Municipal leaders must ramp up efforts against climate change by ending reliance on coal power and reducing emissions from buildings and transport infrastructure while protecting vulnerable neighborhoods, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres says. National leaders "need to hear from you that climate action coupled with policies for a just transition brings decent work and higher living standards and is supported by your residents," Guterres told mayors in a meeting last week.

A report commissioned by authorities in the UK on racial discrimination and injustice incorrectly concludes that a person's race has less influence on their prospects than where they live, their socioeconomic background, religion and culture, human rights experts with the United Nations say. "In 2021, it is stunning to read a report on race and ethnicity that repackages racist tropes and stereotypes into fact, twisting data and misapplying statistics and studies into conclusory findings and ad hominem attacks on people of African descent," a statement from the group says.

The ongoing pandemic is exacerbating global inequality and will ultimately lead to a "more unequal world" if wealthy countries don't step up support for developing regions, says United Nations Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed. "The diverging world that we are hurtling towards is a catastrophe for all of us," Mohammed advises.

UN Women has signed an agreement with the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation that will see Italy fund a program in Jordan aimed at empowering vulnerable and refugee women in the country. The program will support 40,000 women and girls, offering them education and employment opportunities, protection and social and civic participation.

Authorities in the United States must set aggressive goals for reducing carbon emissions to inspire other major emitters to action, says United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. "My expectation is that the United States will be able to present a reduction of emissions for 2030, in relation to 2010 levels, above 50%," Guterres says.

A Saudi Arabian plan to end ongoing conflict in Yemen and broker a political solution has drawn praise from members of the United Nations Security Council, who are urging all parties in Yemen to implement an immediate cease-fire and work with UN Special Envoy for Yemen Martin Griffiths on a political settlement. The UN High Commissioner for Refugees has advised that clashes in and around the city of Marib are causing increased civilian casualties.

South Sudan: David Shearer looks back on a period of 'positive change'

"What Comes Next for Afghanistan After American Troops Depart?"

One thing is clear: #COVID19 has hit the poorest among us the hardest. Only immediate action on #Fin4Dev can prevent another lost decade for developing countries.

Read the latest report from the @UN on #FinancingOurFuture --> bit.ly/fsdr2021

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