Pakistan floods highlight flaws in concept of climate adaptation
14/9/2022: The scale of devastation in Pakistan challenges the notion of “adaptation” as a core strategic response to climate change. Additional provision for “loss and damage” can help but the real urgency is to limit the degree of climate change.
Source: Inter Press Service
Rwanda will remain open to asylum seekers and refugees
14/9/2022: Rwanda’s High Commissioner to the UK argues that the country has a decades-long track record of hosting refugees and asylum seekers, in accordance with international law. It is ready to implement the controversial agreement for onward transfer of migrants from the UK.
Source: The East African
China rallies support over Xinjiang report
14/9/2022: In a statement backed by 20 other countries, China has attacked a UN report on alleged abuses in Xinjiang. The current session of the Human Rights Council is mulling a possible historic motion against China.
Source: CNA
Catastrophic hunger warnings in Somalia
13/9/2022: UN food agencies continue to warn that famine will occur in Somalia within the next few weeks, without immediate funding to help vulnerable communities. More than 513,000 children are at risk of dying.
Source: UN News
Six megatrends shaping African food systems
9/9/2022: The 2022 Africa Agriculture Status Report, published by AGRA, urges African governments to proactively respond to six major demographic, economic, environmental, and social megatrends. The report estimates that governments need to invest between $40 billion and $77 billion a year to sustain agrifood transformation on the continent.
Source: Devex
50 million people in modern slavery
12/9/2022: UN agencies report that 50 million people were living in modern slavery in 2021, an increase of 10 million since 2016. More than half of all forced labour and a quarter of all forced marriages can be found in upper-middle income or high-income countries.
Source: UN News
Uganda pays first $65m to DRC as war reparations
12/9/2022: Uganda has implemented a ruling made earlier this year by the International Court of Justice. The Court ordered the country to pay $325 million to DR Congo for loss of lives, looting and property damage during the invasion by the Uganda People’s Defence Forces more than 20 years ago.
Source: The East African
Warming above 1.5C could trigger multiple tipping points
8/9/2022: New research raises concerns about temperature-related tipping points that can trigger large-scale and potentially irreversible changes in the Earth system. It finds that five tipping elements are already within reach.
Source: Carbon Brief
Tigray forces open to African Union peace talks
12/9/2022: After two years of fighting government forces, Ethiopia's Tigray leadership has expressed interest in a peace process led by the African Union. The Ethiopian government has said that it is willing to come to the table without preconditions.
Source: DW
Re-invigorating the international trade system
8/9/2022: The US/China tariff war would not be allowed under a more functional international trade system. Unilateral policies such as ‘America First’ are unfair and detrimental to other countries. Members of the World Trade Organization must restore an effective dispute settlement mechanism.
Source: East Asia Forum