United Nations

The World Economic and Social Survey 2016: Climate Change Resilience – An Opportunity for Reducing Inequalities

The World Economic and Social Survey 2016: Climate Change Resilience – An Opportunity for Reducing Inequalities will be released on 3 October. It advances our understanding of the climate and development nexus, particularly as it relates to challenges for implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

The Survey builds upon the recognition that  climate change and inequalities are locked in a vicious cycle: climate change triggers hazards which put at greatest risk the poor, the vulnerable and the marginalized—population groups already excluded from socioeconomic progress. In order to prevent climate change from exerting further devastating impacts, countries will have to close the development gaps that leave people and communities at risk.

The Survey argues that only far reaching, transformative policies will be effective in building climate change resilience and that the best adaptation policies are those that simultaneously address immediate vulnerabilities and the root causes of inequalities. To the extent that adaptation efforts largely involve investment in public goods, the public sector has a leading role to play.

Effective policy implementation requires coherent, flexible and participatory policy systems informed by integrated assessments to account for the different dimensions of development. Furthermore, increased public financial resources (both domestic and international) will be necessary to fill the gap in areas where the private sector is unlikely to invest, particularly in projects aimed at building resilience among the most marginalized areas and population groups.

A strengthened Global Partnership for Sustainable Development has an important role to play in supporting countries’ efforts to build climate change resilience, including through a substantial increase in funding for adaptation and in building the information systems and technical capacities to support policy implementation.

The report was prepared by UN DESA’s Development Policy and Analysis Division, based on inputs, data and information provided by a network of contributors inside and outside the United Nations System.

For more information:

The World Economic and Social Survey 2016

Partnerships for Small Island Developing States 2016

It has now been two years since the conclusion of the Third International Conference on Small Island Developing States, its groundbreaking outcome document the SAMOA Pathway, and the announcement of over 300 partnerships devoted to the sustainable development of SIDS and the implementation of the SAMOA Pathway.

During the first annual Global Multi-stakeholder SIDS Partnership Dialogue held on 22 September, Mr. Wu Hongbo, UN DESA’s Under-Secretary-General, launched the publication “Partnerships for Small Island Developing States 2016.”

“I am pleased to announce the launch of the first edition of a Publication on Partnerships for SIDS, which brings together a broad range of partnership initiatives that are advancing the SAMOA Pathway,” Mr. Wu said.

“The publication features 40 partnerships, addressing a range of issues for partnerships working in SIDS – many success stories, but also some challenges,” he added.

Many partnerships have shown considerable impact on the communities they serve, proving that genuine, durable partnerships can, and do, work. The publication serves as testament to the remarkable work that has taken place, and is ongoing, in SIDS, through partnerships.

For more information: Partnerships for Small Island Developing States 2016