Welcome
Development, Environment and Sustainability
Desert in Africa., © colourbox
More than one billion people in the world – almost one in five – have to live on less than 1.25 US dollars per day. Every day thousands of young children die of hunger and illnesses. Poverty reduction is therefore a cornerstone of Germany's engagement at the UN.
The German Government is committed to peace, freedom, democracy and human rights, to fighting poverty, to a fair structure of globalization, to the preservation of the environment and natural resources. One of the most important instruments to reach these goals is development cooperation. Germany is one of the world’s biggest donors. The German Government has almost doubled its budget for developmental assistance in the last ten years.
Every day, thousands of people die of hunger, from preventable diseases, or from violence and war. More than one billion people of the world’s population live in extreme poverty, earning less than US $1.25 per day. Every year, 13 billion acres of forest are destroyed- approximately one-third of Germany’s surface area - leaving animal and plant species and whole ecosystems irretrievably lost. Due to its universal character, the United Nations offers the best conditions for reaching solutions acceptable to all. This is why Germany is committed to the United Nations and integrally shapes its work in all areas. Emphasis is being placed upon cooperation with the various United Nations funds and programs, the implementation and continued progression of the Millennium Development Goals and the follow-up to the decisions of major international conferences such as the Rio+20 Conference of 2012 or the Monterrey Conference on financing development.
Additional content
Strengthening efficiency, effectiveness and interoperability of the UN development system are key goals Germany is pursuing in the UN. Find out more about the reform of the UN development system...
The United Nations Global Compact is the largest voluntary corporate responsibility initiative in the world.
Many environmental problems cross national borders and can only be overcome through international cooperation. International climate- and environmental policy encompasses a multitude of topics:
Poaching and illicit wildlife represent a growing challenge for the international community. They also threaten biodiversity as well as peace and security of entire countries and regions, particularly in Africa.