Many in the wealthy West have misrepresented the causes of global warming, offering false solutions while claiming the high moral ground. This distracts attention from how they became wealthy while emitting greenhouse gases. Tragedy or farce? Growing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the industrial age have caused global warming, with their accumulation
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Can the world meet the urgency of the moment at COP28?
Eight years ago, the world agreed to an ambitious target in the Paris Agreement: hold warming to 1.5°C to limit further dangerous levels of climate change. Since then, greenhouse gas emissions have kept increasing – and climate disasters have become front page news, from mega-bushfires to unprecedented floods. In 2023, the world
How much is our ICT export earnings?
The country’s ICT companies are currently exporting products and services worth $750-800 million to around 35 countries. This is the range of figures that is often quoted to glorify our booming ICT sector. Where these figures came from? ICT products are not exported against LCs (Letter of Credit). Then what
Dear world leaders, are you listening now?
Another year and another UN climate change conference. As our ‘world leaders’ prepare for two air-conditioned weeks of wrangling at COP28 in Dubai later this month, forgive us for sounding underwhelmed, despairing, and even cynical about these annual jamborees where actions rarely match promises. Some context: 2023 is almost certain to
US-China climate deal: A leap forward in global climate cooperation
The recent U.S.-China summit on November 15 in San Francisco, against a backdrop of low expectations, surprisingly made significant strides with the unveiling of the “Sunnylands Statement on Enhancing Cooperation to Address the Climate Crisis.” This agreement, the result of two years of negotiations between climate envoys John Kerry and
CSOs seek UN initiative on democracy as autocracy is on the rise
The rise in authoritarianism worldwide has prompted a coalition of over 85 civil society organizations (CSOs) to call on the Geneva-based Human Rights Council to appoint a Special Rapporteur—an independent UN expert– to protect democracy and reverse its decline. The joint appeal comes ahead of the 75th anniversary of the Universal
World Bank, Global Fund team up to tackle health toll of climate change
The World Bank has teamed up with the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria to fortify health systems in the global south against the effects of climate change. The two signed a memorandum of understanding on Wednesday “to support more efficient, effective, and sustainable financing to improve health outcomes
Strengthen climate resilience in small and vulnerable countries
With a focus on strengthening the resilience of small and vulnerable member countries, Unnikrishnan Nair says the Commonwealth Secretariat is working to align development and climate finance for maximum impact. Nair, who is the Head of Climate Change in the Economic, Youth, and Sustainable Development Directorate, told IPS in an exclusive
Can COP28 deliver for cities and climate migrants?
The impacts of climate change on human mobility have yet to be fully understood and addressed on a global scale, even though some 3.3 to 3.6 billion people are highly vulnerable to climate change. Contrary to popular perceptions, most climate migrants move internally to cities within their own countries, attracted by
