Representatives from 197 nations push critical decision to 2026 at UN talks: 'Do not require collective action'
"We have elevated the land and drought agenda beyond sector-specific discussions, establishing it as a cornerstone of global efforts to address inter-connected challenges such as climate change, biodiversity loss, food insecurity, migration, and global security," Ibrahim Thiaw, the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification chief, said during closing remarks.
The UN's COP16 took place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Attempts were made by proponents to enshrine funding for early drought warning systems and resilient infrastructure for poorer countries. African countries, in particular, have been advocating for drought funding for years. Opponents included the United States, European Union, and Argentina — according to Climate Home News.
Would you install water-collecting hydropanels on your home?
Definitely
Not sure
No way
If the government pays for it
Click your choice to see results and speak your mind.
"A new international agreement to address the issue of drought is not the best approach," said a U.S. spokesperson, as Climate Home News reported. "Droughts have local causes and as such do not require collective action. A one-size-fits-all global policy is not the most effective response."
Drought and desertification have a harsh and direct effect on food production. With less food readily available, local populations are forced to migrate, adding pressure on resources at their eventual destinations.
Per the AP, curbing climate change was not discussed as a solution to drought at COP16, despite the clear link between the two that organizations such as NASA have detailed. This is unsurprising, as host country Saudi Arabia remains a leading producer of oil, which creates the pollution that is exacerbating the overheating planet and subsequent droughts. In the same vein, we've seen Saudi Arabia strongly oppose action against plastics at UN meetings.
The Saudi Arabian hosts — along with a few other countries and international banks — pledged $2.15 billion toward drought resilience at the launch of COP16. The Arab Coordination Group will also be chipping in $10 billion by 2030 to address desertification and drought in 80 of the most vulnerable countries. That's just a drop in the bucket compared to the $125 billion that droughts have already cost the world between 2007 and 2017, according to the UN.
Large-scale initiatives are needed to prevent drought and adapt to it, but you can do your part at home, too. Collecting rainwater to use in the garden, running washing machines on eco settings, and even installing a bidet can all help to reduce water consumption.
Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
UPI
4 hours ago
- UPI
Senate hearing on critical minerals reveals U.S. strategy in Africa
'Africa is not just a source of raw materials. It is a rising global force in the world economy,' U.S. Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., said at a Senate subcommittee hearing Wednesday in Washington focused on rare earth minerals in Africa that cane be valuable to the United States.. File Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI | License Photo WASHINGTON, July 30 (UPI) -- As the 119th Congress wraps up its final sessions before the August recess, senators turned their attention Wednesday to securing U.S. access to critical minerals in Africa, an increasingly urgent priority amid global competition. "The economy, the energy transition and even the defense supply chains depend on the Chinese Communist Party. The United States relies heavily on China to refine critical minerals, even those that originate in Africa," Chairman Ted Cruz, R-Texas, said during a Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Africa and Global Health Policy hearing. With demand for lithium, cobalt, graphite and rare earth elements expected to soar over the next decade, the United States is seeking strategic alternatives to its current dependence on China-dominated supply chains. Africa, home to roughly 30% of the world's critical mineral reserves, has emerged as a central focus of this reorientation. "We are in crisis, and not enough people recognize the crisis that we're in. It demands action. We know the strategic work of these materials," said Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J. "I believe the United States is trailing behind in this global competition and not exercising strength, power and focus." The hearing revealed a bipartisan consensus on the need to deepen diplomatic and commercial engagement with African countries to ensure long-term access to these materials. Countries of particular importance are South Africa, Zimbabwe, Democratic Republic of Congo and Tanzania. "The extraction processing and refining and manufacturing of critical minerals is complex, but it is also an opportunity to shape the U.S. and reshape U.S.-Africa relations from aid-based to investment led engagement," Cruz said. Senators emphasized that minerals are not merely commodities, but also strategic assets tied to national security, defense readiness and industrial competitiveness. As the United States accelerates its investments in electric vehicles, grid storage and advanced manufacturing, the need for a diversified and reliable supply of critical minerals has taken on new geopolitical weight. Lawmakers also examined the barriers that currently hamper U.S. efforts to scale mineral partnerships with African nations. These include insufficient financing tools, inconsistent diplomatic presence and a fragmented interagency approach. China, by contrast, has spent the past two decades building robust, state-backed relationships with African governments, locking up long-term access to key minerals through infrastructure investments, loan diplomacy and mining concessions. "Africa is central to our strategy to address this challenge. The continent is home to vast preserves of critical minerals, including cobalt, lithium, tantalum and graphite, which are indispensable for technologies such as batteries," said Jonathan Pratt, a State Department senior bureau official in the Bureau of African Affairs. The United States, as the senators suggested, is now playing catch-up. And Pratt shared the State Department's prioritization of U.S.-Africa relations and critical minerals. "The United States is committed to making targeted investments in infrastructure to facilitate the export of minerals from Africa to global markets," Pratt said. "A prime example is the Lobito Corridor, which provides an alternative to Chinese-controlled transportation routes." The Lobito Corridor is a railway system that links mineral-rich areas of Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo to Angola's Atlantic coast, providing a Western-aligned route to export critical minerals. Despite the Trump administration's broader "America First," approach, the administration continues to support this project. Although the senators pointed out challenges, the hearing placed a spotlight on several opportunities in that African nations are increasingly looking for alternatives to Chinese influence and are receptive to transparent, mutually beneficial partnerships. They were told that American companies and development finance institutions have a chance to support more ethical, environmentally responsible mining practices, while also fostering value-added processing and infrastructure development in African countries. There was repeated emphasis on creating deals that are not extractive, but instead foster local development and build trust. "My team has worked side by side with our colleagues in the African Affairs Bureau in pursuit of projects helping our supply chains and support the administration's approach of building up trade with our African partners rather than being in a shocking to dependence on aid," said Scott Woodard, the State Department acting deputy assistant secretary of economic growth, energy and environment. "Supporting these projects, building up these supply chains and investing our time and effort into these relationships will benefit us all and bring greater security and prosperity to the United States," Woodard said. The hearing also linked critical minerals to broader themes in U.S. foreign policy, one being that stronger mineral ties could anchor long-term strategic relationships, promote economic resilience and support African countries' development goals. Still, Democratic senators warned that this effort cannot succeed without consistent diplomatic engagement. "The Trump administration terminated labor, environmental and peace building programs that supported vulnerable communities in conflict areas where critical minerals become source of corruption and destruction," Booker said. Several African countries still lack confirmed U.S. ambassadors and the role of assistant Secretary of State of African affairs remains vacant, hampering relationship-building at a time when it is most needed, he said. Despite bipartisan support, the Trump administration previously proposed a 77% cut to the Millennium Challenge Corp.'s budget, raising questions about the U.S. commitment to sustained economic engagement in the region. The Millennium Challenge Corp. is a U.S. foreign aid agency created by Congress in 2004 to promote economic growth and reduce poverty in developing countries. Booker added, "The Trump administration stopped the U.S. Geological Surveys in African countries to help locate and extend critical minerals." The takeaway from the hearing was clear: if the United States is serious about competing in the global energy economy and countering authoritarian influence, it must reimagine its presence in Africa -- as a trading partner and long term collaborator. "Africa is not just a source of raw materials. It is a rising global force in the world economy," Booker said. Securing critical minerals will require not just transactional deals, but a durable, values based strategy that integrates diplomacy, finance and development assistance, he said.
Boston Globe
5 hours ago
- Boston Globe
Kamala Harris decided not to run for California governor. What does that mean for 2028?
At 60, she is certainly young enough to run again -- and more than two decades younger than the president she served. But for a party seeking a reset after President Donald Trump won for a second time, and figuring out how to win back trust with working-class voters, she would be anything but a fresh face. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up More than a half-dozen people who spoke with Harris before she opted to skip the governor's race advised against overinterpreting her decision as guiding her 2028 plans. Advertisement 'I don't think that any of us should jump to the conclusion that this decision had anything to do with 2028,' said Laphonza Butler, the former California senator who is close with Harris. 'I do think that for her, all options are on the table if she wanted to go again and run for the presidency.' Harris has been perched at or near the top of some of the way-too-early 2028 primary polling, though political professionals say that is largely because of her relative level of fame. Advertisement If Harris does run, it would set up a highly unusual situation where a number of candidates whom she had vetted to be her running mate, and the man she actually selected, could be her primary rivals -- Gov. Tim Walz of Minnesota, Gov. Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania, Gov. Andy Beshear of Kentucky, Gov. Wes Moore of Maryland and former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg among them. None of those would-be candidates are expected to defer to her should she run again. California Governor Gavin Newsom can't run for re-election because of term limits, and he is seen as a possible Democratic candidate for president. Jae C. Hong/Associated Press Gov. Gavin Newsom of California, with whom Harris has long shared senior political aides, has for months been acting like someone preparing a national campaign. And there is ample video of just about everyone in the top ranks of Democratic politics vouching for Harris for president last year. Harris, perhaps more than any other Democrat, would have to reckon with her support for Biden as his acuity deteriorated before the American public. She did not allow any daylight between herself and Biden while he was still running for reelection. Then, when she became the party's nominee, she said in an interview on 'The View' that there was nothing she could think of that she would have done differently from him. Some ambitious Democrats have said Harris was handicapped by the truncated nature of her own campaign. But those same Democrats -- almost all of whom had backed Biden to the end -- have mostly avoided blaming Biden for seeking reelection in the first place. 'There's always the fear that if she runs for president again, 2028 could devolve into a discussion of what went wrong in 2024,' said Roger Wolfson, a Hollywood writer and Democratic speechwriter. Advertisement Harris is said to be working on a book but has yet to reveal an arrangement with a publisher, though a deal is expected soon. A book, of course, would eventually allow Harris to do a book tour and keep herself in the public eye. She is also expected to form an organization shortly that would allow her to raise funds and pay for travel and political activities. Rep. Robert Garcia of California said Wednesday that he had spoken with Harris about traveling to competitive House districts beginning this fall to assist Democratic candidates. 'She's going to be all across the country for the 2026 midterms,' Garcia said. 'She wants to help us flip the House.' Kamala Harris spoke at the HumanX AI Conference in Las Vegas on March 09, 2025. Bigfor HumanX Conference Harris, who was widely criticized last year for doing very few media interviews, is expected to begin talking with podcast hosts and journalists beginning after Labor Day, according to a person she has spoken with about her plans. One person who spoke with Harris said that it had been a 'gut decision' for her not to run for governor before a self-imposed Aug. 1 deadline and that her heart was not in a statewide campaign. She has told colleagues recently that after holding public office continuously for two decades she was ready to take a break and instead seek to make changes from outside the political system next. 'I will remain in that fight,' she said in the last line in her statement announcing that she would not run for governor. This article originally appeared in Advertisement
Axios
6 hours ago
- Axios
Canada to recognize Palestine in September, subject to reform commitments
Canada intends to recognize the State of Palestine at the UN General Assembly in September subject to a set of commitments by the Palestinian Authority, Prime Minister Mark Carney said Wednesday. Why it matters: Canada is the third close U.S. ally that has announced in recent days its intention to recognize Palestine in September, further isolating the Trump administration and the Israeli government internationally. Carney stressed the new Canadian position is meant to try and preserve the two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. France said it will recognize Palestine in September, and the U.K. said it would do so unless Israel significantly changed course in Gaza. A White House official told Axios the U.S. would not follow suit. "As President Trump stated, he would be rewarding Hamas if he recognizes a Palestinian state, and he doesn't think they should be rewarded. So he is not going to do that. President Trump's focus is on getting people fed." Driving the news: Carney said the recognition of Palestine is subject to a commitment by the Palestinian Authority to conduct reforms, hold elections in 2026, not allow Hamas to have any part in government and agree that the future Palestinian state will be demilitarized. Carney said he spoke on Wednesday to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas about these needed steps. What he is saying: Carney explained that for many years Canada opposed the recognition of Palestine outside of a negotiated two-state solution, but stressed that this approach is no longer viable. He said the prospects for a two-state solution have been eroded by Hamas' terror attack on Oct. 7 and by Israeli settlements expansion in the occupied West Bank. He also mentioned that many key figures in the Israeli government oppose a Palestinian state and that the Israeli Knesset recently called for the annexation of the West Bank. Carney also mentioned the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza as a reason for the new Canadian position. "Preserving the two-state solution means standing with all people who choose peace over violence... a path for lasting peace for Israel requires a viable and stable Palestinian state that recognizes Israel's right for security and peace," Carney said. The other side: The Israeli foreign ministry rejected the Canadian Prime Minister's statement. "The change in the position of the Canadian government at this time is a reward for Hamas and harms the efforts to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza and a framework for the release of the hostages," the Israeli foreign ministry said. State of play: In addition to France, the U.K. and Canada, several other countries are also considering recognizing Palestine during the UN general assembly. Among those countries are two key U.S. allies — Australia and New Zealand. EU members Finland, Portugal and Luxembourg also said they are considering such a move, while Malta has said it plans to recognize Palestine.
