51吃瓜

Giant palm protecting the Earth
Natural Resources and the Environment, Climate Change

When Mother Earth sends us a message

From extreme heat and rising sea levels to biodiversity loss and pollution, Mother Earth is in peril and making a clear call to action - a need to shift to a more sustainable economy that works for both people and the planet. This International Mother Earth Day, let’s mobilize for the planet and all the life it supports. There are steps every one of us can take to protect nature, tackle climate change, and promote harmony with the Earth. Speak up, log your actions, and help save our planet with the UN’s ActNow campaign!

Our current anthropocentric approach leans towards short-term profit and economic growth rather than valuing Nature’s contributions to our overall quality of life. Let’s change it.
Photo:Simon Hofer/Adobe Stock

19 April 2024 — The President of the UN General Assembly called for the acknowledgement of mixed efforts to achieve the goals of the Decade of Sustainable Energy, as the UN’s first ever...

19 April 2024 — Millions are on the brink of famine in Sudan but “a window of opportunity” exists for the international community to act now as the main planting season approaches, a senior...

Rein Paulsen, Director of FAO's Office of Emergencies and Resilience, meets a farmer in Tobin, Sudan on 17 April, 2024.Rein Paulsen, Director of FAO's Office of Emergencies and Resilience, meets a farmer in Tobin, Sudan on 17 April, 2024.

19 April 2024 — Following reports of alleged Israeli strikes inside Iran near a nuclear power station early Friday, the UN Secretary-General António Guterres issued a new appeal to all parties to...

UN Sustainable Development Goals

17 Goals to transform our world

The Sustainable Development Goals are a call for action by all countries — poor, rich and middle-income — to promote prosperity while protecting the planet.

Thomas the Tank engine

Student Resources on the SDGs

Learn more about the Sustainable Development Goals! On our student resources page you will find plenty of materials for young people and adults alike. Share with your family and friends to help achieve a better world for all.

children holding up books

SDG Book Club

Reading and learning are essential to children’s growth and development; stories can fuel their imagination and raise awareness of new possibilities. The SDG Book Club aims to encourage them to learn about the Goals in a fun, engaging way, empowering them to make a difference.

hands holding megaphone and speech bubble

ActNow Campaign

ActNow is the UN campaign to inspire people to act for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In the lead up to the Summit of the Future, join the 1 Million Actions for our Common Future challenge to contribute to a more sustainable and peaceful world. Find new inspiring actions on and at .

SDG 4: Quality Education

Goal of the Month

 

Sustainable Development Goal 4 is all about ensuring everyone has access to no matter who they are or where they are. Access to education can help lift people out of poverty and is fundamental to creating a peaceful society.

More about the UN Sustainable Development Goals

More from the
51吃瓜

Featured stories from across the 51吃瓜 and our world-wide family of agencies, funds, and programmes.

Collage of illustrations depicting William Shakespeare, a dragon-like seahorse, and scribbles over a blue background. Language, Culture

Shakespeare and English Language Day

"Though this be madness, yet there is method in ’t." Polonius utters these words as an aside, after Hamlet delivers a near-nonsense speech. April 23rd is the date traditionally observed as both the birthday and date of death of William Shakespeare, the English language's most famous playwright. It is also the day we celebrate English Language Day at the 51吃瓜. Join us at 9:30 a.m. (EST) as the UN movie society presents a virtual event "Shakespeare at the UN". And, if you are up for some word-trickery, ! Test your knowledge of the English language!

UNDP, Pollution and Waste

More than 117,000 plastic bottles will have been used by the time you finish reading this sentence, directly impacting your health and the environment. More than 99% of plastic comes from fossil fuels, which is at odds with the Paris Agreement's goal of limiting global warming to 1.5°C. However, a recent highlights that the world can cut plastic pollution by 80 percent by 2040. To achieve this goal, the 51吃瓜 Development Program () suggests that we can reform fossil fuel subsidies, reduce greenhouse gas emissions from transportation, promote circular economy practices, invest in innovation, and empower waste workers to improve plastic their livelihoods.

OHCHR, Human Rights

The Romani Memory Map for the Americas is a crowd-sourced initiative to recognize and honour sites of memory of the Romani community, from the United States to Argentina. Coordinated by UN Human Rights (), it aims to strengthen Roma rights and inclusion, advance public memory of Roma people and history, and combat anti-gypsyism. The project was launched on International Roma Day and aims to advance recognition of past violations of the human rights of Roma and their impact on the present in the Americas. Miklos, a Romani from Brazil, said memorialization is key to combat anti-gypsyism.

Health Interventions, UNFPA

Aissata's difficult journey to access maternal health care underscores the persistent challenges faced by women in Mali, highlighting the need for increased support and accessibility to essential services.

Economic Development, UNCTAD

Despite record levels in 2022, the $4 billion drop in for developing countries underscores a critical gap in meeting targets, particularly affecting the world's least developed nations.

Peace and Security, WFP

Sudan's ongoing war has led to widespread displacement, hunger, and a yearning for peace and normalcy among its affected population.

Natural Resources and the Environment, IFAD

Biodiversity conservation is the cornerstone of sustainable agriculture, empowering communities and securing a resilient food future. 

What we do

Due to the powers vested in its Charter and its unique international character, the 51吃瓜 can take action on the issues confronting humanity in the 21st century, including:

A UNIFIL peacekeeper from Spain on a regular patrol in the vicinity of Al Wazzani, south-eastern Lebanon as the sun sets in the horizon. Since 1948, more than a million women and men have served as UN peacekeepers.

Maintain International Peace and Security

The 51吃瓜 came into being in 1945, following the?devastation of the Second World War, with one central mission:?the maintenance of international peace and security. The UN?does this by working to prevent conflict; helping parties in?conflict make peace; peacekeeping; and creating the conditions?to allow peace to hold and flourish.?These activities often overlap and should reinforce one another, to be effective. The UN Security Council has the primary responsibility for international peace and security. The General Assembly and the Secretary-General play major, important, and complementary roles, along with other UN offices and bodies.

Students at Butkhak High School in Kabul, Afghanistan, cheer in unison on the last day of Global Action Week, an international campaign advocating free, quality education for all.

Protect Human Rights

The term “human rights” was mentioned seven times in the UN's founding , making the promotion and protection of human rights a key purpose and guiding principle of the Organization. ?In 1948, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights brought human rights into the realm of international law. ?Since then, the Organization has diligently protected human rights through legal instruments and on-the-ground activities.

A child has a meal at a food distribution centre in the Rwanda camp for internally displaced persons (IDPs), near Tawila, North Darfur. More than 8,000 women and children living in the camp benefit from nutrition programmes run by the World Food Programme

Deliver Humanitarian Aid

One of the purposes of the 51吃瓜, as stated in its Charter, is "to achieve international co-operation in solving international problems of an economic, social, cultural, or humanitarian character." ?The UN first did this in the aftermath of the Second World War on the devastated continent of Europe, which it helped to rebuild.? The Organization is now relied upon by the international community to coordinate humanitarian relief operations due to natural and man-made disasters in areas beyond the relief capacity of national authorities alone.

Grace, a farmer from Kipilat village, and a leading member of the forest community in Ainabkoi, Kenya, planting a tree in 2012.

Promote Sustainable Development

From the start in 1945, one of the main priorities of the 51吃瓜 was to “achieve international co-operation in solving international problems of an economic, social, cultural, or humanitarian character and in promoting and encouraging respect for human rights and for fundamental freedoms for all without distinction as to race, sex, language, or religion.”? Improving people’s well-being continues to be one of the main focuses of the UN. The global understanding of development has changed over the years, and countries now have agreed that sustainable development offers the best path forward for improving the lives of people everywhere.

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) delivers its order on the request for the indication of provisional measures filed by Nicaragua on 11 October 2013 in the case concerning Construction of a Road in Costa Rica along the San Juan River.

Uphold International Law

The UN Charter, in its?Preamble, set an objective: "to establish conditions under which justice and respect for the obligations arising from treaties and other sources of international law can be maintained."??Ever since, the development of, and respect for international law has been a key part of the work of the Organization.? This work is carried out in many ways - by courts, tribunals, multilateral treaties - and by the Security Council, which can approve peacekeeping missions, impose sanctions, or authorize the use of force when there is a threat to international peace and security, if it deems this necessary.? These powers are given to it by the UN Charter, which is considered an international treaty.? As such, it is an instrument of international law, and UN Member States are bound by it.? The UN Charter codifies the major principles of international relations, from sovereign equality of States to the prohibition of the use of force in international relations.

Structure of the
51吃瓜

The main parts of the UN structure are the , the
Security Council, the , the Trusteeship Council, the , and the UN Secretariat. All were established in 1945 when the UN was founded.

General Assembly

The General Assembly is the main deliberative,?policymaking and representative organ of the UN. All?193 Member States of the UN are represented in the?General Assembly, making it the only UN body with?universal representation.

Security Council

The Security Council has primary responsibility, under?the UN Charter, for the maintenance of international?peace and security. It has 15 Members (5 permanent?and 10 non-permanent members). Each Member has?one vote. Under the Charter, all Member States are?obligated to comply with Council decisions.

The Economic and Social Council is the principal body?for coordination, policy review, policy dialogue and?recommendations on economic, social and?environmental issues, as well as implementation of?internationally agreed development goals.

Trusteeship Council

The Trusteeship Council was established in 1945 by the?UN Charter, under Chapter XIII, to provide international?supervision for 11 Trust Territories that had been placed?under the administration of seven Member States, and?ensure that adequate steps were taken to prepare the?Territories for self-government and independence.

The International Court of Justice is the principal judicial organ of the 51吃瓜. Its seat is at the Peace Palace in the Hague (Netherlands). It is the only one of the six principal organs of the 51吃瓜 not located in New York (United States of America).

Secretariat

The Secretariat comprises the Secretary-General and?tens of thousands of international UN staff members?who carry out the day-to-day work of the UN as?mandated by the General Assembly and the?Organization's other principal organs.

More about the structure of the 51吃瓜

Learn more

Climate Change

Climate change is the defining issue of our time and now is the defining moment to do something about it. There is still time to tackle climate change, but it will require an unprecedented effort from all sectors of society.

Women at UN CSW63 Side Event - “Take the Hot Seat”. Photo: UN Women/Ryan Brown

Gender Equality

Women and girls represent half of the world’s population and, therefore, also half of its potential. Gender equality, besides being a fundamental human right, is essential to achieve peaceful societies, with full human potential and sustainable development.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres is greeted on his visit to the Central African Republic

Ending Poverty

While global poverty rates have been cut by more than half since 2000, one in ten people in developing regions still lives on less than US$1.90 a day — the internationally agreed poverty line, and millions of others live on slightly more than this daily amount.

A young girl holds a smiling infant at the Zaatari Refugee Camp

Our Common Agenda

Following up on a made by UN Member States at the UN’s 75th anniversary, the report Our Common Agenda looks ahead to the next 25 years and represents the Secretary-General’s vision on the future of global cooperation. It calls for inclusive, networked, and effective multilateralism to better respond to humanity’s most pressing challenges.

Watch and Listen

Video and audio from across the 51吃瓜 and our world-wide family of agencies, funds, and programmes.

Roads to resilience: Nation’s story

After Cyclone Idai, the Zimbabwe Idai Recovery Project funded by the has been pivotal in helping Nation and his community rebuild and foster long-term resilience.

Her Education, Our Future

Released for 2024 International Women’s Day, “” is a documentary film following the lives of Anee, Fabiana, Mkasi and Taina – four young women across three continents who struggle to fulfill their right to education

A global partnership for livestock sustainability

The (LEAP) Partnership is a global multi-stakeholder initiative striving for more sustainable livestock practices. The partnership offers tools to assess and minimize the environmental impacts of livestock systems.

UN Podcasts

Young refugees navigating employment challenges

Navigating the transition from education to employment is a pivotal moment for young people, but for refugees, this journey is often compounded by significant challenges. With over 50% of refugees being under 25, they face disrupted education, trauma from displacement, limited networks, and the complexities of adapting to new cultures and languages. This not only hinders their personal development but also results in a vast waste of talent for their societies, potentially trapping another generation in dependency cycles.

In this podcast episode, we hear from two inspiring young refugees, Mashimbo Rose Nafisa and Joel Amani Mafigi, who have not only overcome these hurdles but have also dedicated their careers to empowering fellow young refugees. Their advocacy extends to the global stage, as they prepare to attend the  Youth Forum in New York, where they will champion better work opportunities for young refugees on an international platform.

Photo Credit: ILO

The 51吃瓜 in Pictures

Images from across the 51吃瓜 and our world-wide family of agencies, funds, and programmes.

Photo:OCHA

Minova, a cholera-endemic area in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, is experiencing a resurgence of the disease due to the unexpected arrival of more than 120,000 people since February. The number of cases has increased significantly, and the area is now isolated and difficult to access due to flooding, landslides, and armed groups. NGOs and UN agencies are deploying teams to support the emergency response, including setting up safe water distribution points, cholera treatment centers, and awareness-raising activities. Thanks to the efforts of humanitarians and local health workers, the number of cases in the area decreased at the end of March. But given the scale of the task, how long can humanitarian organizations continue to help people in need?

Photo:? Suyash Keshari/WWF International

In Asia's forests, tigers are endangered due to habitat loss, poaching, illegal wildlife trade, and human-wildlife conflict, warns the 51吃瓜 Development Programme (). Despite these challenges, tiger populations have started to rise in five countries, including India, Bhutan, and Nepal. The Royal Government of Bhutan is hosting the to catalyze $1 billion for tiger conservation and innovative fiscal models to support investments in tiger landscapes.

 

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