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World in Progress : Urgent Solutions for Urgent Times

Anke Rasper
December 21, 2020

Five years ago, all countries committed to strive for Sustaiinable Developement Goals and reach them by 2030. A special broadcast produced this year, featuring international stars, human rights activists and scientists looks at the most pressing tasks ahead. US actor Julia Roberts is the host of this half hour special "Nations United - Urgent Solutions for urgent times"

https://p.dw.com/p/3n0bn

2020 has been a challenging year for all of us. It started with wildfires and locust swarms, there were severe climate disasters and ongoing conflicts - and of course, the Coronavirus pandemic affecting all continents. COVID 19 has since killed more than one and a half million people. It's also caused huge economic losses seriously impacting the development of many countries, with millions more now threatened by hunger and extreme poverty.

But there is also hope: Some countries have already managed to contain the virus, and vaccines are being developed – many will be vaccinated over the next few months. And there is also hope that economic recovery and rebuilding after the pandemic will be more sustainable, and in accordance with the Sustainable Development goals. 

This special feature features contributions from education advocate Malala Yousafzai, UN Goodwill Ambassadors Don Cheadle and Michelle Yeoh, UNESCO Special Envoy for Peace, actors Forest Whitaker and Julia Roberts, UN Secretary-General António Guterres and UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed. 

It is also available as video on youtube and the website of the United Nations. 

Anke Rasper
Anke Rasper Anke is a senior editor with DW's environment team.