Hong Kong’s first blog for SDG education news and announcements
Agribusiness giants tried to thwart EU deforestation plan after Cop26 pledge (The Guardian) World leaders agree to draw up ‘historic’ treaty on plastic waste (The Guardian) Net-zero claims of world's 25 biggest corporations lack integrity: study (Eco-business) Low cost curbs of methane leaks from 'ultra-emitters' could save billions: report (Eco-business) Offshore wind seen as perfect fit for green hydrogen (Reuters) Democracy and Digitalisation: How to Avoid Typical Pitfalls in Interventions (Europa) UN Statistical Commission Discusses New and Updated SDG Indicators (IISD) . . .
The climate news last week was dominated by the latest report release from the IPCC. This is essential reading, really for everyone. Why? Because it illustrates the nearing impossibility of achieving “A liveable and sustainable future for all”. This is existential, in case you hadn’t realized. The IPCC assessment, which is based on 34,000 studies, shows “widespread and pervasive” impacts on people and the natural world - heatwaves, droughts, wildfires, storms and floods. All faster than scientists had thought. The good news is that a liveable future remains possible – but only just and the door for action is “rapidly closing”. It also sets out strongly that the climate crisis is inseparable from the biodiversity crisis and the poverty and inequality suffered by billions of people. “Targeting a climate resilient, sustainable world involves fundamental changes to how society functions, including changes to underlying values, worl . . .
Tomorrow, 8 March, is International Women’s Day 2022. It should be obvious to any sensible person that gender equality is essential to sustainable development. In fact, it is actually a moral imperative and the fact any of this needs to be said and that gender Equality needs its own SDG is a damning indictment of the way most human societies have developed over recent centuries. The UN Observances page gives an overview of the day with preliminary links to further reading. . . .
Governments Weigh New Global Treaty on Plastics and Sustainable Development (IISD) Climate change: effect on forests could last millennia, ancient ruins suggest (The Conversation) Families count the costs as big tech fails to offer cheap phone, laptop and fridge repairs (The Conversation) Wealthy countries still haven’t met their $100 billion pledge to help poor countries face climate change, and the risks are rising (Eco-business) Natural England chair backs ‘biodiversity net gain’ plan to boost wild areas (The Guardian) . . .
World Wildlife Day is an opportunity to celebrate the many beautiful and varied forms of wild fauna and flora and to raise awareness of the multitude of benefits that their conservation provides to people. At the same time, the Day reminds us of the urgent need to step up the fight against wildlife crime and human-induced reduction of species, which have wide-ranging economic, environmental and social impacts. Given these various negative effects, Sustainable Development Goal 15 focuses on halting biodiversity loss. World Wildlife Day will be celebrated in 2022 under the theme "Recovering key species for ecosystem restoration", as a way to draw attention to the conservation status of some of the most critically endangered species of wild fauna and flora, and to drive discussions towards imagining and implementing solutions to conserve them. This aligns with UN Sustainable Development Goals 1, 2, 12, 13, 14 and 15, and their wide-ranging commitments on alleviating poverty, ensuring . . .
Since the first cases of HIV were reported more than 35 years ago, 78 million people have become infected with HIV and 35 million have died from AIDS-related illnesses. UNAIDS is leading the global effort to end AIDS as a public health threat by 2030 as part of the Sustainable Development Goals. On Zero Discrimination Day, 1 March, we celebrate the right of everyone to live a full and productive life—and live it with dignity. Zero Discrimination Day highlights how people can become informed about and promote inclusion, compassion, peace and, above all, a movement for change. Zero Discrimination Day is helping to create a global movement of solidarity to end all forms of discrimination. . . .
‘Men must be involved in the fight against girls being cut, it’s a violation’ (The Guardian SDGs 3,5, 10, 16) Oil firms’ climate claims are greenwashing, study concludes (The Guardian SDGs 3, 7, 9, 11, 12, 13) Governments Weigh New Global Treaty on Plastics and Sustainable Development (IISD SDGs 12, 14) WTO Trade and Environmental Sustainability Initiative Starts Taking Shape (IISD SDG 17) Climate crisis and the dangers of tech-obsessed ‘long-termism’ (The Conversation SDGs 3, 4, 16) How forgotten beans could help fight malnutrition in Africa (The Conversation SDGs 1, 2, 3, 8, 10, 11, 12, 15) India's solar energy boom fuels local struggle for green justice (Eco-Business SDGs 1, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 15) . . .
VIVA is a HK-based youth organization aimed at advocacy to support poverty alleviation in the territory. With a very high Gini on income and with extremely expensive housing and low levels of social support, it is surprisingly easy to fall into poverty in HK. But the poor are hidden in many people’s eyes as HK does such a good job of high-lighting its glitzy and business success side. The great young people at VIVA, with support from The ITS Education Asia Foundation will run a virtual summit on 27th February 2022. Participants include: NGOs: SOCO, HandsonHK, Pathfinders, MercyHK Student organizations: SimplyShare, Homes4HK, The Firework Project, HKIDO, Amplify Foundation, TeensinAI, ZenerationsHK, WECP, Helpers4Helpers, HKSAEE, Kick Action, Youth Cultural Circle, Empothvize, Inquisitive Minds Get in touch if you want to join . . .
