Africa should prioritise adaptation over emission cuts
15/11/2024: African governments’ climate action strategies, specifically those submitted under the nationally determined contributions, remain disproportionately focused on emission reductions — an approach that fails to address the most pressing health needs of African communities.
Source: Devex
Brazil guides new global agenda against hunger
15/11/2024: One of the main issues under discussion in the G20 Social Territory in Rio de Janeiro is the Global Alliance proposed by Brazil to fight hunger and poverty. The Alliance is founded on the principle that no country can fight hunger on its own. The Brazilian initiative seeks to unite developed and developing nations in coordinated actions.
Source: G20 Social
WTO confusion over reappointment of Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala
14/11/2024: The chair of the World Trade Organization’s General Council is instigating the reappointment of the incumbent Director-General, without formal approval of the members. Some are concerned at the apparent haste to complete the process before the Trump Administration takes office.
Source: Third World Network
Israel’s crimes against humanity in Gaza
14/11/2024: A new report by Human Rights Watch examines how Israeli authorities’ conduct has led to the displacement of over 90 percent of the population of Gaza and the widespread destruction of homes and civilian infrastructure. The report calls on governments to impose sanctions and halt weapons sales to Israel.
Source: Human Rights Watch
Fears for spread of malaria in Africa through antimicrobial resistance
14/11/2024: Researchers have found that a lifesaving malaria drug is becoming less effective in young African children with serious infections. Antimicrobial resistance is a growing global concern.
Source: The Guardian
‘Show me the money’—Grenada PM calls for climate justice
14/11/2024: Grenada is a tiny island nation in the Caribbean Sea facing heightened vulnerability to climate change. Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell says there is no justification for carbon subsidies in the richest countries.
Source: Inter Press Service
What’s in the way of achieving the SDGs?
14/11/2024: Having passed the halfway point of implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals, serious doubts linger regarding the attainability of these targets. Prominent figures in the global development community share thoughts on the biggest challenge to meeting the SDGs.
Source: Devex
“Extremely urgent”: interview with the head of the Adaptation Fund
12/11/2024: With the Global South hoping that COP29 can bring progress on the $215-387 billion per year needed for climate adaptation, the head of the UN Adaptation Fund, Mikko Ollikainen, discusses prospects for the Baku negotiations.
Source: African Arguments
A climate finance target is only half the battle for Africa
11/11/2024: New analysis finds that, at 15.6%, the average cost of capital for power projects in Africa is triple that of other parts of the world. It is essential to deploy more climate finance as grants, concessional loans and guarantee instruments to lower the cost of capital in low-income counties.
Source: African Arguments
Which 2 African States should get a permanent seat in the Security Council?
10/11/2024: An informal reader survey has favoured South Africa and Nigeria for the two mooted permanent seats on the UN Security Council. The enthusiastic response indicates the growing urgency with which reform of the Security Council is viewed, particularly among developing nations. The choice of which two countries should get seats — if it happens — would have to be made by heads of government at an African Union summit.
Source: PassBlue