Global: UN funding falls short of global tasks

Governments have tasked the United Nations with a growing number of global mandates, but they have provided it with very few resources to carry out the work, according to this article on Worldwatch Institute's website. 'UN funding is minuscule in contrast with that of other public bodies. The regular budget of the organization - $2.2 billion in 2011 - is less than the total annual spending of the Tokyo Fire Department. The small UN budget is striking in view of the multiplying global crises that need commonly decided international solutions - including climate change, financial instability, resource limits, transborder disease, and poverty.'