It’s time for the US to ban cluster munitions
19/9/2022: Evidence suggests that both sides in the Ukraine war have deployed cluster bombs. Global pressure to ban the production of these weapons would increase if the US would join the UN Convention on Cluster Munitions.
Source: Human Rights Watch
UN chief links windfall profits to climate loss and damage
21/9/2022: UN secretary general António Guterres has called on developed economies to tax the windfall profits of oil and gas companies, in part to support poorer countries suffering loss and damage caused by the climate crisis. Wealthy nations have remained conspicuously silent on how to finance extreme climate impacts.
Source: Climate Home News
Towards a more secure future through effective multilateralism
21/9/2022: As the 77th General Assembly session gets under way, the co-Chair of the UN's High-Level Advisory Board on Effective Multilateralism reviews the challenge of improving international cooperation.
Source: Inter Press Service
Creative financing aims to revive global education goals
19/9/2022: Globally, only 1 in 3 10-year-olds are estimated to be able to read, a 50% decrease from pre-pandemic levels. The International Finance Facility for Education aims to increase education funding in low- to middle-income countries through low-interest loans from multilateral development banks.
Source: Devex
One-third of China’s land protected under ecological scheme
19/9/2022: Nearly a third of China's land is now off-limits to development, bringing the country in accord with global biodiversity targets. Critics say the enforcement of the scheme has remained uneven.
Source: CNA
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