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,

We find ourselves in challenging times. Many countries are looking inward and turning away from global cooperation. But we know a lot of the health challenges facing the world – including the world’s three deadliest diseases, HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis (TB), and malaria – don’t respect borders. The only way we can solve these complex global challenges is through collective action. Global cooperation to fight AIDS, TB, and malaria  On October 10, 2019, during the Sixth Replenishment

If you feel like it’s too late to solve the climate crisis or you’re tired of hearing about it, you are not alone. Let’s face it: Most climate stories are depressing, alarming, or both. A recent study by Public Citizen found that U.S. news media mentioned climate solutions or mitigation just 13% of the time when discussing climate change.  Is there a cure for this spiraling narrative of climate doom and gloom? Without a doubt,

Coral reefs are some of our most iconic and important ecosystems, housing a quarter of all the ocean’s marine life. But their survival is under threat. According to the latest Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Special Report, climate change is making oceans warmer and more acidic — and these changes are having a big impact on coral reefs. Nearly all coral reefs are projected to be lost with 2°C warming by the end of