By Thalif Deen UNITED NATIONS (IDN) — At the Stockholm+50 international conference in Sweden in early June, UN Secretary-General António Guterres expressed deep disappointment over the failure of rich nations to provide financing to mitigate the devastating consequences of climate change, including droughts, floods, heat waves, pollution and biodiversity loss worldwide. The shortfall in funding […]
War Has Put Ukraine’s Health System Under Severe Pressure
By Jamshed Baruah GENEVA (IDN) — World Health Organization (WHO) has launched an updated appeal for US$ 147.5 million, to support Ukraine’s worsening humanitarian need, provide immediate healthcare delivery and help the health system stay resilient for the longer term. Of this total, US$ 80 million is needed for in-country support, such as distributing medicines […]
Achieving SDGs by 2030 in Peril
By Kalinga Seneviratne SYDNEY (IDN) — After two issues focusing mainly on the impact of the Ukraine-Russia war on the achievement of SDGs, this month we wanted to shift the focus, but it was not as easy as reflected in the articles published here. The United Nations has revised its global growth estimates due to […]
Environmental Lawyer Bags Award for Niger Delta Legal Win
By Lisa Vives, Global Information Network NEW YORK (IDN) — A Nigerian lawyer who took up the cause for delta communities harmed by a subsidiary of the oil conglomerate Royal Dutch Shell will be recognized this year with a “Nobel Prize for grassroots advocacy to protect the environment,” formally known as the Goldman Environmental Prize […]
Global Forum Explores Circular Electronics
By Reinhard Jacobsen VIENNA (IDN) — How to enhance decision-making for sustainable e-waste management systems while fostering cooperation at the national, regional and global levels? This was the theme of a four-day event, which over 340 participants and a wide range of international experts explored from May 23 to 26. [E-waste are discarded products or […]
Talk of Expanding BRICS Ahead of the June Summit
By Kestér Kenn Klomegâh MOSCOW | SHANGHAI (IDN) — Under the rotating chairmanship of China, BRICS—an informal intergovernmental union comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa—has held a series of high-level virtual meetings on existing significant regional and international issues, one of which focuses on the organization’s expansion proposed by China.
There Should Be No Crisis in World Food Supplies
Viewpoint by Jonathan Power LUND, Sweden (IDN) — The world is lather about the jump in world food prices in world food prices. Just this last weekend the Minister of Agriculture of Egypt was saying that, without assured grain supplies from Russia and Ukraine, he expected a rise of widespread malnutrition.
New Report Focuses on Security Risks of Environment Crisis
By Thalif Deen UNITED NATIONS (IDN) — The world’s growing environmental crisis—including climate change, which has resulted in widespread droughts, floods and heatwaves threatening major food crops—is escalating security risks worldwide. A new policy report by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), titled Environment of Peace: Security in a New Era of Risk,‘ points […]
US Falters, Europe Leads in Electoral Integrity
By Thalif Deen NEW YORK (IDN) — When Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi declared a state of emergency during a political crisis in June 1975, she arrested hundreds of citizens, suspended civil liberties and imposed strict censorship of the press—temporarily downgrading “the world’s largest democracy” to a near-authoritarian state.
Global Call to Act on Land Degradation and Drought
By Devendra Kamarajan ABIDJAN, Côte d’Ivoire (IDN) — The 15th Conference of Parties (COP15) of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), concluded in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, has concluded with a united global pledge to boost drought resilience and invest in land restoration for future prosperity.