“The eyes of all future generations are upon you. And if you choose to fail us, I say: We will never forgive you.” Greta Thunberg’s grave warning at the United Nations Climate Action Summit will certainly not be forgotten, but how will world leaders’ response be remembered? On September 23, UN Secretary-General António Guterres convened leaders from government, business, and civil society at the UN Headquarters in New York City to boost momentum in the […]

Leaving No One Behind Throughout the week of the UN General Assembly, global health leaders called for leaving no one behind on the journey to achieving UHC. In order for health for all to actually be universal, it is critical to keep the most marginalized populations, including those in poor and conflict settings, at the center of programs and policies. Gender equity in particular plays a large role in ensuring we can achieve SDG 3.

At the summit, UN member states adopted a political declaration (diplomatic speak for a shared statement of their intentions.) These documents help set common norms among countries and enable citizens to hold their leaders accountable for their promises. The political declaration, entitled, “Gearing up for a decade of action and delivery for sustainable development,” proclaimed: “We stand firm in our determination to implement the 2030 Agenda as a plan of action for people, planet, prosperity,

Let’s face it, many speeches from world leaders at the 2019 United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) probably will not make the history books. But the inspiring oratory of many other attendees will and should. Across the week, inside the UN and outside, a huge and diverse array of speakers proved themselves to be leaders. From the gut-wrenching passion of ‘how dare you,’ to a surprisingly personal moment from a Prime Minister, to impassioned arguments about

When conflict erupts or a hurricane makes landfall, United Nations workers mobilize to help people in need. When poverty, climate change, or both devastate communities, UN workers move into action to help rebuild. These workers are on the front lines of global challenges, helping families in their time of need, and it can be stressful. Yet there is not a lot of attention given to the pressures facing humanitarian and development workers. Support people need

Adolescent girls are making their voices heard, from leading climate strikes to marching for justice and equality. But are we listening? It’s not enough to talk about ‘elevating the voices of girls.’ It’s not even enough to make sure they have a seat at the table. We need to listen to – and act on – what they have to say. Girls deserve no less. And it’s what our world needs to make progress on

Older generations often complain that young people have lost the art of letter-writing, but at just 10 years old, Abner of Portland, Oregon, has written more letters than most people have written in their lifetimes. Abner has written over 100 letters to elected officials about the biggest threat facing his generation: the climate crisis. Since starting his letter writing campaign in December 2018, Abner has written every single governor in the United States about joining

Achieving the ambitious agenda set by the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) requires a global effort across nations. Recently, the United Nations Foundation and the Brookings Institution hosted an event to explore the question, “What does SDG action look like in the United States?” At the national level, the U.S. is falling behind its peers. It is the only OECD and G-20 country that has not volunteered to report on its SDG progress at the UN,