Pollution, global climate change, and growing income inequalities are major problems in the world. There is another issue that needs greater attention: extinction. Saving our planet is necessary for the present and future generations. We have a great responsibility to correct the negative environmental impact to slow the rate of extinction. According to the Intergovernmental
As a former United Nations official specializing in Humanitarian Response and Complex Emergencies, I had the opportunity to work in some highly challenging post-conflict environments such as Liberia, war-zones such as Somalia and post-disaster environments such as Southeast Asia after the 2004 Tsunami. However, assessing the aftermath of Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico is particularly
In 2017, the Institute for Environmental Analytics (IEA) announced that they would be undertaking a new project using environmental data to create an energy planning tool aimed at islands increasing renewable energy use. The Renewable Energy Space Analytics Tool (RE-SAT) is now in partnership with the Government of Seychelles, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
As a region, Asian Pacific countries are coming together to evaluate their progress in achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. From 27-29 March 2019 more than 850 participants from governments, inter-governmental organizations, United Nations bodies, and civil society organizations convened for the Asia Pacific Forum on Sustainable Development in Bangkok, Thailand. This 6th forum
The US Department of Energy has named energy sector preparedness a key area in both cyber and energy security, as there is increased need for information sharing in our digital age. However, with this comes an element of risk, which must be addressed through situational awareness and thorough risk analyses. There are a number of
The World Bank Group has two primary goals to achieve by 2030. One is ending extreme poverty by decreasing the percentage of people living on less than $1.90 a day to no more than 3 percent, and the other is promoting shared prosperity by fostering the income growth of the bottom 40 percent in
Everyone that wears clothes participates in the fashion industry. The process of sourcing materials making clothes, shipping orders across the globe, wearing the clothes and disposing of them is a trillion-dollar industry. We can all do more to become aware of how our clothes are made, how often we wear the items in our
Blockchain is a technology that was originally created for the digital currency, Bitcoin, essentially allowing digital information to be distributed but not copied. However, since then it has come a long way in the tech world, and it now has potential uses that span a wide range of industries. One of these industries is energy.
“In these turbulent times, books embody the diversity of human ingenuity, giving shape to the wealth of human experience, expressing the search for meaning and expression we all share, that drive all societies forward. Books help weave humanity together as a single family, holding a past in common, a history and heritage, to craft a
Happy International Mother Earth Day where this year’s theme is “Protecting Our Species.” Peace activist John McConnell, US Senator Gaylord Nelson, and environmental activist Denis Hayes contributed to the creation and worldwide celebration of Earth Day. Numerous activities are taking place today to clean-up trash, plant trees and flowers, conserve energy, and use alternative
India is currently the world’s third largest economy; a result of GDP growth amid a period of serious poverty decline. However, the country also has a large and steadily increasing population, bringing with it a growing energy demand, increasing at a rate of 3.1% per annum. Since 93% of the country’s current energy supply is
What if you could generate power by kicking around a soccer ball? Jessica O. Matthews, founder and CEO of Uncharted Power, formerly known as Uncharted Play, did just that with SOCCKET, a portable power-generating soccer ball designed to promote physical activity and spread awareness about the global energy problem. Matthews, a dual citizen of Nigeria
The International Energy Agency (IEA) predicts that in 2040, 60 percent of primary energy generation will still come from fossil fuels, despite acceleration in renewable generation, as fossil fuels currently satisfy 81 percent of today’s primary energy demand. In many debates, this is where Carbon Capture and Storage (CSS) is seen as a means of
The Idai Cyclone has caused catastrophic damage in Mozambique, Zimbabwe, and Malawi. Idai struck the coast of Mozambique, near Beira on March 14, 2019. Weeks after the cyclone hit, flood waters receded to show the landscape of destroyed houses, roads, and crops just before harvest. The confirmed total number of deaths is still unknown, but
Until last year, Nicaragua was a tourism hot spot and home to one of Latin America’s fastest-growing economies, ticking upward at about 5 percent per year. President Daniel Ortega, who for years had been accused of consolidating power through nepotism and graft, maintained popular support by administering welfare programs for the nation’s poor. Things
In 2008, The United Nations General Assembly unanimously decided that 2 April would be recognized as World Autism Awareness Day to acknowledge and advocate for the estimated one percent of the world’s population that has autism spectrum disorder – in the US it is estimated that around 1 in 59 people, over 3.5 million Americans,
Gender and trade gained attention at the 63rd UN Commission on the Status of Women session. United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) Deputy Secretary-General Isabelle Durant said that trade affects men and women differently due to the distinct roles each plays in our economies and societies. Trade policies have to account for gender-specific
For the first time, scientists are theorizing that beehives could be possible detectors of air pollutants in cities. A study was published in Nature Sustainability this month, outlining the findings from scientists from the University of British Columbia (UBC) who examined honey from urban beehives in six Vancouver neighborhoods. The project initially began when a
Today is International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade to honor and remember those who suffered at the hands of the brutal slavery system. The theme for this year is “Remember Slavery: The Power of the Arts for Justice.” Art is a powerful tool to express past struggles,
President Muhammadu Buhari was elected to a second term, defeating the chief opposition candidate and former vice president, Atiku Abubakar, by a margin of 4 million votes. Abubakara’s People’s Democratic Party (PDP)’s own tabulation shows that Atiku won by almost 2 million votes, and are now the PDP is seeking to have the courts overturn INEC’s tabulation
For the first time, a Global Commitment Report (GCR) has been released, detailing the amount of plastics used in packaging and production by global companies, and calling for an end to secrecy in their plastic footprint data. The report was a collaborative effort between the Ellen MacArthur Foundation and UN Environment and gave data on
In the United States, March is Women’s History Month and on March 8 the global community celebrates International Women’s Day. This year the 63rd session of the Commission on the Status of Women is taking place at the United Nations Headquarters in New York from March 11-22, 2019. While every day is a great day
The fast-growing industry of impact investing demonstrates the promising role of private capital in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). An increasing number of fund managers, diversified finance institutions and individual investors are mapping their existing portfolios into the SDGs and align their investment strategies with their targeted objective of producing positive and measurable
On Thursday, the San Geronimo B substation went down, sending Venezuela’s capital city, Caracas, into darkness. Today, 18 of the country’s 23 states remain affected by the outage, food supplies are running short, and it has been reported that the country’s private sector has lost an estimated $400 million as a result of the blackout.
Humans have an impact on the environment, for better or for worse. Destruction, deforestation, loss of biodiversity, pollution, the list of harmful effects humans have on the planet can seem endless. So, what are some positive actions humans are taking to reverse the damage done to the planet? The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) proclaimed
The disruptive transformation of the labor market for the future of work presents both opportunities and challenges for women. Women could first face actual challenges before benefiting from technological advances: recent research shows that a larger proportion of the female workforce is at high risk for displacement. Women face higher risk of losing their
Ethiopia, Africa’s second-most-populous country, has suffered military rule, civil war, and catastrophic famine over the past half century. Yet, in recent years, it has emerged as a beacon of stability in the Horn of Africa, enjoying rapid economic growth and increasing strategic importance in the region. However, starting in 2015, a surge in political turmoil
Since pre-industrial times, Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions have caused a 1 degree Celsius (1.8 degrees Fahrenheit) rise in global temperatures as a direct result of human activity, and experts now warn that this must be kept below 1.5 degrees Celsius in order to avoid causing irreparable damage to the planet’s intricate eco and biosystems. The
Harnessing the power of solar energy in Latin America is becoming a competition. Luckily there is unlimited shine to go around. First there was the Atacama solar plant in Chile, then the Coahuila solar plant in Mexico was installed, and now the Cauchari solar plant in Argentina was named as the largest solar plant in
New research from the University of Madrid (UC3M) is using high-altitude kites and drones in an experimental energy study. The research was recently published in Applied Mathematical Modelling and presents a flight simulator software that is aimed at analyzing energy generation systems. The study specifically researches Airborne Wind Energy Systems (AWES), which harness wind energy
Here is a challenge: Try not to buy single-use plastic for a day. That may be easy, but now try for three days, now try a week, a whole month. Resisting products packaged in single-use plastics may not always be in control of the consumer. Single-use plastics are commonly used for one-time use, such as
The U.S. government’s partial shutdown shares some similarities with the collapse of a Brexit deal. The President of the United States, Donald Trump, has not been able to agree on southern border security with Democrats. Across the Atlantic, Prime Minister Theresa May is not having much luck with the members of parliament on the terms
Ukraine is of deep interest to Russia due to their shared history. Ukraine was a territory in the Russian empire since the 1600’s, only separating in 1918 with the collapse of Czarist Russia. In 1921, the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic was established after Russia conquered two-thirds of the country. The third part integrating into independent Poland
The top ten contributing countries to Global Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions account for 72 percent of total emissions versus the bottom one hundred, who emit under 3 percent. However, the consequences affect all in the form of global warming, giving moral incentive to take the lead in renewable energy. The Caribbean is a prime example
Last week, New York Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Senator Ed Markey introduced the bill “Recognizing the duty of the Federal Government to create a Green New Deal (GND).” This bill calls for a ten-year mobilization plan that will eventually allow the United States to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by making aggressive moves toward cleaner forms
Some studies show that the significant increase in the access to the Internet and digital services in the developing world was to a large extent attributed to the activities of large multinational high-tech corporations. However, despite prospective economic and social outcomes, a growing number of governments from these countries have expressed concern over
Every day is a great day to celebrate women and girls in the field of science. February 11th is marked as the International Day of Women and Girls in Science. Women and girls remain underrepresented in the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) related fields. So, what is holding so many women and girls from
In 2009, Yemen had the lowest electricity connection in the Middle East, with 75 percent of the population living in rural areas, and only 23 percent of that rural population having access to electricity. According to the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), only 40 percent of the country’s overall population had access to electricity, either
New York, New York, USA – February 5], 2019 – The Bassiouni Group (www.bassiounigroup.com) announced the launch of TBG Purpose, a new division that will exclusively provide customized Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)/Sustainability services and solutions to Fortune 1000 companies, SMBs/SMEs and INGOs/NGOs on a global basis. The global CSR/Sustainability market is now worth an estimated
Venezuela’s problems go back to 1999 when the charismatic and ebullient late President Hugo Chavez established a socialist government, at a time when Venezuela was against the backdrop of vast wealth but had huge inequality. That is the government his predecessor President Nicolas Maduro took over in 2013.Venezuela has been caught in a downward spiral
At the intersection of business and social impact, corporations are increasingly thinking about integrating the two while pondering over strategies that turn Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) into value-creating activities. More professionals have seen previously separated functions of sustainability and business operations merged. The biggest challenge for executives is how to develop an integrated approach
UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) and Oxfam worked together in Bangladesh to service the biggest human waste treatment facility ever built in a refugee settlement. The facility can process the waste of 150,000 people-40 cubic meters a day. UNHCR has also been working with partners in over 275 small scale sludge treatment sites in Cox’s Bazar,
The Bassiouni Group is excited to announce the launch of TBG Purpose (http://bassiounigroup.com/our-services/tbg-purpose/) new division solely focused on customized Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)/Sustainability
Modern companies are being held more and more accountable for their social responsibility policies, from huge changes like renewable energy to smaller, more accessible things, such as recycling. In all sectors of business, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is becoming a strategic tool in long-term company plans. Effective CSR programs have been proven to increase employee
When companies are hiring new people to join the ranks, they may ask the interviewee about their values. Answering the question informs the company of the individual’s principles and how that might guide their decision-making. It is now just as important for the interviewee to ask companies what they value. Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is
Fintech has grown rapidly around the world in recent years, but there are great variations among countries in terms of banking structure and regulations. While offering an alternative funding source for businesses and consumers that enhances financial efficiency, it also gives rise to a number of challenges for regulators. Authorities can play important role
Established as an official Belgian colony in 1908, the then-Republic of the Congo gained its independence in 1960. The country’s early years were marred by political and social instability and today, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is still reeling from the effects of a widespread civil war, preventable diseases and starvation. Weak governance
The US Government’s shutdown, which began in December of 2018, will be entering its 32nd day come midnight on Tuesday. Its effects are being felt by the estimated 380,000 federal employees that were furloughed or are working without pay, as well as by federal courts, and even small businesses. Now, in addition to its social
Africa’s population today is estimated at 1.2 billion. Population growth in Africa is projected to double in the next three decades to 2 billion. As the world faces many challenges related to global warming, civil and international conflicts, and humanitarian crises, the thought of more people on this earth heightens insecurities. However, more people can
The trade war between the US and China has been ongoing throughout 2018. Its beginnings can be traced back to March when the US proposed tariffs in reaction to China’s “unfair trade practices”, and China responded by revealing their own tariffs on US goods. The back and forth of various tariffs continued to increase until
