The first step toward world peace: fix the UN
27/10/2023: The inability of the Security Council to uphold the UN Charter has been exposed as never before in its impotence to respond to the wars in Ukraine and Gaza. These crises should have been recognised as a catalytic opportunity for a majority of the 193 member countries to pursue reform.
Source: Policy Magazine
Wars are closing down the window for climate action
1/11/2023: There are increasingly explicit examples of how military aid to Ukraine and Israel is sourced from funds earmarked for climate finance to low income countries. Research suggests that NATO commitments to military spending are enough to pay for the rich world’s promised $100 billion a year of climate finance several times over.
Source: Climate Home News
Does overseas aid reduce migration? It’s complicated
3/11/2023: A new study published by the Kiel Institute for the World Economy in Germany argues that foreign aid aimed at reducing unauthorized migration from lower-income countries can be highly effective development policy. But the study warns leaders of donor countries that positive results will be constrained especially from the most "fragile” countries of sub-Saharan Africa.
Source: Devex
Saleemul Huq: ensuring climate-vulnerable nations are heard
2/11/2023: There has been a flood of tributes celebrating the life’s work of climate scientist Saleemul Huq who has died. The Bangladeshi-British scientist attended every one of the 27 annual UN COP climate summits, establishing his role as a leading advocate for the rights of climate-vulnerable countries.
Source: Devex
Democracy ‘in trouble’ across the world
2/11/2023: Nearly half the countries across the world are seeing a decline in the robustness of their democracy, according to the Stockholm-based International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance. Several established democracies including Austria, Hungary, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal and the UK are deteriorating.
Source: DW
Mass exodus of Afghans as deadline to leave Pakistan expires
1/11/2023: Hundreds of thousands of Afghans living in Pakistan face detention and deportation as the government's November 1st deadline for them to leave expires. More than 140,000 people have left Pakistan since the start of October.
Source: CNA
Biden to strike off Uganda from AGOA trade terms
31/10/2023: US President Biden intends to remove Uganda's eligibility for the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), alongside Gabon, Niger and the Central African Republic, on account of their human rights records. He said that the enactment of Uganda’s Anti-Homosexuality Act is a violation of universal human rights.
Source: The East African
Green hydrogen: Africa’s can break the extractive dynamic
25/10/2023: Several European governments are exploring agreements with African countries to produce green hydrogen through huge renewable energy farms. These agreements should be conditional on action to offset energy poverty on the continent, where 600 million people lack access to electricity.
Source: African Arguments
Is debt restructuring the magic wand for Africa?
23/10/2023: The recent annual meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank returned to Africa after 50 years but only Zambia emerged with a debt relief package, among ten countries on the continent that are in debt distress. The charity ActionAid is calling for change that prioritises development over debt repayments, shifting away from austerity and fiscal fundamentalism.
Source: The East African
Loss and Damage Committee fails to reach consensus
20/10/2023: Negotiators preparing for COP28 in December have failed to reach consensus on recommendations for addressing loss and damage from climate impacts. The Committee will reassemble for an extra-ordinary session in early November to try to reach agreement prior to the COP28 summit.
Source: World Resources Institute