Israel’s crime of extermination and acts of genocide in Gaza
19/12/2024: A report by Human Rights Watch alleges that Israeli authorities have intentionally deprived Palestinian civilians in Gaza of adequate access to water since October 2023, most likely resulting in thousands of deaths and thus committing the crime against humanity of extermination and acts of genocide.
Source: Human Rights Watch
How to take back control of UN climate negotiations
18/12/2024: The fingerprints of the fossil fuel industry were all over the Azerbaijan COP, the third repressive petrostate to host UN climate negotiations in as many years. The vulnerabilities of climate diplomacy to climate corruption can no longer be ignored.
Source: Climate Home News
Montana supreme court upholds right to ‘stable climate system’ for youngsters
18/12/2024: Montana's supreme court has upheld a landmark trial court decision last August in favour of 16 young people who said their health and futures were being jeopardized by climate change, which the state aggravates through its permitting of energy projects.
Source: The Guardian
6 good news stories from 2024
17/12/2024: Concern for global development is invariably tested by incessantly difficult news. This year has seen relentless stories of budget cuts and ineffective multilateral negotiations. It’s important to remember that there is good news out there, too.
Source: Devex
UN urges parties to re-engage on Iran nuclear deal
17/12/2024: The UN resolution that established the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, the international agreement on Iran’s nuclear programme, is due to expire in 2025. The UN is concerned at the diplomatic impasse on the breakdown caused by US withdrawal in 2018.
Source: UN News
Philippines struggles to break free from coal despite renewables pledge
16/12/2024: The share of electricity generated by coal in the Philippines rose to 62% in 2023 from 59% in the previous year, despite the country's goal of increasing its renewables’ share to 35% by 2030 and to 50% by 2040. Government and industry groups argue that a diverse energy mix, including coal, is essential to ensure energy security and meet the growing demand for electricity.
Source: Dialogue Earth
Dues owed by US and China undermine UN rights investigations
16/12/2024: The UN has a liquidity crisis thanks to member states not paying their dues, particularly the US and China who together owe $1 billion in regular contributions and another $1 billion for peacekeeping. The lack of liquid funds makes it difficult for UN human rights investigators to fulfill their mandates.
Source: Human Rights Watch
Nations turn to ICJ for clarity on climate accountability
16/12/2024: The International Court of Justice has concluded historic hearings with over 100 participants seeking legal clarity on states’ obligations to combat climate change and address its consequences. These clarifications could lead to new international legal obligations for climate action that emitting countries have to abide by.
Source: Devex
Q&A: US antipersonnel landmine transfers to Ukraine
13/12/2024: The administration of US President Joe Biden has announced the transfer of antipersonnel landmines to Ukraine, reversing a longstanding US prohibition. These transfers break years of incremental steps by the US government to align its policy and practice with the 1997 treaty banning antipersonnel mines.
Source: Human Rights Watch
Opportunities for finance for development at 2025 UN summit
13/12/2024: African policy experts advocate that the continent’s voice and participation should be enhanced at the UN's financing for development conference in Spain, at the end of June 2025. Progress on poverty reduction in Africa has stalled since the last FfD conference in Addis Ababa in 2015.
Source: Devex