As societies transform, people are falling behind, with rising costs of exclusion, new UN report warns
15 October 2026 – Economic, digital and energy transformations are reshaping the world at extraordinary speed. Yet, billions of people remain excluded from the jobs, skills, services, infrastructure and protections they need to benefit from this change, according to The World Social Report 2026: The New Economics of Social Inclusion: Making Transformations Work for All, launched today by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA).
AI, green energy and economic transitions risk leaving vulnerable communities behind, UN warns
15 October 2026 – Rapid transformations – from artificial intelligence and digital technologies to renewable energy and demographic shifts – are reshaping economies worldwide, creating new opportunities but also threatening to deepen socio-economic inequalities, a new UN report warned on Thursday.
Rise in poverty is 'a wake-up call for the world', UN development chief says
15 October 2026 - The number of people living in “multidimensional” poverty has risen for the first time in 15 years, reaching 1.2 billion, as families struggle to meet their basic needs. The finding comes in the of the global Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) published by the United Nations Development Programme () and Oxford University, which measures overlapping hardship across health, education and standard of living.
Disasters cost $228 billion in housing losses every year
15 October 2026 - $228 billion is a staggering amount of money to find, but that’s exactly what communities around the world are faced with every year, to rebuild housing after disaster strikes. Marking the , the UN chief stressed that “as climate and disaster risks multiply, building safer dwellings is the shared responsibility of governments, developers, engineers and communities”.
3 reasons safe homes matter in the fight against poverty
14 October 2026 - Around the world, more than 300 million people live without safe, secure and adequate housing. Finding a solution to this human suffering will be front and center as the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty is commemorated under the theme “Safe Homes For All.”
Rethinking inclusion: From afterthought to foundation
12 October 2026 - As economic, digital and energy transformations reshape our societies, there’s no question that how well we adapt to change determines our future. But who gets to take part in that change, and does everyone get a fair chance to benefit?Ahead of the launch of the World Social Report this month, we spoke with Rashmi Banga of UN DESA’s Economic and Analysis and Policy Division about a new way of thinking about social inclusion, one that makes it an integral part of progress from the start.
Myanmar: Poverty deepens as families face multiple shocks with limited resources
9 October 2026 - Years of conflict, displacement, economic disruption and climate shocks in Myanmar have led to the “simultaneous collapse” of shelter, healthcare, schooling and livelihoods affecting millions of people, the UN Development Programme (UNDP) said in a report issued on Thursday.
‘Overshoot is not a reason to surrender’: UN calls for accelerated climate action ahead of COP31 summit
9 October 2026 - As world leaders prepare for November’s major climate summit in Türkiye, record-breaking heat, devastating floods and an unprecedented El Niño climate pattern are making global climate action ever more urgent. Ahead of the summit, leaders gathered for a in the South Pacific this week to prepare for the intense negotiations to come and set the agenda.
UN upholds housing as a human right on World Habitat Day
8 October 2026 - Representatives from governments, civil society and academia meeting in Muscat, Oman on Monday called for urgent action to address a global housing crisis affecting nearly 3.4 billion people. They gathered to commemorate World Habitat Day which this year focuses on the theme of Adequate Housing for All.
When women hold power, progress follows
8 October 2026 - Oil is finite; one day the wells will run dry. The work that women do as part of the labour force, once you enable it – through childcare, parental leave, equal pay, changing social norms – keeps paying dividends year after year. In that sense, is an endlessly renewable resource.
Unlocking private capital for Kenya's energy transition and sustainable development
6 October 2026 - On 22 September, the Global Investors for Sustainable Development (GISD) Alliance convened a high-level roundtable hosted by Standard Chartered to mobilize private capital for Kenya’s National Energy Compact and just energy transition. Taking place on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly high-level week, the event brought together senior representatives from the public and private sector including the Government of Kenya, Government of Sweden, World Bank, African Development Bank and more.
Follow the work of UNGA Committees as they kick off their sessions
5 October 2026 - As the eighty-first session of the United Nations General Assembly gets underway, Member States will engage in the work of the Second and Third Committees to accelerate action on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), while advancing social inclusion and sustainable development for all.
The age of longevity: UN marks 36th International Day of Older Persons
1 October 2026 - Increased longevity holds the promise of a “longevity dividend” through sustained health, productivity and participation across generations. On 8 October, UN DESA’s Programme on Ageing, in partnership with the NGO Committee on Ageing in New York, will commemorate the .
New SDG Chat launched to empower global engagement on sustainable development
1 October 2026 - How do we make sure that AI is powered for good and in the service of humanity? One such AI tool – the SDG Chat – has just been launched to make reliable sustainable development information more accessible to people around the world.
From energy crisis to energy transition: How renewables are reshaping energy security
29 September 2026 - The continuing conflict in the Middle East is disrupting global energy markets and pushing up fuel prices, with knock-on effects far beyond the region. For Francesco La Camera, Director-General of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), the crisis is also reshaping how the world understands the phrase “energy security.”