HCM CITY - Việt Nam has made significant advances in achieving the United Nation's health-related sustainable development goals (SDG) as its SDG index score increased 59 last year, up from 38 in 2000, according to a baseline analysis from the international Global Burden of Disease Study 2015 published in the The Lancet journal last week. A national SDG index score is based on a scale of zero to 100. Iceland tops the list with a score of 85. The lowest-scoring nation was the Central African Republic, at 20. The United States has a score of 75, just behind Slovenia, Greece, and Japan, all at 76. Việt Nam ranks 94 out of the 188 studied countries when benchmarked by a battery of indicators of achievement against SDGs. Compared to countries in Southeast Asia, Việt Nam is the fifth highest - ahead of Thailand (56) and closely following Indonesia (60). The country achieved the three best indicators on the prevalence of overweight children aged 2 to 4, the proportion of births attended … [Read more...] about Việt Nam sees significant advances in sustainable development goals
Sustained development goals
UNWTO and ICAO enhance cooperation in support of the UN Sustainable Development Goals
UNWTO and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) have announced a new joint strategic statement on Tourism and Air Transport for Development (Medellín, Colombia, 14 September 2015). The Medellín Statement was agreed today at the first joint UNWTO/ICAO High-Level Forum on Tourism and Air Transport for Development, held on the sidelines of the 21st UNWTO General Assembly in Medellin, Colombia. It highlights the potential of air transport and tourism to improving socio-economic prosperity and promote sustainable development in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) expected to be agreed at the United Nations SDG Summit next week in New York. “With increased connectivity warranting long-term growth for aviation and tourism, our interlinked sectors represent lasting opportunities for socio-economic development. Yet if we are to harness these benefits, tourism and air transport must address persisting divergent policies and work towards a … [Read more...] about UNWTO and ICAO enhance cooperation in support of the UN Sustainable Development Goals
UNWTO welcomes the adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals
UNWTO welcomes the adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and reiterates its commitment to work towards the implementation of the Goals. (source: UNWTO) Tourism is one of the most dynamic economic sectors, with significant global reach, and can make an important contribution to the achievement of the SDGs, particularly in the areas of job creation, sustainable consumption and production and the preservation of natural resources. “Issues such as climate change, effective resource management, poverty reduction and inclusive growth need to be at the center of tourism development. Now that the Goals have been approved, it is time to step up our action, time to advance policies and business strategies that monitor and minimize the negative effects of tourism development and maximize its positive impacts, namely through the distribution of its benefits among host communities” said UNWTO Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai. The SDGs are a universal 17-goal plan … [Read more...] about UNWTO welcomes the adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals
Diplomacy serves national sustainable development goals
(VOVworld) – President Tran Dai Quang has updated ambassadors, and chiefs of Vietnamese representative offices in foreign countries on Vietnam’s achievements in economic, culture, society, and national defense, as well as in international integration and building frameworks for cooperation with other countries. While meeting with overseas Vietnamese ambassadors and chief representatives on Thursday, President Quang spoke highly of their contributions to Vietnam’s external affairs. Mr. Quang pointed out that the 12th National Party Congress’s resolution clearly defined external affairs policy, guidelines, and tasks of international integration, ensuring an environment of peace, and stability, mobilizing outside resources for national development, resolutely defending national sovereignty and raising Vietnam’s position in the world. President Tran Dai Quang has urged Vietnamese representative offices abroad to continue realizing Vietnam’s sustainable … [Read more...] about Diplomacy serves national sustainable development goals
International Youth Day stresses youth’s role in fulfilling sustainable development goals
Observed for the first time in Vietnam, the event was co-organised by the Ministry of Home Affairs and the United Nations in Vietnam under the theme ‘Vietnamese Youth: Partners in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals’. Currently, there are around 1.8 billion young people around the world – the highest ever. Vietnam is experiencing a ‘golden population’ period, recording the highest proportion of youth in its history. There are more than 25 million young people aged between 16 and 30 – more than a quarter of the total population. The event featured a forum offering a chance for opinions and goals of five strong young leaders to be heard, representing the 25 million different voices of young people across the nation. There was also a face-to-face dialogue between the five key speakers and high-level leaders of youth-related ministries and the Youth Union. As a person with disabilities, Vu Thi Quyen brings to the event her story of … [Read more...] about International Youth Day stresses youth’s role in fulfilling sustainable development goals