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As the vital protectors of an estimated 80 per cent of the world’s remaining biodiversity, encourages indigenous communities to continue to partner for global sustainability.

Ageing is becoming a megatrend. Around the world birth rates are declining, while people are living longer, healthier lives. For the first time in human history, people over the age of 60 outnumber those under the age of five. A population predicted to reach 2 billion by the year 2050.

In this episode of ’s we are focusing on how technology can have a major part to play in ensuring that this population does not go underserved, but that will only happen if both technology creators and policy makers are aware of and act on this dramatic shift in the global demographic.

“Going to space will become like taking a plane today; working in space, living in space, having a one-week holiday in space.” In this episode of Awake at night, we meet Simonetta Di Pippo, Director of the UN Office for Outer Space Affairs. Trained as an Astrophysicist in her native Italy, Di Pippo was the first female director of the European Space Agency. Since then, her work has been integral in using space for our common wellbeing here on Earth.

Digital technology is advancing at an incredibly rapid pace – but not evenly. supports digital livelihoods for women and measures the gender digital divide.

The Covid-19 pandemic has impacted women’s employment not only because they make up the majority of the hardest hit sectors but because mothers have been feeling more pressures at home due to lockdown measures and school closures.  Have a listen to Isabel Torres, co-founder and CEO of Mothers in Science, which aims to raise awareness of the career obstacles faced by mothers in STEMM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics and medicine) and advocates for workplace equality and inclusion. ’s is a podcast series sharing conversations with people working to advance girls and women in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) careers. 

Hello Future is a UNDP video series exploring the trends shaping our world. From digitalization to inequality, to the climate emergency, to crisis response, we examine the critical issues facing humans and the place we call home, and what we must do if we're to get out of this century alive.

brings us the case of how Mauritius is boosting tech careers for girls and women in Mauritius. The job prospects in the field of telecommunications are immense, especially as Mauritius is having mayor breakthroughs, such as their .  Now it the time for changing attitudes and encouraging girls to be bold, be brave and brake barriers.

Spending on science worldwide increased (+19%) between 2014 and 2018, as did the number of scientists (+13.7%). This trend has been further boosted by the COVID crisis, according to ’s new Science Report, . But these figures hide significant disparities: just two countries, the United States and China, account for nearly two-thirds of this increase (63%) while four out of five countries lag far behind, investing less than 1% of their GDP in scientific research. The scientific landscape remains largely a landscape of power.

Uneven access can hamper technology’s contribution to the UN’s SDGs and worsen global inequalities. But public-private partnerships can help reverse the trend and ensure new technologies, such as solar-powered electric grids, reach the poorest communities.

UNESCO's Director-General has welcomed the decision by the United States and many other countries to call for the lifting of patent protection on COVID-19 vaccines. This growing momentum comes in response to the  to open up science and boost scientific cooperation. The idea behind is to allow scientific information, data and outputs to be more widely accessible (Open Access) and more reliably harnessed (Open Data) with the active engagement of all the stakeholders (Open to Society).

The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of digital technologies in African countries, and the latest provides new evidence on how digital is enhancing the productivity of existing jobs and creating new jobs, for people of all skill levels and backgrounds.

While the internet seems like it’s everywhere, more than 3 billion . On April 27 the UN General Assembly debate on closing the digital divide and greening the planet’s digital future will be held.

Girls around the world are using innovation and technology to solve problems, to unite communities and as a force for good and equality. And yet, women and girls are still under-represented in STEM fields. In an increasingly digitized world economy, the gender digital divide has severe repercussion for girls’ and women’s rights. To bridge this gap, at least three things need to happen: facilitate equal access to digital technologies and the internet for girls and women; encourage and invest in girls and women to build their ICT skills; and enable women and girls to take up leadership roles in tech. From creating open-source ventilators in Afghanistan to unifying and amplifying the voices of young activists in Chile, and working to end child marriage in Georgia, here are some girls and young women changemakers who inspire us.

By 2030, two billion people are expected to rely on so-called “assistive” technology aids in their daily lives to eat, see, hear and even get dressed, according to UN patent experts at , the World Intellectual Property Organization.

It will also be possible to flag when anyone suffering from severe depression or other degenerative brain conditions might need help from a relative or carer, as UN News’s Daniel Johnson.

While girls across the world tend to outperform boys in reading and writing skills, they continue to be under-represented in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). Through (22 Apr), works with partners to build awareness about the gender digital divide, support technology education and skills training, and encourage more girls and young women to actively pursue careers in STEM. Visit the and join the global celebration.  are available to share your activities. #GirlsinICT