Renewable energy ambition at COP25, the biggest winter campaign to help half a million people and greenhouse gas concentrations. Here is what you missed from last week’s headlines in the international development sector:
Islamic Relief launches biggest ever winter campaign to help half a million people in 16 countries
Every year harsh winters ravage vulnerable communities across the world. Children freeze to death in tents or lose their lives when their flimsy homes catch fire as they struggle to keep warm.
As the winter months creep in, storms and blizzards batter many parts of the Middle East and Asia. Millions of families face the stark choice of whether they will put food on the table or gas in their heaters. Temperatures regularly fall well below freezing while heavy rains and snowstorms overwhelm towns, villages and farms alike.
To make matters worse, people in these parts of the world are often ill-prepared. Their homes are built for the scorching summer and the few items of clothing they own are simply not warm enough for winter.
Greenhouse gas concentrations in atmosphere reach yet another high
Levels of heat-trapping greenhouse gases in the atmosphere have reached another new record high, according to the World Meteorological Organization.
This continuing long-term trend means that future generations will be confronted with increasingly severe impacts of climate change, including rising temperatures, more extreme weather, water stress, sea-level rise and disruption to marine and land ecosystems.
The WMO Greenhouse Gas Bulletin showed that globally averaged concentrations of carbon dioxide (CO2) reached 407.8 parts per million in 2018, up from 405.5 parts per million (ppm) in 2017.
The increase in CO2 from 2017 to 2018 was very close to that observed from 2016 to 2017 and just above the average over the last decade. Global levels of CO2 crossed the symbolic and significant 400 parts per million benchmark in 2015.
IRENA to encourage renewable energy ambition at COP25
IRENA will be present at the UN Climate Change Conference (COP25). Together with a wide range of partners, through a series of high-level events, panel discussions and initiatives, IRENA will ensure that renewable energy is at the highest level on the global agenda of the international community and encourages higher renewable energy ambitions as part of national climate solutions.
Key activities include the facilitation of Energy Day within the Marrakech Partnership for Global Climate Action (GCA) on 7 December focusing on the 1.5°C pathway and following-up on the UN Climate Action Summit 2019 in New York.
Here’s what else has happened
The Asian Development Bank: (ADB) has approved a $278 million loan to construct and rehabilitate about 30 kilometers (km) of main and secondary roads between the towns of Shorapani and Argveta on Georgia’s East-West Highway, one of the country’s main trade and transport networks.
UNESCO and OHCHR: A fast-changing world requires quick, but meaningful responses to challenges that can tear at the fabric of our communities. In order to ensure that human rights are respected and protected, UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay and Michelle Bachelet, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, signed a new memorandum of understanding to promote joint action for advancing human rights.
World Bank: The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors approved a $52.5 million grant for the Afghanistan Gas Project that will provide sustainable supply of natural gas to independent power producers in Northern Afghanistan.
EU: Commissioner for Economic and Financial Affairs, Taxation and Customs Union, Pierre Moscovici co-signed a €2 million grant contract with OECD partners, in support of developing countries’ efforts to meet global standards in tax transparency and information exchange. The signing took place in the margins of the 10th Anniversary Meeting of the Global Forum in Paris.
Reports
UNESCO launches study on Artificial Intelligence for Sustainable Development at IGF 2019
Steering AI and Advanced ICTs for Knowledge Societies: a ROAM perspective is the title of the new publication launched by UNESCO at the 2019 Internet Governance Forum.
The report recognizes artificial intelligence (AI) as an opportunity to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), through its contribution to building inclusive knowledge societies.
Read and download the report: Steering AI and Advanced ICTs for Knowledge Societies: a ROAM perspective.
World Migration Report 2020 launched
In a global media environment highly interested in the issue of migration, the need for verified, evidence-based analysis on this defining issue of our time has never been more urgent. As the UN-related agency responsible for migration, it has long been IOM’s imperative to promote a balanced understanding of migration across the world.
Launched at the 2019 IOM Council meeting by IOM Director General, António Vitorino, the latest edition of its flagship publication, the World Migration Report 2020 (WMR 2020), continues the organization’s commitment to providing information on migration that is well-researched, rigorous and accessible.
Read and download the World Migration Report 2020.
Events
The Norad Conference 2019: Digitalisation and development
Oslo, Norway
11 December 2019
This year’s Norad Conference highlights challenges and opportunities related to digitalisation and development. The conference provides an overview of access to and use of digital content and services worldwide, examining how digital tools are becoming available to a growing number of people. We will hear why and how Norwegian development cooperation must help to ensure that no one is left behind.
7th Annual Economic Conference of the European Investment Bank
Luxembourg, Luxembourg
26-27 November 2019
Under the overarching theme of “Striving for competitiveness and inclusion: what policies for Europe?” this year’s flagship event features an engaging programme of panel discussions and investment outlook sessions covering topics of competitiveness in an ever-evolving global economy, but also digitalisation, innovation and technological transformation, as well as the latest trends that shape future investment opportunities in and outside of Europe.
The 2nd Annual European Artificial Intelligence Conference
Brussels, Belgium
5 December 2019
Building on the success of the inaugural edition in 2018, this one-day conference, will showcase the power and opportunity of artificial intelligence and inspire the European policy debate.
