January to June — Global Issues

While we are able to’t predict what will likely be making the headlines, we do know that the UN will make full use of its distinctive convening energy, to carry collectively leaders and decision-makers within the hope of constructing the world a extra peaceable, equitable and affluent place for all.

As many individuals look ahead after the top of 12 months celebrations, the discharge of the flagship World Economic Situation and Prospects report in all probability received’t present a lot aid: the 2024 version of this authoritative examine is more likely to predict that financial development, and progress in direction of the Sustainable Development Goals, will likely be sluggish.

The gloomy outlook, led by the UN Division of Financial Affairs (DESA) is right down to financial tightening, weak international commerce and funding, and rising debt vulnerabilities, compounded by heightened geopolitical dangers and worsening local weather impacts.

On the plus aspect, inflation is more likely to fall, however additional international battle may push it again up. Improved worldwide cooperation will likely be promoted as a method to enhance the world’s financial prospects. The report is launched on 4 January.

In different information: A determined Gazan Winter

The battle in Gaza is more likely to proceed dominating UN Information and international media retailers, probably for months. The Security Council decision adopted on 22 December, calling for extra support to be delivered to the strip, is a step in the correct path, however the state of affairs stays determined for the civilian inhabitants. Ramping up and monitoring the circulate of support would be the main accountability of Sigrid Kaag, the newly appointed UN Senior Humanitarian Coordinator for Gaza, whose transient additionally consists of reconstruction of the territory, as soon as the preventing ends.

Following the settlement adopted at COP28 UN Local weather Convention which, for the primary time, noticed the nations of the world comply with a transition away from fossil fuels, 2024 will see the inaugural International Day of Clean Energy on 26 January. The introduction of the Day displays the fast development in the usage of renewable vitality sources, which have gotten cheaper and inside the attain of communities which, till now, have had no entry to electrical energy.

The state of the surroundings will likely be excessive on the agenda in February, when the UN Setting Meeting (UNEA) meets. The “world’s parliament on the surroundings”, brings collectively governments, civil society teams, the scientific neighborhood, and the personal sector, to spotlight probably the most urgent environmental points and enhance international governance of the surroundings.

Held between 26 February and 1 March on the HQ of the UN Setting Programme in Nairobi, UNEA 2024 will concentrate on local weather change, biodiversity loss, and air pollution.

In different information: Two full years of battle in Ukraine

24 February marks two full years because the full-scale invasion of Ukraine by Russia. The UN has continued to supply humanitarian support to affected communities all through the battle.

Think about not with the ability to entry training in your mom tongue. That’s the destiny of round 40 per cent of the inhabitants worldwide. On 21 February the UN celebrates International Mother Language Day, to lift consciousness for the significance of multilingual training in a baby’s first language.

Over eight a long time, the high-profile Fee on the Standing of Girls (CSW) has been pushing for motion on gender equality. CSW contributed to a few of the most generally agreed upon worldwide conventions in UN historical past, together with the Declaration on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women in 1967, and the 1995 Beijing Declaration, the important thing international gender equality coverage doc.

The 2024 session will happen from 11 to 22 March, with an emphasis on dashing up the achievement of gender equality, empowering ladies and ladies by addressing poverty, and strengthening establishments and financing with a gender perspective.

In different information: Not a drop to drink

In 2015, the world dedicated to Sustainable Improvement Objective (SDG) 6 – the promise that everybody would have safely managed water and sanitation by 2030. But we’re method off observe, and billions of persons are being held again, as a result of they don’t have adequate entry to wash ingesting water and sanitation.

On World Water Day, 22 March, the UN raises consciousness of the necessity to speed up change, usually with the assistance of actor Matt Damon, who has made frequent appearances at UN Headquarters, as co-founder of the charity water.org.

“Organized in phrases, colored with photographs, struck with the correct metre, the ability of poetry has no match,” says Audrey Azoulay, Director Common of the UN company for tradition (UNESCO) on the web site for World Poetry Day, celebrated on 21 March. The goal of the Day is to advertise the artform, notably in endangered languages.

When the UN was created, the rights and priorities of Indigenous Folks have been typically not thought-about a precedence, however this all modified with the institution of the Everlasting Discussion board on Indigenous Points (UNPFII), sometimes the biggest gathering of peoples within the UN System.

The Discussion board was established in 2000 to offer them a voice and allow them to come back collectively to debate international points. Count on the 2024 assembly, which takes place between from 15 to 26 April, to have a youthful really feel to it: many Indigenous youth leaders will likely be invited to discuss the problems that have an effect on them and their communities.

In different information: too many or two few?

There at the moment are greater than eight billion folks on the planet, and the inhabitants has greater than doubled within the final 50 years. Nevertheless, there are rising fears of an “underpopulation disaster,” or perhaps a collapse within the human inhabitants, as fertility charges sluggish.

On 16 April, the UN reproductive rights company (UNFPA), will launch its annual State of World Inhabitants report, and is more likely to once more underline the significance of girls having autonomy over their very own our bodies, and with the ability to make their very own selections over well being care, intercourse, or contraception.

What breaks down limitations, is an emblem of unity and peace, and encourages new types of expression? Sure, the reply is…jazz! And that’s the reason 30 April is International Jazz Day, which is led by the legendary pianist Herbie Hancock. Count on one other star-studded live performance to mark the Day.

Within the early years of this century, there was a rising realization that digital know-how would have a profound influence on our lives, for good and unwell. In response, governments and UN businesses got here collectively in 2003 for the primary World Summit on the Info Society, within the hope of adopting multilateral agreements on the usage of tech.

Twenty-one years on, and within the wake of heightened fears surrounding the event and use of Synthetic Intelligence, the Summit convenes in Geneva from 27 to 31 Could. Delegates will talk about the challenges and alternatives of latest know-how, and the significance of worldwide agreements to control its use.

In different information: SIDS battle to remain afloat

Regardless of their small dimension and inhabitants, Small Island Growing States (SIDS) have attracted a number of consideration at current local weather conferences, elevating consciousness of the existential risk that the local weather disaster poses: some island states threat being fully submerged on account of sea degree rises within the coming years. Sustainable improvement and resilience within the face of the disaster will likely be addressed on the fourth International Conference on SIDS, which will likely be held in Antigua and Barbuda from 27-30 Could.

It is round us all day, and we take it as a right, however mild performs a task in science, tradition and artwork. The UN celebrates the International Day of Light, on 16 Could, the anniversary of the primary profitable operation of a laser in 1960.

Landlocked creating nations face particular challenges, from excessive transportation prices to costly imports and isolation from world markets. In recognition of this, the UN held a convention held in Almaty, Kazakhstan, in 2003, dedicated to the wants of those nations.

Twenty years on, the third version (LLDC3) will happen in Kigali, Rwanda, from 18-21 June. The delegates will likely be tasked with shaping the brand new improvement agenda for landlocked creating nations over the following decade.

In different information: Cats, canines, and crows

Ban Ki-moon , the one surviving former UN Secretary-General , who led the group from 2007-2016, is because of have fun his 80^th birthday on 13 June. Beneath Mr. Ban ‘s management, UN Women, a significant new company, was created, and he was instrumental in pushing the local weather disaster up the worldwide agenda, with the 2007 Climate Change Summit.

There will likely be loads of rolled up mats coming via the safety gates of UN Headquarters on 21 June, when colleagues will try to stretch themselves into positions named after cows, cats, canines, and crows, some extra gracefully than others. The event is a part of the celebrations for the International Day of Yoga, which is hailed for its bodily, psychological, and religious advantages.