Latest news with #AchimSteiner
Time of India
03-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Hamburg declaration on responsible AI: Global leaders commit to responsible AI for sustainable development
BATHINDA: At the Hamburg Sustainability Conference (HSC), global leaders from the public sector, business, science, and civil society have jointly endorsed the 'Hamburg Declaration on Responsible Artificial Intelligence (AI) for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)'. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The landmark initiative – the first global declaration focused specifically on AI in international development – outlines shared principles and commitments to promote the equitable, inclusive, and sustainable development and deployment of artificial intelligence worldwide, with particular emphasis on empowering developing countries. The declaration centres on ensuring that AI technologies uphold human rights, serve and protect marginalized communities, and combat disinformation. Co-signatories further commit to improving the resource efficiency of AI systems, expanding access to AI education for women and girls, and supporting the growth of local AI innovations in developing countries. Achim Steiner, UNDP administrator, said 'Artificial Intelligence is one of the most transformative forces of our time, yet its potential remains unrealized for most developing countries. The Hamburg declaration on Responsible AI for Sustainable Development represents a crucial commitment to harnessing AI responsibly, ensuring it promotes equity, connects communities, and addresses global inequalities. The Declaration underscores our collective responsibility. Our task now is to ensure AI's extraordinary capabilities drive sustainable development, benefiting everyone, everywhere, equally'. Germany' federal minister for economic cooperation and development, Reem Alabali-Radovan said 'Improving access to fair and sustainable AI worldwide is one of the great challenges of our time. Too many people remain excluded from the benefits of digital innovation. The Hamburg Declaration marks a turning point, AI must become a force for good, a driver of inclusion, equality, and sustainable development'.
Muscat Daily
24-05-2025
- Business
- Muscat Daily
Oman ranked 50th in Human Development Index
Muscat – Oman has improved its ranking by nine places to 50th in the latest Human Development Index (HDI) released last week by United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The 2025 Human Development Report, titled A Matter of Choice: People and Possibilities in the Age of Artificial Intelligence , reveals an unprecedented slowdown in human development progress. It analyses progress across a range of indicators, including health, education and income, which form the basis of the index. Projections for 2024 indicate stalled progress in all regions globally. Oman is classified among countries with 'Very high human development'. The sultanate's HDI now stands at 0.858, up from 0.819 last year. Life expectancy at birth has risen to 80 years from 73.9 years in 2024 and expected years of schooling have increased to 13.4 years from 13 years, while mean years of schooling remain 11.9 years. Gross national income per capita is now US$36,096, up from US$32,967 last year – all key components of HDI. Among Gulf Cooperation Council states, the UAE leads at 15th place, followed by Saudi Arabia (37th), Bahrain (38th), Qatar (43rd), Oman (50th) and Kuwait (52nd). Globally, the highest-ranked countries are Iceland, Norway, Switzerland, Denmark, Germany, Sweden, Australia, Hong Kong, the Netherlands, and Belgium. The lowest-ranked are Niger, Chad, the Central African Republic, Somalia and South Sudan. The report highlights how artificial intelligence could potentially reignite development, but warns of weak progress despite the world moving past the crises of 2020-2021. Excluding these crisis years, the projected increase in global human development for 2025 is the smallest since 1990. 'For decades, we have been on track to reach a very high human development world by 2030, but this deceleration signals a very real threat to global progress,' said Achim Steiner, UNDP Administrator. 'If 2024's sluggish progress becomes 'the new normal', the 2030 milestone could slip by decades making our world less secure, more divided, and more vulnerable to economic and ecological shocks.' The report also highlights growing inequality between countries with 'Low HDI' and 'Very High HDI' for the fourth consecutive year, reversing a long-term trend of narrowing gaps between wealthy and poor nations.
Epoch Times
20-05-2025
- Business
- Epoch Times
Global Human Development Slows to 35-Year Low, UN Says
Human development has declined to a 35-year low, according to the latest report by the U.N. Development Programme (UNDP). The UNDP defines human development as a measurement of people's freedoms and opportunities and ability to improve their wellbeing. Every year, the UNDP calculates the Human Development Index (HDI) for each country using three key factors—life expectancy, years of education, and gross national income. This year, the report titled 'A Matter of Choice: People and Possibilities in the Age of Artificial Intelligence (AI),' noted that the small increase in global human development expected in 2025 is the lowest since 1990, when the measurement started. Since the series' inception in 1990 to 2023, the Asia-Pacific region has shown some of the fastest improvements in human development, with both East Asia and the Pacific and South Asia increasing their HDI values by over 50 percent. However, the latest HDI reveals a global trend: progress is slowing across every region, and, for the fourth year in a row, the gap between low and very high HDI countries has widened. Related Stories 5/9/2025 5/8/2025 'For decades, we have been on track to reach a very high human development world by 2030, but this deceleration signals a very real threat to global progress. If 2024's sluggish progress becomes 'the new normal,' that 2030 milestone could slip by decades—making our world less secure, more divided, and more vulnerable to economic and ecological shocks,' said Achim Steiner, UNDP administrator. Countries with the lowest HDI scores are facing challenges, driven by escalating trade tensions, a deepening debt crisis, and the rise of jobless industrialisation—factors that severely hinder their development prospects. UN Turns to AI The UNDP's survey shows that 50 percent of respondents worldwide assume that their jobs are at risk of being automated, while 60 percent believe that AI will create new jobs. On the other hand, 13 percent are worried about job losses due to AI. Meanwhile, 70 percent of those surveyed in countries with low to medium HDI think that AI will enhance their productivity. 'As AI continues its rapid advance across so many aspects of our lives, we should consider its potential for development. New capabilities are emerging almost daily, and while AI is no panacea, the choices we make hold the potential to reignite human development and open new pathways and possibilities,' said Steiner. Two thirds expect that it will be used in education, health, or work by next year, emphasising the need to close electricity and internet gaps. One in five survey participants said they are already using AI. 'The choices we make in the coming years will define the legacy of this technological transition for human development,' said Pedro Conceição, director of UNDP's Human Development Report Office. Moreover, the report underscores the need to modernise education and healthcare systems to meet the demands of the 21st century.
Saudi Gazette
20-05-2025
- Business
- Saudi Gazette
KSrelief and UNDP sign $5 million agreement to rehabilitate damaged bakeries in Syria
Saudi Gazette report BRUSSELS — The King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre (KSrelief) signed on Monday a $5 million joint project agreement with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) to enhance food security, fostering economic recovery, and strengthening resilience of local communities in Syria by rehabilitating 33 bread production units in eight of Syria's 14 governorates. UNDP Administrator Achim Steiner and KSrelief General Supervisor Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah signed the agreement on the sidelines of the European Humanitarian Forum 2025 in Brussels. The rehabilitation project includes basic restoration work, installation of new production lines, maintenance of existing ones, and the rehabilitation of two mobile bread production units. At present, over 12.4 million people, or more than 60 percent of the population, face food insecurity in Syria after fourteen years of conflict. The damage sustained to government-run bakeries during the crisis has severely disrupted bread production, exacerbating food insecurity in vulnerable communities. The lack of resources for infrastructure repair has further delayed recovery, making the rehabilitation of these bakeries an essential step toward stabilizing the food supply and supporting economic recovery. The project aims to bolster food security in regions with high numbers of returnees, displaced persons, and host communities by reinstating the basic operations of government-operated bakeries that have suffered damage. Through rehabilitation and increased production capacity, the project will help meet the essential needs of the population. Additionally, it is expected to create 500 jobs in the bakery sector, contributing to local economic recovery. This endeavor is part of the Kingdom's ongoing humanitarian efforts, led by KSrelief, to support food security and mitigate the hardships faced by affected populations worldwide, and that is in collaboration with United Nations humanitarian agencies.
India Today
09-05-2025
- Business
- India Today
As the two countries exchange fire, India outpaces Pak in living standards
India and Pakistan exchanged military strikes in April — the sixth such clash since 1947, when both countries gained independence. This latest episode, triggered by a deadly attack in Pahalgam that killed 26 people, comes as both nations (and much of the world) grapple with deeper questions of human progress.A UN report released on May 6 shows that global living standards have barely improved. The Human Development Index, which tracks life expectancy, education, and income, grew the slowest on record in WHY IT MATTERS: As the nuclear-armed neighbours exchange fire, development indicators show that people's quality of life remains fragile, especially in Pakistan and other conflict-prone development edge: India has gradually pulled ahead in key development measures. Life expectancy at birth in India is nearly 72 years, while in Pakistan, it remains around 68. The average Indian now spends over 13 years in school, compared to less than eight in Pakistan. Income levels tell a similar story: India's gross national income per person is $9,047, significantly higher than Pakistan's $5, NUMBERS:0.685 — India's HDI in 2023, ranking 130th out of 1930.544 — Pakistan's HDI in 2023, ranking 168th29.8 per cent of countries fall in the lowest HDI group17.6 per cent of countries are classified as "very high" HDIIN-DEPTH: A new UN report shows that global progress on the core HDI pillars of health, education, and income has nearly stalled. While there was some recovery after the Covid-19 pandemic, 2023 marked the slowest HDI growth since tracking began in HDI rose from 0.676 in 2022 (ranked 133rd) to 0.685 in 2023 (ranked 130th). It remains in the medium human development category but is edging closer to the high development threshold. Pakistan, meanwhile, remains in the lower range, with an HDI of 0.544 and a ranking of 168 compared to 164 in 2022. The gap between the two countries continues to PICTURE: The HDI is a simple but powerful way to measure how well people live. It captures more than income. It reflects life expectancy, education, and opportunity. As geopolitical tensions escalate, the data shows that millions still lack access to basic human development. Nearly one-third of the world's countries are still classified as having "very low" SAID WHAT: "For decades, we have been on track to reach a very high human development world by 2030, but this deceleration signals a very real threat to global progress," said Achim Steiner, UNDP Administrator."If 2024's sluggish progress becomes the new normal, that 2030 milestone could slip by decades, making our world less secure, more divided, and more vulnerable to economic and ecological shocks," UNDP officials InMust Watch
