GoGreen Project: University Studies Environmental Psychology in Young People
“Young people’s attitudes and behavior will dictate the future shape and look of our societies,” said the United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres, in 2021. It is now more evident than ever before, that we need to change our habits and behaviors to successfully adapt to ecological crises. And to ensure that evidence-based solutions in this sense are effective, we need to consider diverse contexts.
Environmental policies, level of environmental education, and infrastructure readiness vary widely from country to country. Some countries are challenged by social issues more than others, and these factors may prevent people from engaging in environmental conservation. Thus, policymakers need a variety of tools to facilitate transition and engagement in conservation of nature and the environment.
Improving the Lives of Immigrants: Brazilian University Takes the Lead
Several thousand people from different parts of the world, particularly the Latin America and Caribbean region, live in Brazil due to their countries’ social, political, and economic crises. Just as an example, according to a 2021from the World Bank and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Venezuelan adult immigrants in Brazil are 64% less likely to be working in a formal job. This reality, familiar to many immigrants, hampers their ability to have a decent life.
Research to Counter Health Threats: Preparing for Future Pandemics
In the wake of theCOVID-19 pandemic, which led to unprecedented health, societal and economic consequences, a European Union (EU) Horizon 2020-funded research project onis putting considerable efforts into ensuring we are better prepared for future health threats.
of the United Nations General Assembly, adopted in March 2022, urged Member States to ensure “effective domestic resource mobilization as well as better allocation and use of resources with adequate financing” for issues such as pandemic preparedness “through close collaboration” with stakeholders like academia.
Keeping the 'Turtle Island' Alive: The Mohawk’s Fight Against Industrial Pollution
According to the Mohawk, an Indigenous tribe based in North America, the Earth as we know it used to rest on the back of a gigantic turtle – and after the continents separated, North America was known as “Turtle Island”. While the inhabitants of the Island, be it people, other animals or plants, basically live in harmony, if balance was not maintained in the environment, the “creator” would help recalibrate.
University in Slovakia Expresses Solidarity by Aiding Ukrainians
The , a member institution of the in Slovakia, responded quickly to the armed conflict in Ukraine by mobilizing students, university staff, and faculty. The university is located in the city of Trnava, less than 500km from the border with Ukraine.
A 25 February university press statement expressed “its support for the independence and territorial integrity of Ukraine” while labeling the invasion by the Russian Federation as “an unacceptable aggression.” The statement continued: “The leadership of the university rejects the unprecedented attack on the people of Ukraine and expresses its deep sympathy and solidarity with its suffering population.”
Romanian University Becomes Major Hub for Supporting Ukrainian Refugees
“Nearly 4.9 million people have been displaced by the ongoing hostilities in Ukraine, including more than 3 million who have fled across international borders,” warned a published by the United Nations on 16 March 2022 - these numbers continue to rise as the invasion and destruction in Ukraine continue. A day later, Raouf Mazou, Assistant High Commissioner for Refugees, alerted Member States of the UN Security Council of the significant impact those fleeing the war would have on countries neighboring Ukraine.
Learning From the World’s Largest COVID-19 Treatment Trial: University of Oxford Leads RECOVERY
According to thepublished on 15 March 2022 by the World Health Organization, “as of 13 March 2022, over 455 million confirmed cases and over 6 million deaths have been reported globally.” This exemplifies how theCOVID-19 pandemichas been and continues to be a significant healthcare challenge. And yet, it has also inspired an exceptional response from researchers worldwide.
Promoting Youth Leadership in Water Governance
As countries and regions around the world face the negative effects of climate change and an increasing demand for water resources, the need for appropriate water governance grows day by day. Worldwide, one in three people do not have access to safe drinking water, two out of five people do not have a basic hand-washing facility with soap and water, and more than 673 million people still practice open defecation. The impacts of COVID-19 make it more urgent for securing clean water for everyone, as access to water, sanitation and hygiene services is fundamental to fighting the virus. The World Water Day, celebrated every year on 22 March, isperfect timing for us to learn about how young people can help solve issues related to water.
Assisting Those In Need: Polish University Helps Ukrainians Impacted By War
On 2 March 2022, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution following the invasion of Ukraine by Russia. Theurged the immediate peaceful resolution of the conflict, which has had a significant humanitarian impact and devastating consequences on civilians. the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, it has forcibly displaced millions.
Examining Domestic Violence Around the World: The Cost of Doing Nothing
According to the report, published jointly by different components of the United Nations system, 1 in 3 women experience domestic violence globally. Such violence, also known as ‘domestic abuse’ or ‘intimate partner violence,’ isdefined by the United Nationsas “a pattern of behavior in any relationship that is used to gain, or maintain, power and control over an intimate partner.”
Speaking for the Entire Planet: The Javan Rhinoceroses
3 March marks the . The article below, published within the framework of this international observance, is based on the personal reflection of one of our interns, with a reminder of how wildlife connects with us and the future of our planet.
Everyday our lives are touched by wildlife: students admire fierce tigers restrained in a zoo, office workers dodge rats in the subway, children secretly applaud the tenacity of a gecko climbing up the school’s glass window, or you feel soothed by a beautiful bird singing in the morning. We tend to take these interactions for granted, but they can provide us with a different perspective: humanity is part of a larger interconnected ecosystem that all depends on each other.
Research Team Boosts Science Learning for Children: The Kiwrious Project
Theadopted in 2007 alerted about a “widespread lack of student interest in current school science and technology education and of its relevance to them”, proposing as a countermeasure the need to revise curriculum related to such fields. In contrast to that alert, in apublished by UNESCO, it is stated that science and technology education offers opportunities “to develop the natural curiosity and creativity of young students.”
Interview with Brighton Kaoma, SDSN Youth Global Director
Tired of waiting for the older generation to solve global issues, youth activism is gaining momentum at an unprecedented pace. Recent advances in technology have made it much easier for voices of youth to be heard across the globe. In this “Youth in Digital Activism” series, UNAI features young activists taking the world’s most pressing issues into their own hands.
As an activist himself, who also works to promote the importance of youth in creating change, Brighton Kaoma, Global Director of the Sustainable Development Solutions Network Youth initiative, serves as the right person to wrap up the "Youth & Digital Activism" series.
Talking Race in the Digital Sphere– Is “New Activism” Here to Stay?
Tired of waiting for the older generation to solve global issues, youth activism is gaining momentum at an unprecedented pace. Recent advances in technology have made it much easier for voices of youth to be heard across the globe. In this “Youth in Digital Activism” series, UNAI features young activists taking the world’s most pressing issues into their own hands.
“Wherever we see racism, we must condemn it without reservation, without hesitation, without qualification.” António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations, made this statement in 2021 on the occasion of the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic could have been a wake-up call for the world to work together, regardless of race, tribe or ethnic group, to tackle this global phenomenon. Unfortunately, as the Secretary General put it, “racism lives on – in all regions and all societies.”
Putting Women Back in the Lens – Building Back Better with Inclusivity
Tired of waiting for the older generation to solve global issues, youth activism is gaining momentum at an unprecedented pace. Recent advances in technology have made it much easier for voices of youth to be heard across the globe. In this “Youth in Digital Activism” series, UNAI features young activists taking the world’s most pressing issues into their own hands.