Good morning, world! Renewables overtook coal as the globe’s biggest source of electricity in the first half of the year. One reason is that China added more solar and wind capacity than the rest of the world combined. Today, my colleague Keith Bradsher explains how it’s done.
This summer, I got a good look at China’s clean-energy future, more than 3,000 meters above sea level in Tibet.
Solar panels stretch to the horizon and cover an area seven times the size of Manhattan. (They soak up sunlight that is much brighter than at sea level because the air is so thin.) Wind turbines dot nearby ridgelines, capturing night breezes. Hydropower dams sit where rivers spill down long chasms at the edges of the plateau. And high-voltage power lines carry this electricity to businesses and homes more than 1,500 kilometers away.
The intention is to harness the region’s bright sunshine, cold temperatures and sky-touching altitude to power the plateau and beyond, including data centers used in China’s A.I. development.
While China still burns as much coal as the rest of the world combined, last month President Xi Jinping promised to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions and expand renewable energy by sixfold in the coming years. A big part of that effort is in sparsely inhabited Qinghai, a province in western China in a region known among the Tibetans as Amdo. I came as part of a government-organized media tour of clean-energy sites in Qinghai, which usually bars foreign journalists to hide dissent by its large ethnic Tibetan population. (The Times paid for my travel.) Today, I’ll tell you what I saw.
A huge effort
Source: Satellite imagery by Planet, July 2025. By Mira Rojanasakul/The New York Times
China is not the first country to experiment with high-altitude clean energy. But other places — in Switzerland and Chile, for instance — are mountainous and steep. Qinghai, slightly bigger than France, is mostly flat. That’s perfect for solar panels and the roads needed to bring them in. And the cold air improves the panels’ efficiency. The ones in Qinghai could run every household in Chicago. And China is building more, including panels at 5,000 meters.
The main group of solar farms, known as the Talatan Solar Park, dwarfs every other cluster of solar farms in the world. It covers 420 square kilometers in Gonghe County, an alpine desert.
Electricity from solar and wind power in Qinghai (the birthplace of the current Dalai Lama, now in exile) costs about 40 percent less than coal-fired power. As a result, several electricity-intensive industries are moving to the region. One type of plant turns quartzite from mines into polysilicon to make solar panels. And Qinghai plans to quintuple the number of data centers in the province. At this altitude, they consume 40 percent less electricity than centers at sea level because they barely need air-conditioning. (Air warmed by the servers is piped away to heat other buildings.)
Where sheep roam
Source: Global Solar Atlas. By Mira Rojanasakul/The New York Times
As an incentive to build solar farms, many western Chinese provinces initially offered free land to companies. When the Talatan solar project installed its first panels in 2012, they were low to the ground. Ethnic Tibetan herders use the region’s sparse vegetation to graze their sheep, but the animals had trouble getting to the grass. Now, installers place the panels on higher mountings.
Dislocating people for power projects is politically sensitive all over the world. But high-altitude projects affect relatively few people. China pushed more than one million people out of their homes in west-central China a quarter-century ago and flooded a vast area for the reservoir of the Three Gorges Dam. This year, China has been installing enough solar panels every three weeks to match the power-generation capacity of that dam.
What the data tell us about equality between women and men
The newly released Gender Snapshot 2025 paints a nuanced picture of progress towards gender equality. On one hand, there have been historic gains: girls are more likely to complete school than ever before, and maternal mortality fell by nearly 40 per cent between 2000 and 2023. Women’s participation in climate negotiations has doubled. In the past five years alone, 99 positive legal reforms have been enacted to dismantle discrimination.
Yet significant setbacks persist. If current trends continue, 351 million women and girls could still be living in extreme poverty by 2030. In 2024, nearly 64 million more women than men faced moderate or severe food insecurity, with anaemia among women aged 19-45 years projected to rise from 31 per cent today to 33 per cent in 2030. Women spend on average 2.5 times as many hours on unpaid care and domestic work as men. Only 30 per cent of managerial roles globally are held by women – a pace of change so slow that parity remains nearly a century away.
At the same time, targeted investment can be transformational. Closing the gender digital divide alone could add $1.5 trillion to global GDP by 2030. Accelerated action and interventions focused on care, education, the green economy, labour markets and social protection could unlock an estimated $342 trillion in cumulative economic returns by 2050.
The report’s main message is clear: gender equality is more than a moral imperative; it is an economic and social necessity. The 2030 deadline to meet the Sustainable Development Goals is fast approaching, and the next five years will determine whether the world seizes this opportunity – or allows hard-won gains to slip away.
Sharing benefits of transformation broadly, leaving no one behind
Preparations are ramping up for the Second World Summit for Social Development taking place in Doha in less than two months. Expected to gather leaders from around the world, the Summit will seek ways to accelerate social progress and continue efforts to put people at the center of sustainable development. We spoke with UN DESA’s Neil Pierre about this milestone event and what he hopes it will achieve.
It’s been 30 years since the landmark World Summit on Social Development was convened in Copenhagen, Denmark. Reflecting on the past three decades, what progress have we made and what more do we need to do as inequalities have risen?
“Since the 1995 World Summit on Social Development, the world has seen major progress in poverty reduction. The share of people living in extreme poverty fell from 33 per cent in 1995 to 8.5 per cent in 2024, and over one billion people have escaped poverty. However, progress has slowed sharply since 2019, with many at risk of sliding back.
Inequalities remain a serious challenge. 65 per cent of the world’s population lives in countries where income inequality has increased since the 1990s. Wealth is highly concentrated, with the richest 10 per cent holding 76 per cent of global wealth, while the poorest half owns only two per cent. Labour income shares have declined, and gaps in education and health outcomes persist. Children in the richest households are far more likely to avoid stunting and attend school compared to those in the poorest households, especially in sub-Saharan Africa.
Social protection remains uneven: nearly half of the world’s people lack coverage, and in low-income countries, fewer than 10 per cent have access. High-income countries are close to universal coverage, but developing nations lag far behind, leaving the most vulnerable exposed to poverty and climate shocks.
In short, poverty has declined, but progress is fragile. Inequalities, gaps in access to education and health, and weak social protection systems show how much remains to be done.”
What outcomes and commitments can we expect from the Second World Summit for Social Development in Doha? How will this Summit move beyond the 1995 Copenhagen commitments to address today’s challenges of digital transformation, climate change and rising inequalities?
“The Second World Summit in Doha will deliver a Political Declaration reaffirming global commitments to social development. Member States recognize the urgency of tackling poverty, unemployment, and exclusion, while addressing structural causes and consequences in line with human rights.
The Declaration builds on the Copenhagen commitments by reaffirming the three pillars of social development: poverty eradication, decent work, and social integration. It emphasizes their interdependence and the need for enabling environments that allow them to be pursued together. It links social development directly with peace, security, and human rights, underscoring that one cannot exist without the others.
The Declaration also reaffirms the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals, with a promise to “leave no one behind.” It acknowledges today’s realities, including climate change, digital transformation, and widening inequalities, and calls for holistic approaches to eradicate both extreme and multidimensional poverty. It highlights resilience, inclusion, and combating the feminization of poverty.
Finally, it commits to inclusive, sustainable economic growth, full employment, decent work for all, and cohesive societies grounded in solidarity, equality, and human dignity.”
How can we harness new tools—such as digital participation, community-led innovations, and inclusive governance platforms—to make multilateralism truly people-centered?
“The Summit will highlight how digital participation, innovation, and inclusive governance can help achieve people-centered multilateralism. Building on the Pact for the Future, it will stress the role of stakeholders in harnessing transformative technologies to advance social development.
Investment will be a key focus, including international cooperation and South-South collaboration, to support developing countries in poverty eradication and social inclusion. Discussions will call for equitable access to markets, investments, and technologies, while boosting productivity, diversification, and digital innovation.
Youth employment and skills development will be central. The Summit will promote policies that expand access to education, vocational training, lifelong learning, digital literacy, entrepreneurship, and universal social protection. This also includes addressing informal work, ensuring fair wages, safe conditions, and full respect for workers’ rights.
A major priority will be closing digital divides within and between countries. The Summit will promote safe and affordable access to digital infrastructure, public goods, and emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence. At the same time, it will stress responsible governance to prevent harm and risks.
By linking technology, governance, and social inclusion, the Summit aims to ensure that the benefits of transformation are shared broadly, leaving no one behind.”
7 ways UN DESA boosts change through multilateral action
Image
With just five years remaining to achieve the 2030 Agenda, the world stands at a crossroads. The past year has brought unprecedented challenges—from converging crises, rising geopolitical tensions to persistent inequalities that have tested our collective resolve and threatened progress on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Yet, this period has also sparked bold innovation, renewed partnerships, and fresh momentum for multilateral action.
UN DESA’s annual Highlights 2025 reportcaptures seven transformative ways the Department has supported Member States and partners to drive SDG progress during the 79th session of the General Assembly.
1. Accelerating action for the SDGs
Amidst global uncertainty, UN DESA has served as the intergovernmental nexus of the UN development pillar. The Department supported Member States through pivotal moments, including the adoption of the Pact for the Future at the Summit of the Future, revitalizing global cooperation. UN DESA also supported the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF), advancing SDG localization, science and technology innovation, and multistakeholder partnerships.
2. Reducing poverty and inequality
UN DESA has called for a bold new global policy consensus to leave no one behind. As reflected in the World Social Report 2025, the Department outlined pathways to universal social protection, decent work, and inclusive institutions. Its initiatives have empowered marginalized communities, advanced disability inclusion, and promoted economic models designed to leave no one behind.
3. Ensuring sustainable financing
Addressing the heart of the sustainable development crisis, UN DESA played a pivotal role in reshaping the global financing landscape. The historic Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development in Sevilla, Spain brought together world leaders to adopt the landmark Sevilla Commitment. Breakthrough achievements in international tax cooperation and tailored support for Small Island Developing States (SIDS) have opened new avenues for sustainable investment.
4. Making data count
Robust, high-quality data remains the foundation of effective policymaking. UN DESA’s critical role in setting global standards, launching the 2030 World Population and Housing Census Programme, and mainstreaming gender perspectives in official statistics has enabled countries to monitor and accelerate SDG progress with evidence-based solutions.
5. Strengthening national institutions and accountability
UN DESA has strengthened governance by supporting effective, accountable, and inclusive public institutions. This year, the Department convened global leaders and innovators at the 2025 United Nations Public Service Forum, launched a cutting-edge E-Government Toolkit to modernize public service delivery, and energized digital cooperation through the Internet Governance Forum, which broke participation records and sparked vibrant global dialogue.
6. Ending the war on nature
UN DESA’s integrated approach to the triple planetary crisis has mobilized transformative action. From the “Our ocean, our future” declaration at the UN Ocean Conference to $1.4 trillion in commitments under the Energy Compacts, and leadership in climate and forest conservation, the Department is advancing holistic solutions for people and planet.
7. Framing the future of development
Strategic foresight and anticipatory action are at the heart of UN DESA’s work to navigate global uncertainty. Through flagship reports, innovative AI-powered tools, macroeconomic modeling, and youth engagement, the Department is equipping Member States and the UN system to meet both present and future challenges.
Read more about these achievements in the UN DESA Annual Highlights Report available here.
A decade of change: How the SDGs are transforming the lives of millions worldwide
Amid the shimmering heat and sleek skyline of Manama, Bahrain, Eman Fareed methodically pinches off bits of dough and spaces the soon-to-be cookies evenly on a baking tray in her kitchen. A retired civil servant and a mother, she opened her own business. “I named my company ‘Brown Sugar’ because I am Brown and I like sugar,” Fareed says, laughing.
The enterprise emerged as a result of her passion for sweets and the support of Kaaf Humanitarian. This Bahraini non-profit has become a grassroots model for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by empowering individuals and communities to achieve self-reliance.
“They show me how to go in my life,” Fareed adds as tears roll down her cheeks. “This is a story I will tell my child, how I become a good and a strong woman.”
Eman Fareed is just one among the millions of people whose lives have continued to improve in the 10 years since the world embarked on one of its most ambitious journeys yet – achieving the SDGs.
Her story, featured by UN News, serves as a reminder that behind the 17 bright-colored tiles are more than eight billion people who deserve and strive for a prosperous, dignified and fulfilling future – on a healthy and thriving planet.
Much progress has been made
Since 2015, when the historic 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development became a lighthouse, guiding global efforts to create a better future for all, many people’s stories have been changed for the better.
Behind the bright red tile of SDG 1: No Poverty are the 4.2 billion people, or 52.4 per cent of the world’s population, who now have access to at least one social protection benefit. This is an increase of 10 percentage points since the SDGs were launched. Over the past decade, the bottom 40 per cent of populations in most countries experienced higher income and consumption growth than the national average. Internet use expanded from 40 per cent in 2015 to 68 per cent in 2024 – connecting millions more to opportunities for education, work and participation in politics and beyond.
“We have seen a significant decline in child marriage, and maternal and child mortality rates have fallen,” said UN DESA Under-Secretary-General Li Junhua. At this intersection of SDG 5: Gender Equality and SDG 3: Good Health and Well-Being, are the millions of lives saved, and the millions of deaths prevented.
Behind the crimson tile of SDG 4: Quality Education are the 110 million more children who have entered school since 2015. Over the past 10 years, schooling completion rates have been rising at all levels of education, and the gender gap has been continuously narrowing.
This list of advances made in the name of the SDGs over the past decade is far from complete: many more have been made, and many more lives have been improved. Such inspiring progress comes as a result of a years-long national and international effort.
Since 2015, 190 countries, plus the European Union, have presented their Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs) at least once, demonstrating a global commitment to working toward the 2030 Agenda, promoting accountability and sharing good practices and lessons learned from the ground up.
“These are not isolated wins. They are signs of momentum. Signs that multilateralism can deliver,” said UN Secretary‑General António Guterres.
Five more years ahead
Still, the roadblocks on the way to a safer and more equal future for all persist.
“Despite these important gains, the convergence of conflicts, climate chaos, geopolitical tensions, and economic shocks continue to obstruct progress at the pace and scale needed to meet our 2030 commitments,” Mr. Li said.
According to this year’s Sustainable Development Goals Report, only 35 per cent of SDG targets are on track or making moderate progress. Nearly half are moving too slowly, and 18 per cent are going backwards. But it is not a reason for desperation. Instead, it is a call for more urgent action.
“The Sustainable Development Goals are not a dream. They are a plan – a plan to keep our promises to the most vulnerable people, to each other, and to future generations,” Mr. Guterres said. “With five years left, it’s time to transform these sparks of transformation into a blaze of progress – for all countries. Let us act with determination, justice and direction. And let’s deliver on development – for people and for planet.”
Expert Voices
Why the way we measure poverty matters
Around the world, over 800 million people live in extreme poverty and 1.1 billion people are still living in multidimensional poverty. As part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, efforts are ongoing to improve the situation and to once and for all eradicate poverty. But why does the way we measure poverty matter for global efforts towards its eradication? We asked Sabina Alkire, Director of the Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative at the University of Oxford, to explain.
Why does the way we measure poverty matter?
“We measure poverty, fundamentally, to provide essential information required to guide actions that reduce poverty and to evaluate whether poverty has gone down.
One aspect of poverty is clearly monetary. As Amartya Sen put it, money is a general-purpose means that enables people to access many important things. However, many people cannot build a road if there is none nearby, nor build and run a school or health clinic or create decent jobs for their family. They might not even be able to draw water or electricity to their house or improve its flooring and fix the roof.
We measure multidimensional poverty to guide actions for people whose capabilities are constrained in several overlapping ways (maybe related to health and nutrition, education, housing, work or security) at the same time.”
In your work, you address the measurement of multidimensional poverty. What does that mean?
“Following Sen again, a poverty measure first sets the space or ingredients of poverty. A multidimensional poverty index – or MPI – usually consults the protagonists (people experiencing poverty) as well as government actors and identifies a core set of deprivations that tend to comprise poverty.
Next a measure identifies who is poor. In our case, people who have a critical mass of deprivations at the same time are identified as multidimensionally poor. It aggregates this information across people so that we can assess which groups are poorest – by age, location, gender, disability status, race and ethnicity and so on. Anti-poverty actions can then target the poorest groups or households.
To guide actions that reduce poverty, we break down MPI by its component indicators. Knowing the structure of poverty – how many poor people are deprived in each indicator, and which indicator combinations are most common – empowers actors to design cost-effective and integrated policy responses.
Finally, the measures are updated regularly, to see whether poverty reduced, and whether the poorest groups reduced poverty the fastest – which means poverty reduction can be celebrated as leaving no one behind, and new goals set for the next period.”
What opportunities does the Second World Summit for Social Development (WSSD2) create in this area?
“MPIs, which emerged since the 1995 Copenhagen World Summit for Social Development (WSSD1), are a potentially powerful and central tool to advance WSSD2 aims. We hope that WSSD2 will create opportunities to share the potential contribution that multidimensional poverty metrics can have going forward – for example by advancing multiple interconnected SDGs efficiently until 2030 and LNOB.
We hope that future global goals will assess poverty reduction using absolute and relative changes, and changes in the number of people living in poverty – so the diagnoses of success acknowledge progress in the poorest places. And we hope that WSSD2 will also engage MPIs, as much current research does, when overlaying poverty and climate hazards, analysing gendered patterns of poverty, discussing left-behind groups like children, and prioritising poverty data needs.
In fiscally tight times, we need clear, accurate, highly policy relevant metrics that illuminate WSSD2’s high priority areas and diagnose success. MPI might be an option to consider.”
For more information on MPIs: What is the global MPI?
For details on WSSD2: Second World Summit on Social Development
Sabina Alkire is Director of the Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI) at the University of Oxford; and a member of the Committee for Development Policy (CDP).
Photo credit: John Cairns Photography
Things You Need To Know
7 things you should know about accelerating social progress
As the world prepares for the Second World Summit for Social Development in November in Qatar, momentum is building to accelerate social progress. The need to put people at the center of development has never been more urgent. Inequality, exclusion, insecurity, and mistrust in institutions are rising, but so too is global demand to build a more inclusive and resilient future. Here are seven things you should know about accelerating social progress:
1. It’s about people, not just policies
Social progress means ensuring that everyone, across generations, regions, and communities, can live with dignity, opportunity, and security. It is driven by investments in education, decent work, health, housing, and social protection.
2. Social development is a catalyst
Inclusive societies are safer, stronger, and more stable. With well-designed social policies, communities can navigate crucial transitions, digital, demographic, and ecological, fairly and effectively. Partnerships with think tanks and academia provide the research and evidence needed for effective, people-centred policy.
3. Social progress and a healthy planet go hand in hand
A just green transition must put people and the planet first, lifting communities while safeguarding ecosystems. Social progress cannot come at the cost of our environment; rather, it is about creating sustainable futures for all.
4. Social progress is not automatic
Left unattended, inequalities deepen. Advancing social progress requires deliberate choices: inclusive policies, strong institutions, and collective action. Governments, civil society, the private sector, and individuals all share responsibility to break cycles of poverty and exclusion.
5. Digital transformation must advance inclusion
The digital revolution and artificial intelligence (AI) are reshaping societies. To accelerate progress, these innovations must go hand-in-hand with trust, ethics, and universal access, ensuring that technology empowers rather than excludes.
6. The 2030 Agenda is at stake
Poverty eradication, full employment and decent work, and social integration — the three pillars of the Summit — are also central to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Accelerating social progress is essential to rescuing the 2030 Agenda.
7. Everyone has a voice
The UN’s global campaign, Accelerating Social Progress, invites people everywhere to share what social progress means to them. From young innovators to older persons, from workers to caregivers, these voices are shaping the vision of a more inclusive world.
The Summit in Doha will be a historic moment to recommit to people-centred multilateralism and chart a path toward a fairer, more secure, and more sustainable future.
Share your voice here by 8 September 2025 on what social progress means to you.
Ten years of the Sustainable Development Goals: progress, setbacks, and a path forward
By Bjørg Sandkjær, Assistant Secretary-General for Policy Coordination, UN DESA
As we mark the tenth anniversary of the Sustainable Development Goals, it’s time for both reflection and renewed determination. Over the next five years, we must protect hard-won gains and accelerate action – so no child is pushed into poverty by a crisis, no worker is trapped in insecurity, and no household is left behind by transitions.
The numbers – compiled by UN DESA in our annual Sustainable Development Goals Report – tell a compelling story of progress since the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development was adopted in 2015.
Today, over half the global population has access to some form of social protection – an important step towards improving people’s wellbeing. More than 90 per cent of people worldwide now have electricity, while Internet access has jumped by 70 per cent since 2015. We’re seeing more girls completing school as gender gaps in education continue to narrow.
These numbers represent millions of lives transformed, opportunities created, and barriers broken down.
What is particularly encouraging is how science, technology, and innovation have become central to how countries approach development. Through platforms like the STI Forum, we’re witnessing how innovation can make development more inclusive, especially for those often left behind – including in small island developing States and Least Developed Countries.
But the reality is that only about a third of SDG targets are on track, and 18 per cent are moving in the wrong direction. This is a wake-up call. The world faces extraordinary challenges – conflicts, climate chaos, economic instability – that test our collective resolve.
Inequalities remain stubbornly high and many people struggle to earn adequate incomes in precarious jobs. As UN DESA’s World Social Report 2025 shows, people’s frustration is turning into distrust and straining the foundations of social cohesion and global solidarity.
The hopeful truth is that we know what works: sustained investment in quality public services; universal social protection; decent work and productive employment; and institutions that are inclusive, accountable and trusted.
Progress happens where there’s strong leadership, smart and sustained investment, and genuine inclusion. We’ve seen this formula succeed across diverse contexts, proving that the SDGs are achievable.
As we approach the final stretch to 2030, the choice before us is clear: retreat into fragmentation or advance with solidarity and cooperation. The recent successful Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development in Sevilla showed that the global community can still come together to address systemic challenges – from the $4 trillion SDG financing gap to reforming international financial architecture.
The upcoming Second World Summit on Social Development can lead to concrete actions and key investments in people, in social protection and in public services. The process of the Summit is as important as its outcomes – the Summit can help restore people’s trust in institutions if we see wide participation from all stakeholders, and if people are informed about the commitments made and the actions being taken to meet these commitments.
Multilateral cooperation is not a luxury – it is a practical necessity for the future we want. The next five years will define whether we deliver on the promise of leaving no one behind.
The SDGs were designed because our greatest challenges are shared. Our solutions must be as well.
“The multilateral system is the best we’ve got. There is no other system that can help us to deal with our global problems,” says Bob Rae, President of the Economic and Social Council and Permanent Representative of Canada to the United Nations. As the international community is getting ready to convene for the 2025 High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development this month, Ambassador Rae stresses the opportunities for multilateral action.
“The Pact for the Future, as well as the SDG Political Declaration of 2023, have given us the chance to define a common vision to advance sustainable development. Now is the time to reaffirm our collective commitment to the 2030 Agenda and to take decisive action to address today’s interlocking crises,” says Mr. Rae.
The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are shared pathway to building an inclusive, peaceful, thriving and healthy world for all. We must act now, and act boldly. With only five years remaining, we cannot afford to lose momentum on our 2030 promise. The time for words has passed, now is the time for action.
This call to action comes at a moment of global urgency. The world is facing multiple, overlapping crises—from conflict and economic slowdown to rising inequalities, and an accelerating climate emergency. The implementation of the SDGs has become more critical than ever. Alarming, acute hunger reached a record high in 2025 with 343 million people experiencing severe food insecurity. According to the United Nations, the number of forcibly displaced people reached 122.1 million by the end of April 2025.
“Urgent action is critical to reverse alarming trends and consolidate hard-won gains,” said UN Secretary-General António Guterres. “While progress has been uneven and limited on several Goals, notable achievements across regions and countries demonstrate that change is possible.”
Even though extreme poverty has declined around the world despite the profound impact of the global pandemic, there are still over 700 million people living in extreme poverty, and the risk of falling into, or back into, poverty remains high, driven by compounded shocks and crises.
As UN DESA’s Under-Secretary-General Li Junhua said, “bold actions are essential to turn the corner and show the world that multilateralism can still deliver.”
Countdown to 2030: How the HLPF is turning commitment into action andimpact
On the cusp of the 10th anniversary of the adoption of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which launched the Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs), thirty-seven countries will present bold actions they have taken to advance the SDGs at the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development, to be held on 14-23 July at UN Headquarters in New York.
Under the theme, Advancing sustainable, inclusive, science- and evidence-based solutions for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for leaving no one behind, the HLPF will review in depth Goals 3 (good health and well-being), 5 (gender equality), 8 (decent work and economic growth), 14 (life below water) and 17 (partnerships for the goals) will be reviewed in depth.
The HLPF will also feature a series of special events and close to 190 side events (on-site, off-site and virtual) bringing together governments, international organizations, the private sector and other key stakeholders engaged in the SDGs implementation.
Get the latest event updates on the HLPF website here and follow live via UN Web TV.
Expert Voices
Volume 29 | No.7 | July 2025
Meet the experts helping chart a course to a more sustainable future
When tackling the world’s biggest challenges — from deepening inequalities and economic uncertainty to the climate crisis — it helps to have some of the sharpest global minds at the table. That’s the role of the UN High-level Advisory Board on Economic and Social Affairs (HLAB), a group of 22 distinguished thought leaders in fields such as economics, finance, demography, the environment, and gender equality.
Convened by UN DESA, this diverse group includes former Heads of State, a Nobel Laureate, former senior government officials and intellectual leaders from all regions. They offer independent, cross-disciplinary insights to help shape the UN thinking on sustainable development and bring us closer to a world that leaves no one behind.
The HLAB recently launched its third term with a multi-day session in Bangkok, Thailand. These meetings, held twice a year, are led by UN DESA Under-Secretary-General Li Junhua and include participation from the Principals of the UN Regional Commissions and UNCTAD, among other special guests. Key takeaways are shared with senior UN leadership—including the Secretary-General—to inform decision-making in support of sustainable development.
But the HLAB’s impact goes beyond internal discussions.
Through the UN DESA Global Policy Dialogue Series, HLAB members engage and share their expertise directly with the public—from civil society, students, policymakers and people working toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In Bangkok, members participated in an interactive policy dialogue at Chulalongkorn University titled “Converging Crises, Shared Solutions: Applying Lessons from Asia and the Pacific to Global Challenges,” showcasing SDG good practices for an online and in-person audience.
Before the next HLAB meeting this fall, many of them will participate in Policy Dialogues alongside major UN events in July, including the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development (FFD4) and the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF). By connecting global expertise with inclusive dialogue, HLAB is helping to turn big-picture goals into concrete actions and lighting the way toward a more sustainable future for all.
For the full list of HLAB members, please visit the HLAB website. To register for the upcoming Policy Dialogues at FFD4 and HLPF, please visit the Policy Dialogues website.
Things You Need To Know
Volume 29 | No.7 | July 2025
4 things you should know about the latest data on SDG progress
This month, the world will come together at the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) to assess where we stand in our joint efforts to achieve the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Where are we advancing, and where are we falling behind? To guide this work, UN DESA’s Statistics Division is launching the latest Sustainable Development Goals Report 2025. Here are 4 things you need to know.
1. The report provides a comprehensive picture of global progress
With only five years left to achieve the SDGs, the report provides a comprehensive picture of global progress and gives readers a compelling reminder of why the Goals matter now more than ever for our shared future. 10 years into the implementation of the 2030 Agenda, the report highlights notable achievements in some key areas: new HIV infections have dropped by 39 per cent since 2010; malaria prevention efforts have saved 12.7 million lives; and 110 million more children and youth are in school now than in 2015. Internet access has surged 70 per cent since 2015 and electricity now reaches 92 per cent of the world’s population. These are numbers reflect real progress made and real lives transformed.
2. Data reveals a harsh reality for many
At the same time, the report reveals some harsh realities. One in 11 people still suffer from hunger, and billions lack access to safe drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene. Gender inequality persists with women performing 2.5 times as many hours per day of unpaid care work as men. The global landscape is growing more challenging: escalating conflicts, growing geopolitical tensions, record-breaking global temperatures, unsustainable debt burdens, and a staggering $4 trillion annual financing gap that hinders progress in developing countries.
3. Scaled up actions and solutions can advance progress
Despite these obstacles, the message is clear: progress is possible if we scale up solutions and build on hard-won gains. Grounded in the latest evidence, the 2025 edition of the report will help shape policy discussions at the HLPF and guide evidence-based decisions to get the SDGs back on track.
4. Follow the report launch on 14 July to get the latest SDG data
Strengthening solidarity and inclusion for social development
30 years ago, world leaders united around a groundbreaking commitment to put people at the centre of development. At the World Summit for Social Development in Copenhagen, they pledged to eradicate poverty, promote social integration, and achieve full and productive employment for all.
Efforts to make this promise a reality continue. Every year at the Commission for Social Development, the international community gathers to accelerate the commitments made in the Copenhagen Declaration on Social Development, while addressing emerging global challenges.
This year’s session will convene from 10 to 14 February in New York under the theme: “Strengthening solidarity, social inclusion and social cohesion to accelerate the delivery of the commitments of the Copenhagen Declaration on Social Development and Programme of Action of the World Summit for Social Development as well as the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development”.
High-level panels and side events will bring together UN Member States, civil society, and experts to identify actionable strategies for building equitable and united societies.
As we approach the Second World Summit for Social Development taking place on 4-6 November in Doha, this year’s Commission highlights the importance of strengthening solidarity and social inclusion to achieve more cohesive societies, placing people at the centre of development. It is a call for renewed cooperation to ensure that no one is left behind in the global pursuit of social progress, justice and sustainable development.
As 2025 marks the 30th Anniversary of the 1995 Copenhagen Declaration, the Summit in Doha represents a pivotal moment for the global community to renew the commitment to inclusion, equality, and sustainability. It will be a chance to come together for a more resilient world, where everyone is included.
“Partnering as equals in co-creating a better future”
Expert Voices
“We will not be able to make progress on the Sustainable Development Goals without […] a full sense of partnership,” said ECOSOC President Ambassador Bob Rae, as we spoke with him ahead of the 2025 ECOSOC Partnership Forum on 5 February at UN Headquarters in New York. “The actual implementation of most of the agenda of the United Nations depends on the deep engagement and commitment of civil society.”
What does partnership mean to you?
“I think it means everything. One of the key lessons that I’ve learned over my political and diplomatic life is how to work in collaboration with Member States, with civil society representatives, and all kinds of groups and people who want to engage. It is really at the heart of ECOSOC’s mission.
The UN Charter makes it clear that we are the institution that has the primary responsibility for engagement with civil society. The record shows that our key role reflects the presence of many civil society organizations in the drafting process of the of the Charter itself, and in the hopes that people had for the UN organization as a body that would be operating on a different basis and with a different approach than the League of Nations.
For me, partnership means recognizing the legitimacy and the equality of civil society groups who are coming to engage with the organization about the work of the organization, and about the challenges facing the world. The reality of life is that we could not possibly deal with these challenges without the full engagement of civil society, labor organizations, business communities, and all kinds of non-governmental organizations.”
What advice would you give to emerging leaders looking to create impactful collaborations?
“The first advice is to be aware of the extent to which civic life in every country is driven, not just by political parties and by governments, but also by businesses, labor organizations, civil society organizations of every kind. They are an essential part of the activities of the United Nations.
Take for example the Sustainable Development Goals. We will not be able to make progress on the SDGs without them, without everybody, without a full sense of partnership. And it’s not just a matter of States listening and then saying thank you, we’ll go off and do what we’re going to do. No, the actual implementation of most of the agenda of the United Nations depends on the deep engagement and commitment of civil society.”
How do you address the power dynamics that can arise in partnerships, particularly between developed and developing countries?
“We need to appreciate that we’re the product of the end of these two horrific global conflicts – World War I and World War II. We are also the product of the critically important process of decolonization. It’s fair to say that although political decolonization has occurred, the necessary changes in economic systems, social structures, cultural perspectives, and attitudes are still far from fully realized.
I think we need a full appreciation of what it means to be an equal member of the global community. As sovereign states, we are all equal, but we’re also equal as human beings, and we’re equal, as all of us have as much right to be at the table as anybody else.
The principle of global solidarity, the principle of global equality, the principle that we’re all here together as every nation state and every part of the world has an equal right to be here.”
What legacy do you hope to leave through your work in advancing partnerships for sustainable development?
“The ECOSOC year with real public engagement starts in February and lasts until July. During that period, we have a key opportunity to engage with civil society on some very important issues around the Sustainable Development Goals and how we can create more dynamism behind those goals. I think it’s critically important for us to really focus on the goals as the overarching theme of everything that we try to do.
Within those goals to emphasize a few things that matter for me. The issue of displacement and the issue of the impact of war and conflict and climate change on people, is something that we need to better understand. We have more people who are displaced and who are living in refugee camps of one kind or another around the world, than we’ve had since 1945. We have a greater human challenge here and sometimes we say, well, that’s a Geneva issue, it’s a UNHCR issue. No, it’s a global issue.
The other one is the impact of artificial intelligence as it is now clearly affecting our economies, our life, and our work. We’re just beginning to understand better how impactful the development of these new technologies is going to be on our countries.
As we navigate these shifts, it is essential to approach this in a spirit that reinforces the fundamental equality between men and women, and between all those who are working in the world, and that we need to break down barriers and sources of discrimination between us.
This mindset must guide us as we move from the Partnership Forum to more detailed and expert panels on tax matters, accountability and a whole range of other topics. It also underpins our engagement in milestone public events like the Commission on the Status of Women, the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, the Youth Forum, the High-level Political Forum and […] some other events that are happening like the 4th International Conference on Financing for Development and the Second World Summit on Social Development in Doha.
These are all part of the ways of recommitting to the Pact for the Future and to the agreements that we made last year with respect to how we go forward.
One of the things that I learned during my work in government, is about the importance of making people feel that they are co-creating policy or co-creating legislation. How can we really commit as equals to co-create the progress we need to make? This is something that the Partnership Forum is all about. A meeting of partnership, based on a relationship between equals who are co-creating a better future.”
The 2025 ECOSOC Partnership Forum will focus on the 2025 ECOSOC and High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) theme: “Advancing sustainable, inclusive, science- and evidence-based solutions for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its Sustainable Development Goals for leaving no one behind,” placing a special emphasis on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that will be reviewed at the 2025 HLPF, namely Goal 3 (Good Health and Well-being); Goal 5 (Gender Equality); Goal 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth); Goal 14 (Life Below Water); and Goal 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).
Follow the UN ECOSOC President on social media, via Instagram and X, and be sure to sign up for the ECOSOC Newsletter here.
Photo: UN Photo/Loey Felipe
Things You Need To Know
6 things you should know about the global economy in 2025
“Let’s make 2025 the year we put the world on track for a prosperous and sustainable future,” urged UN Secretary-General António Guterres, as UN DESA released its global economic outlook last month in the World Economic Situation and Prospects 2025. Here are 6 things you should know about the global economy:
1. Global economic growth remains below the pre-pandemic average.
The report projects global economic growth to remain at 2.8 per cent in 2025, below the pre-pandemic average of 3.2 per cent. While easing inflation and monetary easing offer some respite, challenges such as trade tensions, geopolitical conflicts, and elevated debt burdens threaten the outlook.
2. Regional growth prospects vary widely.
East and South Asia will remain global growth drivers in 2025, with projected expansions of 4.7 per cent and 5.7 per cent respectively. Africa’s growth is forecast to improve slightly to 3.7 per cent but is restrained by high debt costs and climate-related challenges.
3. The outlook is precarious for many countries.
Many vulnerable economies are seeing downward revisions to their growth outlook, which remains well below pre-pandemic trends. This weak performance is compounding risks to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, with progress in reducing poverty continuing to be slow and uneven.
4. Falling inflation creates room for monetary easing, though challenges persist. Global inflation is projected to decline further, from 4 per cent in 2024 to 3.4 per cent in 2025, offering relief to households and businesses. However, many developing countries continue to grapple with elevated inflation, particularly in food prices.
5. Governments are adopting gradual fiscal consolidation to improve debt sustainability and rebuild fiscal space.
Fiscal pressures are particularly severe in Africa, where rising debt-servicing burdens are increasingly diverting resources away from essential public services and investment. On a GDP-weighted basis, African governments allocated 27 per cent of revenues to interest payments in 2024, up from 19 per cent in 2019 and 7 per cent in 2007.
6. Critical minerals play a vital role in advancing the energy transition and supporting sustainable development.
Resource-rich developing countries can benefit from rising global demand for critical minerals to create jobs and boost sustainable development. “Critical minerals have immense potential to accelerate sustainable development, but only if managed responsibly,” according to Li Junhua, UN Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs.
Learn more in the World Economic Situation and Prospects 2025 here.
There is now little distinction between our offline and online lives. The Internet and digital technologies are so woven into the everyday fabric of societies that losing access—or trust—can feel like the ground shifting beneath us. Yet, 2.6 billion remain offline, left out of opportunities for education, healthcare, and economic growth.
Those who are online face growing threats to their privacy, security, and rights, while rapid changes driven by AI create uncertainty and unease about the future.
This December in Riyadh, the Internet Governance Forum (IGF) convened by the UN Secretary-General will address these issues head-on. The aim? To build a digital ecosystem that works for everyone, everywhere, based on multistakeholder exchanges among diverse communities navigating digital transformation.
Questions like how digital tools can foster peace and sustainability, how we close the connectivity gap, how we mainstream human rights across the digital landscape, and how we ensure AI serves society—not exploits it—are on the agenda. Whether they are government ministers, legislators, youth activists or technical experts, participants come to the IGF as equals. The Forum will foster actionable policy recommendations and deliver impactful messages worldwide.
This year’s Forum comes at a pivotal moment, just months after the adoption of the Global Digital Compact (GDC), which envisions a safer, fairer digital future, and ahead of the WSIS+20 Review in 2025, which will set out new targets for digital development and governance. Both frameworks emphasize the same core idea: digital technologies should be people-centred and approached cooperatively.
As socioeconomic and digital trajectories become interlinked, the need for risk mitigation is clear. But so, too, is the need to tap into the vast ocean of digital possibilities that will help translate technological progress into progress for people and planet.
The IGF holds out promise that global governance and cooperation, harnessing digital solutions for the climate crisis, and combatting threats like misinformation and disinformation – just some of the topics that will be discussed in Riyadh – are all possible.
The SDG Pavilion organized by UN DESA on the sidelines of the UN Climate Change Conference has become an annual stop for many interested in climate and SDG synergies. We spoke with two veterans of the past six SDG Pavilions—Ariel Alexovich, Sustainable Development Officer in UN DESA’s Office of the Under-Secretary-General, and Nadine Salame, Senior Programme Management Assistant in the Division for Sustainable Development Goals—about their recent experience at COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan.
Set the scene for us: What was the energy like at COP29 and the SDG Pavilion?
AA: “Truly, the energy was fantastic. People were very positive and seemed very happy to see us representing the SDGs with our colourful branding and full programme connecting the world’s climate work with its sustainable development work.
That said, the workday could be quite chaotic. Each day there were multiple sources demanding your attention at once. For instance, there’s the tech team you’ve just met and are trying to get up to speed, there are partners from the event currently on stage asking for a new microphone, there are people from the next event asking about their upcoming PowerPoint, all the while you’re taking photos, distributing headphones to the audience, and fielding hundreds of requests for free SDG pins—it’s a lot. Fortunately, we have each other to rely upon for support.”
There was a vibrant array of voices represented. Can you tell us about the diversity of perspectives and how they enriched conversations?
NS: “With more than 300 applications for about 50 slots, we were grateful that our partners saw the value in holding their events at the SDG Pavilion. Of course we have a good number of UN DESA-led events, but we open our stage to Member States, partners in the UN system and other stakeholders including youth groups and Indigenous organizations.
We especially enjoy working on the SDG Pavilion because we get to work with different teams across UN DESA. Over the years we’ve had events highlighting the special climate challenges facing small island developing States, forests, sustainable transport, climate finance and the climate impacts related to population growth, among others. This year, the special Forest Pavilion was hosted within the SDG Pavilion, making the conversations even more enriching, lively and diverse.”
What were some memorable moments that stood out to you?
NS: “Even though we prepare for the SDG Pavilion for months, a lot of the memorable things happen the day before COP starts, during the set-up. Every year we get to the venue and see firsthand what we’re working with. This year, we had a beautiful booth in a prime location next to UNFCCC and near the host country. However, we were missing a wall, some artwork and the label that actually said, “SDG Pavilion.” So, we do a lot of troubleshooting.
I will also remember Baku. It’s a beautiful city and the COP was very well organized in terms of reliable transport shuttles and very little security queues. We had some excellent meals in the city, too. “
AA: “For sure, I will remember the people we met, like our crew on the ground from India and Germany, and some of the SDG Pavilion visitors who traded pins with us, especially these three women from Uganda with whom I really made a connection.
Otherwise, some highlights were USG Li Junhua’s engagements in the Pavilion on the first day, and I enjoyed interviewing the Special Envoy for the Ocean, several Resident Coordinators, and explorer Bertrand Piccard in our social media space.”
Watch the events broadcast on UN DESA’s YouTube platform here.
A recap of events can also be obtained via the SDG Pavilion newsletter here.
Photo credit: UN DESA
Things You Need To Know
5 things to know about the leadership of persons with disabilities Image
On 3 December, we celebrate the International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD) under the theme, “Amplifying the Leadership of Persons with Disabilities for an Inclusive and Sustainable Future.” The commemoration will highlight the strides made and the challenges ahead. Here are 5 things you should know about the leadership of persons with disabilities:
1. The leadership of persons with disabilities is based on the principle of “nothing about us without us”
This phrase highlights the crucial need for their participation, representation and inclusion. It emphasizes the importance of their active involvement in decision-making processes to influence the conditions affecting their lives, ensuring that policies and initiatives consider their viewpoints and priorities.
2. Over the years, persons with disabilities and organizations representing them have led important community-driven efforts
These initiatives aim not only to advocate for their rights and well-being but also to promote inclusive development. By using both specific and general approaches, they help improve universal access to essential services and resources. Recent global climate change conferences have demonstrated a growing advocacy for disability inclusion and the rights of persons with disabilities, especially youth with disabilities, in climate action.
3. The global disability rights movement has achieved significant milestones, including the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) and UN Security Council Resolution 2475
The CRPD is especially important because it incorporates development objectives for persons with disabilities into international human rights frameworks and highlights their leadership in creating this treaty. Resolution 2475 was the first instance where the Security Council focused on the protection and circumstances of persons with disabilities in peace and security situations, highlighting their crucial impact on shaping international policy.
4. The Second World Summit for Social Development in 2025 offers opportunities to enhance leadership among people with disabilities.
The Summit aims to address social development gaps, revitalize the 2030 Agenda, and stress the importance of including persons with disabilities in achieving sustainable peace and development. This year, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution entitled “Inclusive development for and with persons with disabilities”, calling upon Member States, the UN system and other partners to promote the participation and perspectives of persons with disabilities in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda, and continue to advance disability inclusion across the pillars of the UN’s work.
5. Leadership will be front and center at the commemoration of International Day of Persons with Disabilities
On 3 December, 2024, we celebrate the International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD) under the theme, “Amplifying the Leadership of Persons with Disabilities for an Inclusive and Sustainable Future.” The commemoration at UN Headquarters in New York will highlight the strides made and the challenges ahead, including upcoming key global milestones like the Second World Summit for Social Development in 2025. By harnessing the leadership of persons with disabilities, we can advance towards a future that ensures sustainable peace and inclusive development for all.
