United Nations | Good News For Humankind

U.N. building with national flags in foreground

U.N. General Assembly adopts landmark resolution on artificial intelligence

By Peter Schulte / March 21, 2024 / Good news links

The Assembly called on all Member States and stakeholders “to refrain from or cease the use of artificial intelligence systems that are impossible to operate in compliance with international human rights law or that pose undue risks to the enjoyment of human rights.” The text was “co-sponsored” or backed by more than 120 other Member States. It represents the first time the Assembly has adopted a resolution on regulating the emerging field.

African girl sleeping on mother's shoulder

‘Historic milestone’ as global child mortality hits record low of 4.9 million in 2022

By Peter Schulte / March 12, 2024 / Good news links

Figures newly released by the U.N. Interagency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME) reveal the global under-five mortality rate has declined by 51% since 2000 reaching an all-time low. Some countries such as Cambodia, Malawi, Mongolia, and Rwanda reduced under-five mortality rate by over 75% over the time period. UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell praised the dedicated efforts of midwives, health workers and community health workers, whose commitment has contributed to the remarkable decline.

Harvard University inaugurates Claudine Gay as school’s first Black president

By Peter Schulte / October 1, 2023 / Good news links

Gay received her Ph.D. in government from Harvard in 1998 and joined the Harvard faculty in 2006. She previously served as Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences. She is now the President of perhaps the world’s most prestigious university.

Seventy-plus nations sign historic high seas treaty

By Peter Schulte / September 22, 2023 / Good news links

The signing of the treaty is a significant step in a global effort to protect the high seas, areas of the ocean beyond national borders. The high seas encompass two-thirds of the world’s oceans, but only about 1% currently have any kind of protected status.

Kenya’s KCB Group to provide 100% financing for riders to acquire 100,000 electric motorcycles

By Peter Schulte / July 7, 2023 / Good news links

In a major boost to Kenya’s nascent electric motorcycle and tuk-tuk sector, Kenya’s largest bank has partnered with the United Nations Institute for Training and Research to roll out a program that is expected to create over 150,000 new green jobs over six years.

Twelve African countries will receive 18 million doses of the first-ever malaria vaccine

By Peter Schulte / July 5, 2023 / Good news links

The first doses are expected to arrive during the last quarter of the year, with rollout set to start in Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Liberia, Niger, Sierra Leone and Uganda by early 2024.

U.N. agencies head up new $115 million push for healthier oceans

By Peter Schulte / June 30, 2023 / Good news links

The Clean and Healthy Oceans strategy from the U.N.’s Food and Agriculture Organization aims to curb land-based pollution of our oceans through policy and regulatory innovation, infrastructure investments, and nature-based solutions.

U.N. passes pioneering resolution on national governments’ role in climate action

By Peter Schulte / April 5, 2023 / Good news links

The advisory opinion, spearheaded by youth activists from Vanuatu, could impact thousands of lawsuits filed worldwide against governments for their inaction in addressing the crisis.

International waters are the areas shown in dark blue in this map

UN member states agree to landmark deal to protect life in international waters

By Peter Schulte / March 6, 2023 / Good news links

More than 190 countries have approved the UN High Seas Treaty, establishing a framework for creating new protected areas and includes provisions on transferring technology, sharing scientific findings, and coordinating the study of environmental threats.

In historic deal, nearly 200 countries agree to protect 30% of land and sea to protect biodiversity

By Peter Schulte / December 21, 2022 / Good news links

The countries have agreed to cut fertilizer runoff from farms by 50% and reduce the risk of pesticides by 50%, while putting $200 billion annually toward biodiversity by 2030.