This report explains how and why the European Union’s statistics on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG)create an illusion of sustainability. It tells a more critical story about sustainability in the EU. The report flags up serious gaps, bringing them to life with 17 individual stories.

The State of Agricultural Commodity Markets 2020 (SOCO 2020) aims to discuss policies and mechanisms that promote sustainable outcomes – economic, social and environmental – in agricultural and food markets, both global and domestic.

The world in 2020 is in a state of flux.

Countries across the world are reliant on a range of services that are based around their natural ecosystems. Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (BES) include such necessities as food provision, water security and regulation of air quality that are vital to maintaining the health and stability of communities and economies.

With less than 10 years to meet the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), action is still not happening at the speed or scale required - despite a groudswell of ambition and action from organisations of all sectors and sizes.

Water-related risks, while local in nature, can disrupt business operations globally, have material cost implications and damage reputations. Addressing water-related risks is fundamental to business sustainability and its license to operate. Industrial wastewater pollution is a key water risk for businesses and its operations.

The report examines the developments in inclusive education since the Salamanca Statement and Framework for Action on Special Needs Education in 1994. It includes contributions from Agency staff and other education specialists from around the world to provide a detailed exploration of inclusive education over the last 25 years.

With trade recognized as a means of implementation under Agenda 2030, policy-makers will need to ensure that trade, and policies affecting trade and markets, are taken into consideration as part of their efforts to achieve SDG 2.

The new report examines five mega trends: climate change; demographic shifts, particularly population ageing; urbanization; the emergence of digital technologies; and inequalities –that are affecting economic, social and environmental outcomes.

In a statement, eight UN organizations stress that international transport and integrated supply chains are critical in recovering from COVID-19 achieving the SDGs.