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The Lid is On

The Lid is On

United Nations 100 Episodes Mar 23, 2026

This flagship podcast series from UN News takes its name from the words that correspondents at UN Headquarters in New York hear each night, at the end of the working day. We highlight the in-depth human stories behind the UN’s work and the way that it touches and impacts ordinary lives around the world.

Episodes

A city with a global vision: New York, the United Nations, and the post-war dream of peace
A city with a global vision: New York, the United Nations, and the post-war dream of peace Mar 23, 2026 1527 The post Second World war dream of global peace which brought countries from around the world together at the United Nations continues to resonate as the UN marks 80 years of its existence in New York City.It was never set in stone that the organization would find its permanent home in New York as it was competing with other locations in the United States to host the world body.The UN eventually o
Young leaders expand the circles of peace
Young leaders expand the circles of peace Dec 20, 2025 1605 2025 marks the 10th anniversary of one of the most significant resolutions on youth and peace ever adopted by the UN Security Council.Resolution 2250 led to widespread changes in the ways that the voices of young people are not just heard but also incorporated into peace plans and policies.In this episode of our flagship podcast, The Lid is On, Conor Lennon speaks to some of the young leaders who
PODCAST: Turning climate stories into climate action
PODCAST: Turning climate stories into climate action Oct 31, 2025 555 Storytelling has the power to inspire action, and when celebrities and influencers use their platforms for climate advocacy, the impact can reach audiences across the globe.In September at UN Headquarters in New York, actor and UNDP Goodwill Ambassador Nikolaj Coster-Waldau shared his experiences of visiting UN Development Programme (UNDP) initiatives for his Bloomberg TV series, An Optimist’s Gui
PODCAST: Space exploration is ‘not a luxury’ but essential for life on Earth
PODCAST: Space exploration is ‘not a luxury’ but essential for life on Earth Oct 29, 2025 1228 Space exploration and the use of space technology is becoming an increasingly critical part of the global economy, but how can the world ensure its benefits are felt, not just in the developed world but also in poorer and less technologically advanced developing countries?The UN Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) was established for that exact reason and more particularly to accelerate sustai
The unstoppable rise of renewables
The unstoppable rise of renewables Oct 24, 2025 648 Wind and solar energy are now the cheapest sources of energy, bringing cleaner air, stronger communities, and new economic opportunities. In September at UN Headquarters in New York, the SDG Media Zone hosted a discussion highlighting the momentum of the clean energy transition, and how expanding access to wind and solar can improve public health, create jobs, and accelerate economic growth.T
PODCAST: The truth is out there
PODCAST: The truth is out there Oct 17, 2025 585 Too often, coordinated misinformation campaigns are amplified and monetized via digital advertising, hampering efforts to address the climate crisis.In the lead up to the November COP30 UN Climate Conference in Belém Brazil, the SDG Media Zone turned the spotlight on this pressing challenge, bringing together UN Senior Adviser on Information Integrity, Charlotte Scaddan; Jacob
‘Time running out to locate Syria’s missing’, warns head of UN-backed body
‘Time running out to locate Syria’s missing’, warns head of UN-backed body Oct 8, 2025 1100 At UN Headquarters in New York, Karla Quintana, head of the Independent Institution on Missing Persons in Syria (IIMP), has warned that time is running out to find the hundreds of thousands who disappeared during the country’s long conflict. “Everyone in Syria knows someone who has gone missing,” Ms. Quintana told UN News.In conversation with Ezzat El-Ferri, she underscored that the search must be
Dominica’s Digital Transformation
Dominica’s Digital Transformation Sep 26, 2025 Like many island economies, Dominica experiences high youth unemployment, and recent events, in particular Hurricane Maria and the COVID-19 pandemic, have combined to make the search for work even harder.A UN-backed initiative designed to improve the employment options for young Dominicans, Work Online Dominica, has been successful in helping them to overcome the barriers they face on a small, rem
Trinidad’s young climate activists make the case for urgent action
Trinidad’s young climate activists make the case for urgent action Sep 26, 2025 1566 Caribbean island nations are vulnerable to a host of extreme weather events, from hurricanes to floods and droughts, that are becoming more dangerous and intense as a result of the climate emergency.UN News met with three of the most prominent young climate activists on Trinidad & Tobago, and learned of their frustration with current environmental legislation, and what they are doing to r
Geothermal promises to turn Dominica into a clean energy powerhouse
Geothermal promises to turn Dominica into a clean energy powerhouse Sep 26, 2025 1061 Dominica may have found a solution to cover all of its electricity needs, and even sell electricity abroad, without burning fossil fuels: geothermal energy. This power source is 100 per cent clean, cheap and practically limitless.Conor Lennon from UN News meets Vince Henderson, Dominica’s Minister for Economic Development and Sustainable Energy, and Fred John, CEO of the Dominica Geothermal D
Trinidad fights back against a plastic invasion
Trinidad fights back against a plastic invasion Sep 26, 2025 1261 Small Island Developing States are particularly vulnerable to plastic pollution. As well as coping with a tsunami of waste washes up on their beaches every day, these countries – which are generally highly dependent on imports – generate a large amount of plastic waste of their own, and often struggle to manage it.Plastic pollution has a detrimental effect on the health and livelihoods of people l
WATCH: Peace and reconciliation in Kosovo ‘starts with youth’
WATCH: Peace and reconciliation in Kosovo ‘starts with youth’ Sep 26, 2025 1119 In Kosovo, where tensions remain high between the ethnic Albanian and ethnic Serb communities, the United Nations is leading efforts to promote open communication and dialogue.The UN Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) was established in 1999, well before the declaration of independence in 2008, and today plays a central role in promoting peace and security, and respect for human rights, in a region where m

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