Poorer countries demand global tax to pay for climate damage
19/9/2022: Low income countries have submitted proposals for a world global carbon tax for discussion at the UN General Assembly. Options for taxation include air and shipping transport and financial transactions. Richer countries have acknowledged the need for a framework for climate loss and damage.
Source: The Guardian
EU seeks to ban imports of deforestation-linked commodities
15/9/2022: The European Parliament has approved a bill that would block imported commodities sourced from deforested areas. Experts believe that a central objective is to address the deforestation of the Amazon to produce beef, soy and timber.
Source: Mongabay
Annual report of UN Secretary-General
15/9/2022: António Guterres records that the past year has been one of deep and interlocking crises that are growing in scale and severity, making the work of the UN more vital than ever. His Annual Report includes analysis of expenditure on the UN's eight priority areas of work in 2021.
Source: UN News
Let’s fight to end AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria
15/9/2022: New data reveals a global faltering response to HIV. In 2021 there were 1.5 million new infections—over one million more than the global target. A successful replenishment of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria is vital.
Source: Inter Press Service
The end of the COVID-19 pandemic is in sight
14/9/2022: As the number of weekly reported deaths from COVID-19 plunged to its lowest since March 2020, the head of the World Health Organization has said that the end of the pandemic is now in sight. Governments are advised to continue vaccination of most at-risk groups.
Source: UN News
Pakistan floods highlight flaws in concept of climate adaptation
14/9/2022: The scale of devastation in Pakistan challenges the notion of “adaptation” as a core strategic response to climate change. Additional provision for “loss and damage” can help but the real urgency is to limit the degree of climate change.
Source: Inter Press Service
Rwanda will remain open to asylum seekers and refugees
14/9/2022: Rwanda’s High Commissioner to the UK argues that the country has a decades-long track record of hosting refugees and asylum seekers, in accordance with international law. It is ready to implement the controversial agreement for onward transfer of migrants from the UK.
Source: The East African
China rallies support over Xinjiang report
14/9/2022: In a statement backed by 20 other countries, China has attacked a UN report on alleged abuses in Xinjiang. The current session of the Human Rights Council is mulling a possible historic motion against China.
Source: CNA
Catastrophic hunger warnings in Somalia
13/9/2022: UN food agencies continue to warn that famine will occur in Somalia within the next few weeks, without immediate funding to help vulnerable communities. More than 513,000 children are at risk of dying.
Source: UN News
Six megatrends shaping African food systems
9/9/2022: The 2022 Africa Agriculture Status Report, published by AGRA, urges African governments to proactively respond to six major demographic, economic, environmental, and social megatrends. The report estimates that governments need to invest between $40 billion and $77 billion a year to sustain agrifood transformation on the continent.
Source: Devex