Feature articles

Preparing for a year of global action

2015 is expected to be a historic year for global sustainable development. A number of milestone events are expected to set in motion crucial actions that will benefit both the people and the planet. With UN DESA playing a leading role in these efforts, DESA News met with Mr. Wu Hongbo, UN DESA’s Under-Secretary-General, to learn more about upcoming events as well as gains made during the past year.Read more

WESP 2015: Global economy to improve marginally

Global economic growth is forecast to increase marginally over the next two years, according to the Global Economic Outlook of the World Economic Situation and Prospects 2015 (WESP) report, launched on 10 December 2014. The global economy is expected to grow 3.1 per cent in 2015 and 3.3 per cent in 2016, compared with an estimated growth of 2.6 per cent for 2014. The complete report featuring regional forecasts will be released in mid-January 2015.Read more

Road to Dignity by 2030: Blueprint towards sustainable development

Calling for inclusive, agile and coordinated action to usher in an era of sustainable development for all, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on 4 December presented the United Nations General Assembly with an advance unedited version of his synthesis report, which will guide negotiations for a new global agenda centred on people and the planet, and underpinned by human rights. The report was formally issued in the six official UN languages on 31 December.Read more

Technical reports

Launch of the World Economic Situation and Prospects 2015

The World Economic Situation and Prospects 2015 (WESP) will be launched in multi-city locations around the world in mid-January. The first chapter of the report on the “Global economic outlook”, pre-released on 10 December 2014, reveals that the global economy is expected to grow 3.1 per cent in 2015 and 3.3 per cent in 2016, compared with an estimated growth of 2.6 per cent for 2014.Read more

Mr. Juwang Zhu was appointed by the Secretary-General as Director of UN DESA’s Division for Public Administration and Development Management (DPADM) effective 1 December 2014. Mr. Zhu has over twenty-five years of experience working with the United Nations intergovernmental processes on sustainable development, including major UN conferences and summits, and with the Commission on Sustainable Development.Read more