Felix Dodds comments on sustainable development, coffee & life

Guest blog: Lenni Montiel: Senior UN Development Leader (Ret.) | Former UN Assistant Secretary-General |UNDP Resident Representative | Governance, Public Policy & Multilateral Diplomacy | Leadership Advisor & Trainer | Chevening Scholar. Lenni writes on LinkedIn about the UN and international development. Originally published here. When people think of UN careers, they think of New York or Geneva. Few think of Bonn. They should. Around 27 UN entities are based there. Climate, biodiversity, disaster risk reduction, volunteerism, staff training. It hosts the largest concentration of UN organizations in Germany and one of the largest UN presences anywhere outside New York and Geneva. Germany has quietly built one of the most important hubs for international cooperation outside the traditional centers, and it is growing. The UN Bonn Campus was established in 2006. In 2026, UNDP is relocating a significant number of staff from New York to Bonn through a new agreement with the Gove...

Over the past four decades, sustainability has evolved from a niche concern into a defining global agenda. From the foundations laid by the Brundtland Report to the rise of ESG, net-zero commitments, and global frameworks such as the Sustainable Development Goals, the field has expanded rapidly and entered the mainstream. Yet today, many working in sustainability sense that the agenda is entering a new phase. ​ Sustainability at a Crossroads , a global consultation conducted in 2025 by GlobeScan, ERM, and Volans, explored how practitioners are experiencing this moment. Drawing on perspectives from sustainability professionals across regions and sectors, the research pointed to a period of reflection and reassessment about how progress can be accelerated. While views differ, there is a recognition that the current approach needs to evolve to better meet the scale and complexity of today’s challenges. At the same time, this moment should not be seen as a setback, but as an opportun...

Urban trees are on the rise but researchers are only starting to uncover the best way to cool cities with them. "The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is today," so the saying goes. Originally published here . Trees have been touted as solutions to many environmental problems, from reducing air pollution to restoring biodiversity. But much planting in cities today is motivated by their potential to mitigate extreme heat. "Most of our signatory cities are reporting extreme heat as their main risk currently, and adding green infrastructure such as trees is one of their key activities to tackle it," says Samie Raichs Tovany, urban heat project officer at C40 Cities, a global network of cities committed to climate action. Nearly half a million people are estimated to die annually from heat-related causes, primarily due to cardiovascular problems . Extra strain is put on the heart as the body tries to cool itself down by circulating large ...