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[Video] The Three Little Pigs and Climate Change: The Benefits of Wood as a Low-emission Construction Material Year of publication: 2018 Corporate author: United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) | Poland. Ministry of Environment | State Forests Poland Wood can play a crucial role in cutting down emissions when replacing more carbon-intensive materials in the construction sector. The cartoon entitled “The Three Little Pigs & Climate Change”, reminds us that carbon emissions of concrete and steel respectively are 40 and 30 percent higher than those of wood.This video was a joint production of the Forest, Land and Housing Division of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, the Polish Ministry of the Environment and State Forests Poland. The video was launched at the 24th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP24), held in Katowice, Poland, from 2 to 14 December 2018, where global action to reduce emissions and keep global warming within the temperature limits of the Paris Agreement was discussed.UNECE works to promote sustainable solutions for climate neutral buildings:http://www.unece.org/housing.htmlTogether with FAO, it also works to promote the sustainable management of forests:http://www.unece.org/forests/welcome.html 
Digital Technologies for Environmental Peacebuilding : Horizon Scanning of Opportunities and Risks Year of publication: 2024 Corporate author: United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) This report specifically delves into how digital technologies can be harnessed to manage environmental and natural resource risks that contribute to insecurity and social conflict, as well as the opportunities they present for peacebuilding, cooperation, and social cohesion. It examines relevant use cases spanning the peace and security continuum and concludes with a set of important policy and governance recommendations. The report is designed to inform and contribute to significant upcoming frameworks addressing digital technologies, including the Summit of the Future and the Global Digital Compact. 
Women’s Rights in Review 30 Years after Beijing Year of publication: 2025 Corporate author: United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women) In 2025, the world celebrates 30 years of achievement on the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, a visionary 1995 plan agreed by 189 governments to achieve the equal rights of all women and girls. The UN Secretary-General’s report on the 30-year review and appraisal of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action reflects global, regional, and national reviews of 159 countries, summarizing progress and priorities for further action. It finds that many countries have made strides on gender equality and women’s empowerment, from banning discrimination in employment to adopting gender-responsive climate action plans. Innovation is accelerating progress, and opportunities are opening to scale up proven strategies. Yet gender discrimination remains deeply embedded in all economies and societies, imposing chronic constraints on the rights and hopes of women and girls. 
Turning Promises into Action: Gender Equality in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Year of publication: 2018 Corporate author: United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women) “Turning promises into action: Gender equality in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development” provides a comprehensive and authoritative assessment of progress, gaps and challenges in the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) from a gender perspective. This report monitors global and regional trends in achieving the SDGs for women and girls based on available data, and provides practical guidance for the implementation of gender-responsive policies and accountability processes. As a source of high-quality data and policy analysis, the report is a key reference and accountability tool for policymakers, women’s organizations, the UN system, and other stakeholders. 
Faith for Earth : a Call for Action Year of publication: 2020 Corporate author: United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) | Inter-Agency Network on Women and Gender Equality (IANWGE) The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Parliament of the World’s Religions today released a new book, "Faith for Earth — A Call for Action", which gives readers a wide-ranging look at the history and diversity of faith teachings and their advocacy for the protection of the environment. The online book and its print edition were launched on 8 October 2020 during the Faith for Nature Global Conference, (5th - 8th October) in Skálhol, Iceland. The book provides a comprehensive overview of the faith traditions and scientific findings that underpin the understandings and reflections of world religions concerning environmental sustainability. It includes clear statements from sacred scripts and faith leaders. It underlines that protecting the Earth, restoring ecosystems, preventing pollution, and leaving behind a healthy environment for the next generations is an ethical, moral and spiritual responsibility. With more than one hundred million houses of worship around the globe, adapting green building principles is a massive demonstration of commitment to sustainability. 
Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development - United Nations General Assembly Year of publication: 2015 Corporate author: United Nations This plan represents a program of action for people and land and for prosperity. It is also aimed at promoting world peace in a more free atmosphere. We recognize that the eradication of poverty in all its forms and dimensions, including extreme poverty, is the world's greatest challenge and an indispensable condition for sustainable development. All countries and stakeholders will implement this plan within the framework of the cooperative partnership. We are determined to free mankind from the tyranny of poverty and want and to heal and preserve the wounds of our planet. We are determined to take the bold steps leading to the transformation that are urgently needed to move the world towards a path of sustainability and resilience. As we embark on this collective journey, we pledge that no one will be left behind. The 17 Sustainable Development Goals and the 169 targets that we will announce today demonstrate the breadth and ambition of this global agenda. The aim of these goals and objectives is to continue the process of the Millennium Development Goals and achieve what has not been achieved within the framework. They are also intended to realize human rights for all, achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls. These are integral and indivisible goals and objectives that balance the three dimensions of sustainable development: the economic, social and environmental dimensions. 
A World Ready to Learn: Prioritizing Quality Early Childhood Education Year of publication: 2019 Corporate author: United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and target 4.2 specifically, convey a clear objective that all girls and boys have access to quality early childhood development, care and pre-primary education so that they are ready for primary education. This global report confirms the importance of early childhood education in achieving SDG 4 and supports a bold challenge: Provide all children with at least one year of quality pre-primary education by 2030.The reasons for this aspiration are clear, as a solid body of evidence shows that the foundations for learning are largely built in the early years of life, before a child ever crosses the threshold of a primary school.In recent proposals on how to achieve universal education at all levels, the International Commission on Financing Global Education Opportunity (the Education Commission), the World Development Report and the Global Education Monitoring Reports3,4,5 have all emphasized that investments in early childhood education have positive returns not only for individual children but also for building more efficient and effective education systems.Yet, currently, both domestic financing and international aid invested in pre-primary education are poorly targeted and grossly inadequate. This represents one of the greatest missed opportunities to nurture the world’s human capital and help children reach their fullest potential.Based on comprehensive, data-driven analysis, this report examines the current status of pre-primary education and offers a practical vision for expanding equitable access and improving quality. Recognizing that many countries, especially low- and lower-middle-income countries, are at the beginning of this journey, providing universal access to pre-primary education in all countries by 2030 requires a realistic yet bold approach. 
Children, Food and Nutrition: Growing Well in a Changing World Year of publication: 2019 Corporate author: United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) This 2019 edition of The State of the World’s Children (SOWC) examines the issue of children, food and nutrition, providing a fresh perspective on a rapidly evolving challenge. Despite progress in the past two decades, one third of children under age 5 are malnourished – stunted, wasted or overweight – while two thirds are at risk of malnutrition and hidden hunger because of the poor quality of their diets. At the center of this challenge is a broken food system that fails to provide children with the diets they need to grow healthy. This report also provides new data and analyses of malnutrition in the 21st century and outlines recommendations to put children’s rights at the heart of food systems. 
Financing for Sustainable Development Report 2019: Report of the Inter-agency Task Force on Financing for Development Year of publication: 2019 Corporate author: United Nations (UN) This report provides a comprehensive assessment of the state of sustainable finance. Prepared by more than 60 UN agencies, programmes and offices and other relevant international organizations, the report puts forward a set of policy recommendations for achieving tangible progress on financing for sustainable development in 2019 and beyond.The report warns that creating favorable conditions is becoming more challenging. Rapid changes in technology, geopolitics, and climate are remaking our economies and societies, and existing national and multilateral institutions -- which had helped lift billions out of poverty -- are now struggling to adapt. Confidence in the multilateral system has been undermined, in part because it has failed to deliver returns equitably, with most people in the world living in countries with increasing inequality. 
Girl Goals: What has Changed for Girls? Adolescent Girls’ Rights over 30 Years Year of publication: 2025 Corporate author: United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) | United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women) | Plan International This report makes three key recommendations on action we can take now to advance adolescent girls’ rights at scale, in ways that account for fiscally constrained contexts and multiple competing priorities: 1. Ensure tangible and actionable support for adolescent girls’ voices, advocacy and action. The current generation of girls are raising their voices to be heard and are already at the forefront of making change around the world. With the right support, resources and seats at the table, adolescent girls can help transform the world for the better, shaping better policy outcomes for themselves and everyone. This is not about girls’ voices above all others, or endless consultation, but about specific, meaningful actions that ensure girls get the support they need and are heard on policy issues that matter to them. 2. Establish and track explicit targets for change for adolescent girls, who are too often invisible and sidelined Setting explicit targets to monitor outcomes for adolescent girls is key to making progress. Context-specific prioritization will be necessary, but there are some issues that stand out globally. Gaps in progress (such as child marriage gains accruing disproportionately to wealthier households) demonstrate the need forprogrammes that address poverty and economic realities alongside harmful social norms. The disproportionate number of adolescent girls not in education, employment or training, not entering the labour market as young women, and left behind when it comes to digital skills, is a threat to the gains made for girls and to economic growth that will benefit everyone. Stagnation on issues like underweight also stand out. Country- specific priorities supported by data- driven accountability mechanisms and investments are needed to translate policy commitments into change on the ground. 3. Resource and deliver smartly to unlock the social and economic dividend Governments and partners should invest in solutions proven to change outcomes across multiple SDGs at scale – for example, investing in education and skills, cash transfers and economic empowerment programmes designed to support girls. Existing systems, from maternal health care to school curricula, should be adapted to meet girls’ needs rather than creating small- scale, separate projects. Streamlined, evidence-based ‘add-ons’ – such as adding parenting support to existing maternal health-care programmes – can be cost effective and accelerate outcomes if well designed. Change is possible, and this report shows that great gains have been made. Smart investments now can transform the world for girls, families, communities and national economies. It is time to act.