SUSTAINABILITY

Photo: The number of older people in the Asia-Pacific region is rising at an unprecedented rate and it is at the forefront of the global phenomenon of population ageing. By 2050, one in four people in Asia and the Pacific will be over 60 years old. Credit: asiapacific.unfpa.org

Older Persons Key Players in Global Development Agenda

By Shamshad Akhtar

Dr. Shamshad Akhtar is Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and the Executive Secretary of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP). – The Editor

BANGKOK (IDN) - As the proportion of the older persons across the Asia-Pacific region increases exponentially, we must seek out new and innovative approaches to turn this demographic trend into an opportunity to be harnessed to help achieve the ambitious targets of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

The number of older persons in the region is expected to more than double, from 535 million in 2015 to about 1.3 billion by 2050, we need to consider the myriad impact of this phenomenon on our economies, societies, and livelihoods.

: IDN-INPS Asia Editor; OPINION; 30 October 2017

Photo: A panel of experts discussing mental health challenges faced by adolescents at the 11th World Congress on Adolescent Health in New Delhi. Credit: Stella Paul - IDN | INPS

Data, Evidence Take Centre Stage at Adolescent Health Congress

By Stella Paul

NEW DELHI (IDN) – For three years, 13-year-old migrant Manasa spent nine hours a day picking chilli on a neighbour’s farm in southern India’s Guntur district.

But when a team of local health activists conducting a door-to-door survey in her village in the summer of 2015 found that students had stopped attending school, the finding was shared with a senior official in the provincial government who ordered the village heads to crack down on those employing children on their farms.

Along with 20 others, Manasa was rescued and sent back to school where she is now in her fifth year and dreams of becoming a teacher some day.

: Stella Paul; THE WORLD; Asia-Pacific; 30 October 2017

Photo: Michaëlle Jean, Secretary-General of the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie, addresses the Security Council's open debate on women, peace and security. At left is Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, Executive Director of UN Women. UN Photo/Kim Haughton

No Real Progress Toward Gender Equality Since October 2000

By Santo D. Banerjee

UNITED NATIONS (IDN) – While normative frameworks to empower and protect women in conflict situations have made steady advancement in the last 17 years since the adoption of a landmark resolution by the Security Council, real progress in women’s meaningful engagement in all phases of peacebuilding and their protection from abuse and exploitation are seriously lagging.

The representatives of UN member states at the ministerial and diplomatic levels agreed during a 10-hour Security Council debate on October 27 on 'Women, Peace and Security' that progress on the ground must be accelerated by way of more funding for gender expertise in peacebuilding.

: Santo D. Banerjee; UN INSIDER; 28 October 2017

Growing Support for Ending Political Marginalization of Women

Viewpoint by Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka

The writer is UN Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of UN Women. Following are extensive excerpts from her statement at the Security Council Open Debate on Women, Peace and Security on October 27, 2017, commenting the Report of the Secretary-General on women and peace and security. – The Editor

UNITED NATIONS (IDN) - Although women’s absence from peace tables is no longer easily brushed off as normal, it is still commonplace. Every year, we track women’s overall participation in peace processes that are led by the UN. We track the inclusion of gender expertise and gender-sensitive provisions in peace agreements, and the requirement to consult with women’s civil society organizations. In all of these indicators, we performed slightly worse than a year ago.

: IDN-INPS UN Bureau; UN INSIDER; 28 October 2017

Protecting Chimps is in Our Self-Interest, Says Eminent Conservationist

By J Nastranis

NEW YORK | MANILA (IDN) – Chimpanzees – which share some 99 per cent of their DNA with us – are in trouble, despite national protection efforts across Africa, says the world-renowned conservationist Ian Redmond.

“Although our zoological next of kin with the widest distribution of any ape apart from ourselves, they are an endangered species. Most are declining in number – victims of habitat loss and poaching – and have been extirpated in at least three, possibly five other countries,” he said.

Redmond – who is Ambassador to the Convention on Migratory Species – was speaking from the Philippines where he is participating in this year’s largest global wildlife summit. The triennial meeting of the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS COP12), which opened in Manila on October 23, has agreed to list Chimpanzees on both its Appendices to offer them much-needed trans-border protection.

: J Nastranis; SUSTAINABILITY; Forests, desertification, land degradation & biodiversity; 27 October 2017

Photo: Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo (left) discusses sustainability measures at CityLab. Credit: A.D. McKenzie

Mayors, Innovators Explore Solutions for City Sustainability

By A.D. McKenzie

PARIS (IDN) – As thousands of Parisians headed to work on a recent Monday morning, an underground train in the Eiffel Tower area clanked to a halt, with the driver announcing an accident involving a member of the public on the tracks. Commuters had to quit the vehicle, scrambling to find alternative means of getting to their destinations.

The irritation and confusion were palpable, as streams of people exited the station. But for those who could cycle, Paris provides a public bike-sharing system, and dozens rushed to the bicycle stands, even as others headed to nearby bus stops or made the decision to walk.

: A.D. McKenzie; SUSTAINABILITY; Sustainable Cities & Communities; 26 October 2017

Photo: Anders Oskal from Norway's International Centre for Reindeer Husbandry said the Arctic Council’s Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme works with reindeer herders and how they deal with climate change. Credit: Lowana Veal | IDN-INPS.

Traditional Knowledge and Education Major Themes at Arctic Circle Assembly

By Lowana Veal

REYKJAVIK (IDN) – “Islanders have nothing to do with climate change though they may suffer the most,” Nainoa Thompson from the Polynesian Voyaging Society told an Arctic Circle seminar focusing on global perspectives on traditional knowledge, science and climate change. Thompson comes from Hawaii, but his co-speakers came from Thailand, Chad, Fiji, Kenya and Norwegian Lapland.

The plight of South Pacific islanders was one of the main themes of this year’s Arctic Circle Assembly, organised in Reykjavik for the fifth consecutive year. This year’s event (held from October 13 to 15) was particularly broad in scope, with a choice of 105 breakout sessions (seminars) as well as speeches and panel discussions.

: Lowana Veal; SUSTAINABILITY; Gender Equality; 25 October 2017

Photo (from left to right): Daniel Mekonnen (Eritrean Law Society), Helen Kidan (EMDHR), Prof. Gaim Kibreab, Filmon (refugee), Rudi Friedrich (Connection E.v.), Dr. Sarah Ogbay, Aspasia Papadopoulou (ECRE). Credit: Klara Smits | IDN-INPS

Conference on Eritrea Stresses the Need to Protect Refugees

By Klara Smits

BRUSSELS (IDN) – More than 30 organizations gathered in Brussels at the conference on ‘Eritrea and the Ongoing Refugee Crisis’ have expressed "deep concern" about the remarks by Donald Tusk, President of the European Council, that now there is "a real chance of closing the Central Mediterranean route" with a view to halting the flow of refugees from the Horn of Africa. Tusk was commenting the conclusions of the European Council meeting.

"Leaders agreed to offer Prime Minister Gentiloni stronger support for Italy's work with the Libyan authorities. We have a real chance of closing the Central Mediterranean route," Tusk said at the press briefing of European Council meeting of October 19.

: Klara Smits; THE WORLD; Africa; 25 October 2017

Photo: Addressing the 72nd United Nations General Assembly during the general debate, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani responded directly to President Trump, saying: "it will be a great pity if this agreement would be destroyed by rogue newcomers to the world of politics." Credit: UN Photo/Cia Pak

Make it up with Iran Before It's Too Late

Viewpoint by Jonathan Power*

LUND, Sweden (IDN-INPS) - Over recent years many Iranians in the big cities confided quietly to the opinion pollsters that they feel an empathy with the West. It was not reciprocated. Frankly, most people in the West have no in-depth opinion about Iran. If they think about it for more than a couple of minutes they go along with their government's line.

A majority of Western and Arab leaders supported the American position as taken by successive presidents: Iran was probably trying to make a bomb. (To its credit U.S. intelligence never concurred with its presidents, and privately some Western leaders would acknowledge this.)

: Jonathan Power; OPINION; 24 October 2017

Photo: Fan, Virginia Coal Mine Ventillation. Credit: Wikimedia Commons

Indoor Air Pollution Weighs Heavily on Developing Countries

By J W Jackie

RENO, Nevada, United States (IDN) – While there has been much focus on the consequences of pollution caused by vehicles and manufacturing, the effects of indoor air pollution have been neglected. Households are full of harmful chemicals including cleaning products, beauty products and gas stoves.

As these chemicals become trapped in enclosed spaces, the resultant air quality can be up to ten times worse inside than it is outside. Developing countries suffer low quality air more than wealthier nations, which is why tackling air pollution and poverty go hand in hand.