The Mekong delta’s transboundary water problems
30/4/2022: The fragmentation of the Mekong River due to the construction of large-scale hydropower dams illustrates the inability of downstream states to shape the Mekong Agreement of 1995 into regional aims, rather than centred around national interests. The Mekong River is the lifeblood of countries in the region .
Source: East Asia Forum
2022 Global report on food crisis
4/5/2022: The 2022 annual report of the Global Network Against Food Crises indicates alarming increases in the number of people in the most severe phases of acute food insecurity, recording unprecedented levels of hunger worldwide.
Source: Global Network Against Food Crises
New UN plan to accelerate clean energy access for all
4/5/2022: A new UN-Energy Plan of Action sets out a framework for facilitating electricity access for 500 million people, as well as clean cooking solutions for one billion. The commitments will drive forward action to ensure that all people have access to clean and affordable energy, in line with the Sustainable Development Goals.
Source: UN News
DR Congo ready to auction oil blocks in tropical peatland
3/5/2022: The planned tender for new oil blocks in the Democratic Republic of Congo comes amid serious concerns over the government’s commitment to climate-friendly development. At least three of 16 oil blocks overlap with the world’s largest tropical peatland complex.
Source: Climate Home News
Russian censorship denounced on World Press Freedom Day
3/5/2022: The World Press Freedom Index reveals the dangers that journalists endure in reporting world events, in the face of increasing authoritarianism. Russia stands out over the Kremlin's wartime censorship of the Ukraine conflict.
Source: DW
This is the moment to reset our multilateral institutions
28/4/2022: In the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, The UN has warned that over 100 countries face risks relating to food, energy, and finance. Mark Malloch-Brown argues that the world’s most prosperous countries must use this moment to transform our multilateral institutions.
Source: Devex
UN funding appeal for mass displacement from Ukraine
26/4/2022: The UN Refugee Agency has launched an appeal for $1.85 billion to support a projected 8.3 million refugees in countries neighbouring Ukraine. The war has uprooted more than 12.7 million people in the past two months alone – of whom 7.7 million remain displaced inside the country.
Source: UN Refugee Agency
UN calls for urgent action amid soaring deaths at sea
29/4/2022: More than 3,000 people died or went missing in 2021 while attempting to cross the Central and Western Mediterranean and Atlantic to Europe. This is almost double the comparable figure for 2020.
Source: UN Refugee Agency
UN fears UK legislation will undermine refugee protection
27/4/2022: The Nationality and Borders Bill approved by the UK Parliament will relegate the status of refugees, according to the head of the UN Refugee Agency. Filippo Grandi warns that the potential to deny refugees their right to seek asylum in the UK is potentially at variance with the Refugee Convention.
Source: UN Refugee Agency
Relief for Zambia as China joins its debt resolution
29/4/2022: Zambia’s push for a resolution to its debt crisis received a major lift after China committed to join international efforts to restructure Lusaka’s debt. Beijing has emerged as the largest lender for most African countries and Zambia’s situation may be the first of many debt crises to be resolved.
Source: The East African