. Schweinfest continued, describing the process of countries committing to counting their people. The census will help the international community better understand where people live and what their living conditions are, which later forms the basis for policy advice and decisions. “At the end, we will have good numbers for all of the countries and the whole world,” he explained.
Combining census data with economic trends
Mr. Schweinfest also outlined the possibilities when pairing census data with economic trends.
“With the system of national accounts, you understand where income is generated, which activities generate income and how the income is distributed in your population,” he said. He also described how this process can help countries intervene when needed to make sure that the well-being of people as well as the environment are protected.
Mr. Schweinfest also emphasized that the work on going beyond GDP to make nature count, is part of ongoing efforts in the statistical community, integrating economic and environmental accounting.
How data helps advance sustainable development
“I’m very proud of the statistical community,” Mr. Schweinfest said, as we discussed the role the statistical community plays in advancing sustainable development and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
“I think the deliberate decision in 2015 was to make the development agenda an accountability framework. That’s why it was structured in goals, targets and indicators. And whilst the goals and targets obviously come from the political sphere, the indicators were really managed in this room,” he said, describing how these 240 indicators help the international community measure and assess SDG progress every year.
A professional community of solidarity, with a shared vision
As the UN Statistical Commission comes together this month, it will also discuss other important matters including the Fundamental Principles of Official Statistics, SDG indicators, environment and climate change statistics, environmental-economic accounting, household surveys, economic statistics, and many more topics.
Mr. Schweinfest described the privilege he feels, being part of the Commission’s work. “To look at this room full of people who’ve come to […] discuss these topics, that is always a fantastic feeling,” he said. “I look at us as a community of solidarity, a professional community with a shared vision,” he continued, stressing that it is all about ensuring data quality and reliability.
He also looked back at some major developments of the Commission’s work over the past 36 years. “It is a much bigger Commission,” he explained, sharing how there are many more countries participating. “Nowadays we have sessions with 120 and 140 countries […]. It has also become much bigger and broader in terms of topics,” he said, highlighting integrated economic and environmental statistics, as well as human rights and governance statistics, as some of the new areas covered by the Commission.
Mr. Schweinfest also highlighted that there are more interesting data sources these days, including private sector data, big data, citizen reported data, geographical and geospatial data.
As we wrapped up our interview in Conference Room 4 at UN Headquarters, or the Commission’s “natural habitat”, as Mr. Schweinfest described it, he concluded, “I’ve always considered that this is the best job in the universe.”
How the Development Cooperation Forum delivers SDG impact
This month, the Development Cooperation Forum (DCF) will come together to discuss global financial architecture reforms and financing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Ahead of the event, we spoke with Shari Spiegel, Director of UN DESA Financing for Sustainable Development Office, who highlighted the Forum’s significance in shaping international development cooperation and accelerating progress toward the goals.
What role does the Forum play in supporting other significant milestones for 2025?
“The DCF is particularly crucial this year as it will inform the 4th International Conference on Financing for Development and the 2025 High-Level Political Forum—especially discussions on strengthening global financial architecture reforms and enhancing the means of implementations of the SDGs. More than just a policy dialogue, the 2025 DCF presents a key opportunity to ensure development cooperation delivers real, measurable results in line with country needs and priorities.”
What key issues will the Forum address this year?
“The 2025 Forum comes at a pivotal moment amid a lively global discourse on the importance of international development cooperation. With 600 million people still projected to live in extreme poverty by 2030 and an SDG financing gap of up to $4 trillion annually, discussions at the Forum will focus on making development cooperation more effective, inclusive, and responsive to country needs and priorities.
On day one, the Forum will explore how development cooperation can better respond to today’s challenges, balancing crisis response with long-term sustainable development. Discussions will also examine how development finance tools and instruments—such as grants, loans, and blended finance—can be adapted to better serve national development strategies. Strengthening country leadership and ownership in directing development efforts will also be a major theme.
On day two, the focus will shift to enhancing coordination among development partners, ensuring that cooperation is driven by national needs and priorities. The Forum will also explore ways to strengthen global and regional cooperation, making development efforts more cohesive and impactful.”
How does the Forum help advance the SDGs?
“A key discussion in the Forum will be how to ensure we advance all of the SDGs not just a select few, especially by balancing humanitarian aid with long-term development and climate adaptation. Experts will also address the growing fragmentation of development finance and strategies to ensure stronger collaboration across all actors.”
Learn more about the Development Cooperation Forum 2025, taking place on 12-13 March under the theme “Transforming International Development Cooperation: From Global Dialogue to Action,” here.
Things You Need To Know
5 reasons why the International Day of Forests matters
This year’s International Day of Forests highlights the vital role of forests in food security, nutrition, and sustainable livelihoods. This year’s theme, “Forests and Foods,” connects forests to global efforts to combat hunger, protect biodiversity, and address climate change. Here are 5 reasons why this year’s theme is so important.
1. Forests feed the world
Forests provide a variety of edible resources, from fruits, nuts, and seeds to wild game and mushrooms. More than five billion people depend on forests and non-timber products for food, medicine, and income.
By sustaining pollinators, improving soil fertility, and regulating water cycles, forests enhance agricultural productivity. Agroforestry—a farming method that integrates trees and crops—can boost food security while preserving ecosystems.
Forests act as carbon sinks, absorbing billions of metric tonnes of CO₂ annually. Sustainable forest management helps mitigate climate change, protecting food systems from climate-related disasters like droughts and floods.
Forests host 80% of terrestrial species, supporting ecosystems that sustain healthy, resilient food systems. Protecting forests is crucial for maintaining biodiversity, preventing land degradation, and securing food sources.
Millions, especially Indigenous Peoples and rural communities, rely on forests for employment and income. Strengthening sustainable forest-based value chains—like non-timber forest products—improves economic resilience.
The International Day of Forests, observed annually on 21 March is led by the UN Forum on Forests Secretariat, UN DESA, and FAO to raise awareness and promote sustainable management, conservation and sustainable development of all forests and trees for present and future generations. This year’s International Day of Forests reminds us that forests and food are deeply interconnected.
Join the conversation using #ForestDay and help advocate for sustainable forest management and food security for all! You can also join the event at UN Headquarters in-person or through UN WebTV.
