This past Thursday, the UNA-Rockies chapter celebrated UN Day with a webinar featuring lightning talks from board members, interns, and volunteers. Each speaker shared insights into their work with the chapter and its efforts to advance the United Nations’ goals. The presentations highlighted the diverse ways UNA-Rockies members contribute to advocacy, humanitarian initiatives, and global engagement, offering both inspiration and valuable perspectives. Below is a summary of each lightning talk, along with a link to the full presentation on our YouTube channel, @UNArockies.

Can the Amazon rainforest be protected while creating economic opportunities for the people who depend on it?

Three CU Boulder researchers will explore how governments, Indigenous Peoples, local communities and businesses can work together to conserve tropical forests, reduce carbon emissions and build sustainable local economies. Drawing on their work with the Governors’ Climate and Forests Task Force, the discussion will highlight practical approaches that combine environmental protection, Indigenous rights and economic prosperity.

From Vik Gopalan: This article explores how impact investing can help close the developing world’s $4 trillion annual Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) financing gap. Drawing on a Colorado Startup Week panel, it examines the evolution of sustainable finance, the tension between long-term global challenges and short-term political and corporate priorities, and the lessons history offers for managing technological change. Ultimately, it argues that lasting progress requires patient capital, stronger institutions, and sustained collaboration among governments, businesses, investors, and civil society.

As audiences increasingly turn to social media platforms and AI tools for information, the institutions that once helped establish a shared understanding of events are under growing pressure. Drawing on Susan Abbott’s experience in international media development and information integrity, this article explores how algorithm-driven feeds, fragmented news consumption and AI-generated content …

Step Into the Room Where Food and War Meet

Eighty seats. One morning. One deal that could feed millions - or fail.

Third Intergenerational Model United Nations  |  Saturday 0800-1330  23 January 2027 

Venue: Academy Mapleton Hill, Grand Hall |  Breakfast & Lunch Provided

Opening Remarks From Mark Udall, Former US Senator

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When governments, corporations and technology platforms shape our information, how do we protect responsible journalism without suppressing political criticism? University of Colorado’s Professor Susan Abbott’s talk on information resilience raises questions about who controls the news, who pays for independent reporting and who gets to decide what the public should believe.

Same mission. A bigger horizon.

We’re excited to announce that the United Nations Association Boulder County is now United Nations Association Rockies to grow our statewide impact.

So welcome to UNA Rockies! Together, we can make a difference from Colorado to the world.

From the delicate shadows of autumn leaves to the long and tender work of rebuilding after the Marshall Fire, children have their own understanding of the places they call home. For seventeen years, Mara Mintzer and Growing Up Boulder have helped bring their experiences and imaginations into the decisions shaping their community, honoring the voices of a generation that will one day inherit its future.

Celebrate locally. Think globally. Join the United Nations Association of Boulder for an inspiring celebration of the United Nations and the people making a difference locally and globally.

To mark UN Day, we’re bringing together our board members, interns, volunteers, and special guests for an online UN Day Lightning Talk Programme, featuring short presentations on international development, community engagement, sustainability, innovation, and the future of the United Nations.

An initial report on the need for reliable drinking water in Kagola, Siaya County — and an invitation to help find a sustainable solution. A community in need of reliable water In Kagola, within the Sakwa Kapiyo area of Bondo, Siaya County, Kenya, access to fresh drinking water remains a daily challenge for local residents…

Whether you're a founder scaling a company in Denver, an engineer coding in Boulder, or an investor allocating capital across the Front Range, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by today’s AI hype cycle. But innovation isn't just about build speed—it's about real-world impact. Colorado has quietly become a premier hub for global…

Imagine a United Nations in which fewer resources are spent on administration, programmes are judged by results rather than the number of meetings held, and peacekeeping missions have clear objectives, proper oversight and a realistic strategy for eventually withdrawing…

There is a familiar response whenever the United Nations comes under criticism: without the UN, the world would be a more dangerous place. That is probably true. But it is not an answer to allegations of waste, misconduct or institutional failure…

Sea cucumbers are an often overlooked marine animal. They help vacuum and redistribute sand, protect coral reefs, recycle nutrients, and filter water. They also support the health of other organisms in the ecosystem, such as emperor shrimp, pearl fish, and especially coral reefs, as the cucumber contributes to reef health and fertilization. However, mass overfishing and the black market surrounding this integral creature have led to a shift in and out of water. The keystone species and their high demand in luxury food markets have introduced challenges for sustainable development, illegal trafficking, and international cooperation.

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The United Nations is under attack. At least, that is how much of the current debate is presented. President Donald Trump's decision to withdraw American support from dozens of international organizations has prompted warnings that he is dismantling the international order the United States helped build in 1945…

Perhaps the most important question emerging from this year's United Nations debate over artificial intelligence is not whether AI needs rules. A remarkable number of governments now appear to accept that some form of international governance will be necessary.