Read the articles selected in May 2018
FOCUS 2018 International Press Review on Sustainable Development
Fair Progress? Economic mobility across Generations Around the World
Source: http://www.worldbank.org
Around the world, the growth potential of a country seems closely linked with its socio-economical mobility, which requires to the new generations not only a level of educational attainment exceeding their parents’ background but also the right regulations and reforms to create a virtuous circle.
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Aligning the Financial System with Sustainable Development
Source: UN environment
To meet the Paris Agreement commitments are required expensive national investments. Starting from the hypothesis that many solutions to the lack of financial resources lie in the mechanisms of the global financial system, this report suggests the best practices and a set of rules to mobilize the capital needed.
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http://unepinquiry.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Making_Waves_lowres.pdf
Powerful investors push big investors to plan for climate change
By David S. Rauf
Source: Scientific American, 3 May
The pressure exerted by activist investors is pushing many oil and gas producers to more transparency on their impact on climate change. Shareholders through nonbinding resolutions have a say on proposed company policies. There is now more awareness that climate change is a risk factor for enterprises.
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Climate Action: Time for implementation
By Angel Gurría
Source: http://www.oecd.org
Short-termism and national agendas are inadequate to address climate change. The international community should establish flexible market mechanisms and the harmonisation of carbon prices across countries to overcome the old economic model, helping the most vulnerable to cope with climate consequences.
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Private Philantropy for Development
Source: http://www.oecd.org/
After the 2007 financial crisis, the role played by private foundations through giving and innovative approaches in the progress of sustainable development is generally recognized, but there is a lack of information about the flows from private organizations as well on how they operate.
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Mayors’ views on health disparities documented in new study
Source: https://green.harvard.edu/
A survey has asked the local leaders of 758 American cities about the existence of health disparities in their communities. 95 percent agreed that disparities exist. Those that admit their existence tend to feel them very unfair and avoidable.
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https://journalistsresource.org/studies/government/municipal/mayors-health-disparities-city-policy
World population prospects
Source: http://www.un.org/
This report provides a comprehensive outlook on demographic trends at a global, regional and national level to forecast how they will impact on the realization of the 2030 Agenda. The major challenge governments will be facing is the decline in births and the general aging of the population.
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https://esa.un.org/unpd/wpp/Publications/Files/WPP2017_KeyFindings.pdf
Can science and technology really help solve global problems? A UN forum debates vital question
Source: http://www.un.org/
Sustainable development needs an integrated approach in all its dimensions, from pollution’s prevention and clean-up to poverty eradication. Technologies have an enormous potential as a tool for achieving the common good, so long they are within the reach of the poor and can benefit the most disadvantaged.
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https://news.un.org/en/story/2018/05/1008702
The missing maths: the human cost of fossil fuels
Source: The Guardian, 26 April
Coal combustion is harmful to the climate system and the human health. The costs to healthcare systems and in terms of productivity loss outside those affecting individuals and their families outweigh the mitigation costs for staying below 2° C globally.
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Share the Meal
Source: asvis.it, 26 April
The United Nations World Food Programme is the agency which delivers food assistance to around 80 million people in 80 countries through voluntary donation. With the app Share the Meal we can feed one child for a day at the cost of 0.40 euros.
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https://sharethemeal.org/en/40cents.html
L’Europe regrette son âge d’or
By Gabriel Grésillon
Source: Les Echos, 24 April
The European Union is no longer a closed club and has to deal with the less liberal regimes to which it has opened its doors, as well with the political choices of its electors, that prospect a future Europhobic and xenophobic Parliament. But this is the price of a machine which has grown to a great world power.