Indirect disaster effects cost the world nearly $2 trillion per year, Guterres says on International Day

Most of the exorbitant costs of disaster are preventable with proper funding and planning —one of the main messages for this year’s International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction, themed Fund Resilience, Not Disasters, observed on Monday. “Every dollar invested in resilience saves many more in avoided losses and protects the dignity of those most at […]

Military spending worldwide hits record $2.7 trillion

Military spending worldwide hits record $2.7 trillion

“The world is spending far more on waging war than in building peace,” the UN Secretary-General António Guterres said at a press briefing for his new report on the threat posed by the steady rise in military expenditure. Spending on security needs increased across all five global regions during 2024, marking the steepest year-on-year rise for […]

UN warns of $4 trillion shortfall threatening global development goals

UN warns of $4 trillion shortfall threatening global development goals

Speaking at UN Headquarters in New York, Secretary-General António Guterres, General Assembly President Philémon Yang and Economic and Social Council President Bob Rae stressed the need for more resources and a global financial overhaul. Without an effective response, they stressed, the world risks falling even further behind on ending poverty, fighting climate change, and building […]