UNGA78: ‘Action is what the world needs’ – UN chief
13/9/2023: The UN Secretary-General has given a clear message for the gathering of 193 Member States for the UN General Assembly opening in New York: “This is not a time for posturing or positioning.” He laid out the stall for next week’s key summits, on climate, investment for development, health challenges and specific regional crises.
Source: UN News
G20 admits African Union as permanent member
9/9/2023: The African Union was made a permanent member of the G20, comprising the world's richest and most powerful countries, at the recent summit in New Delhi. The African Union, a continental body of 55 member states, now has the same status as the European Union.
Source: CNA
More leadership needed from G20 countries
9/9/2023: In response to the G20 New Delhi Leaders’ Declaration, the World Resources Institute warns that these countries must shift more rapidly away from fossil fuels - and do more to address the severe lack of finance and debt crises that climate-vulnerable countries face.
Source: World Resources Institute
Major study warns of growing threat from invasive species
6/9/2023: The new global deal for nature agreed at COP15 in Montreal last year includes a target to reduce the rate of introduction and establishment of invasive alien species by at least 50% by 2030. But a major new report by IPBES warns that the impacts of invasive species are set to worsen through international trade, climate change and other human activities.
Source: China Dialogue
A wolf in sheep’s clothing: why Africa should shun carbon markets
7/9/2023: There is increasing hype and push for so-called voluntary carbon markets in Africa. For global corporations, purchasing credits is the cheapest way to avoid real cuts in emissions and continue business as usual. Since carbon markets were started more than two decades ago, there’s a large body of evidence showing offsetting schemes mean insecurity and land grabs for local communities
Source: Climate Home News
Africa’s inaugural climate summit ends with mixed reviews
8/9/2023: Africa’s first climate summit has ended with the adoption of the Nairobi Declaration, which calls for new global taxes to fund climate change action, an increase in Africa’s renewable generation capacity, and a new debt relief architecture. However, civil society organizations criticized the declaration for promoting false solutions such as carbon markets.
Source: Devex
India’s fertility rate faces sharp decline
6/9/2023: India may have edged out China as the world’s most populous country earlier this year, but recent official statistics show that the general fertility rate in India has fallen 20 per cent in 10 years. Lifestyle diseases are on the rise, while shifting economic and social factors are pushing back the age of marriage.
Source: CNA
Anniversary of UN’s damning Xinjiang report revives call to action
31/8/2023: Amnesty International has described the response of the international community to documented human rights abuses in Xinjiang as "woefully inadequate." The 2022 UN report merits more robust action to seek meaningful change in China’s repressive policies.
Source: Amnesty International
Developing countries call for $100 billion loss and damage target
30/8/2023: Citing a UN-commissioned report that foresees climate-related loss and damages reaching $150-300 billion a year by 2030, developing countries say that $100 billion should be a minimum commitment. The 2030 target is one of several contentious proposals at negotiations in the Dominican Republic this week ahead of COP28 in December.
Source: Climate Home News
Why rich nations must pour climate funds into Africa
30/8/2023: Graca Michel calls on the forthcoming Africa Climate Summit in Nairobi to demonstrate that climate adaptation investment in Africa is in all our interests. Countries across the global north and south should work together to finally meet the commitments jointly made under the Paris agreement back in 2015.
Source: The Guardian