July to December — Global Issues

July: Is a second half comeback potential?

2023 marked the halfway level for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), a blueprint for a greater future adopted by all UN Member States in 2015. The half-time rating confirmed that the world is falling behind on all the 17 Objectives and can battle to realize any of them by 2030.

The Excessive-Stage Political Discussion board (HLPF) – the massive mid-year occasion at UN Headquarters to judge progress on the SDGs, held from 8 to 17 July – will likely be a chance to judge how a lot political will there’s to show them right into a actuality. Count on a deal with starvation and poverty, local weather change, and sustainable improvement.

In different information: Look to the celebrities

Should you caught the Brad Pitt film Advert Astra in 2019, you may keep in mind a seemingly outlandish shootout on the floor of the Moon. But, because the prospect of a lunar base being established within the subsequent few years turns into extra probably, there’s a rising realization that, to keep away from a possible free-for-all, there should be worldwide agreements on the right way to exploit the Moon’s sources.

The recent consideration prompted the Common Meeting to designate 20 July – the anniversary of the Apollo 11 lunar touchdown –as International Moon Day, in a 2012 Decision on “worldwide cooperation within the peaceable makes use of of outer house”. Curiosity has grown since then, and this 12 months round 42 occasions happened all over the world, from workshops to panel discussions.

Humanitarian staff are recognised yearly on World Humanitarian Day on 19 August for his or her contribution to the survival, well-being, and dignity of individuals affected by crises all over the world.

The commemoration was established 21 years in the past, after the UN headquarters in Baghdad, Iraq, was bombed and 22 support staff, together with the Particular Consultant of the Secretary-Common for Iraq, Sergio Vieira de Mello, have been killed.

The day which additionally focuses on the protection of humanitarians will acknowledge all these, together with a report quantity in Gaza, who’ve misplaced their lives serving others.

In different information: Beat the drum

August will mark three years because the de facto Taliban authorities seized energy in Afghanistan. The UN continues to supply humanitarian reduction and crucially to advocate for human rights, particularly these of ladies and women.

When you’ve lemons, make lemonade. When you’ve an oil drum…make music! The thought of turning oil drums into steelpans started in Trinidad & Tobago within the early 20^th Century, and the steelpan music that may now be heard all over the world is a hyperlink to the West African percussive traditions stored alive by slaves taken to work on Caribbean plantations. The facility and custom of steelpan music is widely known on 11 August, on World Steelpan Day.

September: Look to the longer term, it’s solely simply begun

Look out for the Summit of the Future on 22 and 23 September, which goals to “forge a brand new worldwide consensus on how we ship a greater [DD2] current and safeguard the longer term”. A “pact for the longer term” will likely be adopted, within the hope that it’ll result in the worldwide neighborhood successfully tackling present challenges, in addition to those who have emerged in recent times or could but be over the horizon.

The Summit would be the centrepiece of Common Meeting Excessive-Stage week, historically the busiest time of the 12 months at UN Headquarters.

The Excessive-Stage Debate, through which the leaders of Member States are invited to talk within the Common Meeting constructing, will start on Tuesday 24 September.

In different information: All carefully

We’ll by no means be capable to dwell in concord with the planet, with out taking an in depth take a look at the way in which we produce and devour. The One Planet Network, which incorporates UN companies, governments, NGOs and educational establishments, goals to encourage a worldwide motion for sustainable consumption and manufacturing, by sharing data and inspiring motion for change.

After holding its preliminary Discussion board in Stockholm in 2022, the second version will happen on 12 September, and can determine recent options, instruments, and methods for a sustainable future.

October: Bringing biodiversity again from the brink

The pure world is going through a harmful decline, and round a million species are below risk. Between 21 October and 1 November, the UN biodiversity conference will happen in Turkey, the place delegates will talk about the right way to flip restore lands and seas in a method that protects the planet, and respects the rights of native communities.

The occasion will construct on the historic achievement of a historic agreement reached by the worldwide neighborhood, to guard nature, and set world targets to safeguard biodiversity. The problem will likely be to show these formidable targets into motion by 2030.

In different information: Feed the world

The world at the moment produces sufficient meals to feed everybody, however final 12 months greater than 810 million folks went hungry. To offer recent impetus for a remodeled world meals system, the UN held the primary World Food Forum in Rome in 2023, a four-day youth-led occasion, that includes Heads of State, meals influencers, artists, and UN consultants.

The second version, which begins on 14 October, will construct on the success of the inaugural Discussion board, and proceed the expansion of a worldwide motion to revive and renew agri-food techniques, and eradicate starvation.

November: The local weather bandwagon strikes to Azerbaijan

After three many years of UN local weather conferences, the nations of the world lastly expressed an aspiration to transition away from fossil fuels, on the 2023 convention in Dubai. This was hailed by some as some by a breakthrough, and the start of the tip for soiled energy sources, however many individuals, together with António Guterres, the UN Secretary-Common, have been annoyed on the gradual tempo at which the world is shifting in direction of a carbon-free future.

“A fossil gasoline section out is inevitable. Let’s hope it doesn’t come too late,” stated Mr. Guterres in response to the declaration. With the deal with the local weather disaster solely more likely to intensify subsequent 12 months, all eyes will likely be on Baku, Azerbaijan, from 11 to 24 November, host of the 2024 convention (COP29), to see if the tempo of change may be sped up.

In different information: Cities on the agenda

The inexorable motion of populations from rural areas to city conurbations exhibits no signal of slowing down, rising the stress on municipal authorities to supply ample providers for his or her residents.

Over the previous 20 years, the World City Discussion board, established by the UN, has turn out to be the important thing world occasion on sustainable urbanization. The 12^th version will likely be held from 4–8 November 2024 in Cairo, Egypt, simply earlier than the massive COP29 assembly in Baku, and guarantees to be as inclusive as earlier occasions, giving a variety of individuals with a stake in making cities habitable, clear and thriving, the chance to have their say.

December: Nuclear security within the highlight

Nuclear power has been touted as an vital device within the transfer to a zero-carbon power system. Nonetheless, fears concerning the security of the power sources persist: many nonetheless keep in mind the environmental penalties of the Fukushima catastrophe in 2011, and the Chernobyl explosion in 1986.

From 2 – 6 December, the Worldwide Atomic Vitality Company (IAEA) will maintain the fourth International Conference on Enhancing Nuclear Safety and Security in Vienna, Austria. The occasion will play a significant half in nationwide and worldwide efforts being made to make sure the effectiveness of nuclear and radiation security, and the safety of services and actions.

In different information: Hoops for peace?

There are dozens of common elections anticipated to happen the world over in 2024 together with in South Sudan. The primary post-independence elections which have been as a result of be held in 2015, have been delayed and can hopefully happen earlier than the tip of the 12 months. The UN peacekeeping mission, UNMISS, is implementing proactive measures geared toward mitigating the dangers of violence earlier than, throughout and after voting.

In the meantime, basketball which was first performed within the US in 1891, is being acknowledged for its position in supporting the empowerment of ladies and women, selling peace and improvement, and respect for human rights.

The second World Basketball Day celebrations will happen on 21 December.