- On World Habitat Day, UN highlights importance of public spaces for all
- On International Day, UN highlights urban sustainability and inclusiveness of older persons
- On World Statistics Day, UN flags importance of reliable data to achieve new development agenda
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2015 Theme: Sustainability and Age Inclusiveness in the Urban Environment
2015 marks the 25th anniversary of International Day of Older Persons (IDOP) and this year the day will focus on the impact older people have on the new urban environment as well as the effect it in turn has on them.
This year’s celebration aims to show that ‘an age inclusive agenda is crucial for sustainable urban environments to promote equity, welfare and shared prosperity for all.’
For many, living in a city as an older person can mean that they are more likely to generate income, have education opportunities and receive access to accessible housing, public facilities and safe transportation.
With the phenomenon that is urbanization, there is now a significant number of people over 60 living in cities. That number is expected to reach 900 million by 2050.
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2015 Theme: “Youth Civic Engagement”
Since 1999 International Youth Day has been celebrated and used as a platform to address cultural and legal issues that the youth of today may face.
This year focuses on the importance of young people participating in achieving sustainable human development and shaping their own future.
In some parts of the world there can be a lack of opportunities for youth to get involved politically, economically or socially. This year the International Day of Youth highlights the fact that more needs to be done to give young people the right tools so that they can get involved and feel empowered.
In the run up to 12th August, DESA and UNDP are running an online campaign asking young people to share their stories and ideas on civic engagement activities. They can do this by submitting photographs and tweeting ideas and opinions that relate to the theme or by organizing an International Youth Day Event.
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2015 Theme: “Water for Development”
Since 1991 World Water Week has provided a forum in which experts and politicians have been able to exchange of views, experiences and practices on water-related issues.
Hosted in Stockholm by the Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI), the forum shines the spotlight on what impact water has on the world’s environment, health, climate, economic and poverty reduction agenda and what positive action can be taken to address it .
This year’s theme, “Water for Development,” considers the vital role water plays in achieving the Millennium Development Goals and post-2015 sustainable development goals.
“About one billion people will still lack access to safe water and even more lack access to basic sanitation. About one billion people will still be without electricity and will go to bed hungry – largely the same underprivileged poor.”
Decision-makers, researchers and business innovators from across the globe will come together to develop solutions to the water-related issues we have today with the belief that ‘water is key to our future prosperity.’
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Website: http://unep.org/wed/
Hashtags: #WED2015 #7BillionDreams
Logo: http://unep.org/wed/multimedia/logos.asp
Social media materials: http://unep.org/wed/multimedia/web-banners.asp
The theme this year is “Seven Billion Dreams. One Planet. Consume with Care.” Living within planetary boundaries is the most promising strategy for ensuring a healthy future. Human prosperity need not cost the earth. Living sustainably is about doing more and better with less. It is about knowing that rising rates of natural resource use and the environmental impacts that occur are not a necessary by-product of economic growth.
Many of the Earth’s ecosystems are nearing critical tipping points of depletion or irreversible change, pushed by high population growth and economic development. By 2050, if current consumption and production patterns remain the same and with a rising population expected to reach 9.6 billion, we will need three planets to sustain our ways of living and consumption.
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The pursuit of happiness is a fundamental human goal
Speaking at the High Level Meeting on “Happiness and Well-Being: Defining a New Economic Paradigm” convened during the sixty-sixth session of the General Assembly the Secretary General Ban Ki-moon stated that the world “needs a new economic paradigm that recognizes the parity between the three pillars of sustainable development. Social, economic and environmental well-being are indivisible. Together they define gross global happiness.” The meeting was convened at an initiative of Bhutan, a country which recognized the supremacy of national happiness over national income since the early 1970s and famously adopted the goal of Gross National Happiness over Gross National Product.
The General Assembly of the United Nations in its resolution 66/281PDF document of 12 July 2012 proclaimed 20 March the International Day of Happiness recognizing the relevance of happiness and well-being as universal goals and aspirations in the lives of human beings around the world and the importance of their recognition in public policy objectives.
The United Nations invites Member States, international and regional organizations, as well as civil society, including non-governmental organizations and individuals, to observe the International Day of Happiness in an appropriate manner, including through education and public awareness-raising activities, and through Twitter, by sharing your happiest song.