In spite of everything, a culture of peace is emerging in all fields of human endeavour
monthly, year 25th, number 331 – 9th April 2025
Good News Agency carries positive and constructive news from all over the world relating to voluntary work, the work of the United Nations, non-governmental organizations and institutions engaged in improving the quality of life – news that doesn’t “burn out” in the space of a day. It is distributed free of charge through Internet to media and editorial journalists, NGOs, service associations and high schools and colleges around the world.
It is an all-volunteer service of Associazione Culturale dei Triangoli e della Buona Volontà Mondiale, an educational charity associated with the United Nations Department of Public Information It is a supporter of the Global Movement for the Culture of Peace. In the final report of the Decade for a Culture of Peace project (2001-2010) provided to the UN Secretary-General for presentation to the UN General Assembly, Good News Agency is included among the three NGOs that have been playing an active role in the field of Information through Internet.*
Government and politics – Education and teaching – Economy, finance and planning
Arts of living and relationships – Work, science and industry
Society and communication –Rules, regulations and environment
“Survival”, speaker underlines, as Commission on Status Women continues session
March 13, 2025 - The Commission on the Status of Women continued its sixty-ninth session today with a high-level dialogue focused on accelerating implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action, with one participant stressing the need “to make the world notice that gender equality is essential to planetary survival”. The Platform for Action was adopted at the 1995 Beijing Conference on Women, which pledged to achieve gender equality and uphold women’s rights. Discussions this session are also focused on contributing to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This morning’s dialogue stressed the widespread contributions of the Commission on the Status of Women, with several participants spotlighting challenges, obstacles and large financial cuts that are threatening progress (…)
News related with SDGs number 5-Gender Equality
United Nations – General Assembly – Seventy-ninth session – Agenda Item 13 – Draft Resolution: United Nations Regional Centre for the Sustainable Development Goals for Central Asia and Afghanistan
February 26, 2025 - The General Assembly (…)
1. Decides to formalize the United Nations Regional Centre for the Sustainable Development Goals for Central Asia and Afghanistan in Almaty, Kazakhstan, and requests the Secretary-General to appoint the Head of the Centre following the development of terms of reference in consultation with interested stakeholders;
2. Also decides that the Centre will work within the remit of its operational mandate to implement regional projects and programmes, aimed at assisting the countries of the region in achieving sustainable development in its three dimensions – economic, social and environmental – in close coordination with relevant United Nations entities (...)
https://docs.un.org/en/A/79/L.57/REV.1
News related with SDGs number 17-Partnerships for the Goals
United Nations – General Assembly – Eleventh emergency special session – Agenda Item 5 – Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 24 February 2025: Advancing a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in Ukraine
February 25, 2025 - The General Assembly (…)
1. Calls for a de-escalation, an early cessation of hostilities and a peaceful resolution of the war against Ukraine, marked by enormous destruction and human suffering, including among the civilian population, in line with the Charter of the United Nations and international law;
2. Reiterates the urgent need to end the war this year, and to redouble diplomatic efforts to reduce the risks of further escalation and achieve a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in Ukraine, consistent with the Charter, including its principles of sovereign equality and territorial integrity of States, as underscored in its resolution ES-11/6 of 23 February 2023, and notes the multilateral processes to this end; (…)
https://docs.un.org/en/A/RES/ES-11/7
News related with SDGs number 16-Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
EU Approves €116.4 million grant for Motor Oil Hellas to boost renewable hydrogen production
(by Juan Pedro Tomas)
February 17, 2025 - In the UK, Fuel Cells Works reported that the European Commission has approved, under EU State aid rules, a $116.4 million Greek measure to support Motor Oil Hellas, a Greek refinery company, to produce renewable hydrogen. The measure will contribute to the decarbonization of the mobility and industrial sectors and will help kick-start the hydrogen market in Greece. (…)
News related with SDGs number 12-Responsible Consumption and Production
New partnership to increase indigenous participation in STEM education in Brazil
February 28, 2025 - Innospec -a leading global specialty chemicals company- and UNESCO International Institute for Higher Education (IESALC) to launch an educational program aimed at improving access to STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education for indigenous students in Brazil. The main outcome of the project will consist of a course on sustainable development and STEM – co-designed by indigenous and non-indigenous students and researchers—integrating indigenous knowledge and science applied to sustainability practices to empower diverse voices in STEM education. This initiative will directly train 40 indigenous students, with its ripple effects benefiting an additional 200 individuals. According to 2022 data from the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE) and the National Institute for Educational Studies and Research Anísio Teixeira (INEP), more than 46,000 indigenous people were enrolled in higher education which is almost five times the number recorded in 2011. However, despite this significant improvement, indigenous voices remain underrepresented in Brazil’s educational system…
News related with SDGs number 4-Quality Education
WFP and Spain launch first-time partnership to enhance access to education and food security in upper Egypt
February 26, 2025, Assiut, Egypt – The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) in Egypt and the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID) have launched a first-time partnership to support Egypt’s national school feeding programme. With a focus on school-based support and cash assistance, the collaboration aims to improve food security and nutrition for students, teachers, and families among Egypt’s most vulnerable communities in Assiut governorate in Upper Egypt. With a contribution of EUR 650,000 from the Spanish Cooperation, WFP will support about 4,100 community school students and their family members through school feeding, conditional cash assistance, and awareness-raising sessions. Over the course of the two-year programme, students will receive daily fortified in-school snacks in the form of date bars, securing 25% of their daily caloric needs. As part of the national safety net “Takaful and Karama”, students’ families will also receive monthly cash transfers, conditional on their child achieving an 80% school attendance rate. This initiative helps incentivize education and improve families’ ability to secure their basic needs, while helping reduce school dropout rates, child labour and early marriage among girls. (…)
News related with SDGs number 4-Quality Education
UNESCO and UNICEF strengthening multilingual education for a sustainable future in Timor-Leste
February 21, 2025, Dili, Timor-Leste - UNESCO and UNICEF jointly reaffirmed their commitment to promoting linguistic diversity and integrating mother tongues into the education systems in Timor-Leste. This year’s celebration spotlighted the critical role of multilingual education in fostering inclusion, improving learning outcomes, and preserving cultural heritage. In a country where over 20 local languages are spoken alongside the official languages, Tetun and Portuguese, many children face significant barriers to learning. More than 70% of children in Timor-Leste enter school without fluency in these official languages, often struggling to understand lessons and impacting their ability to succeed in school.To bridge this gap, the EMULI (Edukasaun Multilinge) initiative, led by the Ministry of Education with support from UNESCO and UNICEF, has been transforming education in Timor-Leste. Since 2012, EMULI has trained teachers and provided schools with the tools needed to implement mother tongue-based instruction in preschool and primary education, with a gradual transition to Tetun. Implemented in ten schools across three municipalities, EMULI has significantly improved literacy and retention rates, demonstrating how multilingual education can create lasting change (...)
News related with SDGs number 4-Quality Education
Archaeologists in Denmark Discover 4,000-Year-Old Circle of Wooden Posts Resembling Stonehenge
The monument once featured more than 80 posts, which formed a circle measuring nearly 100 feet across. Its prehistoric builders may have used it as a ritual site. Researchers in northern Denmark have unearthed evidence of a mysterious circle of wooden posts dating back 4,000 years. They think it may be linked to Stonehenge, the famous Neolithic site in southern England. The circle was discovered during recent construction in the town of Aars. According to Agence France-Presse (AFP), the posts were placed about 6.5 feet apart, and they formed a circle measuring nearly 100 feet across. Archaeologists found evidence of 45 posts, though the circle may have once boasted more than 80.
News related with SDGs number 4-Quality Education
UNESCO and Nestlé to support 100 youth projects worldwide
March 18, 2025 - UNESCO has a 20-year track-record of empowering young people to drive positive change and supporting them in responding to societal issues and crises. Nestlé has decided to join UNESCO's efforts by mobilizing approximately USD 1.7M to bolster the climate and environmental sustainability initiatives of young leaders, youth-led organizations, networks or businesses across 5 regions: Africa, the Arab region, Asia & the Pacific, Europe & North America, and Latin America & the Caribbean. One hundred grants will be awarded for innovations in climate mitigation and adaptation strategies, including developing sustainable food systems, regenerative agricultural practices and sustainable packaging. A dedicated call for applications has just been published. The agreement between UNESCO and Nestlé will also offer training, mentoring, and networking opportunities, with the goal of helping 500,000 people directly or indirectly. UNESCO and Nestlé partnered on a pilot project in 2023-4, which covered 12 countries across Latin America and funded with USD 500,000. Entitled Impulso Joven, the pilot awarded grants to 20 young leaders and organizations on the continent, directly or indirectly impacting over 130,000 people.
https://www.unesco.org/en/articles/unesco-and-nestle-support-100-youth-projects-worldwide?hub=701
News related with SDGs number 8-Decent Work and Economic Growth
Hybrid transparent electrodes boost efficiency and lifespan of perovskite solar cells
March 6, 2025 - Bifacial perovskite solar cells, known for their ability to capture sunlight from both the front and rear surfaces, have taken a significant step forward thanks to researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Dharwad. Their development of a novel NiO/Ag/NiO (NAN) hybrid transparent electrode has led to enhancements in efficiency, durability, and infrared transparency, opening new possibilities for solar energy applications. (…)
News related with SDGs number 9-Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
United Nations – Economic and Social Counseling – Twenty-eighth session –Item 3 (a) – Agenda Item 65 (b) – Report of the Secretary-General: Diversifying economies in a world of accelerated digitalization - Summary
February 23, 2025 - Strategies for economic diversification in the context of rapid digitalization are explored in this report, focusing on how policymakers in developing countries can design responsive policies in order to capitalize on the benefits of frontier digital technologies. The shift from export-oriented industrialization to technology-led transformation is examined, highlighting the opportunities and challenges faced in developing countries in diversifying economies, as well as the need to rethink industrial and innovation policies, to drive structural transformation and industrial upgrading (…)
https://docs.un.org/en/E/CN.16/2025/2
News related with SDGs number 8-Decent Work and Economic Growth
World Economic Forum - Getting private sector investment to Africa’s climate solutions
(Forum Stories)
February 21, 2025 - A new platform to grow private investment in climate adaptation efforts in Africa was announced at the World Economic Forum’s Annual Meeting 2025 in Davos. The initiative is the result of a partnership between the Global Center on Adaptation and the Forum, designed to unlock, guide and scale private-sector investments to strengthen climate resilience and adaptation efforts across the continent. While a formal launch of the platform is planned for this spring, it has already secured a $1 billion commitment from CRDB Bank Group. This commitment is part of the Group’s partnership with the Global Center on Adaptation through the Africa Adaptation Acceleration Program (AAAP). (…)
News related with SDGs number 8-Decent Work and Economic Growth
Wilmington, Delaware: Visionary Peace Youth Art Exhibition
March 2025- This year’s Visionary Peace Youth Art Exhibition was a smashing success! More than 550 young artists, teachers, and their friends and families filled the Wilmington Public Library Commons with exuberance and positive energy for peace. On exhibit were 546 examples of peace art from 32 different schools and community organizations. Now we look forward to continuing the momentum at our Traveling Peace Kick-off event in April.
https://cpnn-world.org/new/?p=36259
News related with SDGs number 16-Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
Essaouira: The “Warriors of Peace” nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize 2025
(An article from Hespress )(translation by CPNN)
February 2025- As a symbolic space for all dialogues and all possibilities, Dar Souiri has made a date with Peace on January 17 with the premiere screening in Morocco of the film “Résister pour la paix”.Released in 2024, the film is “resolutely committed and militant to give a new chance to peace that gives the same rights to the Israeli and Palestinian peoples.” The film, produced at the initiative of Sabrina Azoulay, retraces the journey of Hanna Assouline and Sonia Terrab founders of the collective “Guerrières de la Paix” that was launched at the “World Forum of Women for Peace” meeting in Essaouira on March 8, 2023. The film gives a voice and offers a platform to “Palestinian and Israeli activists working hand in hand to build bridges and promote a Peace that does justice to the fundamental rights of both peoples.” It was screened at Dar Souiri in front of a packed room listening to these moving testimonies nourished by “truth stories” strong embodiment of the resilience and the determined and courageous commitment of the founders of the Guerrières de la Paix” all of Moroccan origin.
https://cpnn-world.org/new/?p=36229
News related with SDGs number 16-Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
Colombia: PazRock, an initiative of the Ministry of Cultures for the culture of peace through music
January 2025- (An article from the Ministry of Cultures of Colombia )(translation by CPNN)
This year the Ministry of Cultures, Arts and Knowledge, through the Culture of Peace Strategy, has addressed the violence associated with conflict and inequality by promoting cultural rights. One of the actions was the development of the PazRock initiative, traveling concerts that brought a message of reflection through music to Bogotá, Pereira and Duitama. (…) This year concerts were held in Bogotá, Pereira and Duitama. They featured the participation of artists such as Plu con Pla, La Muchacha, Gillman, Panteón Rococó, La Pestilencia, 1280 Almas, Aterciopelados, among others. Following the first concert in Bogotá, the International Promotions Festival (FIP) of Buenos Aires, Argentina, awarded the PazRock concept the gold prize in the category ‘Best municipal event or government actions’.
https://cpnn-world.org/new/?p=36201
News related with SDGs number 16-Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
Beyond the burn: Harvesting dead wood to reduce wildfires and store carbon
March 1, 2025 - Beyond traditional burn methods, forest managers are exploring new ways to mitigate wildfire risks and enhance carbon storage. A new study from Florida Atlantic University investigates how harvesting dead wood without combustion could play a crucial role in wildfire management and climate mitigation. (…)
News related with SDGs number 15-Life on Land
University of Cambridge and Berkeley researchers develop artificial leaf to produce clean fuels and chemicals
(by Meghan Sapp)
February 27, 2025 - In the UK, tiny copper ‘nano-flowers’ have been attached to an artificial leaf to produce clean fuels and chemicals that are the backbone of modern energy and manufacturing. The researchers, from the University of Cambridge and the University of California, Berkeley, developed a practical way to make hydrocarbons – molecules made of carbon and hydrogen – powered solely by the sun. (…)
News related with SDGs number 9-Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
NSF awards $5 million grant to Global Center for Sustainable Bioproducts
(by Juan Pedro Tomas)
February 24, 2025 - In New York, the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry (ESF) said that two of its professors are leading an international initiative to develop sustainable bioproducts from waste biomass. The National Science Foundation (NSF) is supporting these efforts with a $5 million grant to the Global Center for Sustainable Bioproducts (GCSB), an international research hub dedicated to developing sustainable bio-based solutions for environmental and economic challenges. (…)
News related with SDGs number 12-Responsible Consumption and Production
ONE and Yusen Logistics agree sustainable shipping agreement
(by Meghan Sapp)
February 19, 2025 - In Singapore, Ocean Network Express (“ONE”) and Yusen Logistics Co., Ltd announced a new agreement for sustainable shipping solutions through ONE’s green shipping service, ONE LEAF+.
This collaboration demonstrates how the industry can advance sustainable supply chain practices and marine transportation to deliver environmental benefits. Under this agreement, ONE will use sustainable biofuels for propulsion, achieving up to 84% reduction in well-to-wake CO2 emissions compared to Very Low Sulphur Fuel Oil (VLSFO). As a freight forwarder, Yusen Logistics will offer this green shipping option to customers, enabling them to simultaneously reduce their Scope 3 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
News related with SDGs number 13-Climate Action
World Economic Forum - 25 Countries Unite in the fight against plastic pollution
January 23, 2025 - The Global Plastic Action Partnership (GPAP) reaches 25-country milestone, becoming the largest global programme tackling plastic pollution, now impacting over 1.5 billion people. Seven new countries - Angola, Bangladesh, Gabon, Guatemala, Kenya, Senegal, and Tanzania - join forces to scale systemic plastic waste management solutions, fostering greater sustainability and climate resilience worldwide. (…) Central to GPAP’s model are National Action Roadmaps – tailored, country-specific strategies informed by the network’s collective experience. These have already mobilized $3.1 billion in investments, created safer jobs for informal waste workers and supported countries in achieving measurable progress on sustainability and climate resilience. (…)
https://www.weforum.org/press/2025/01/25-countries-unite-in-the-fight-against-plastic-pollution/
News related with SDGs number 15-Life on Land
After 500 years, DA VINCI’s mysterious tunnels confirmed as hidden under a castle
March 12, 2025- A long-rumored network of secret tunnels associated with Renaissance legend Leonardo da Vinci has been discovered in Italy. Italian researchers from the Polytechnic University of Milan recently discovered the secret passages beneath the Sforza Castle, using radar, laser scanners and other cutting-edge technology to verify their hunches.
News related with SDGs number 4-Quality Education
Young craftsman resurrects 'extincted' musical instrument by consulting ancient literature
March 5, 2025- From India comes the incredible story of a young man who reconstructed an "extinct" musical instrument using clues from ancient literature. Called the Yazh, this beautiful harp, carved in the shape of a peacock and equipped with a resonator, was played for Tamil kings 2,000 years ago, but has not been produced for years, perhaps even centuries.
News related with SDGs number 3-Good Health and Well-Being
UNESCO and ICANN join forces to improve language diversity online
27 February 2025- Under this new agreement, UNESCO and ICANN will work together to support the secure use of additional scripts and languages in the Internet’s Domain Name System (DNS), which includes domain names and email addresses that are essential for online access and communication. The two organizations will also work together to drive universal acceptance (UA) of all domain names and email addresses, regardless of character length, language or script, across all Internet-enabled applications, devices and systems.
News related with SDGs number 10-Reduced Inequalities
Mosul the multicultural city martyred by DAESH has been reborn and is again a source of inspiration.
February 6, 2025- During its defeat in July 2017, Daesh decided to blow up the Al-Hadba minaret and the great Al-Nouri mosque. Only a human chain formed by local residents prevented the total destruction of these two monuments. UNESCO's initiative has also led to the renovation of 400 classrooms in and around Mosul, support for the university library, training of over 5,000 teachers and educators in peace education programs and the implementation of numerous cultural projects, such as the revival of festivals and art centers.
News related with SDGs number 11-Sustainable Cities and Communities
Rules, regulations and environment
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Tasmania’s first green hydrogen production and research facility launches In Hobart
(by Juan Pedro Tomas)
March 13, 2025 - In Australia, Blue Economy reported that green hydrogen will be produced for the first time in Tasmania, following the launch of the Blue Economy CRC’s hydrogen production and research facility. The new facility will provide commercial-scale hydrogen for industry and transport applications. (…)
News related with SDGs number 7-Affordable and Clean Energy
Green hydrogen production plant taps 100 pct renewable grid using cutting edge electrolyser
(by Sophie Vorrath)
March 7, 2025 - Tasmania’s first renewable hydrogen production plant launches north of Hobart, where it will produce 262kg of the green fuel a day – enough to run two fuel cell powered passenger ferries. (…)
News related with SDGs number 7-Affordable and Clean Energy
Himachal Pradesh aims to be India’s green hydrogen leader
(by Meghan Sapp)
March 6, 2025 - In India, a Memorandum of Commitment (MoC) was signed on Wednesday in the presence of Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu between the state government and M/s Spray Engineering Devices Limited, Chandigarh to set up India’s first integrated Manufacturing Facility of API, Green Hydrogen and 2G Ethanol BBN of Solan district with a cost of Rs. 1400 crore. This integrated facility would offer employment to 1000 youth. Initially, the project would produce 30 MW green hydrogen in the first phase and in the coming time it would produce 50 MW green hydrogen. (…)
News related with SDGs number 7-Affordable and Clean Energy
India and EU strengthen green technology partnership
(by Juan Pedro Tomas)
March 6, 2025 - In India, India News Network reported that the second meeting of the India-EU Trade and Technology Council (TTC), held in New Delhi on February 28, 2025, reaffirmed the commitment of both India and the European Union to advancing clean and green technologies. Co-chaired by Indian and European ministers and representatives, the discussions focused on achieving net-zero emissions, promoting sustainable innovations, and enhancing cross-border collaboration on environmental challenges. The report noted that both sides will collaborate on waste-to-hydrogen technologies. (…)
News related with SDGs number 17-Partnerships for the Goals
TotalEnergies teams with Air Liquide on two Dutch green hydrogen projects
(by Meghan Sapp)
February 20, 2025 - In the Netherlands, TotalEnergies has signed agreements with Air Liquide to develop two projects in the Netherlands, for the production and delivery of some 45,000 tons a year of green hydrogen produced using renewable power, generated mostly by the OranjeWind offshore wind farm, developed by TotalEnergies (50%) and RWE (50%). These projects will cut CO2 emissions from TotalEnergies’ refineries in Belgium and the Netherlands by up to 450,000 tons a year and contribute to the European renewable energy targets in transport.
News related with SDGs number 17-Partnerships for the Goals
VinFast Partners with Motech to establish nationwide Service Center Network in the Philippines
(by Raymond Tribdino)
Feb 5, 2025 - VinFast Philippines and Motech Automotive Service Center have formalized a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to create a service network for VinFast electric vehicles. This collaboration is in line with the Vietnamese EV maker’s strategic commitment to fostering green transportation in the region — not just to serve its private customers, but also to prepare for the adoption of the planned green taxi network. (…)
News related with SDGs number 11-Sustainable Cities and Communities
* * * * * * *
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Good News Agency is published monthly (except August) in English, Italian and Portuguese. Past issues are available at www.goodnewsagency.org . Rome Law-court registration no. 265 dated 20 June 2000. Managing Editor: Fabio Gatti. Editorial research by Fabio Gatti, Isabella Strippoli, Elisa Minelli, Salvatore Caruso Motta, Chiara Damilano, Francesco Viglienghi, Carlo Toraldo, Andrea Landriscina, Nazzarena Franco. Webmaster, media and NGO coverage: Simone Frassanito (simone.frassanito@goodnewsagency.org)
Good News Agency is distributed free of charge through Internet to media and editorial journalists of the daily newspapers and periodical magazines and of the radio and television stations, NGOs, service associations, high schools and colleges as well as over 26,000 Rotarians around the world.
It is an all-volunteer service of Associazione Culturale dei Triangoli e della Buona Volontà Mondiale, a registered, not-for-profit educational charity chartered in Italy in 1979 The Association operates for the development of consciousness and promotes a culture of peace in the ‘global village’ perspective based on unity in diversity and on sharing. It is based in Piazzale degli Eroi 8, 00136 Rome, Italy. The Association is a member of the World Association of Non Governmental Organizations.
* http://decade-culture-of-peace.org/2010_civil_society_report.pdf - In section A - International Organizations, page 12, the Report says: ”Diffusion and exchange of culture of peace information via the Internet has become the major instrument for several international organizations, notably the Culture of Peace News Network, the Good News Agency and the Education for Peace Globalnet.”
In spite of everything, a culture of peace is emerging in all fields of human endeavour
Good News Agency carries positive and constructive news from all over the world relating to voluntary work, the work of the United Nations, non-governmental organizations and institutions engaged in improving the quality of life – news that doesn’t “burn out” in the space of a day. It is distributed free of charge through Internet to media and editorial journalists, NGOs, service associations and high schools and colleges around the world.
It is an all-volunteer service of Associazione Culturale dei Triangoli e della Buona Volontà Mondiale, an educational charity associated with the United Nations Department of Public Information It is a supporter of the Global Movement for the Culture of Peace. In the final report of the Decade for a Culture of Peace project (2001-2010) provided to the UN Secretary-General for presentation to the UN General Assembly, Good News Agency is included among the three NGOs that have been playing an active role in the field of Information through Internet.*
Government and politics – Education and teaching – Economy, finance and planning
Arts of living and relationships – Work, science and industry
Society and communication –Rules, regulations and environment
“Survival”, speaker underlines, as Commission on Status Women continues session
March 13, 2025 - The Commission on the Status of Women continued its sixty-ninth session today with a high-level dialogue focused on accelerating implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action, with one participant stressing the need “to make the world notice that gender equality is essential to planetary survival”. The Platform for Action was adopted at the 1995 Beijing Conference on Women, which pledged to achieve gender equality and uphold women’s rights. Discussions this session are also focused on contributing to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This morning’s dialogue stressed the widespread contributions of the Commission on the Status of Women, with several participants spotlighting challenges, obstacles and large financial cuts that are threatening progress (…)
News related with SDGs number 5-Gender Equality
United Nations – General Assembly – Seventy-ninth session – Agenda Item 13 – Draft Resolution: United Nations Regional Centre for the Sustainable Development Goals for Central Asia and Afghanistan
February 26, 2025 - The General Assembly (…)
1. Decides to formalize the United Nations Regional Centre for the Sustainable Development Goals for Central Asia and Afghanistan in Almaty, Kazakhstan, and requests the Secretary-General to appoint the Head of the Centre following the development of terms of reference in consultation with interested stakeholders;
2. Also decides that the Centre will work within the remit of its operational mandate to implement regional projects and programmes, aimed at assisting the countries of the region in achieving sustainable development in its three dimensions – economic, social and environmental – in close coordination with relevant United Nations entities (...)
https://docs.un.org/en/A/79/L.57/REV.1
News related with SDGs number 17-Partnerships for the Goals
United Nations – General Assembly – Eleventh emergency special session – Agenda Item 5 – Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 24 February 2025: Advancing a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in Ukraine
February 25, 2025 - The General Assembly (…)
1. Calls for a de-escalation, an early cessation of hostilities and a peaceful resolution of the war against Ukraine, marked by enormous destruction and human suffering, including among the civilian population, in line with the Charter of the United Nations and international law;
2. Reiterates the urgent need to end the war this year, and to redouble diplomatic efforts to reduce the risks of further escalation and achieve a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in Ukraine, consistent with the Charter, including its principles of sovereign equality and territorial integrity of States, as underscored in its resolution ES-11/6 of 23 February 2023, and notes the multilateral processes to this end; (…)
https://docs.un.org/en/A/RES/ES-11/7
News related with SDGs number 16-Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
EU Approves €116.4 million grant for Motor Oil Hellas to boost renewable hydrogen production
(by Juan Pedro Tomas)
February 17, 2025 - In the UK, Fuel Cells Works reported that the European Commission has approved, under EU State aid rules, a $116.4 million Greek measure to support Motor Oil Hellas, a Greek refinery company, to produce renewable hydrogen. The measure will contribute to the decarbonization of the mobility and industrial sectors and will help kick-start the hydrogen market in Greece. (…)
News related with SDGs number 12-Responsible Consumption and Production
New partnership to increase indigenous participation in STEM education in Brazil
February 28, 2025 - Innospec -a leading global specialty chemicals company- and UNESCO International Institute for Higher Education (IESALC) to launch an educational program aimed at improving access to STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education for indigenous students in Brazil. The main outcome of the project will consist of a course on sustainable development and STEM – co-designed by indigenous and non-indigenous students and researchers—integrating indigenous knowledge and science applied to sustainability practices to empower diverse voices in STEM education. This initiative will directly train 40 indigenous students, with its ripple effects benefiting an additional 200 individuals. According to 2022 data from the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE) and the National Institute for Educational Studies and Research Anísio Teixeira (INEP), more than 46,000 indigenous people were enrolled in higher education which is almost five times the number recorded in 2011. However, despite this significant improvement, indigenous voices remain underrepresented in Brazil’s educational system…
News related with SDGs number 4-Quality Education
WFP and Spain launch first-time partnership to enhance access to education and food security in upper Egypt
February 26, 2025, Assiut, Egypt – The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) in Egypt and the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID) have launched a first-time partnership to support Egypt’s national school feeding programme. With a focus on school-based support and cash assistance, the collaboration aims to improve food security and nutrition for students, teachers, and families among Egypt’s most vulnerable communities in Assiut governorate in Upper Egypt. With a contribution of EUR 650,000 from the Spanish Cooperation, WFP will support about 4,100 community school students and their family members through school feeding, conditional cash assistance, and awareness-raising sessions. Over the course of the two-year programme, students will receive daily fortified in-school snacks in the form of date bars, securing 25% of their daily caloric needs. As part of the national safety net “Takaful and Karama”, students’ families will also receive monthly cash transfers, conditional on their child achieving an 80% school attendance rate. This initiative helps incentivize education and improve families’ ability to secure their basic needs, while helping reduce school dropout rates, child labour and early marriage among girls. (…)
News related with SDGs number 4-Quality Education
UNESCO and UNICEF strengthening multilingual education for a sustainable future in Timor-Leste
February 21, 2025, Dili, Timor-Leste - UNESCO and UNICEF jointly reaffirmed their commitment to promoting linguistic diversity and integrating mother tongues into the education systems in Timor-Leste. This year’s celebration spotlighted the critical role of multilingual education in fostering inclusion, improving learning outcomes, and preserving cultural heritage. In a country where over 20 local languages are spoken alongside the official languages, Tetun and Portuguese, many children face significant barriers to learning. More than 70% of children in Timor-Leste enter school without fluency in these official languages, often struggling to understand lessons and impacting their ability to succeed in school.To bridge this gap, the EMULI (Edukasaun Multilinge) initiative, led by the Ministry of Education with support from UNESCO and UNICEF, has been transforming education in Timor-Leste. Since 2012, EMULI has trained teachers and provided schools with the tools needed to implement mother tongue-based instruction in preschool and primary education, with a gradual transition to Tetun. Implemented in ten schools across three municipalities, EMULI has significantly improved literacy and retention rates, demonstrating how multilingual education can create lasting change (...)
News related with SDGs number 4-Quality Education
Archaeologists in Denmark Discover 4,000-Year-Old Circle of Wooden Posts Resembling Stonehenge
The monument once featured more than 80 posts, which formed a circle measuring nearly 100 feet across. Its prehistoric builders may have used it as a ritual site. Researchers in northern Denmark have unearthed evidence of a mysterious circle of wooden posts dating back 4,000 years. They think it may be linked to Stonehenge, the famous Neolithic site in southern England. The circle was discovered during recent construction in the town of Aars. According to Agence France-Presse (AFP), the posts were placed about 6.5 feet apart, and they formed a circle measuring nearly 100 feet across. Archaeologists found evidence of 45 posts, though the circle may have once boasted more than 80.
News related with SDGs number 4-Quality Education
UNESCO and Nestlé to support 100 youth projects worldwide
March 18, 2025 - UNESCO has a 20-year track-record of empowering young people to drive positive change and supporting them in responding to societal issues and crises. Nestlé has decided to join UNESCO's efforts by mobilizing approximately USD 1.7M to bolster the climate and environmental sustainability initiatives of young leaders, youth-led organizations, networks or businesses across 5 regions: Africa, the Arab region, Asia & the Pacific, Europe & North America, and Latin America & the Caribbean. One hundred grants will be awarded for innovations in climate mitigation and adaptation strategies, including developing sustainable food systems, regenerative agricultural practices and sustainable packaging. A dedicated call for applications has just been published. The agreement between UNESCO and Nestlé will also offer training, mentoring, and networking opportunities, with the goal of helping 500,000 people directly or indirectly. UNESCO and Nestlé partnered on a pilot project in 2023-4, which covered 12 countries across Latin America and funded with USD 500,000. Entitled Impulso Joven, the pilot awarded grants to 20 young leaders and organizations on the continent, directly or indirectly impacting over 130,000 people.
https://www.unesco.org/en/articles/unesco-and-nestle-support-100-youth-projects-worldwide?hub=701
News related with SDGs number 8-Decent Work and Economic Growth
Hybrid transparent electrodes boost efficiency and lifespan of perovskite solar cells
March 6, 2025 - Bifacial perovskite solar cells, known for their ability to capture sunlight from both the front and rear surfaces, have taken a significant step forward thanks to researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Dharwad. Their development of a novel NiO/Ag/NiO (NAN) hybrid transparent electrode has led to enhancements in efficiency, durability, and infrared transparency, opening new possibilities for solar energy applications. (…)
News related with SDGs number 9-Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
United Nations – Economic and Social Counseling – Twenty-eighth session –Item 3 (a) – Agenda Item 65 (b) – Report of the Secretary-General: Diversifying economies in a world of accelerated digitalization - Summary
February 23, 2025 - Strategies for economic diversification in the context of rapid digitalization are explored in this report, focusing on how policymakers in developing countries can design responsive policies in order to capitalize on the benefits of frontier digital technologies. The shift from export-oriented industrialization to technology-led transformation is examined, highlighting the opportunities and challenges faced in developing countries in diversifying economies, as well as the need to rethink industrial and innovation policies, to drive structural transformation and industrial upgrading (…)
https://docs.un.org/en/E/CN.16/2025/2
News related with SDGs number 8-Decent Work and Economic Growth
World Economic Forum - Getting private sector investment to Africa’s climate solutions
(Forum Stories)
February 21, 2025 - A new platform to grow private investment in climate adaptation efforts in Africa was announced at the World Economic Forum’s Annual Meeting 2025 in Davos. The initiative is the result of a partnership between the Global Center on Adaptation and the Forum, designed to unlock, guide and scale private-sector investments to strengthen climate resilience and adaptation efforts across the continent. While a formal launch of the platform is planned for this spring, it has already secured a $1 billion commitment from CRDB Bank Group. This commitment is part of the Group’s partnership with the Global Center on Adaptation through the Africa Adaptation Acceleration Program (AAAP). (…)
News related with SDGs number 8-Decent Work and Economic Growth
Wilmington, Delaware: Visionary Peace Youth Art Exhibition
March 2025- This year’s Visionary Peace Youth Art Exhibition was a smashing success! More than 550 young artists, teachers, and their friends and families filled the Wilmington Public Library Commons with exuberance and positive energy for peace. On exhibit were 546 examples of peace art from 32 different schools and community organizations. Now we look forward to continuing the momentum at our Traveling Peace Kick-off event in April.
https://cpnn-world.org/new/?p=36259
News related with SDGs number 16-Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
Essaouira: The “Warriors of Peace” nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize 2025
(An article from Hespress )(translation by CPNN)
February 2025- As a symbolic space for all dialogues and all possibilities, Dar Souiri has made a date with Peace on January 17 with the premiere screening in Morocco of the film “Résister pour la paix”.Released in 2024, the film is “resolutely committed and militant to give a new chance to peace that gives the same rights to the Israeli and Palestinian peoples.” The film, produced at the initiative of Sabrina Azoulay, retraces the journey of Hanna Assouline and Sonia Terrab founders of the collective “Guerrières de la Paix” that was launched at the “World Forum of Women for Peace” meeting in Essaouira on March 8, 2023. The film gives a voice and offers a platform to “Palestinian and Israeli activists working hand in hand to build bridges and promote a Peace that does justice to the fundamental rights of both peoples.” It was screened at Dar Souiri in front of a packed room listening to these moving testimonies nourished by “truth stories” strong embodiment of the resilience and the determined and courageous commitment of the founders of the Guerrières de la Paix” all of Moroccan origin.
https://cpnn-world.org/new/?p=36229
News related with SDGs number 16-Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
Colombia: PazRock, an initiative of the Ministry of Cultures for the culture of peace through music
January 2025- (An article from the Ministry of Cultures of Colombia )(translation by CPNN)
This year the Ministry of Cultures, Arts and Knowledge, through the Culture of Peace Strategy, has addressed the violence associated with conflict and inequality by promoting cultural rights. One of the actions was the development of the PazRock initiative, traveling concerts that brought a message of reflection through music to Bogotá, Pereira and Duitama. (…) This year concerts were held in Bogotá, Pereira and Duitama. They featured the participation of artists such as Plu con Pla, La Muchacha, Gillman, Panteón Rococó, La Pestilencia, 1280 Almas, Aterciopelados, among others. Following the first concert in Bogotá, the International Promotions Festival (FIP) of Buenos Aires, Argentina, awarded the PazRock concept the gold prize in the category ‘Best municipal event or government actions’.
https://cpnn-world.org/new/?p=36201
News related with SDGs number 16-Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
Beyond the burn: Harvesting dead wood to reduce wildfires and store carbon
March 1, 2025 - Beyond traditional burn methods, forest managers are exploring new ways to mitigate wildfire risks and enhance carbon storage. A new study from Florida Atlantic University investigates how harvesting dead wood without combustion could play a crucial role in wildfire management and climate mitigation. (…)
News related with SDGs number 15-Life on Land
University of Cambridge and Berkeley researchers develop artificial leaf to produce clean fuels and chemicals
(by Meghan Sapp)
February 27, 2025 - In the UK, tiny copper ‘nano-flowers’ have been attached to an artificial leaf to produce clean fuels and chemicals that are the backbone of modern energy and manufacturing. The researchers, from the University of Cambridge and the University of California, Berkeley, developed a practical way to make hydrocarbons – molecules made of carbon and hydrogen – powered solely by the sun. (…)
News related with SDGs number 9-Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
NSF awards $5 million grant to Global Center for Sustainable Bioproducts
(by Juan Pedro Tomas)
February 24, 2025 - In New York, the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry (ESF) said that two of its professors are leading an international initiative to develop sustainable bioproducts from waste biomass. The National Science Foundation (NSF) is supporting these efforts with a $5 million grant to the Global Center for Sustainable Bioproducts (GCSB), an international research hub dedicated to developing sustainable bio-based solutions for environmental and economic challenges. (…)
News related with SDGs number 12-Responsible Consumption and Production
ONE and Yusen Logistics agree sustainable shipping agreement
(by Meghan Sapp)
February 19, 2025 - In Singapore, Ocean Network Express (“ONE”) and Yusen Logistics Co., Ltd announced a new agreement for sustainable shipping solutions through ONE’s green shipping service, ONE LEAF+.
This collaboration demonstrates how the industry can advance sustainable supply chain practices and marine transportation to deliver environmental benefits. Under this agreement, ONE will use sustainable biofuels for propulsion, achieving up to 84% reduction in well-to-wake CO2 emissions compared to Very Low Sulphur Fuel Oil (VLSFO). As a freight forwarder, Yusen Logistics will offer this green shipping option to customers, enabling them to simultaneously reduce their Scope 3 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
News related with SDGs number 13-Climate Action
World Economic Forum - 25 Countries Unite in the fight against plastic pollution
January 23, 2025 - The Global Plastic Action Partnership (GPAP) reaches 25-country milestone, becoming the largest global programme tackling plastic pollution, now impacting over 1.5 billion people. Seven new countries - Angola, Bangladesh, Gabon, Guatemala, Kenya, Senegal, and Tanzania - join forces to scale systemic plastic waste management solutions, fostering greater sustainability and climate resilience worldwide. (…) Central to GPAP’s model are National Action Roadmaps – tailored, country-specific strategies informed by the network’s collective experience. These have already mobilized $3.1 billion in investments, created safer jobs for informal waste workers and supported countries in achieving measurable progress on sustainability and climate resilience. (…)
https://www.weforum.org/press/2025/01/25-countries-unite-in-the-fight-against-plastic-pollution/
News related with SDGs number 15-Life on Land
After 500 years, DA VINCI’s mysterious tunnels confirmed as hidden under a castle
March 12, 2025- A long-rumored network of secret tunnels associated with Renaissance legend Leonardo da Vinci has been discovered in Italy. Italian researchers from the Polytechnic University of Milan recently discovered the secret passages beneath the Sforza Castle, using radar, laser scanners and other cutting-edge technology to verify their hunches.
News related with SDGs number 4-Quality Education
Young craftsman resurrects 'extincted' musical instrument by consulting ancient literature
March 5, 2025- From India comes the incredible story of a young man who reconstructed an "extinct" musical instrument using clues from ancient literature. Called the Yazh, this beautiful harp, carved in the shape of a peacock and equipped with a resonator, was played for Tamil kings 2,000 years ago, but has not been produced for years, perhaps even centuries.
News related with SDGs number 3-Good Health and Well-Being
UNESCO and ICANN join forces to improve language diversity online
27 February 2025- Under this new agreement, UNESCO and ICANN will work together to support the secure use of additional scripts and languages in the Internet’s Domain Name System (DNS), which includes domain names and email addresses that are essential for online access and communication. The two organizations will also work together to drive universal acceptance (UA) of all domain names and email addresses, regardless of character length, language or script, across all Internet-enabled applications, devices and systems.
News related with SDGs number 10-Reduced Inequalities
Mosul the multicultural city martyred by DAESH has been reborn and is again a source of inspiration.
February 6, 2025- During its defeat in July 2017, Daesh decided to blow up the Al-Hadba minaret and the great Al-Nouri mosque. Only a human chain formed by local residents prevented the total destruction of these two monuments. UNESCO's initiative has also led to the renovation of 400 classrooms in and around Mosul, support for the university library, training of over 5,000 teachers and educators in peace education programs and the implementation of numerous cultural projects, such as the revival of festivals and art centers.
News related with SDGs number 11-Sustainable Cities and Communities
Rules, regulations and environment
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Tasmania’s first green hydrogen production and research facility launches In Hobart
(by Juan Pedro Tomas)
March 13, 2025 - In Australia, Blue Economy reported that green hydrogen will be produced for the first time in Tasmania, following the launch of the Blue Economy CRC’s hydrogen production and research facility. The new facility will provide commercial-scale hydrogen for industry and transport applications. (…)
News related with SDGs number 7-Affordable and Clean Energy
Green hydrogen production plant taps 100 pct renewable grid using cutting edge electrolyser
(by Sophie Vorrath)
March 7, 2025 - Tasmania’s first renewable hydrogen production plant launches north of Hobart, where it will produce 262kg of the green fuel a day – enough to run two fuel cell powered passenger ferries. (…)
News related with SDGs number 7-Affordable and Clean Energy
Himachal Pradesh aims to be India’s green hydrogen leader
(by Meghan Sapp)
March 6, 2025 - In India, a Memorandum of Commitment (MoC) was signed on Wednesday in the presence of Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu between the state government and M/s Spray Engineering Devices Limited, Chandigarh to set up India’s first integrated Manufacturing Facility of API, Green Hydrogen and 2G Ethanol BBN of Solan district with a cost of Rs. 1400 crore. This integrated facility would offer employment to 1000 youth. Initially, the project would produce 30 MW green hydrogen in the first phase and in the coming time it would produce 50 MW green hydrogen. (…)
News related with SDGs number 7-Affordable and Clean Energy
India and EU strengthen green technology partnership
(by Juan Pedro Tomas)
March 6, 2025 - In India, India News Network reported that the second meeting of the India-EU Trade and Technology Council (TTC), held in New Delhi on February 28, 2025, reaffirmed the commitment of both India and the European Union to advancing clean and green technologies. Co-chaired by Indian and European ministers and representatives, the discussions focused on achieving net-zero emissions, promoting sustainable innovations, and enhancing cross-border collaboration on environmental challenges. The report noted that both sides will collaborate on waste-to-hydrogen technologies. (…)
News related with SDGs number 17-Partnerships for the Goals
TotalEnergies teams with Air Liquide on two Dutch green hydrogen projects
(by Meghan Sapp)
February 20, 2025 - In the Netherlands, TotalEnergies has signed agreements with Air Liquide to develop two projects in the Netherlands, for the production and delivery of some 45,000 tons a year of green hydrogen produced using renewable power, generated mostly by the OranjeWind offshore wind farm, developed by TotalEnergies (50%) and RWE (50%). These projects will cut CO2 emissions from TotalEnergies’ refineries in Belgium and the Netherlands by up to 450,000 tons a year and contribute to the European renewable energy targets in transport.
News related with SDGs number 17-Partnerships for the Goals
VinFast Partners with Motech to establish nationwide Service Center Network in the Philippines
(by Raymond Tribdino)
Feb 5, 2025 - VinFast Philippines and Motech Automotive Service Center have formalized a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to create a service network for VinFast electric vehicles. This collaboration is in line with the Vietnamese EV maker’s strategic commitment to fostering green transportation in the region — not just to serve its private customers, but also to prepare for the adoption of the planned green taxi network. (…)
News related with SDGs number 11-Sustainable Cities and Communities
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Good News Agency is published monthly (except August) in English, Italian and Portuguese. Past issues are available at www.goodnewsagency.org . Rome Law-court registration no. 265 dated 20 June 2000. Managing Editor: Fabio Gatti. Editorial research by Fabio Gatti, Isabella Strippoli, Elisa Minelli, Salvatore Caruso Motta, Chiara Damilano, Francesco Viglienghi, Carlo Toraldo, Andrea Landriscina, Nazzarena Franco. Webmaster, media and NGO coverage: Simone Frassanito (simone.frassanito@goodnewsagency.org)
Good News Agency is distributed free of charge through Internet to media and editorial journalists of the daily newspapers and periodical magazines and of the radio and television stations, NGOs, service associations, high schools and colleges as well as over 26,000 Rotarians around the world.
It is an all-volunteer service of Associazione Culturale dei Triangoli e della Buona Volontà Mondiale, a registered, not-for-profit educational charity chartered in Italy in 1979 The Association operates for the development of consciousness and promotes a culture of peace in the ‘global village’ perspective based on unity in diversity and on sharing. It is based in Piazzale degli Eroi 8, 00136 Rome, Italy. The Association is a member of the World Association of Non Governmental Organizations.
* http://decade-culture-of-peace.org/2010_civil_society_report.pdf - In section A - International Organizations, page 12, the Report says: ”Diffusion and exchange of culture of peace information via the Internet has become the major instrument for several international organizations, notably the Culture of Peace News Network, the Good News Agency and the Education for Peace Globalnet.”