Staggering cost of invasive species worldwide revealed
30/9/2023: Scientists estimate that each year sees another 200 invasive species become established worldwide, rising in their cost by 400% each decade. A new report has advised a shift in focus to prevention of the establishment of alien species, avoiding expensive eradication programmes.
Source: BirdGuides
EU Commission ignores Tunisia’s abuses against migrants
28/9/2023: The European Union Commission has announced it will go ahead with a controversial deal that pledges financial support to Tunisia, effectively in exchange for preventing boats carrying migrants and asylum seekers from departing for Europe. The release of 67 million euros has been agreed despite an absence of any specific human rights guarantees.
Source: Human Rights Watch
Ministers fail to progress loss and damage talks
28/9/2023: The creation of a loss and damage fund to help countries rebuild after climate disasters was agreed by world leaders at COP 27 last year. A high level meeting was held at the UN on Sept. 22, designed to encourage compromise on key differences around the fund’s design, resulted only in governments repeating their established positions.
Source: Devex
New map reveals state-sanctioned violence against protesters
19/9/2023: Authorities across the world are increasingly resorting to unlawful use of force and repressive legislation to crush protests, according to Amnesty International. Its new interactive map charts the numerous human rights violations perpetrated against protesters around the world.
Source: Amnesty International
Ratification of high seas treaty receives boost at UNGA
22/9/23: Seventy-six countries and the European Union have now signed the high seas treaty, a significant step forward to protect marine biodiversity in international waters. Once 60 nations have ratified it, the treaty will finally come into force.
Source: Mongabay
Rich countries ‘confident’ $100bn climate finance delivered in 2023
19/9/2023: Ministers from richer countries believe that their $100 billion a year climate finance promise will be met in 2023, but not confirmed until 2025 at the earliest. The delay means governments will go into Cop28 and Cop29 without assurance that the goal has been met, doing nothing to ease tensions between developed and developing countries.
Source: Climate Home News
“Consensus” emerges ahead of vote on global tax cooperation
21/9/2023: A debate at the UN General Assembly has taken a step towards a vote on establishing a UN tax convention, heralded as the best chance to avert losing nearly $5 trillion to tax havens over the next decade. Notably silent on the matter were the US, EU and the UK.
Source: Tax Justice Network
Rice export bans are a food crisis risk for Asia
19/9/2023: Global rice prices have risen to a 12-year high since India, the world’s largest rice exporter, embarked on a policy of reducing exports. Across Asia, nations are attempting to control the cereal grain’s prices, sowing the seeds of a potential food crisis
Source: CNA
Over 4 million Venezuelan refugees and migrants need support
12/9/2023: Vast numbers of migrants and refugees from Venezuela continue to face difficulties accessing food, shelter, health care, education and formal employment across Latin America and the Caribbean. Many are at risk of human trafficking, forced recruitment and gender-based violence.
Source: UN Refugee Agency
Multiple shocks push world further away from SDGs
15/9/2023: Halfway into the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, progress towards its food and agriculture targets has stagnated or reversed, compounding the challenges in eradicating poverty and hunger, according to a new report by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization. The lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, the impact of armed conflicts around the world, and the escalating effects of the climate crisis are largely to blame.
Source: UN Food And Agriculture Organization