Seven billion people will inhabit the earth on 31 October.

This year's State of World Population report, People and Possibilities in a World of 7 Billion, looks at the the dynamics behind the numbers. It explains the trends that are defining our world of 7 billion and documents actions that people in vastly different countries and circumstances are taking in their own communities to make the most of their--and our--world.

The report makes the case for sound planning and investing in people.

This joint World Bank-United Nations report shows how preventive measures can lower vulnerability to natural hazards such as earthquakes, storms, floods and droughts. The report estimates that the number of people exposed to storms and earthquakes in large cities could double to 1.5 billion by 2050.

Damages from disasters can be catastrophic, as the world is witnessing now in the tragic aftermath of Japan’s earthquake and tsunami. According to the report, by 2100, even without climate change, damages from weather-related hazards may triple to US$185 billion annually and factoring in climate change could push costs even higher. In the case of tropical cyclones it would add another US$28-68 billion. But the report argues that much can be done to reduce the toll from such hazards—even in the face of increased risk from climate change.

This report is the third report of the MDG Gap Task Force which tracks international cooperation efforts, measuring them against commitments, and offers recommendations on how, by placing development at centre stage, to strengthen the global partnership and thereby achieve a more balanced and sustainable growth of the world economy.

This manual outlines mechanisms that can be used in Parliaments to increase and improve engagement with the MDGs, highlights examples of best practice in the way that different Parliaments have made the MDGs a central part of their work, and provides practical advice on how to effectively implement some legislative mechanisms to utilize the MDGs. In addition, this handbook outlines specific ways in which Parliaments can engage with the MDGs through four of the core functions of any Parliament: Legislative; Oversight; Scrutinizing the national budget; and Representation.

This manual outlines mechanisms that can be used in Parliaments to increase and improve engagement with the MDGs, highlights examples of best practice in the way that different Parliaments have made the MDGs a central part of their work, and provides practical advice on how to effectively implement some legislative mechanisms to utilize the MDGs. In addition, this handbook outlines specific ways in which Parliaments can engage with the MDGs through four of the core functions of any Parliament: Legislative; Oversight; Scrutinizing the national budget; and Representation.

This booklet explains how the MDGs and human rights have common objectives which are to preserve and protect human dignity. While there are many different contributors to poverty, injustice and discrimination are omnipresent and always constitute a denial of human rights. It is for this reason that there are extensive direct linkages between human rights provisions and the MDGs. For each Goal there are often corresponding human rights obligations, standards or norms. Beyond the direct links, there are significant complementarities between the MDGs and human rights obligations.

This report describes how climate change can be a threat and an opportunity for the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). It analyses in detail the linkages between climate change and its impact on the achievement of the MDGs. Recommendations are drawn which combine measures to achieve the MDGs through enforcing political will on funding and promoting adaptation and mitigation programs which in turn become a win-win solution for both climate change and development.

This handbook aims to bridge the gap between citizens and constitutions in developing countries, using the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) as an entry point to ensure the basic rights of the poor and excluded are recognized and met. It also indentifies concrete legal options and action points to protect and enforce the constitution and rights of marginalized and vulnerable populations. This handbook is an abridged version of the forthcoming publication: The MDGs Through Socio-economic Rights: Constitution Making and Implementation, which is envisaged as an advocacy tool for parliamentarians, legislators and citizen groups to promote the MDGs as human rights during national constitution-making and constitutional reform processes.