Hong Kong’s first blog for SDG education news and announcements
Image by sfkjrgk from Pixabay Every year on December 11, we celebrate International Mountain Day, a day dedicated to honoring the vital role that mountains play in sustaining life on Earth. Proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in 2002, this observance aims to raise awareness about the importance of mountains and the challenges they face. Mountains cover approximately 22% of the Earth's land surface and are home to about 15% of the global population. These majestic landscapes are crucial sources of water, food, and energy, playing a significant role in regulating our climate. Many communities rely on mountains for freshwater, as they are key watersheds that supply rivers and lakes. However, mountains are not immune to threats. Climate change, deforestation, and overgrazing are just a few of the issues that jeopardize these vital ecosystems. The consequences can be dire, leading to soil erosion, landslides, and flooding, which affect both the environment and the . . .
Image by Wolfgang Weiser from Pixabay Climate change will affect food production, but here are the things we can do to adapt (Our World in Data) Vertical farming: a local solution for greens, but not feeding the world any time soon (Hannah Ritchie) ‘War on drugs has failed, completely and utterly’: UN human rights chief (UN News) Global trade to hit record $33 trillion in 2024, but uncertainties over tariffs loom (UN News) Fine particulate air pollution may play a role in adverse birth outcomes (Science Daily) The Rise of Green Financing: How Sustainable Investments Are Shaping a Better Future (Happy Eco news) Australia accused of undermining landmark climate change case brought by Pacific nations in international court (The Guardian) The people growing their own toilet paper (BBC News) . . .
Image by Peggychoucair from Pixabay At the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague, a hearing is underway where representatives from vulnerable nations, particularly Pacific island states, argue that a small number of countries should be held legally responsible for the climate crisis. Vanuatu’s special envoy for climate change highlighted that these nations have produced the majority of greenhouse gas emissions but those that have produced very little are facing the severest impacts, such as rising sea levels and extreme weather events. This hearing, the result of years of advocacy and a UN resolution for clarity on state obligations regarding climate action, will feature statements from 98 countries, including major historical emitters like the UK, as well as nations like Bangladesh that contribute little yet suffer greatly. Key discussions focus on the historical injustices of colonialism and the ongoing negligence of major emitters. As the ICJ consider . . .
Sustainability profession scrambles to fill 'extreme gap' in digital skills to harness power of AI (Reuters) Security Council urged to ensure greater protection of humanitarian workers (UN News) Upholding human rights is key to ending AIDS by 2030 (UN News) Can we avert the looming food crisis of climate change? (Science Daily) Revolutionary Solvent Removes 98% of Nanoplastics from Water (Happy Eco news) Colombia outlaws child marriage after 17-year campaign (The Guardian) Cattle, crops and ancient olive groves: Lebanon’s farmers ‘lose everything’ to Israeli bombs (The Guardian) ‘Break free from brackets’: Officials urge plastics treaty talks to move past discussion into legal text (Eco-business) Citizenship sales, land creation and legal battles: How small islands are confronting existential climate threat (BBC News) . . .
The 29th Conference of the Parties (COP29) convened in Baku, Azerbaijan, gathering global leaders, negotiators, and civil society to confront the urgent realities of climate change. This year’s conference emphasized not just ambitious targets but also the contentious issues surrounding climate finance, which play a crucial role in enabling both mitigation and adaptation efforts globally. Critics argue that as the world races toward rising temperatures, gradual efforts are insufficient. With only incremental funding increases for developing countries and a lack of tangible progress on the phase-out of fossil fuels, Baku did not deliver the transformative agreement that many climate advocates had anticipated. Here are some of the key outcomes: Reaffirmed National Commitments: COP29 witnessed a reaffirmation of many countries' Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), with several nations enhancing their targets. However, the talks highlighted a significant gap between pledges . . .
Credit – AI generated image from Canva Fast fashion refers to a terrible business model in the clothing industry where new designs move quickly from the runway to stores to meet the latest trends, emphasizing rapid production at the lowest possible input costs to provide affordable and up to date clothing to trend-following consumers. Brands using fast fashion practices often release multiple collections per year, encouraging frequent purchases and instilling a culture of disposability, hoping you’ll buy the next thing, wear it once, then dump it for something new. What they count on is you thinking about the speed and affordability of looking your best while casually overlooking the high cost to both the environment and workers in the supply chain. The fast fashion industry, driven by relentless profit motives and trend-focused production, poses significant barriers to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Its environmental impact is profound, con . . .
New COP29 proposal shows wide gap persists on climate funding deal (Reuters) New UN initiative aims to counter climate disinformation (UN News) Digital tech and AI can boost climate action, but curbing the sector’s emissions is key (UN News) Revealing the hidden costs of what we eat (Science Daily) PUMA #KnowYourStuff Sustainable Leather Alternatives (Happy Eco news) Mission 300: African Electrification Initiative Targets 300 Million Africans (Happy Eco news) What is hybrid warfare, which some fear Russia will use after Ukraine’s strike? (The Guardian) Eight times more children will face extreme heatwaves by 2050s, Unicef says (The Guardian) Will China assume more responsibility for global climate finance? (Eco-business) Is nuclear power gaining new energy? (BBC News) . . .
I recently came across a compelling study about plastic pollution that I found particularly eye-opening. Here are some of the key findings. Over 300 million tons of plastic are produced each year, with a substantial portion ending up in our oceans. This plastic not only threatens marine life but also disrupts entire ecosystems. The research estimates that approximately 1 million marine creatures die each year due to plastic debris, including entanglement and ingestion. The study also examined the effectiveness of current recycling efforts, revealing that only 9% of plastic ever produced has been recycled. A staggering 79% ends up in landfills or as litter, contributing to long-lasting pollution. The researchers advocate for improved recycling technologies and infrastructure to enhance recovery rates and reduce the volume of plastic waste that enters our environment. Another critical aspect highlighted in the research is the rise of microplastics, tiny plastic particles less than 5mm . . .
