Are “megafires” the new normal? Global Goals top General Assembly President’s priority list and violence against Europe’s children. Here is what you missed from last week’s headlines in the international development sector:
Are “megafires” the new normal?
The huge wildfires in Australia, Amazon, California, the Congo basin and Indonesia have drawn the world’s attention to the risks associated with extended periods of unusually hot and dry weather, which is an effect of climate change.
The global average temperature is now 1.1°C higher than at the beginning of the last century. Higher temperatures create, in some parts of the world, drier conditions, increasing the likelihood and intensity of wildfires, and megafires.
The reality is that this is the world we live in with 1.1oC of warming. These record temperatures, heatwaves and droughts are not anomalous, they are the beginning of a new norm.
What will things be like in a few decades when we hit 1.5oC? As fires smolder across the remains of devasted communities, and threaten yet more new ones today, as international assistance has been urgently drafted in to help Australia, a well-resourced country used to seasonal bushfires, it appears that we are woefully underprepared to face our future reality.
2020 is the year that governments will meet to take stock of and increase the ambition of their commitments to climate action. It is the year that global emissions must drop by 7.6 percent and by 7.6 percent again every subsequent year until 2030 in order to limit global temperature rise to 1.5oC.
Global Goals top General Assembly President’s priority list
The President of the 74th session of the UN General Assembly set out his 2020 priorities, which aim to make the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) a reality by the start of the next decade.
Tijjani Muhammad-Bande spelled out that these encompass peace and security, quality education, zero hunger, climate action, poverty eradication, and inclusion.
“International peace and security is key to achieving the SDGs, as no development can happen in the absence of peace”, he stated.
Stressing the need to work harder, he spelled out: “If ever diplomacy should achieve its purpose, this is one urgent area it must show its face” – including in finding solutions to the Israel-Palestine conflict, Syria, Yemen, Libya and all other conflicts.
He recalled that the second International Day of Education will be celebrated on 24th January with the participation of actors in the education system, governments, the private sector and civil society organizations.
UN moves to tackle ‘hidden abuse’ and violence against Europe’s children
Each year, at least 55 million children in Europe suffer some form of physical, sexual, emotional or psychological violence, the UN health agency (WHO) said.
And despite the magnitude of this figure, “it is well established that incidents of interpersonal violence are widely underreported”, according to the World Health Organization’s European Region office.
Accounting for underreporting, WHO estimates that of the 204 million children under the age of 18 across the region, 9.6 percent experience sexual exploitation, 22.9 percent physical abuse and 29.1 percent emotional harm. Moreover, 700 are murdered every year.
“The cost of violence against children adds up”, WHO maintained, highlighting that an estimated $581 billion is spent annually on treating victims.“But the financial cost pales in comparison to the toll on individuals’ health”, said the agency.
Studies reveal that children who experience violence are at higher risk of mental illness, drug use, alcohol use and obesity, but also for chronic disease later in life.
Here’s what else has happened
UK aid: The International Development Secretary pledged new UK aid support to build the African cities of the future, so the continent can continue to thrive and reach its economic potential.
Philippines: Authorities are continuing to evacuate people living within a 14-kilometer radius of the erupting Taal volcano in the Calabarzon region of the Philippines, with more than 38,000 people relocated thus far to 198 evacuation centers.
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and the International Organization for Migration have teams in the field visiting evacuation centres, and supporting authorities by reviewing needs. The Government has requested UN support for the procurement of suitable face masks.
Italy: The Italian Development Cooperation is contributing more than €4.55m to two United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) projects in Egypt and Iraq.
EBRD: The EBRD is investing US$ 60 million to become a shareholder in Infinity Energy S.A.E., one of Egypt’s leading private energy companies through the issuance of new shares. The funds will go towards developing the company’s pipeline of renewable energy and electricity distribution projects as well as electric vehicles charging stations.
Reports
USTDA releases annual report, highlights most extensive year in agency history
The U.S. Trade and Development Agency issued its annual report for fiscal year 2019, encompassing new sector and regional areas of focus, global success stories, and the Agency’s continuing work to promote American business and quality infrastructure in emerging markets.
USTDA is the only federal agency that is Congressionally mandated to engage with the U.S. private sector in infrastructure projects at the critical early stages when design and technology options are drafted, defined and determined.
Read and download: USTDA 2019 Annual Report.
Ethiopia: Humanitarian needs overview
Some 8.4 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance in Ethiopia, according to the country’s 2020 Humanitarian Needs Overview, which was officially released.
Of that figure, 6.2 million people are in acute need, out of 10.6 million people affected by climate and human-made humanitarian crises in the country. Most of the people in need are in the Oromia, Somali and Amhara regions, with the drivers of need including climatic shocks, pest infestations, lack of recovery and displacement due to conflict.
Read and download the 2020 Humanitarian Needs Overview.
Prospects for economic growth in 2020 hinge on reducing trade disputes and uncertainty, WESP report finds
Impacted by prolonged trade disputes, the global economy suffered its lowest growth in a decade, slipping to 2.3 percent in 2019. The world, however, could see a slight uptick in economic activity in 2020 if risks are kept at bay, according to the United Nations World Economic Situation and Prospects (WESP) 2020.
The report states that the growth of 2.5 percent in 2020 is possible, but a flareup of trade tensions, financial turmoil, or an escalation of geopolitical tensions could derail a recovery. In a downside scenario, global growth would slow to just 1.8 percent this year. A prolonged weakness in global economic activity may cause significant setbacks for sustainable development, including the goals to eradicate poverty and create decent jobs for all. At the same time, pervasive inequalities and the deepening climate crisis are fueling growing discontent in many parts of the world.
Read and download the report: World Economic Situation and Prospects 2020
Events
Environmental and Social Safeguards Workshop in Copenhagen, Denmark
Program dates: 16-20 March 2020
Registration Closes on: 31 January 2020
Venue: Mercur Hotel
Safeguards Policies are indispensable instruments while attempting to intercept unmerited harm to the community and the surrounding environment throughout the development process. Safeguards Policies support the assessment of anticipated risks on the initial stage of project identification and designing. These instruments enable us to gauge the positive and negative impacts linked with any given development intervention. On the later stage of project implementation, safeguards ensure more effective management of risks and magnify constructive influence.
Generation Equality Forum
Mexico City, Mexico
7–8 May 2020
Paris, France
7–10 July 2020
The Generation Equality Forum is a civil society–centred, multi-stakeholder, global gathering for gender equality, convened by UN Women and co-hosted by the governments of Mexico and France. It will be connected in real-time across the world through interactive satellite sessions enabled through technology to maximize participation.
As a global public conversation for urgent action and accountability for gender equality, the Forum will celebrate the power of women’s rights activism, feminist solidarity, and youth leadership to achieve transformative change. It will take stock of progress and set an agenda of concrete action to realize gender equality before 2030.
FITUR 2020
Madrid, Spain
22-26 January 2020
FITUR is the global meeting point for tourism professionals and the leading trade fair for inbound and outbound markets in Latin America. At its staging, FITUR broke all previous participation records with 10,487 companies from 165 countries and regions, 142,642 trade visitors and 110,848 visitors from the general public. FITUR is a unique forum for promoting brands, presenting new products, learning about the latest trends and filling agenda with new contacts and opportunities.
