War, climate change-induced disasters and economic crises have made 2022 a year that many will be happy to leave behind.
But while it was marked by hardship and suffering, it has also brought times that we’ll want to remember.
From the growth of the human family to the expansion of our enumerated rights, we are reminded that even in the midst of struggle, we can find cause for celebration, awe or gratitude.
Before we put 2022 in the rear view, here are 11 snapshots of the year that was.
Psst! Did you know you have a right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment? Recognizing that a healthy Earth is prerequisite for the enjoyment of all other rights, the UN General Assembly made it official in July 2022. The new universal human right represents a powerful new weapon against climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution.
Fisherwoman Salama Nasser repairs her nets in Aden, Yemen. With support from UNDP, Salama purchased a fishing boat and now supports her family with the income. To underscore the importance of small-scale fishing for livelihoods, food systems, culture and the environment, the United Nations declared 2022 the International Year of Artisanal Fisheries.
In 2022, UNDP marked 30 years of action against the brutality of landmines. Mine action began 1992 in Cambodia. In the three decades since, UNDP and its partners have supported over 50 countries to tackle the challenges posed by landmines and other explosive remnants of war. In Lebanon, we work with the Lebanon Mine Action Centre to release contaminated land so it can be put to productive use. So far over 5 million people have benefited from these activities.
Incredibly, landmines are still being used today, including in Ukraine. The Russian invasion in February marked a dangerous return of conventional war in Europe. The result is devasted communities and immense human suffering. Using early socio-economic assessments, UNDP is working to support the government’s emergency response, its commitment to public services and to keeping the economy running.
The impacts of the war in Ukraine extend far beyond the country’s borders. Six thousand kilometres away, farmer S.M. Pradeepa Nilmini tends her crops, determined to provide for her family. The Ukraine war has deepened an existing economic crisis in Sri Lanka, putting the country at risk of default. In a world made more fragile by COVID-19, the war is one of the key factors pushing hundreds of millions into poverty and driving a global food security and cost-of-living crisis.
The June earthquake in south-eastern Afghanistan dealt another blow to a country already facing cascading humanitarian and economic crises. Under the ABADEI programme, UNDP mobilized US$2.8 million to reach at least 5,000 families with cash, water and sanitation, shelter and health care. Working with other UN agencies and partners, UNDP has focused on rebuilding homes, hospitals and schools through cash-for-work initiatives and helping local businesses resume operations.
Pakistan is in a flood basin, so Pakistanis are used to floods. But this year was different. The country received three to five times its 30-year average rainfall. At the height of the storm, one third of the country was under water. Nearly 1,700 people have died, and 33 million are affected across 84 districts, including 8 million people forced to leave their homes. Coming on the heels of a punishing heatwave in South Asia, the flooding made clear the toll of climate change, adding urgency to the discussions at the UN Climate Change Conference, COP27.
When Boko Haram insurgents swept through Ngarannam in 2015, the small town in northeastern Nigeria was completely abandoned. Residents fled to displacement camps and dreamed of the day they could return home. For some that day came in 2022. The Government of Nigeria, in collaboration with UNDP, is rebuilding eight communities across the northeast. In Ngarannam, the displaced villagers led the design process, working closely with renowned Nigerian architect Tosin Oshinowo.
Frankie the Dino made a splash during his first visit to Africa. En route to COP27 in Egypt, UNDP’s Utahraptor climate champion stopped by Kigali, Rwanda to connect with youth leaders from around the continent. After addressing the YouthConnekt Africa Summit, Frankie visited schools and youth centres to further spread the message for urgent climate action and to engage with young people who are leading the charge. The trip to Rwanda left Frankie even more energized to speak out for fossil fuel subsidy reform as a critical step to secure the future for youth and for all the Dino's human friends.
In November, according to the best estimates, the world’s 8 billionth human came into the world. Beyond being a joyful occasion for their family, this population milestone is a symbol of the remarkable advancements in health that have dramatically reduced maternal and child mortality rates.
The arrival of human #8,000,000,000 is a time for us to reflect on what kind of world they — and those who follow — will be born into. We now have 8 billion reasons to fight harder to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals and build a just, green and equitable future for every human.
© 2026 United Nations Development Programme
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