Embrace innovation ‘to make sustainable transport a reality for all’
COP28/Anthony Fleyhan
The UN General Assembly’s Sustainability Week includes a High-level Meeting on Sustainable Transport, which highlights the pressing need to create a sustainable, inclusive, and prosperous future. To provide equitable access to sustainable transport, Assembly President Dennis Francis emphasizes the significance of innovation-driven strategies, especially for vulnerable populations and nations confronting challenges like inadequate infrastructure and climate change. While recognizing the positive effects, such as higher school enrollment rates, particularly for underprivileged people, he calls on governments to address negative effects like greenhouse gas emissions and traffic accidents. The UN’s Department of Economic and Social Affairs’ Li Junhua highlights how commonplace it is to use fossil fuels for transportation and advocates for more efficiency, less reliance on fossil fuels, and funding for public transportation to lessen the negative effects on the environment and public health. Turkmenistan’s activities show a dedication to efficient and sustainable transport, which include building transit corridors and updating its railway network. As part of broader sustainability debates during the week, the forum also covers energy, tourism, socioeconomic equality, and debt sustainability.
Wave of increased food insecurity hits West and Central Africa
© WFP/Cheick Omar Bandaogo
A combination of economic challenges and a reduction in cereal production has resulted in a severe food crisis for West and Central Africa. Due to the current economic unrest, food costs have skyrocketed, making imports prohibitively expensive. In addition, there was a 12 million tonne cereal shortage from the previous crop. Alarming rates of malnutrition are being observed, particularly in children. To address the problem, UN agencies are advocating for a multifaceted strategy. To increase agricultural productivity and food security, they advocate investing in long-term solutions. Moreover, bolstering social safety nets and encouraging regional food production are regarded as essential actions. Promoting the variety of livestock and agricultural production, as well as the processing of regional cuisines, is a crucial tactic. This would increase the region’s resistance to both economic volatility and climate change, while also facilitating easier access to reasonably priced and nutrient-dense foods.
UNESCO report spotlights harmful effects of social media on young girls
© ADB/Narendra Shrestha
A UN research outlines the risks that young girls encounter when using the internet, such as exposure to improper content, cyberbullying, and unrealistic body image standards. The academic performance, emotional health, and general well-being of females can all be adversely affected by these issues. The study highlighted the gender disparity in internet access and STEM professions and was released in conjunction with International Girls in ICT Day. Since fewer women than males have access to the Internet, there are fewer options for them to work. Furthermore, women are less likely than men to work in STEM fields (science, technology, engineering, and math). Technological advancement is hampered by this lack of diversity. To promote girls’ access to STEM professions, it suggests investing more in education. It also calls for smarter social media platform regulation to shield females from hazardous content and online harassment. The study admits that social media can be beneficial in some ways, such as increasing awareness of social issues. However, it highlights how crucial it is to instruct females in social media safety and critical thinking. Overall, the study emphasizes how critical it is to give females access to education so they can become empowered and shielded from the harmful effects of social media. Girls will be able to flourish in the digital era and make significant contributions to the growth of science and technology as a result.
Massive investment and financial reform needed to rescue SDGs
UN News/Daniel Dickinson
The $4.2 trillion yearly development financing deficit, which is made worse by growing geopolitical tensions, climatic disasters, and a global cost-of-living issue, is something that the 2024 Financing for Sustainable Development Report emphasizes as urgently needing to be addressed. Progress towards healthcare and education ambitions is hampered by disparate debt loads, especially in the least developed nations. Restructuring the antiquated international financial system, increasing public and private investment in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and keeping promises on Official Development Assistance (ODA) and climate finance are all priorities for Deputy Secretary-General Mohammed. In addition to addressing trust gaps in global governance, aid delivery, and combating corruption and inequality, the paper advocates for reforming the current international financial infrastructure to better serve developing countries. Collective action is crucial, with upcoming gatherings like the Summit of the Future and the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development offering vital chances to strengthen collaboration and restate commitments to the SDGs.
References
https://news.un.org/en/story/2024/04/1148666
https://news.un.org/en/story/2024/04/1148516
