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Youth shape the road to 2030, call for urgent action on sustainable development

Creative News — Wed, 15 Apr 2026 12:00:00 +0000

Young leaders, innovators and advocates from around the world are gathering at UN Headquarters in New York until Thursday for the 2026 Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) Youth Forum.

The event aims to advance innovative solutions to accelerate progress on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Held under the theme Innovate, Unite and Transform: Youth Shaping the Road to 2030, the forum reaffirms young people as essential partners in building a sustainable, inclusive and resilient future.

Bringing the ‘sunshine’

Acknowledging that it is rare to see a full room with such positive energy, General Assembly President Annalena Baerbock thanked participants for bringing “sunshine” into the halls of the UN.

Emphasising that young people must be included now, not just in the future, she told the audience they were there to do more than talk: “it’s a test of whether we are truly ready to act.”

She shared three messages with delegates, ministers and young leaders:

“First, to delegates and Permanent Representatives in New York: follow through, no excuses. (…) Second, to Ministers and representatives from capital: the discussions here must move beyond this chamber. (…) And last, to young people: keep pushing boundaries. Keep questioning. Keep leading.”

Ms. Baerbock…

Nearly 5 million children are still dying annually before their fifth birthday: Here’s why

Creative News — Tue, 17 Mar 2026 12:00:00 +0000

Most of these deaths are preventable with proven, low-cost interventions and access to quality health care, the report stresses.

For the first time, the analysis provides a comprehensive picture of not only how many children are dying and where – but also why, by fully integrating global estimates on causes of death.

The Levels and Trends in Child Mortality report launched by the UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation shows that, although under-five deaths have fallen by more than half since 2000, the pace of reduction has slowed by more than 60 per cent since 2015.

Malnutrition and other major threats

Among its key findings, more than 100,000 children aged between one month and five, died directly from severe acute malnutrition – the first global estimate of such deaths – with some of the highest numbers recorded in Pakistan, Somalia and Sudan.

Experts warn the true toll is likely higher, as malnutrition weakens immunity and increases vulnerability to other diseases, while many cases go unrecorded.

“No child should die from diseases that we know how to prevent. But we see worrying signs that progress in child survival is slowing – and at a time where we’re seeing further global budget cuts,” said Catherine Russell, Executive Director for the UN…

Science-led governance of AI can help power sustainable development: Guterres

Creative News — Fri, 20 Feb 2026 12:00:00 +0000

“Guided by science, we can transform AI from a source of uncertainty into a reliable engine for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs),” he said.

He urged the international community to build a future “where policy is as smart as the technology it seeks to guide.”

New expert panel

The Secretary-General noted that “AI innovation is moving at the speed of light, outpacing our collective ability to fully understand it, let alone govern it.”

He stressed that “if we want AI to serve humanity, policy cannot be built on guesswork,” underscoring the need for “facts we can trust – and share – across countries and across sectors.”

For this reason, the UN is developing mechanisms that put science at the centre of international cooperation on AI, starting with a recently appointed body that brings together 40 leading experts in the field.

The Independent International Scientific Panel on Artificial Intelligence aims to help close “the AI knowledge gap” and assess the real impacts these new technologies have across economies and societies so that countries can act with the same clarity regardless of their level of AI capacity.

Accelerating progress, anticipating risks

“The Panel will provide a shared baseline of…

Eighty years at the heart of global development

Creative News — Thu, 22 Jan 2026 12:00:00 +0000

Established in 1945 under the UN Charter, the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) was designed to ensure that peace and security would be backed by economic stability, social progress and international cooperation.

Eight decades after its first meeting in London in early 1946, ECOSOC remains a central – if often working out of the spotlight – engine of the UN’s work on sustainable development.

A wide remit by design

ECOSOC is the primary forum within the United Nations for policy dialogue on global economic, social and environmental issues, bringing together Member States, UN specialized agencies and other partners to debate priorities, share evidence and agree on collective action.

Its mandate includes coordinating the work of regional economic and social commissions, functional commissions, expert bodies and UN funds and programmes, which deliver development assistance and policy guidance that affect people’s daily lives.

For people unfamiliar with the UN system, what sets ECOSOC apart is its practical reach. It helps guide how the UN responds to disasters, supports countries recovering from crises, and aligns international efforts to reduce poverty, create jobs and protect the environment.

ECOSOC is also responsible for following up on major UN conferences and summits,…

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First Person: Felipe Paullier, the youngest ever senior UN official, charged with giving a voice to young people around the world

Creative News — Fri, 26 Dec 2025 12:00:00 +0000

“When you study history in high school, you learn about the origins of the United Nations, and it was always the organisation that I connected with, in terms of the values it promotes. However, I never thought I would have a direct role in the organisation.

During my time working with the Uruguayan government, I had a lot of contact with the United Nations system in the country, including agencies such as the UN Population Fund (UNFPA), UN children’s agency (UNICEF), and UN Development Programme (UNDP). We had quite a few initiatives in common, including a national project on issues related to mental health and well-being of adolescents and young people. It was through these lines of cooperation that I began to understand how the United Nations works.

I was still studying for a master’s degree in administration at the University of Florida when I ran to lead the first UN Office for Youth. My goal was to help the organisation maintain the best possible connection with young people, not only listening to them but also involving them in collaboration and participation. Eight months later, I received a call from the Amina Mohammed, the UN Deputy Secretary-General, telling me that I had been selected for the role, and that I would start in 15 days’ time!

…

From milking stalls to mobile apps: UN-supported project powers rural revival in Indonesia

Creative News — Sun, 23 Nov 2025 12:00:00 +0000

Members of the South Bandung Farming Cooperative (KPBS) have recorded a 38 per cent increase in productive loans and a 43 per cent rise in sales volumes over the past two years, following the introduction of a new business app.

“Easier access to financing means higher loan volumes, which in turn means more cattle and higher income for our farmers,” said Head of KBPS Aun Gunawan. “This is how financial inclusion leads to improved livelihoods.”

UN Indonesia/Miklos Gaspar

Dairy farmers in Indonesia are using a new business-focused app which is helping them to boost sales.

Founded in 1969, KPBS has 5,000 members and produces 70,000 tons of milk a day. The cooperative operates its own dairy plant, using around 15 per cent of its milk production to manufacture yoghurt and mozzarella cheese, while the remainder is sold to dairy companies in the region.

In addition, the cooperative runs a hospital, veterinary service, and a bank—all designed to support members and enhance their well‑being and competitiveness.

Holistic and healthy

“We take a holistic approach, and for us it is all about health—not only the health of farmers and their cattle, but also financial health,” Mr Gunawan explained…

New forum builds on Sevilla pledges to tackle global debt crisis

Creative News — Wed, 22 Oct 2025 12:00:00 +0000

The Sevilla Forum on Debt will promote fairer lending, faster restructuring and long-term reform of the post-war financial system.

Hosted by Spain and supported by the United Nations, the forum is designed to keep global attention on the debt crisis while converting firm commitments made at June’s Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development (FFD4) in Seville into concrete action.

Governments, finance ministers and creditors from both developed and developing countries will band together for what the UN Secretary-General calls “a global dialogue on debt” – one that aims to deliver financial justice and ensure that borrowing works for, not against, developing economies.

“Developing countries spend $1.4 trillion on annual debt service,” António Guterres said at the launch in Geneva.

“And 3.4 billion people live in countries that spend more on servicing debt than on health or education. Countries should never have to choose between servicing their debt or serving their people.”

3.4 billion people live in countries that spend more on interest than on health or on education.

Commitment to action

The new forum will also support the Sevilla Commitment, an ambitious roadmap agreed at the FFD4…

‘The extraordinary power of ordinary people’: World leaders spotlight youth as agents of progress

Creative News — Fri, 26 Sep 2025 12:00:00 +0000

Annalena Baerbock, President of the General Assembly and one of the youngest persons to ever hold the office, stressed that youth are “the designers of their future” but should not have to build it alone.

Drawing on conversations with young leaders from Ethiopia to Afghanistan, she highlighted the challenges today’s youth face – from conflict and crisis to cyberbullying and unemployment – as well as the transformative change they are driving, such as digital innovation and climate advocacy.

The recent landmark International Court of Justice (ICJ) advisory opinion on climate obligations, prompted by youth activists, underscores how determined young people can reshape global policy. Their commitment can spark hope and intergenerational solidarity.

Bangladesh: Youth driving democratic renewal

Muhammad Yunus, Chief Adviser of the interim Government of Bangladesh, addresses the general debate of the General Assembly’s eightieth session.

The transformative potential of youth was starkly evident in Bangladesh, one year after the ‘July Revolution’ ended decades of authoritarian rule.

At the Assembly’s general debate fourth day, Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus described the uprising as “a reminder of the…

One in four still lacks access to safe drinking water and sanitation

Creative News — Tue, 26 Aug 2025 12:00:00 +0000

The report from the World Health Organization (WHO) and children’s agency (UNICEF) issued as World Water Week gets underway, highlights persistent gaps in access, with vulnerable communities facing the greatest disparities.

Some 2.1 billion people still lack access to safely managed drinking water, while 106 million worldwide are forced to rely on untreated surface sources.

“Water, sanitation and hygiene are not privileges, they are basic human rights,” said Ruediger Krech, Director of WHO’s Environment, Climate Change and Health Department.

Clear disparities

The report finds that people in least developed countries are more than twice as likely as people in other countries to lack basic drinking water and sanitation services, and over three times as likely to go without basic hygiene.

“These inequalities are especially stark for girls who often bear the burden of water collection and face additional barriers during menstruation,” said Cecilia Scharp, UNICEF’s head of water, sanitation and hygiene services.

Data from 70 countries reveal that while most women and adolescent girls have menstrual materials and a private place to change, many still lack sufficient supplies to manage their needs safely and with dignity.

‘We must act faster’

Some 1.7 billion people…

Slight decrease in global hunger as inequalities widen, UN report reveals

Creative News — Mon, 28 Jul 2025 12:00:00 +0000

The report estimates 8.2 per cent of the global population (673 million individuals) experienced hunger in 2024, down from 8.5 per cent in 2023 and 8.7 per cent in 2022.

Latin America and Asia saw improvements, with the prevalence of undernourishment falling by 1.2 percent in Asia and 1 percent in Latin America and the Caribbean between 2022 and 2024.

However, 20 per cent of the African population and 12.7 per cent of people in Western Asian face hunger, showing evidence of an unfortunately steady rise.

Of the projected 512 million people who could be chronically undernourished by 2030, almost 60 per cent will be in Africa.

Sustainable Development progress

Together, these figures and the report’s assessment of nutrition targets under the Sustainable Development Agenda underscore the immense challenge of achieving the global goal of Zero Hunger.

Among child nutrition indicators, the prevalence of stunting among under-fives declined 3.2 per cent from 2012 to 2024, but the proportion of children overweight or wasting remains largely unchanged.

Also notable was the increase in anaemia among women aged 15 to 49 and adult obesity.

Crucially, while global food insecurity declined only slightly from 2023 to 2024, 335 million more people were affected in 2024 than in 2019, before the