Shanghai, China, 17 July 2026 – The United Nations and China shared the view that progress made in developing artificial intelligence technology should benefit all of humanity and not just a handful of countries and companies.
“Artificial intelligence can be one of humanity’s greatest opportunities in the 21st century,” UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said in an address to the World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC) in Shanghai. “It could also become one of its greatest risks. As your Conference theme reminds us, a brighter future depends on partnership.”
“The launch by President Xi of the AI Capacity-Building Action Plan For Good And For All is a very strong message of Chinese commitment, and the World AI Cooperation Organization (WAICO) can be instrumental in that regard,” Guterres said. “Partnership is also at the centre of the Global Digital Compact adopted by the UN General Assembly – with the full support of China.”
The UN chief said Compact made it clear: “Technology that will shape the future of humanity must be shaped by all of humanity. It cannot be governed by a handful of countries or companies. Every nation needs a seat at the table. That table has now been built through the Global Dialogue on AI Governance – as called for in the Compact.”
Representatives from dozens of countries attended the four-day conference in Shanghai. They agreed to establish WAICO before the meeting opened.
President Xi Jinping said in opening the conference, “In China’s view, all countries should take a people-centered approach and develop AI for the positive and for good. We should ensure that AI is an important driver for shared prosperity and common security. We should join hands to build a just and equitable system for global AI governance.”
Xi said his demand for people-centered AI rests on four observations: countries should adhere to the principle of openness and win-win and boost innovation-driven development; strengthen risk-awareness and ensure that “AI is secure and controllable, AI should be a trusted tool for humanity;” encourage inclusiveness and promote mutual learning between civilizations, and advocate solidarity and improve global governance.
Xi said China, as a “responsible major country,” has proposed the Global AI Governance Initiative and promoted the adoption of the U.N. General Assembly Resolution on Enhancing International Cooperation on Capacity-Building of Artificial Intelligence by consensus. He said the creation of WAICO demonstrated that his country has been contributing steadily to the global AI governance.
In order to further support global AI development and advance global AI capacity building, President Xi said that in the next five years, China will provide developing countries with 5,000 opportunities in AI training and seminar programs; develop international AI application cooperation centers with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, the League of Arab States, the African Union, the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, and BRICS; and enable 30 countries to use the AI-powered meteorological warning system, or MAZU, to safeguard homes around the world.
United Nations correspondent journalists – United Nations correspondent journalists – United Nations journalism articles – United Nations journalism articles – United Nations News – UNCA Awards
Note: AI leaders such as Geoffrey Hinton, Fei-Fei Li, Andrew Ng, Sebastian Thrun, Pat Gelsinger, Tim O’Reilly, among more than 1,000 AI leaders, will headline North America’s largest artificial intelligence event for an unprecedented gathering of innovation, research, and enterprise transformation.
Las Vegas, Nevada, 16 July, 2026 — As artificial intelligence reshapes every industry and redefines the future of business, the world’s leading AI researchers, entrepreneurs, executives, policymakers, and innovators will gather at Ai4 2026, taking place August 4–6 at The Venetian Las Vegas, for America’s largest AI conference.
Now in its eighth year, Ai4 will welcome more than 12,000 attendees from over 85 countries, feature more than 1,000 speakers, and showcase nearly 400 exhibitors and sponsors, creating the industry’s largest forum for exploring how artificial intelligence is transforming business, government, healthcare, manufacturing, finance, education, and society. Throughout the three-day conference, attendees can choose from more than 1,000 sessions exploring every major facet of AI innovation.
“Artificial intelligence has reached a pivotal moment,” said Michael Weiss, Co-Founder of Ai4. “Organizations are moving beyond experimentation and deploying AI at enterprise scale. Ai4 brings together the researchers creating the next generation of AI, the executives implementing it across global organizations, and the entrepreneurs building the technologies that will define the next decade.”
The conference opens Tuesday, August 4, at 8:30 am with a series of keynote presentations exploring the technologies and business strategies driving the next wave of AI innovation. Highlights include:
• AI’s Race to Reinvent Medicine features Alex Zhavoronkov, Founder and CEO of Insilico Medicine, and Eric Nguyen, CEO of Radical Numerics, moderated by Alice Park, Senior Health Correspondent at TIME.
• The One Decision That Separates AI Winners from AI Casualties, featuring Mark Abramowitz, Chief Marketing Officer at Dataiku, and Jed Dougherty, SVP of AI & Platform at Dataiku.
• The AI Reckoning: Chips, Constraints and the Next Generation of Compute, bringing together technology visionary Pat Gelsinger, former Intel CEO and General Partner at Playground Global, with Sachin Katti, Head of Compute at OpenAI. The discussion will be moderated by Gideon Lewis-Kraus, technology writer for The New Yorker.
• Mistral: Pioneering Transparent and Transformative Frontier AI, featuring Pavan Kumar Reddy, one of Mistral’s first U.S.-based AI scientists.
On Wednesday, August 5, one of the conference’s most anticipated moments will be “The Architects of Intelligence: A Historic Convergence,” bringing together three of the most influential figures in modern AI for a rare conversation on the future of artificial intelligence. The session features:
• Geoffrey Hinton, Nobel Prize recipient and widely recognized as the “Godfather of AI”
• Fei-Fei Li, pioneering researcher and leader in human-centered AI
• Andrew Ng, Founder of DeepLearning.AI and one of the world’s leading AI educators
Moderated by Yun-Hee Kim, Deputy Editor of The Washington Post, the discussion will examine the scientific breakthroughs shaping AI, the challenges that lie ahead, and the opportunities and responsibilities that accompany the technology’s rapid evolution. The Wednesday keynote program also includes presentations from Srini Venkatesan, Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer at PayPal, and Kevin Cochrane, Chief Marketing Officer at Vultr.
Thursday’s keynote program explores how AI is moving beyond digital applications into the physical world while addressing the infrastructure required to support the next generation of intelligent systems.
Featured sessions include:
• AI That Understands the Real World, featuring Anastasis Germanidis, Co-Founder and CEO of Runway; Inhi Cho Suh, CEO of Niantic Spatial; and Oliver Cameron, CEO of Odyssey. Moderated by Jared Perlo, AI Reporter for NBC News, the session explores how AI is evolving from generating digital content to mapping, understanding, and acting in real-world environments.
• The Waymo Journey: From Moonshot to Global Deployment, where autonomous vehicle pioneer Sebastian Thrun, founder of Waymo and Udacity, joins Dmitri Dolgov, Co-CEO of Waymo, for a discussion moderated by Tim O’Reilly, Founder and CEO of O’Reilly Media.
• Critical Infrastructure for the AI Era: Scaling and Securing Agentic AI, featuring Jeetu Patel, President and Chief Product Officer at Cisco, in conversation with Matt Egan, Senior Reporter at CNN, exploring the infrastructure demands created by the transition from AI assistants to autonomous AI agents.
The conference concludes Thursday afternoon with additional keynote presentations, including:
• Building an AI-Native Company at Global Scale, presented by Praveen Neppalli Naga, Chief Technology Officer at Uber.
• Building Ethical AI, presented by Chloe Bakalar, AI Ethics Lead at OpenAI.
Beyond the keynote stage, Ai4 2026 brings together one of the most comprehensive collections of AI leaders ever assembled. Executives from organizations including Cisco, PayPal, Dataiku, Amazon Web Services, Google Cloud, IBM, NVIDIA, SAP, Siemens, Dell Technologies, Red Hat, and EY will share practical strategies for deploying AI across customer experience, cybersecurity, software development, manufacturing, healthcare, financial services, and enterprise operations.
The exhibition hall will feature nearly 400 leading AI companies and emerging startups demonstrating the latest breakthroughs in enterprise software, robotics, infrastructure, developer tools, data platforms, cloud computing, and generative AI applications. New features for 2026 include Startup Alley, Agentic Live demonstrations, an expanded International Pavilion, the Podcast Pavilion, executive networking lounges, and interactive technology showcases.
“Since launching Ai4 in 2018, we’ve watched artificial intelligence evolve from an emerging technology into one of the defining forces shaping business and society,” said Marcus Jecklin, Co-Founder of Ai4. “This year’s speaker lineup reflects that transformation by bringing together the scientists advancing the field, the executives deploying AI at a global scale, and the entrepreneurs building the next generation of intelligent technologies.”
With thousands of executives, investors, researchers, developers, founders, policymakers, and enterprise decision-makers expected to attend, Ai4 2026 continues to serve as the premier destination for discovering breakthrough technologies, building strategic partnerships, and defining the future of artificial intelligence. For the complete agenda, speaker lineup, and registration information, visit the Ai4 website. Register before August 2 and Save $600.
Founded in 2018, Ai4 has become the premier destination for leaders seeking to understand and apply artificial intelligence responsibly and effectively. By convening the brightest minds in AI research, strategy, and implementation, Ai4 continues to advance innovation while helping organizations confidently navigate the AI-powered future.
Media Registration: Reporters, analysts, and content creators covering artificial intelligence and emerging technologies are invited to apply for press credentials at https://ai4.io/press-resources/
United Nations correspondent journalists – United Nations correspondent journalists – United Nations journalism articles – United Nations journalism articles – United Nations News – UNCA Awards
A new UN Women report finds that 84 per cent of women’s organizations report that demand for their services has increased since January 2025, while nearly nine in 10 can no longer meet current levels of need — the result of the steepest annual decline in official development assistance on record.
New York/Geneva, 10 July 2026 –As armed conflicts reach the highest levels in 80 years, organizations providing life-saving services to women and girls are running out of money. Beyond the Breaking Point, a new UN Women report published today on the impact of aid cuts, finds that at least one million women and girls have lost access to critical support since January 2025. The report is based on responses from 855 women-led and women’s rights organizations across 52 crisis-and conflict-affected countries.
“The women’s organizations at risk of being shut down are on the frontlines of the world’s most severe humanitarian crises. In countries including Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Haiti, they operate where international actors cannot and stay long after global attention has moved on. Every dollar withdrawn from women’s organizations is a dollar withdrawn from survivors of conflict-related sexual violence, displaced mothers, girls forced from school, and communities struggling to survive”, said Sofia Calltorp, UN Women Chief of Humanitarian Action.
The collapse of women’s organizations is happening as needs reach historic levels. Some 120 million women and girls require humanitarian assistance and protection worldwide [1] and 84 per cent of women’s organizations surveyed report that demand for their services has increased since January 2025. Nearly nine in 10 say they can no longer meet current levels of need. Two in five organizations surveyed expect to shut down, temporarily or permanently, within the next year.
To keep life-saving services afloat, women leading or working in the organizations surveyed are paying with their own labour, income, and wellbeing. Many are crisis-affected themselves. Sixty-five per cent of women-led organizations report staff working without pay to keep services running. As organizations slip into survival mode, 48 per cent – nearly half – report rising burnout among their staff, while 88 per cent say the mental health of the women and girls they serve is deteriorating.
The consequences of the funding cuts are already visible. Half of women’s organizations have introduced waiting lists or are turning away women and girls in need. Ninety-two per cent of organizations report increasing levels of poverty among the women they serve, while 82 per cent report seeing more girls dropping out of school.
Conflict-related sexual violence doubled in 2025, just as the systems designed to protect survivors are collapsing. Eighty-six per cent of women’s organizations report an increase in gender-based violence in the communities they serve. Sixty-two per cent of organizations report that safe spaces are no longer available or have been significantly reduced.
Behind these numbers are devastating consequences. A woman seeking refuge from violence might show up at the door of a shelter that has shut down; a pregnant woman may have to walk for hours to reach a health clinic; or a mother may be denied food for her children. The women and girls left behind first are those with the fewest alternatives: women and girls in remote, conflict-affected and hard-to-reach communities. Nearly two-thirds, or 63 per cent, of organizations have already cut services in those areas.
The report warns that the consequences extend far beyond humanitarian response. The dismantling of women’s organizations is not happening in a vacuum but against a global backlash on the rights of women and girls. One in five organizations has already suspended work advancing women’s leadership and gender equality. More than half are already witnessing declining participation of women in community leadership and local decision-making.
UN Women is calling for sustained investment in women’s organizations as indispensable first responders, defenders of women’s rights, and the foundation of peace and recovery. “Without immediate action, the organizations that have kept women and girls alive through the world’s worst crises risk becoming another casualty of war”, concluded Calltorp.
UN Women works with and invests in women-led organizations as essential partners in humanitarian action – providing funding, technical support, and advocacy to strengthen their leadership, expand access to life-saving services, and advance inclusive, locally led humanitarian responses that meet the needs of women and girls.
Note to editors: [1] UN Women estimate according to 2026, OCHA Humanitarian Needs Overview. All information provided is reported by respondents and has not been independently verified by UN Women unless otherwise specified. Contact: For multimedia assets or to interview UN Women experts, please contact media.team@unwomen.org.
About UN Women UN Women exists to advance women’s rights, gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls. As the lead UN entity on gender equality, we shift laws, institutions, social behaviours and services to close the gender gap and build an equal world for all women and girls. We keep the rights of women and girls at the centre of global progress – always, everywhere. Because gender equality is not just what we do. It is who we are.
United Nations correspondent journalists – United Nations correspondent journalists – United Nations journalism articles – United Nations journalism articles – United Nations News – UNCA Awards
Immediate humanitarian needs are immense, while greater investment in protection, livelihoods, and opportunities is critical to successful reintegration and long-term stability.
Kabul, Afghanistan, 8 July 2026 — UN Development Programme (UNDP) Administrator Alexander De Croo and UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Barham Salih today called on the international community to provide urgent, sustained investment in Afghanistan as one of the world’s largest return movements places immense pressure on communities grappling with acute poverty, climate shocks and limited economic opportunities.
Since 2023, more than 6 million Afghans have returned to the country, including around 2.9 million in 2025. More than 750,000 people have already returned so far this year, with a further 2.5 million expected by the end of 2026.
Both leaders urged international partners not to turn away from Afghanistan, warning that aid cuts and declining international attention risk deepening poverty, fuelling further displacement and undermining fragile gains.
The call came at the conclusion of a joint mission to Afghanistan, during which the two UN leaders met with the de facto authorities and visited UN-supported activities in Mazar-e-Sharif, where they saw first-hand both the immense pressures facing communities and the impact that sustained international support can make. The mission underscored the UN’s joint commitment to meeting urgent humanitarian and protection needs while helping lay the foundations for longer-term recovery, stability and durable reintegration.
“While the needs across Afghanistan remain enormous, we have a critical window of opportunity to support communities to forge a path beyond crisis,” said Alexander De Croo, UNDP Administrator. “For people who are now returning, this is not the end of a journey; it is the beginning of one. People need jobs. They need access to basic services. They need the opportunity to rebuild their lives. These investments are already working, and the international community can expand this critical support. So people returning home become catalysts for recovery and lasting security.”
The visit highlighted the impact of existing UN-supported programmes, including protection services, legal identity support, livelihoods, psychosocial assistance, basic community services and access to finance that helps small businesses grow and create jobs, particularly for women and young people.
The two UN chiefs also underscored new joint efforts to expand access to legal identity documentation, which is essential for accessing services, economic opportunities and long-term reintegration. After years outside the country, fewer than half of returning Afghans possess documentation linking them to Afghanistan.
Through their complementary mandates, UNHCR and UNDP support returnees from reception and protection at the border through reintegration, livelihoods, social cohesion and economic recovery in the communities where they settle.
“Nearly half the population requires humanitarian aid, and with millions more Afghans expected to return, local communities are under great pressure. People need our support now,” said Barham Salih. “But meeting immediate needs is only part of the answer. Afghanistan’s long-term recovery depends on all Afghans having the opportunity to contribute to their country’s future. Protection, opportunity and dignity must go hand in hand, particularly for women and girls. UNHCR will continue working with Afghanistan and its neighbours to promote conditions for returns that are safe, voluntary and dignified.”
In meetings with senior officials of the de facto authorities, the two UN chiefs called for the full participation of women in Afghanistan’s social and economic life and for women and girls to enjoy their fundamental rights. They stressed that women and girls are indispensable to household resilience, community stability and the country’s long-term recovery. They also underscored the imperative that female humanitarian workers be able to reach and assist women and girls, including female returnees, as part of the response.
Afghanistan remains one of the world’s most fragile economies. Heavily dependent on agriculture, the country is acutely exposed to the impacts of climate change. Recent returnees are among the most vulnerable, with 92 per cent unable to meet their basic needs. In provinces receiving large numbers of returnees, only 3 per cent have formal employment, while 78 per cent rely on casual labour.
Many returnees arrive with significant protection needs and limited resources. Ensuring access to legal identity documentation, essential services, livelihoods and community support will be critical to helping returnees rebuild their lives with dignity and contribute to Afghanistan’s long-term recovery.
Media contacts
For UNDP in New York City, USA, please contact Dylan Lowthian dylan.lowthian@undp.org +1 646 673 6350
For UNHCRin Kabul, Charlie Goodlake: goodlake@unhcr.org, +44 7810 260093
For UNHCR in Geneva, Matthew Saltmarsh: saltmars@unhcr.org, +41 79 967 99 36
About UNDP – UNDP is the leading United Nations organization fighting to end the injustice of poverty, inequality, and climate change. Working with our broad network of experts and partners in 170 countries, we help nations to build integrated, lasting solutions for people and plan.
About UNHCR
UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, is a global organization dedicated to saving lives, protecting rights and building a better future for people forced to flee their homes because of conflict and persecution.
We lead international action to protect refugees, forcibly displaced communities and stateless people.
United Nations correspondent journalists – United Nations correspondent journalists – United Nations journalism articles – United Nations journalism articles – United Nations News – UNCA Awards
With fewer than five years to 2030, a decisive final push is needed to keep the promise of the SDGs within reach New York, 7 July 2026 — Since their adoption in 2015, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) have delivered results at scale – bringing access to water, electricity and health care to billions. However, progress remains uneven and insufficient. Without a decisive push to rapidly scale up what works, the promise of the SDGs risks slipping out of reach, according to The Sustainable Development Goals Report 2026, released today.
What a decade of evidence tells us: the SDGs deliver results
Since 2015, sustained investment, sound policies and international cooperation have improved the lives of billions of people worldwide with measurable gains across the SDGs. Nearly one billion people gained access to safely managed drinking water and 1.2 billion to safely managed sanitation. New HIV infections fell by 30 per cent between 2015 and 2024, and AIDS-related deaths by 35 per cent. Electricity now reaches 92 per cent of the world’s population. Internet access has surged, from 40 to 74 per cent. Social protection covers more than half the global population for the first time in history.
Behind these results is an important and often overlooked achievement: the data revolution. A decade ago, data was available for only half of all SDG indicators. Today, a global database of more than 3.2 million data points covers nearly every indicator — enabling countries to identify where progress is accelerating, where gaps persist and which policies are delivering results.“
Guided by the data in this report, our vision of the 2030 Agenda remains within reach. “Together, let us make a decisive final push to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals and build a healthy, prosperous future for all,” said United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres.
Why the world is falling short: overlapping crises and a widening financing gap Despite progress, however, major challenges persist. Of the 139 SDG targets with trend data, only 36 per cent are on track or making moderate progress. Nearly half — 49 per cent — are advancing too slowly, and 15 per cent have regressed below 2015 baselines.
One in ten people still live in extreme poverty. Around 2.3 billion people face moderate or severe food insecurity. More than 150 million children remain stunted. Maternal mortality stands at nearly three times the global target. None of the gender equality targets are on track. The number of people affected by climate-related disasters has more than doubled since 2015. Escalating conflicts, climate change, slowing economic growth, rising debt and a record decline in official development assistance are compounding the shortfall and disproportionately affecting the world’s most vulnerable people.
What must happen now: scale up what works The report emphasizes that the SDGs remain the world’s shared blueprint for peace, prosperity and sustainability. The evidence accumulated over more than a decade of implementation shows that meaningful progress is achievable — but only when political commitment, financing, innovation and international cooperation align.
“More than a decade of implementation has shown what is possible,” said Li Junhua, United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs. “The task now is to scale up what works — with the urgency, investment and cooperation needed to fulfill the promise of the 2030 Agenda.”
Closing the approximately $4 trillion annual SDG financing gap — through the Sevilla Commitment and the reform of the international financial architecture — is essential. This must be matched by stronger data systems through the Medellín Framework to direct investment to the most vulnerable first. Accelerating the energy transition, harnessing frontier technologies including artificial intelligence for sustainable development, advancing gender equality as a cross-cutting priority, and reinforcing multilateral cooperation will also be critical to success.
The choices made over the next four years — on financing, cooperation and collective crisis response — will have lasting effects for generations to come, according to the report. Additional key facts and figures.
Progress
Most regions will be close to eradicating extreme poverty by 2030, except sub- Saharan Africa, the Middle East and North Africa, and Oceania (excluding Australia and New Zealand).
Between 2012 and 2024, stunting prevalence among children under five declined, resulting in 30.2 million fewer stunted children worldwide.
The share of births attended by skilled health personnel rose from 80 to 87 per cent between 2015 and 2025 and is on track to reach the 90 per cent target by 2030.
Between 2019 and 2025, 99 legal reforms were enacted to remove discriminatory laws and establish gender equality frameworks; women now hold 27.4 per cent of parliamentary seats, up from 22.3 per cent in 2015.
Child labour fell by more than 20 million between 2020 and 2024.
Global unemployment stood at a near-historic low of 4.9 per cent in 2025.
Renewable electricity generating capacity per capita grew at a record 14 per cent between 2023 and 2024 and is now 2.2 times its 2015 level. Challenges
The global extreme poverty rate is projected to reach only 10 per cent by 2026 — just 3 percentage points below its 2015 level, far short of the target to end extreme poverty.
273 million children and young people remain out of school; one in five young people aged 15–24 is not in employment, education or training, and young people are nearly four times more likely to be unemployed than adults.
An estimated 1.16 billion people — roughly one in four urban residents — live in slums or informal settlements.
Official development assistance fell by a record 23.1 per cent in 2025 — the largest annual decline ever recorded — returning to roughly 2015 levels.
The global refugee population reached 440 per 100,000 people by mid-2025, more than double the level of a decade earlier.
Extinction risk is worsening across all species groups; protection of key biodiversity areas averaged only 45 per cent in 2025.
Violent conflict has surged to its highest level in decades. As of December 2025, more than 117.8 million people were forcibly displaced worldwide, erasing years of development gains in months.
Global temperatures in 2025 reached 1.43°C above pre-industrial levels and atmospheric carbon dioxide hit its highest concentration in two million years.
The external debt of low- and middle-income countries reached a record $8.9 trillion in 2024.
For more information, please visit: https://unstats.un.org/sdgs/report/2026 Hashtags: #SDGreport #SDGs #GlobalGoals Media contacts: Sharon Birch, UN Department of Global Communications, birchs@un.org Helen Rosengren, UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs.
United Nations correspondent journalists – United Nations correspondent journalists – United Nations journalism articles – United Nations journalism articles – United Nations News – UNCA Awards
AI safety, accountability and human oversight among topics to be discussed – Press Release
Geneva, Switzerland, 6 July 2026 – The United Nations today kicked off a global dialogue bringing together governments, tech companies, academia, civil society and the technical community to facilitate discussions on artificial intelligence governance.
“AI is advancing at runaway speed. The question is whether we will govern it together – or let it govern us. For the first time, the AI Dialogue gives every country a seat at the table. We must now turn global participation into global action – to make AI safer, fairer, more accessible and more ethical,” said UN Secretary-General, António Guterres.
The inaugural session of the Global Dialogue on AI Governance (AI Dialogue) seeks to ensure that governance reflects the priorities of all nations, not just the most technologically advanced, and that the benefits of AI are shared by all.
Discussions will address various themes including the opportunities and implications of this technology; how to bridge the AI divide; international cooperation on AI governance; and robust human oversight of AI systems, consistent with international law, to ensure safety and security.
“This Global Dialogue is not merely about regulating a technology. It is about defining a shared vision in which technological progress goes hand in hand with human dignity, equity, and sustainable development,”said Annalena Baerbock, President of the UN General Assembly. “If governed responsibly and collectively, AI has the potential to accelerate progress across nearly every Sustainable Development Goal, offering powerful new tools in healthcare, education, scientific research, disaster preparedness, and agriculture.
“It is about demonstrating to the people of the world that the United Nations is not lost in the past or too slow to act; that it is, in fact, able and willing to move on the most pressing and emerging issues of our time.”
Why this platform, why now
AI is already being governed — through national regulations, technical standards, procurement frameworks, and bilateral agreements — but unevenly. Governance frameworks have been shaped predominantly by countries with advanced AI sectors, while the countries most exposed to AI’s consequences have had the least say in how those frameworks are designed.
The AI Dialogue corrects that imbalance. Mandated by the UN General Assembly, it gives every government an equal seat. Developing countries and the Global South participate with full standing to shape outcomes — not as observers.
>> Follow the Global Dialogue on 6 July and 7 July remotely <<
“The credibility of this first Global Dialogue has been built through an open and participatory process that continues here in Geneva. Our collective success will be defined by every voice, perspective, experience, and contribution that is shaping the path forward for AI”, said Egriselda López, Permanent Representative of El Salvador to the UN and Co-Chair of the Dialogue.
Fellow Co-Chair and Permanent Representative of Estonia to the UN, Rein Tammsaar, said that “leveraging the convening power of the UN, we must start transforming artificial intelligence into a global public good that benefits all of humanity while ensuring safety by design and meaningful human oversight. For this to happen, the first Global Dialogue on AI Governance in Geneva should spark AI’s San Francisco moment.”
Since January 2026, structured global consultations have taken place across thematic, regional, and virtual formats, drawing in governments, civil society, the private sector, academia, and the technical community. More than 1,500 written submissions were submitted from organisations and individuals across all regional groups.
The result of the written submissions revealed different priorities among the groups: For example, governments were the only stakeholder group to place capacity-building first. Most other groups ranked safety first. Other themes that ranked high in priority include transparency, accountability and human oversight, as well as social, economic, ethical, cultural and linguistic implications. One area of consensus from the consultations is that participants want to see continuity in this process: more than five hundred submissions called for the process to continue beyond July.
The Dialogue takes place one week after the Independent International Scientific Panel on Artificial Intelligence launched its preliminary report handing the governments who convene there a shared evidence base to build policy from. The Panel, composed of independent scientists and experts from every region, outlines trends in AI and warns that current safeguards cannot keep pace with the growth of AI’s capabilities.
The Panel comprises 40 members serving in their personal capacity, independent of any government, company, or institution, including the United Nations. Members were selected from more than 2,600 candidates through an open call and independent review process. The Panel is co-chaired by Yoshua Bengio (Canada) and Maria Ressa (Philippines).
Quotes
Doreen Bogdan-Martin, Secretary-General, ITU: “For AI to benefit all people, technology and international cooperation must move forward together. The Global Dialogue on AI Governance has sharpened the world’s focus on building an AI future that includes everyone, especially the 2.2 billion people who have yet to join the digital world.”
Khaled El-Enany, Director-General, UNESCO:
“Humanity’s rich and diverse cultural and linguistic heritage is our greatest source of creativity, identity and resilience, but we must ensure Artificial Intelligence strengthens, rather than erodes this diversity. Global AI governance is essential to protect all voices, empower all cultures, and guarantee that innovation reflects the full breadth of human culture.”
Amandeep Singh Gill, Under-Secretary-General and Special Envoy for Digital and Emerging Technologies: “The Global Digital Compact gave the multilateral system two things it never had before: an independent scientific panel to assess AI’s impacts and opportunities, and a global dialogue where every government has a seat at the table. Today, for the first time, both come together. That is what makes 6 July a turning point — not just for AI governance, but for how the international community responds to transformative technology.”
About the Global Dialogue on Artificial Intelligence Governance
The Global Dialogue on Artificial Intelligence Governance is the first platform under a United Nations General Assembly mandate where Member States and all relevant stakeholders convene on AI governance. Established by resolution A/RES/79/325, it meets recurrently to exchange best practices, share national and regional experiences, and build common approaches to the governance of artificial intelligence.
The AI Dialogue forms part of a comprehensive Digital Week in Geneva, a European UN hub, back-to-back with the annual AI for Good Global Summit and WSIS Forum.
About the joint secretariat
The joint secretariat of the Global Dialogue comprises the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the Office of the Digital Economy and Technology (ODET), and the Executive Office of the Secretary-General (EOSG). ITU and UNESCO coordinate the secretariat for the first session.
About ITU
The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) is the United Nations agency for digital technologies, driving innovation for people and the planet with 194 Member States and a membership of over 1,000 companies, universities, civil society, and international and regional organizations. Established in 1865, ITU coordinates the global use of the radio spectrum and satellite orbits, establishes international technology standards, drives universal connectivity and digital services, and is helping to make sure everyone benefits from sustainable digital transformation, including the most remote communities. From artificial intelligence (AI) to quantum, from satellites and submarine cables to advanced mobile and wireless broadband networks, ITU is committed to connecting the world and beyond. Learn more: www.itu.int
About UNESCO
UNESCO, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, is a specialized agency dedicated to strengthening international cooperation in the fields of education, science, culture, and information. It sets standards, produces tools and develops knowledge to create solutions to some of the greatest challenges of our time, and foster a world of greater equality and peace. Protecting biodiversity, responding to artificial intelligence, advancing quality education, safeguarding heritage, and ensuring access to reliable information are some examples of the work that UNESCO does with its 194 Member States across the globe.
About ODET
The United Nations Office for Digital and Emerging Technologies (ODET) serves as the UN system-wide focal point for advancing inclusive, rights-based digital cooperation. Functioning as a “Connector, Catalyst, and Convener,” the office coordinates efforts on AI governance, facilitates multistakeholder policy dialogue, advises senior leadership on technology, and supports the implementation of the Global Digital Compact. For more details, visitUN ODET.
Note: The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) highlights in a press release that half-way through 2026, just 30 per cent of required aid funding has been delivered. It warns that if the world does not choose to change course, we will see a massive loss of lives.
Oslo, 1 July 2026 – Half-way through 2026, humanitarian funding for some of the world’s most neglected displacement crises remains at rock bottom. As the reality of funding cuts begins to show, millions of people are being completely abandoned by the world, warns the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC).
“2026 is a make-or-break year for millions in desperate need around the world from Venezuela to Sudan. Families whose lives have been shattered by conflict are increasingly struggling to survive. Violence and displacement continue unabated, while spiralling inflation puts basic goods out of reach all at a time when aid is declining due to a lack of funding. If the world doesn’t choose to change course, we will see a massive loss of lives,” said Jan Egeland, NRC’s secretary general.
Six months into the year only 30 per cent of the funding needed to support 143 million people out of the 252 million people in need of aid globally has been received.
“Global generosity for victims of conflict and disasters is abysmal. Without a dramatic increase of support, countless communities in need of aid will have little chance of being helped this year. We urgently need to see countries able to fund space missions and World Cups step up to support people living through crisis,” said Egeland.
“Families I have spoken to in Sudan, Iran, Gaza and Ukraine this year all told me they felt forgotten by the world. But it is not too late to change this.”
The drop off in funding from countries in North America, Europe and other affluent nations is hurting certain regions especially hard. Some of the world’s most chronically neglected crises are seeing desperately low levels of funding.
“Countries must allocate funding based on the level of need, not their own geopolitical and nationalistic interests. They must not simply focus on those featured on the frontpages. We commend the effort of Sweden who continue to give based on the objective assessment of needs, and hope others will follow suit,” said Egeland.
Afghans, that for many years saw a robust humanitarian response and a huge and expensive Western military operation, is now one of the peoples with the least funding. This shift is in part due to the ending of all US humanitarian support to the country, despite the US having contributed more than 40 per cent of all aid to Afghanistan up to 2024. This drop in funding comes at a time when 21.9 million people require aid, and millions are returning from neighbouring countries. Just 11 per cent of adults who have returned to Afghanistan are fully employed.
“This year for the first time Afghanistan features on NRC’s list of the world’s most neglected crises. Now we are seeing funding for Afghanistan hit record low levels with just one in every six dollars needed for aid currently available. Families tell us the drop in aid has left them without a lifeline and without access to even basic services. Donors must heed the warnings before millions more fall into hunger and desperation,” said Egeland.
“Our lives have got worse from the last two years. My husband used to work from time-to-time and humanitarian organisations also used to come in this area to assist us. Now, we don’t see much of that assistance, and my husband is unemployed and most days is unable to get work,” said Momina, a 45-year-old mother of six from Nangarhar province in Afghanistan.
Countries in the Central Sahel dominate the list of lowest funded humanitarian responses with Niger, Burkina Faso and Mali making up three of the five least funded plans in 2026. Millions face displacement, worsening protection conditions, and the loss of basic services. Alongside the dire levels of humanitarian funding, the region has also seen a sharp decline in development financing that has weakened already fragile systems and left schools and health facilities struggling to function.
“For too long, the Central Sahel has faced chronic underfunding and neglect. Humanitarian funding is essential, but without longer-term investment the conditions that leave people increasingly vulnerable, such as lack of services, limited opportunities, and rising displacement, will only deepen. Investing now is key to reducing future crises and unlocking the region’s potential. It is both a necessity and an opportunity for millions of people,” said Egeland.
“We must ensure parents can give hope and opportunities to their children that ends the cycle of neglect. 2026 must not go down in the record books as the year the world turned its back.”
Notes to editors:
In 2026, a total of 252 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance. A total of 33.66 billion US dollars has been requested to support 143.2 million of them (OCHA). As of 24 June, 10.23 billion US dollars have been delivered – 30.4 per cent of what is needed (OCHA). The amount requested is the lowest since 2019.
Of the targeted 143.2 million, 88.7 million are urgently prioritised (OCHA). 24 billion US dollars is required to reach this group of which 9.83 have been delivered – 40.1 per cent (OCHA).
The United States has provided 4,873 million US dollars in humanitarian funding so far this year. This is just over a third of what they gave in 2024 (14,061 million US dollars) (OCHA).
In 2024 the United Kingdom gave 2,263 million US dollars, compared to 645.8 million half-way through 2026 (OCHA).
The lowest funded humanitarian responses so far in 2026 are: Yemen, Niger, Burkina Faso, Afghanistan and Mali (OCHA).
In 2026, Afghanistan’s humanitarian needs and response plan is 16.9 per cent funded (OCHA).
According to IOM’s Returnee Resilience Survey among undocumented returnee households and single travellers who had spent time resettling after return 11 per cent of adults were fully employed (IOM).
21.9 million people are in need of aid in Afghanistan in 2026. Of them 17.5 million have been targeted for humanitarian assistance (OCHA).
In 2026, Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger’s humanitarian needs and response plans stand at 15.6, 18.4 and 15 per cent funded respectably (OCHA).
All funding data is correct as of 24 June 2026.
NRC’s neglected displacement crisis report for 2025 is available here.
For more information or to arrange an interview, please contact:
Norwegian Refugee Council’s global media hotline: media@nrc.no, +47 905 623 29
Jessica Wanless Media Specialist Adviser, Global Public Communications Section, Oslo. +47 901 67 022 / media@nrc.no
United Nations correspondent journalists – United Nations correspondent journalists – United Nations journalism articles – United Nations journalism articles – United Nations News – UNCA Awards
Note: Ripple effects from the Middle East conflict force developing countries to burn fiscal space on fossil fuel subsidies, wiping out investment in health, education and climate, according to new report.
New York/Hamburg, 29 June 2026 -Developing countries’ efforts to tackle the ongoing effects of conflict in the Middle East carry a high price that leaves little room for critical investments in education, health and other development priorities, according to a new report by the UN Development Programme (UNDP) released today.
The report – Military Escalation in the Middle East: Cushioning the Global Shock – reveals that low- and middle-income countries have partially protected their populations from soaring oil prices through fossil fuel subsidies, price caps, tax rebates and demand-management measures.
Fossil fuel subsidies, which had been on a downward trend globally, are on track to reach US$1.1 trillion in 2026 – US$ 410 billion more than in 2025, assuming the current average oil price settles at US$88.6 per barrel.
This projection climbs to as much as US$1.43 trillion in a ‘severe’ scenario where oil prices climb to an average of US$110 per barrel.
The UNDP report warns that while fossil fuel subsidies provide temporary relief, they ultimately undermine climate and development goals, locking countries into high-carbon pathways and limiting future investment.
“The global spillover of the Middle East conflict is profound and potentially long-lasting. Developing countries, many already struggling with debt, have temporarily managed to protect people from the worst of the energy shock,” said UNDP Administrator Alexander De Croo. “These countries are doing everything they can, but there is a hidden cost. To deal with today’s crisis, governments are postponing tomorrow’s investments. Money that should be building schools, hospitals, and clean energy systems is being used simply to keep economies afloat. Without international support, these countries won’t escape the shock. They are absorbing it at the expense of future growth.”
Close to half of the world’s poorest countries are already either ‘in’ or at ‘high risk’ of debt distress, and debt continues to crowd out development spending at an increasing rate, according to the report.
This year, it is estimated that the median developing economy will spend 9.53 percent of total government revenue on interest payments alone – double the share of a decade ago and the highest level seen in 25 years.
Averaged over the three-year period 2024 to 2026, 55 developing economies are estimated to pay more than 10 percent of revenue in interest payments, compared to 32 countries a decade ago.
“No country should have to sacrifice its future development to manage a crisis it did not create,” said De Croo. “First, we must unlock multilateral liquidity in ways that are easy to access for low and middle-income countries. Second, we must accelerate investment in renewable energy. Every clean energy investment reduces exposure to future shocks. The crisis has made one thing clear: energy security and the energy transition are no longer separate agendas. They are one and the same.”
The report is being launched in the context of the Hamburg Sustainability Conference (HSC) taking place this week. The HSC is an annual high-level meeting that aims to foster new partnerships and collective action by global policymakers, private sector leaders, academia experts, and civil society representatives. The annual event is a joint initiative of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg and the Michael Otto Foundation.
About UNDP: UNDP is the leading United Nations organization fighting to end the injustice of poverty, inequality and climate change. Working with our broad network of experts and partners in 170 countries, we help nations to build integrated, lasting solutions for people and the planet. Learn more at undp.org or follow at @UNDP.
Victor Garrido Delgado Media Analyst, Bureau of External Relations and Advocacy United Nations Development Programme One United Nations Plaza, DC1 New York, New York 10017 Tel: + 1 212 906 5310 Cell: +1 917 995 1687 victor.garrido.delgado@undp.org
United Nations correspondent journalists – United Nations correspondent journalists – United Nations journalism articles – United Nations journalism articles – United Nations News – UNCA Awards
Caracas/New York, 27 June 2026 – The earthquakes that struck Venezuela on 24 June caused significant human suffering and loss of life, while also severely affecting livelihoods, infrastructure, and essential services. This includes a preliminary estimate of $6.7 billion in direct physical damage, equivalent to around 6% of GDP, according to a satellite-based Rapid Digital Assessment (RAPIDA) by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). While the economic impact is substantial, the greatest loss is borne by the people and communities.
The assessment is based on seismic modelling, satellite imagery and population data and was carried out in the hours after the quake.
The quakes, measuring magnitude 7.2 and 7.5, hit near Venezuela’s northern coast and were felt across major population and economically important areas, including Caracas and the states of La Guaira, Carabobo, Miranda, Yaracuy, and Aragua. UNDP estimates that 1.7 million structures were in affected areas, including large numbers in the hardest-hit states.
The analysis found that around 8.6 million people were exposed to above moderate shaking across the country’s north, including around 2.1 million exposed to stronger shaking. As of June 26, the official death toll is 920 yet the number of casualties is expected to rise as rescue operations continue. For millions of people across the affected areas, the road to recovery is only just beginning as they struggle to rebuild after devastating losses and uncertain livelihoods.
Direct physical damage is estimated at $6.7 billion (range of $4.7 billion to $8.7 billion), driven by losses to housing and economic assets according to the preliminary assessment. This does not include infrastructure damage, wider economic disruption and longer-term reconstruction costs. While estimated of the total impact is expected to evolve as additional information becomes available, the total impact is typically calculated as 1.5 to 3 times the direct damage.
“The speed and accuracy of early assessments are essential for an effective response,” said Luis Francisco Thais, UNDP Resident Representative in Venezuela. “Tools like RAPIDA help us make faster, evidence-based decisions to support affected communities. At the same time, every crisis is an opportunity to rethink development strategies with resilience at their core. This ensures that recovery not only restores what was lost but also builds a more sustainable future.”
Satellite data also suggests possible power outages in parts of Carabobo, La Guaira, Caracas and Aragua, based on drops in night-time lighting after the quake.
UNDP’s AI-powered Rapid Digital Assessment, RAPIDA, combines satellite imagery and GIS (Geographic Information Systems) technology, to provide instant situational awareness. High-resolution imagery is used to detect damage, identify vulnerable populations, and support coordinated interventions within 72 hours of a crisis.
Further satellite analysis is under way as clearer imagery becomes available to support authorities in assessing casualties and displacement.
Note: New SDSN report calls for stronger governance and implementation as the world enters the finalstretch of the 2030 Agenda
Paris, France, 23 June 2026 – With less than four years remaining in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, progress on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) remains significantly off track:
Only 16% of targets are projected to be achieved by the deadline. The vast majority of UN Member States remain committed to the framework, but a small number of countries, most notably the United States, have moved into active opposition to the paradigm of sustainable development and the multilateral institutions that underpin it. These are among the key findings of the 11th edition of the SustainableDevelopment Report (SDR), released today by the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN).
This year’s SDR calls for stronger SDG implementation and renewed global cooperation as the world enters the final years of the 2030 Agenda and begins laying the groundwork for a post-2030 framework. The report includes the SDG Index and Dashboards, ranking all UN Member States across the 17 SDGs, and the Index of Countries’ Support for UN-Based Multilateralism (UN-Mi), which tracks countries’ engagement with the UN system.
The report also features two new surveys: 1) The “SDSN Expert Survey on Government Efforts for the SDGs” and 2) a large-scale public survey spanning 127 countries on “SDG Challenges and Means for Implementation.
” Together, they reveal broad public support for maintaining the SDG framework beyond
2030, while also exposing significant regional and country-level disparities in governance, policy effort, and implementation capacity. Across respondents, stronger mechanisms for financing, governance, and the use of science and data emerged as the top priorities for accelerating sustainable progress by 2030 and beyond.
“Support for sustainable development as the global paradigm remains strong throughout the world. Notable success stories have emerged across East and South Asia and in many other countries and regions. Sustainable development cannot be achieved amid ongoing conflict, making peace the top priority of our time,” said Professor Jeffrey D. Sachs, President of the SDSN and a lead author of the report.
“As the 2030 landmark approaches, the next era of sustainable development must put the global emphasis on implementation and ensuring strong financing and effective governance at all levels.
“The 2030 Agenda was always an ambitious undertaking, and today’s geopolitical headwinds are testing the resilience of the multilateral system,” said Dr. Guillaume Lafortune, Vice President of the SDSN and a lead author and coordinator of the report.
“The moment calls for all countries to reaffirm the principles of the UN Charter, starting with Article 1, and to cooperate in building a credible global and regional security architecture. The next era of sustainable development must prioritize implementation through a reformed Global Financial Architecture, greater involvement of continental, regional, and local institutions, but also a central role for civil society and universities in driving accountability, innovation, and solutions on the ground.”
Citation Details: Sachs, J.D., Lafortune, G., Fuller, G., Iablonovski, G. (2026). Implementing Sustainable Development 2030 and Beyond. Sustainable Development Report 2026. Paris: SDSN, Dublin: Dublin University Press.
This year’s SDR highlights the following key findings: 1. Global commitment to the SDGs remains strong. A large majority of countries continue to support UN General Assembly (UNGA) resolutions referencing sustainable development, with more than 170 of the 193 UN Member States backing all of these resolutions in 2025. Argentina and the United States were the only countries to consistently vote against resolutions linked to the sustainable development framework.
2. East and South Asia outperform all other regions on SDG progress. East and South Asian
countries have recorded the strongest SDG progress since 2015. Among major economies, India (+18) and China (+14) show the largest rank improvements. Finland leads this year’s SDG Index, followed by Sweden and Denmark. However, even these top performers face significant challenges on SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), SDG 13 (Climate Action), SDG 14 (Life Below Water), and SDG 15 (Life on Land), partly due to unsustainable consumption patterns and negative international spillover effects.
3. Goals related to cities, the environment, sustainable agri-food systems, and peace are
particularly off-track. Among these, the most concerning are SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), SDG 14 (Life Below Water), SDG 15 (Life on Land), and SDG 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions). At the indicator level, the areas furthest from their targets include progress toward sustainable agriculture (SDG 2), the prevalence of obesity (SDG 3), as well as the timeliness of administrative proceedings, press freedom, and the Corruption PerceptionsIndex (SDG 16). In contrast, several indicators are progressing at the global level. These include rising mobile broadband subscriptions and internet use (SDG 9), declining adolescent fertility rates and HIV infections (SDG 3), and expanded electricity access (SDG 7).
4. Barbados ranks first in commitment to UN-based multilateralism, while the U.S. ranks last. Barbados ranks as the country most committed to UN-based multilateralism in the SDR’s 2026Index of Countries’ Support to UN-based Multilateralism (UN-Mi), which assesses countries’ engagement with the UN system and their support for SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) using six headline indicators. At the opposite end of the Index, the U.S. ranks last. This is highlighted in recent actions from the U.S. federal government, which withdrew from more than 60 international organizations in January 2026; voted with the international majority in only 5% of recorded UNGA votes in 2025; and formally opposes the SDGs, the 2030 Agenda, and the Paris Climate Agreement.
5. Strengthening implementation is the defining priority for the next era of sustainable
development. In 2026, the SDSN surveyed its networks across 64 countries and the European Union, alongside over 1,000 respondents from 127 countries, to assess government efforts and barriers to SDG implementation. Respondents broadly support maintaining the SDG framework beyond 2030, pointing to financing, governance, and the use of science and data as the areas most in need of strengthening. Views on progress vary significantly by region, with East and South Asia reporting more optimistic assessments of national and local SDG performance.
6. Eight priorities for the next decades of sustainable development. The report identifies eight priorities to accelerate progress toward 2030 and beyond: (1) end ongoing wars and redirect military expenditures toward peace and human development; (2) establish an ambitious timeline for SDG implementation; (3) organize implementation around six major transformations; (4) adopt long-term investment plans to support these transformations; (5) strengthen continental, regional, and local cooperation and investment; (6) introduce new global taxes to finance global public goods; (7) develop global governance frameworks for AI, biotechnology, and other emerging technologies; and (8) establish new UN campuses in Asia, Africa, and Latin America.
Since 2016, the SDR has provided the most comprehensive data available to track and rank the performance of all UN Member States on the SDGs. This year’s edition draws on nearly 250,000 individual data points to produce more than 200 country and regional SDG profiles. The report was produced by a group of independent experts at the SDG Transformation Center, a flagship initiative of the SDSN.
Media Contacts: Alyson Marks, alyson.marks@unsdsn.org (Head of Communications and External Relations, U.S.-based)
Guillaume Lafortune, guillaume.lafortune@unsdsn.org (Vice President of the SDSN, Lead Coordinator, and Report Author, Malaysia-based)
About the SDSN – The UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) has been operating since 2012 under theauspices of the UN Secretary-General. The SDSN mobilizes global scientific and technological expertiseto promote practical solutions for sustainable development, including the implementation of theSustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Paris Climate Agreement. We aim to accelerate jointlearning and promote integrated approaches that address the interconnected economic, social, andenvironmental challenges confronting the world. One of the SDSN’s flagship initiatives is the SDGTransformation Center, which produces the Sustainable Development Report (SDR) and providesscience-backed tools and analytics for SDG pathways, policies, and financing.
For more information, visit unsdsn.org and sdgtransformationcenter.org.
United Nations correspondent journalists – United Nations correspondent journalists – United Nations journalism articles – United Nations journalism articles – United Nations News – UNCA Awards
