UNDP is partnering with Impact Journalism Day 2017 to raise awareness of the Sustainable Development Goals, also known as the Global Goals, around the world.

The Ocean Conference (5-9 June) co-hosted by the Governments of Fiji and Sweden brought an unprecedented show of global unity around the need to tackle the crisis in the oceans. In addition to adoption of the “Call for Action”, by the close of the conference on Friday, 9 June, a total of 1,328 voluntary commitments to ocean protection and restoration, cutting across all 10 SDG14 targets, had been made on the on-line conference registry. 84 governments that made 598 (45%) commitments represented the entity submitting the largest number, followed by NGOs (259, 20%) and the UN System (108, 8%).

The UN Development Programme (UNDP), Equator Initiative and the Global Environment Facility (GEF) Small Grants Programme launched a new report - “Making Waves: Community Solutions, Sustainable Oceans,” coinciding with the 15th Anniversary of the Equator Initiative and the World Oceans Day, as part of the historic Ocean Conference (5-9 June) to renew momentum towards achieving Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 14, ‘Life Below Water’.

UN Development Programme (UNDP) in collaboration with the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and other partners participated today in the Ocean March, with the launch of a new publication ‘Sea, my Life: Protecting Oceans, Sustaining our Future’. The Ocean March— a parade of boats, was hosted by the office of the Mayor of New York City as a mark of solidarity with the drive to protect the oceans, a day before the historic Ocean Conference (June 5-9) at the United Nations in New York, to renew momentum towards achieving Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 14, ‘Life Below Water’.

The Black Sea has twice as much floating plastic as any other sea in Europe, according to an environmental survey funded by the European Union (EU) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

A quarter-century of impressive human development progress continues to leave many people behind, with systemic, often unmeasured, barriers to catching up. A stronger focus on those excluded and on actions to dismantle these barriers is urgently needed to ensure sustainable human development for all.

The European Union confirms its commitment to Yemen by providing EUR 25 million (nearly USD 27 million) to support the vulnerable Yemeni people affected by the devastating conflict, through a project to be implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and local communities.

The UN Development Programme (UNDP) and partners announced today the winners of the Equator Prize 2017, recognizing 15 local and indigenous communities from Africa, Asia, and Latin America. The winning organizations, which showcase innovative solutions for tackling poverty, environment, and climate challenges, will be honored at a celebratory gala in New York on September 17, 2017.

UNDP is supporting the response to Tropical Cyclone Mora in Sri Lanka and Bangladesh and is ready to respond as the storm passes over parts of Myanmar and north-east India.

United Nations agencies and NGO partners today appealed for US$4.63 billion in new funding to continue vital work in addressing the growing needs of refugees from Syria and communities hosting them in neighbouring countries.