11 September 2008: The UN Development Programme (UNDP) has
released the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) Report 2008, which finds that
the strong and sustained progress in reducing extreme poverty achieved by the
world is being undercut by higher prices, particularly of food and oil, and the
global economic slowdown.

The Report states that, since 2002, rising prices for
minerals and agricultural raw materials have contributed to economic growth in
all developing regions, but that many developing countries are now facing
higher import bills for food and fuel, jeopardizing their growth. In the
forward to the Report, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon states that: the
economic slowdown will diminish the poor’s incomes; the food crisis will push
millions more into poverty; and climate change will have a disproportionate
impact on the poor.
Noting that addressing these concerns should not detract
efforts to reach the MDGs, he urges a sustained focus on the MDGs while
tackling these challenges. The nexus between poverty, climate change, and food
and fuel costs will be taken up by the UN General Assembly as it re-convenes
this month. Ban has also called for a special high-level event to boost global
action to achieve the MDGs, which will be held on 25 September 2008.
In
addition, on 22 September 2008, the UN General Assembly will hold a high-level
meeting on the development needs of Africa, a region facing severe challenges
in terms of climate change, agriculture and poverty reduction. [UNDP
Press Release]