Despite all our technological advances, we depend entirely on a healthy and vibrant ecosystem for our water, food, shelter, and energy. Respecting, protecting, and repairing our biological wealth is essential to ensure a habitable ecosystem.

This International Day for Biological Diversity, the theme, Harmony with nature and sustainable development, connects protecting biodiversity with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), showing that both agendas must advance together as they support one another.

The United Nations observes World Water Day on March 22nd. The day highlights the importance of freshwater and promotes sustainable management of our water resources. This year, the theme is Glacier preservation. Glaciers are the largest reservoirs of freshwater and are a crucial part of our water conservation efforts.

Every year on February 11, the United Nations observes the International Day of Women and Girls in Science. This year marks the 10th anniversary of the day, and the theme is ‘Unpacking STEM Careers: Her Voice in Science’.

Child mortality is a leading cause of concern in many developing countries. Lack of necessary healthcare facilities has resulted in children's death due to infectious diseases such as pneumonia, diarrhoea and other complications related to preterm birth. However, most of these diseases are avoidable with inexpensive interventions like appropriate nutrition, breastfeeding and vaccination. A recent study, led by researchers from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, USA, and involving researchers from the UK, Switzerland, Canada and India, has provided some insights into how well India has fared in reducing child mortality. The study provides estimates of child mortality at a national, regional and state level in India and is published in the journal The Lancet Global Health.

Across many countries in the world, people from an economically backward background struggle to get adequate medical care. As a part of its Sustainability and development goals for 2015 the United Nations has declared ensuring “healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages”. This target of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) aims to ensure accessibility to quality health care services by the year 2030. With 13 years to go, an international team of scientists explores how this goal can be achieved in five South Asian countries.