Global South slams proposal for $250bn climate finance goal
22/11/2024: The draft text for the post-2025 climate finance goal offers a core $250 billion a year by 2035, far below what developing country groups have been asking for in the three years of talks. This new public finance target would contribute to a wider goal of at least $1.3 trillion a year by 2035 “from all public and private sources”.
Source: Climate Home News
World Food Programme reports worsening global food security
22/11/2024: According to the Global Outlook 2025 published by the World Food Programme, hunger continues to rise, with 343 million people across 74 countries experiencing acute food insecurity – a 10 per cent increase from last year. Funding shortfalls in 2024 forced the agency to scale back activities, often leaving some of the most vulnerable behind.
Source: UN News
A quarter of DRC population continue to face hunger
21/11/2024: There are 25.6 million people who continue to face crisis or emergency levels of food insecurity in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, according to latest reports. The World Food Programme faces a critical funding gap of US$350 million over the next six months to provide essential food and nutrition assistance to the most vulnerable people.
Source: World Food Programme
Conflict zones grow by two thirds globally since 2021
21/11/2024: Conflict-affected areas across the world have grown 65% since 2021 to encompass 4.6% of the entire global landmass, up from 2.8% three years ago, according to the Conflict Intensity Index. The Middle East and Ukraine remain the most intense theatres of war. However, Africa’s ‘conflict corridor,’ which now spans 4,000 miles from Mali in the west to Somalia in the east, has doubled in size since 2021.
Source: Verisk Maplecroft
Palestine: ICC warrants revive hope for long-delayed justice
21/11/2024: The International Criminal Court has issued arrest warrants against senior Israeli leaders and a Hamas official, despite strong opposition. Israel has signed but not ratified the ICC treaty.
Source: Human Rights Watch
Proposed US landmine transfers gravely threaten civilians
20/11/2024: The Biden administration’s decision to transfer antipersonnel landmines to Ukraine has been criticised by Human Rights Watch. A majority of the world’s countries rejected landmines decades ago due to their indiscriminate nature. Russia has used antipersonnel landmines widely in Ukraine since its full-scale invasion in 2022.
Source: Human Rights Watch
Hong Kong: 45 democracy advocates harshly sentenced
20/11/2024: A Hong Kong court has harshly sentenced 45 prominent pro-democracy figures for involvement in elections for the then-semi-democratic Legislative Council. The Chinese and Hong Kong governments’ crackdown on the democracy movement violates obligations enshrined in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
Source: Human Rights Watch
New landmine casualties show need to support Mine Ban Treaty
20/11/2024: The international treaty banning antipersonnel landmines is weakened by the actions of countries such as Russia and Myanmar that are not parties, according to the Landmine Monitor 2024 report. A total of 164 countries have joined the treaty, including all NATO members except the United States.
Source: Human Rights Watch
G20 leaders have agreed: It’s time to tax the rich
20/11/2024: A proposal to tax billionaires is a key feature of the G20 Leaders' Declaration in Rio de Janeiro. It is not yet clear who would be targeted with that tax, what the tax rate would be, or where any additional tax revenue would go. But the hope is that the cash could be channeled toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, especially as they relate to climate change.
Source: Devex
Big Pharma not moving fast enough to deliver access
19/11/2024: The latest version of the Access to Medicine Index ranks 20 of the world’s leading pharmaceutical companies based on how they prioritize access to people in low- and middle-income countries. It finds that while efforts to improve access have accelerated, companies are still not moving fast enough.
Source: Devex