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Add to Preferred SourcesImpact of Ukraine war is increasing the threat of global famine, Europe is not on track to halve non-recycled municipal waste by 2030, development financing crucial to get global economy back on track. Here is what you missed from last week’s headlines in the international development sector:
Impact of Ukraine war is increasing the threat of global famine
The conflict in Ukraine is a grave humanitarian disaster and the worst in Europe since 1945. The world is moved by the extraordinary generosity and solidarity shown by the British public to people whose lives have been torn apart. The commitment of £400m in economic and humanitarian aid from the UK Government to the people of Ukraine is vital.
International aid charities are moving at speed and scale to support local humanitarian responders to provide aid, both to people inside Ukraine’s borders and among those forced to take refuge in neighboring countries. The organizations must gather their strength for the long haul as the situation looks likely to get worse before it gets better.
In 2017, the UK’s action helped to avert the worst of a hunger crisis in the Horn of Africa. Similarly, effective and quick action is needed again now. The UK Government, working with local and international partners, cannot wait until famine strikes.
The organizations should see hope in the generous and welcoming public response to people affected by the conflict in Ukraine. The UK Government must match the spirit of the British public’s response to the DEC Ukraine appeal and look beyond the borders of Europe. That is the litmus test of ‘Global Britain.’
Europe is not on track to halve non-recycled municipal waste by 2030
The European Union (EU) circular economy action plan aims to halve the amount of municipal waste in the EU that is not recycled by 2030. According to a European Environment Agency (EEA) briefing, published, achieving this target requires both reducing waste generation and considerably increasing recycling, possibly even beyond the binding recycling target of 60%. A second EEA briefing reviews municipal waste management in the Western Balkan countries.
The EEA briefing ‘Reaching 2030’s residual municipal waste target — why recycling is not enough’ analyses recent municipal waste trends in the EU in the light of achieving two key waste targets: the obligation for each EU Member State to recycle at least 60% of municipal waste by 2030, and the EU level goal of halving residual municipal waste that is landfilled or incinerated by 2030.
As part of the European Green Deal and the Circular economy action plan, the European Commission has recently made a package of proposals to make goods on the EU market more friendly to the environment, circular, and energy-efficient, as well as a new strategy to make textiles more durable, repairable, reusable and recyclable.
Western Balkans’ waste legislation and targets are increasingly following EU directives but data on waste generation and management remain largely insufficient. There are many initiatives to improve data quality but illegal, substandard, and informal activities hinder the proper funding and functioning of the legal infrastructure and its improvement, the EEA briefing warns. Extended producer responsibility schemes could provide additional funding for improving waste management in the region if they are designed, governed, and implemented well.
Development financing crucial to get global economy back on track
The global economy is under severe stress and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are in “need of urgent rescue”, the deputy UN chief told the Financing for Development Forum.
For this reason, the Global Crisis Response Group on Food, Energy, and Finance was established to ensure high-level political leadership; get ahead of the food security, energy, and financing challenges; and implement a coordinated global response, she informed participants.
At the same time, he pointed to the impacts of carbon emissions on global climate, along with a geopolitical crisis that is driving refugee flows, causing severe disruptions on global supply chains for essential commodities, and also contributing to food insecurity in parts of the world.
Moreover, macroeconomic trends affecting least developed and low-income countries have been “dire”, according to Mr. Kelapile, who explained that while developed nations funded pandemic recovery by borrowing at low costs, developing States faced a cost of debt servicing barrier – limiting their ability to invest in infrastructure, housing, and social services.
More than half of these fragile countries are now in, or at risk of, debt distress, while many are experiencing slow economic recovery – in which estimates indicate that one in five will remain below pre-pandemic levels by the end of 2023. These countries are compounded by continued hurdles in accessing vaccines, therapeutics, and diagnostics – critical for ending the pandemic.
DevelopmentAid Editorials
Cities and countries fail to secure safe and healthy air for their citizens
Air pollution that causes the death of millions of people globally every year remains a major environmental health threat for humanity. IQAir’s recent report shows that only three territories met World Health Organization (WHO) air quality guidelines in 2021. According to the report, the list of the most polluted countries is headed by Bangladesh while New Delhi in India is recognized as the most polluted city.
The planet has a problem with air pollution. We are the cause
Air pollution is a combination of solid particles and gases in the atmosphere that can cause serious health issues and have a negative impact on the environment. It may arise from vehicle emissions, toxins from factories, dust, and allergens. Ground-level ozone (O3) is the major contributor to urban air pollution.
Will the war in Ukraine pull international aid from the rest of the world? | Experts’ Opinions
Despite the dramatic consequences of the coronavirus pandemic on the world economy, in 2021 development aid from rich nations recorded an increase, reaching a record US$179 billion. But two months into 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine and a full-scale war began right next to the EU, one of the biggest aid donors. As the conflict escalates and experts agree that its end is nowhere in sight, aid donors are under pressure yet again to make choices and set foreign aid priorities. Will the Ukraine crisis mean international aid is pulled from the rest of the world? We asked a few experts to elaborate on this matter. Check out their opinions below.
Here’s what else has happened
IOM: The International Organization for Migration (IOM) is appealing for USD 514 million to support its continued response to the humanitarian needs of war-affected people in Ukraine and neighboring countries.
Ukraine: As the conflict in eastern Ukraine continues to escalate, more than 5 million people – mainly women and children – have fled to neighboring countries. Almost 3 million people have entered Poland, where the International Rescue Committee (IRC) is providing vital safety and support to families across the country.
UN: While major economies are struggling to replace Russian oil, gas, and coal supplies with any available alternative, the resulting short-term measures may fuel the destruction of the world through climate change and could “create long-term fossil fuel dependence and close the window to 1.5 degrees” said United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres, in a speech delivered at an Economist Sustainability Summit on March 21, 2022.
Reports
Our use of sand brings us “up against the wall”, says UNEP report
50 billion tons: enough to build a wall 27 meters wide and 27 meters high around planet Earth. This is the volume of sand and gravel used each year, making it the second most used resource worldwide after water. Given the dependency on it, and must be recognized as a strategic resource and its extraction and use need to be rethought, finds a new report by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
The report, Sand and Sustainability: 10 strategic recommendations to avert a crisis, released by UNEP’s GRID-Geneva team, provides the necessary guidance gathered from world experts to switch to improved practices for resource extraction and management.
Chronic land degradation: UN offers stark warnings and practical remedies in Global Land Outlook 2
The way land resources – soil, water, and biodiversity – are currently mismanaged and misused threatens the health and continued survival of many species on Earth, warns a stark new report from the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD).
It also points decision-makers to hundreds of practical ways to affect local, national, and regional land and ecosystem restoration. UNCCD’s evidence-based flagship Global Land Outlook 2 (GLO2) report, five years in development with 21 partner organizations, and with over 1,000 references, is the most comprehensive consolidation of information on the topic ever assembled.
Food and energy price shocks from Ukraine war could last for years
The war in Ukraine has dealt a major shock to commodity markets, altering global patterns of trade, production, and consumption in ways that will keep prices at historically high levels through the end of 2024, according to the World Bank’s latest Commodity Markets Outlook report.
Events
XV World Forestry Congress 2022
📅 02 – 06 May 2022
Coex, Seoul, Republic of Korea
The XV World Forestry Congress will take place from 2 to 6 May 2022 in Seoul under the theme “Building a Green, Healthy, and Resilient Future with Forests” to further develop the outcomes of major global events scheduled before the Congress, including the Rio Conventions’ Conferences of the Parties. the IUCN World Conservation Congress and the UN Food Systems Summit.
Humanitarian Networks and Partnerships Weeks (HNPW)
📅 02- 20 May 2022
The Humanitarian Networks and Partnerships Week (HNPW) is an annual humanitarian conference, one of the largest events of its kind, that provides a collaborative space for practitioners and experts from a large variety of humanitarian stakeholders including UN agencies, NGOs, the Red Cross, and Red Crescent movement, academia, the military, private sector initiatives, and the Member States.
Leadership and People Management | Blended
📅 30 May 2022 – 03 June 2022
Blended
The most valuable assets of your organisation are the people. Today’s effective leaders put their people before themselves to achieve results. Inspiring others means generating trust, showing empathy, and being a role model. Do you have what it takes? What aspects do you need to develop? By changing your leadership style to your staff’s personal needs you will support them to perform to the best of their ability. Even in challenging situations when there is conflict or resistance.
Design Successful Advocacy and Policy Influencing | Blended Course
📅 25 Apr 2022 – 20 May 2022
Blended Course
Advocacy & Policy Influencing (API) and lobbying are part of virtually every change intervention in society. More than ever, it’s vital to become effective and sustainable in your policy intervention because policies affect the lives of all citizens.
IFAD at the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues
📅 04 – 05 May 2022
Indigenous peoples have a special role to play in the conservation and sustainable management of natural resources. The United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues is a high-level advisory body to the Economic and Social Council. The Forum deals with indigenous issues related to economic and social development, culture, the environment, education, health, and human rights.
Digital Dialogue #3 – Making Data Accessible: The role of government and civil society partnerships in building open and comprehensible data sources
📅 5 May 2022 🕟 4 PM- 5 PM (CEST)
Virtual
The Civic Tech Innovation Network (CTIN), in partnership with the International Civil Society Centre (ICSCentre), is pleased to announce that it will be hosting a discussion titled ‘Making Data Accessible’ as part of its #DigitalDialogues Series. In our current digital age and what is often termed as a ‘data-driven’ world, civic tech organisations, civil society organisations (CSOs) and similar advocacy organisations have played and continue to play an important role in either collecting and providing the public with access to data or fighting government institutions for access to open data that is accessible and comprehensible.
The Panel
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- Adenike Aloba – Dataphyte, Programme Director: Nigeria
- Shikha Shrestha – Voluntary Services Overseas, Head of Programmes: Nepal
- Theo Chiviru – Open Government Partnership, Regional Lead: Africa and the Middle East
- Tolulope Adeyemo – Code for Africa, Senior Programme Manager: Kenya
- Zukiswa Kota – Public Service Accountability Monitor, Programme Head: South Africa