A group of UN economists has released a report aiming to set the stage for the high-level event to commemorate the UN’s 75th anniversary. The authors outline a role for the UN in building domestic political consensus to respond constructively to global megatrends, highlighting that the UN can assist in mobilizing needed global support for individual countries, particularly those with fewer resources. The ‘Report of the UN Economist Network for the UN 75th Anniversary: Shaping the Trends of Our Time’ was launched on 16 September 2020. The UN Economists Network is led by the UN Chief Economist.
Table of Contents -- Chapter 1. Introduction The megatrends that shape our world -- COVID-19 – A crisis and an opportunity -- Understanding the drivers, making the connections -- Where do we go from here? Policies to shape the megatrends-- Key takeaways and potential for the United Nations -- Chapter 2. Climate change, natural capital and pollution -- Trends in climate change -- Trends in biodiversity and ecosystem services -- Trends in natural capital -- Trends in waste and pollution -- Complex drivers, closely interlinked -- Recommendations and policy responses -- With a narrowing window for change, an opportunity to do better -- Chapter 3 -- Demographic trends in an ageing world -- Drivers pf changing age structures -- Demographic challenges and dividends -- Demographic trends shape multiple SDGs -- Interactions between demographic and other megatrends -- Effects of changing age structures on other megatrends -- Recommendations and policy responses -- Chapter 3 -- Urbanization and spatial dimensions of sustainable development -- An urbanizing world -- Drivers of urbanization and urban population growth -- Urbanization and economic transformation -- Opportunities and challenges for sustainable development -- Urbanization as it relates to other megatrends -- Recommendations and policy responses -- Key takeaways and potential roles for the United Nations -- Chapter 4 -- Emerging and frontier technologies -- Digital technologies are transforming the world -- Determinants and drivers of technological change -- A technological revolution begins with a global digital divide -- Interactions with other megatrends -- Emerging challenges posed by widespread digitalization -- Recommendations and policy responses -- Forging global collective action: the role of the United Nations -- Chapter 5 -- Inequalities -- Part 1 -- Trends in inequality and why they matter -- Inequalities in income, consumption and wealth -- Inequalities in human development -- Group-based inequalities -- The impacts of inequality -- Part 2 -- Shaping inequalities -- Drivers of inequality -- Megatrends and inequality -- Reducing inequalities in an interconnected world.

206 p.

"Annex: Matrix of megatrend interlinkages": p. 165-170.

9789211046960
9789210053556 eISBN