Developed countries received most from crisis funds, poorest got the least: UN chief

Guterres advocates for sustainable development goals simulus to give a boost to the poorest nations

US is becoming a ‘developing country’ on global rankings that measure democracy, inequality

Racism, devotion to ‘American exceptionalism’ behind the decline; US slips to 41st position on UN’s development index 

40 million more people experienced food insecurity in 2021 than 2020: Report

The report demonstrates the need for a greater prioritisation of smallholder agriculture as a frontline humanitarian response, according to FAO

Informal workers’ vulnerability risks are passed on to their children: OECD

New report calls on governments to extend social protections to break the cycle of low-paying work

Why ‘climate refugees’ in this Kerala village don’t want schools to reopen

The pandemic came as a blessing in disguise for the fisherfolk of Valiyathura

Degrowth: Slowing down rich economies to deal with climate change is a flawed idea

The notion of “degrowth” was recently given a platform at European Parliament’s “Beyond Growth” conference

Countdown to Davos 2023: Industry leaders pledge to halve real estate emissions by 2030

Real estate emissions account for nearly 40% of all energy-related greenhouse gas emissions, according to World Economic Forum

Investing in water, sanitation and hygiene can fuel economic recovery: Report

Safely managed sanitation services can help achieve net benefits of $86 million from 2021-2040, says report   

Asia-Pacific region 32 years behind 2030 target on achieving SDGs: UNESCAP

None of SDGs can be achieved by 2030; all targets under climate action goal (SDG 13) off-track, some even regressing

Nearly 4,000 Odisha villages free of child marriage now

Child marriages surged after COVID-19 first wave; streamlined state efforts helped arrest the trend, claim officials

Economic Survey 2022-23: Production of coal to cross 900 million tonnes next financial year

Coal industry is expected to grow at 6-7 per cent annually to reach a production level of one billion tonnes by 2025-2026

Almost 60% of Africa’s low-income countries in debt distress: UNCTAD

Ghana and Tunisia are in talks with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for emergency loans

India: How COVID enabled new forms of economic abuse of women

Economic abuse tends to involve controlling and coercive behaviour by a woman’s partner, in-laws or other family members

Hunger in South Africa: Study shows one in five are at risk

Social inequalities are well documented in South Africa, but not enough is known about the link between social vulnerability and food insecurity …

Oxfam’s latest report is a wake-up call on the ever-increasing gulf between India’s haves and have-nots

India should adopt a pro-people and nature-friendly economic model to reduce its inequalities

Black hole of public finance: Unequal fiscal burden on citizens

73% of the wealth generated in India in 2017 went to the richest 1%, while the poorest half of the population saw only a 1% increase in their wealth

Tarballs on India’s west coast: A tale of shifting responsibilities

Tarballs are hazardous to human life and marine biodiversity 

Offshore wind energy: India set to harness coastal breezes

Eight zones off the coasts of Gujarat and Tamil Nadu have been identified as potential offshore wind energy zones

Swimming pools and manicured lawns — rich communities’ extravagant choices are leaving too little water for the poor

Study finds socioeconomic inequality as the biggest problem behind water shortages in urban areas

Economic downturn eats into climate mitigation, adaptation funding: UNCTAD

Reduced green investment will put a spanner in the efforts to fasttrack solutions for climate change. 

Republic of the Congo gets its first ever marine protected areas

Three zones include nesting grounds for leatherback turtles, critical habitats for Atlantic humpback whale

Climate finance for Small Island Developing States slumped to 2017 levels in 2019: OECD

Small Island Developing States are vulnerable to increased risk of storm surges, sea-level rise and altered rainfall patterns

Tax the wealthy: 2 billion people can be lifted from poverty by levying the super-rich, says Oxfam

Gap between the rich and the poor broadened over the past two years

UN launches 10 principles to close Asia-Pacific sustainable finance gap

Aimed at mobilising and deploying financing for key Sustainable Development Goals, particularly around climate action

Afghanistan under Taliban: A decade’s progress eroded in a year, says UN

Cascading crises, almost 700,000 jobs vanished, finds report