UNITED NATIONS

More than 35 senior officials from various leading insurance firms recently came together in Zurich, Switzerland, to found, in association with the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP), the Insurance Industry Initiative. The lead comes from the realisation within the insurance industry that protecting human life and property, preventing catastrophic events and making a positive contribution to the quality of life of future generations are essential to their business. The association counts the following as some of its chief aims: to promote the UNEP Statement of Environment Commitment by insurance industry; to cooperate with other associations that are striving to achieve similar objectives; to arrange an annual conference to promote sustainable growth within the insurance industry.

The Human Development Report, published by United Nations Development Project, says that much of the world's population has benefited from major advances in economic opportunity and human well-being. The report argues that given the unprecedented progress in human and economic development over the past 50 years, eradicating extreme poverty at the beginning of the 21st century is now a feasible and affordable goal. The report also provides an extensive overview of global poverty trends; priorities for tackling poverty at national levels and a global agenda for supportive action.