Latest news with #Agenda2030
Mint
11 hours ago
- Politics
- Mint
US Skips UN Ocean Conference After Rejecting Development Goals
(Bloomberg) -- The US is only sending observers to a UN conference on protecting the oceans that began Monday in France, part of the Trump administration's broader retreat from multilateral institutions and the fight against climate change. The administration objects to the conference's focus on a UN goal centered around the conservation and sustainable use of the oceans and marine resources, the State Department said in a statement. President Donald Trump's team has rejected the idea behind the Sustainable Development Goals, a list of aspirations established in 2015. Implementing the oceans-related goal is 'at odds' with the US position, the department said. Two members of the Presidential Environmental Advisory Task Force will attend as observers. Normally the US government would send scientists Trump has sought to reverse the Biden administration's policies to fight climate change. On his first day in office, the president withdrew the US from the Paris Agreement on climate change and has since cut funding on many related programs. Earlier this year, a US representative to the UN in March said Washington 'rejects and denounces' the UN's 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and related SDGs, which outlines 17 goals aimed at addressing challenges around the globe. 'Agenda 2030 and the SDGs advance a program of soft global governance that is inconsistent with US sovereignty and adverse to the rights and interests of Americans,' Edward Heartney, a State Department diplomat, told a General Assembly meeting in March. Representatives from more than 50 nations are gathered in Nice this week for the oceans event, including Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and Argentina's Javier Milei. French President Emmanuel Macron welcomed participants and delivered remarks at the opening of the conference Monday. More stories like this are available on
Zawya
16-05-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Swiss innovation, green tech, and art shine at Oman Sustainability Week 2025
Muscat: The Swiss Embassy in Oman is proud to host a pavilion at the Oman Sustainability Week (OSW) 2025 Exhibition, taking place from 12 to 14 May at the Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre. Seventeen Swiss companies from diverse sectors - including renewable energy technology, sustainable infrastructure, construction, environmental technology, carbon storage, sustainable financing, cybersecurity and artificial intelligence - are represented at the pavilion. Notable participants include ABB, AIK Technik, Arva Greentech, Burckhardt Compression, Dreamlab Technologies, Edmond de Rothschild, Georg Fischer Corys, ReadyMix Holcim, Kanadevia Inova, Landis + Gyr, LGT, Macun, MAN Energy Solutions Switzerland, Reichle & De-Massari, SGS, Swiss AI and Synhelion. A delegation will also travel to Muscat for the OSW 2025, comprising the Delegate of the Swiss Federal Council for the Agenda 2030 and representatives from the Swiss Federal Office of Energy, Swissmem (the Swiss association for mechanical and electrical engineering industries), the Swiss Export Risk Insurance (SERV), the Swiss Business Hub Middle East, the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology (Empa), and the Oman Switzerland Friendship Association (OSFA). The Delegate for the Agenda 2030 and several company representatives will participate in the International Sustainability Resources & Technology Conference (ISRTC) and the OSW and OPES Talks, sharing insights into their vision and innovative solutions. Additionally, a workshop will be held between the Swiss Delegate for the Agenda 2030 and the Directorate of Sustainable Development at the Ministry of Economy focusing on strategies to achieve the national targets of the sustainable development goals (SDGs). In celebration of the Oman Sustainability Week, the Swiss Embassy is also unveiling a new mural at SOHAR Port and Freezone by the renowned Swiss artist duo Nevercrew. The artwork, portraying a fragile glass whale sheltering a miniature marine environment, reflects the delicate balance between human activity and nature. Through imagery tied to water and green hydrogen, the mural also points to the vital role of alternative energy in creating a sustainable tomorrow and serves as a powerful visual reminder of our shared responsibility to protect the environment. H.E. Dr. Thomas Oertle, Ambassador of Switzerland to Oman, remarked: 'The Swiss pavilion will likely be one of the most buzzing places at OSW with many state-of-the-art solutions being presented to advance the sustainability agenda. Switzerland – ranked consistently for the past 15 years as the world's most innovative country – reaffirms its commitment to fostering collaboration and exchange between the two like-minded nations, Oman and Switzerland.' © Muscat Media Group Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
Times of Oman
14-05-2025
- Business
- Times of Oman
Swiss innovation, green tech, and art shine at Oman Sustainability Week 2025
Muscat: The Swiss Embassy in Oman is proud to host a pavilion at the Oman Sustainability Week (OSW) 2025 Exhibition, taking place from 12 to 14 May at the Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre. Seventeen Swiss companies from diverse sectors - including renewable energy technology, sustainable infrastructure, construction, environmental technology, carbon storage, sustainable financing, cybersecurity and artificial intelligence - are represented at the pavilion. Notable participants include ABB, AIK Technik, Arva Greentech, Burckhardt Compression, Dreamlab Technologies, Edmond de Rothschild, Georg Fischer Corys, ReadyMix Holcim, Kanadevia Inova, Landis + Gyr, LGT, Macun, MAN Energy Solutions Switzerland, Reichle & De-Massari, SGS, Swiss AI and Synhelion. A delegation will also travel to Muscat for the OSW 2025, comprising the Delegate of the Swiss Federal Council for the Agenda 2030 and representatives from the Swiss Federal Office of Energy, Swissmem (the Swiss association for mechanical and electrical engineering industries), the Swiss Export Risk Insurance (SERV), the Swiss Business Hub Middle East, the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology (Empa), and the Oman Switzerland Friendship Association (OSFA). The Delegate for the Agenda 2030 and several company representatives will participate in the International Sustainability Resources & Technology Conference (ISRTC) and the OSW and OPES Talks, sharing insights into their vision and innovative solutions. Additionally, a workshop will be held between the Swiss Delegate for the Agenda 2030 and the Directorate of Sustainable Development at the Ministry of Economy focusing on strategies to achieve the national targets of the sustainable development goals (SDGs). In celebration of the Oman Sustainability Week, the Swiss Embassy is also unveiling a new mural at SOHAR Port and Freezone by the renowned Swiss artist duo Nevercrew. The artwork, portraying a fragile glass whale sheltering a miniature marine environment, reflects the delicate balance between human activity and nature. Through imagery tied to water and green hydrogen, the mural also points to the vital role of alternative energy in creating a sustainable tomorrow and serves as a powerful visual reminder of our shared responsibility to protect the environment. H.E. Dr. Thomas Oertle, Ambassador of Switzerland to Oman, remarked: 'The Swiss pavilion will likely be one of the most buzzing places at OSW with many state-of-the-art solutions being presented to advance the sustainability agenda. Switzerland – ranked consistently for the past 15 years as the world's most innovative country – reaffirms its commitment to fostering collaboration and exchange between the two like-minded nations, Oman and Switzerland.'
Local Germany
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Local Germany
Merz to set out plans for Germany in first Bundestag address as chancellor
Just over a week after suffering a bruising defeat at the hands of MPs, Merz is set to return to the Bundestag on Wednesday to give his first statement as Chancellor. On Tuesday, May 6th, the CDU leader initially failed to secure the votes he needed to be confirmed in Germany's top job, sparking an afternoon of closed-door meetings and recriminations. Though Merz snuck through on the second vote, the initial failed vote - a first in German history - has placed him under even harsher scrutiny. When he takes to the podium on Wednesday afternoon, the Chancellor will be hoping to answer some of these recriminations. Described by CDU General Secretary Carsten Linnemann as "one of the most important speeches this year", Merz will be setting out his plans for government, but also attempting to set the mood in the country. In a 45-minute speech at 1pm, the Chancellor is likely to detail some of the key projects he wants to focus on ahead of the summer recess in July. These include lowering energy prices to ease the burden on companies and new tax incentives to get pensions to stay in the work for even longer. When it comes to tax and bureaucracy, Merz has previously said that "far-reaching reforms are necessary." READ ALSO: How Germany's new coalition will affect your bank balance Also on the agenda in the coming weeks will be Defence Minister Boris Pistorius' plans to implement a voluntary military service scheme for the Bundeswehr. The SPD politician has been preparing the legislation behind closed doors and says it will be ready to be voted on this term. Migration - a key issue in the CDU and CSU's election campaign - is also likely to get a mention. Immediately after taking office last week, Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt (CSU) ordered tougher checks at the borders and the rejection of all asylum seekers , provoking consternation in neighbouring countries. Advertisement Another major focus will be foreign policy, with Merz putting global tensions and geopolitical events centre stage. A day after his chaotic election as Chancellor, the CDU leader set off on trips to Warsaw and Paris, and has since visited Brussels and Kyiv. "The world is in such disarray that a Federal Chancellor has to take care of foreign policy much more than in recent years and decades," he explained in recent days. READ ALSO: What's first on the new German government's to-do list ahead of summer? This means that any mention of the budget is likely to be left to Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil, the co-leader of the SPD. According to a recent report in Handelsblatt , the government is likely to collect tens of billions less in taxes over the coming years than previously expected, putting Klingbeil in a difficult bind. Advertisement Steering away from the conservatives' Agenda 2030 election promises, a number of generous social policies were mentioned in the CDU/CSU and SPD's coalition pact - but these were all subject to financing. Amid hefty tax cuts and a weak economy, the new Finance Minister will have to reconcile this financial black hole with some bold promises on government spending.
Daily Maverick
22-04-2025
- Politics
- Daily Maverick
A chilling new era as US embraces autocracy while disregarding rule of law and democracy
While submerged by the 'flooding of the zone', as former Trump strategist Steve Bannon termed it, moments of clarity are rare. But every now and again, a telling moment cuts through the chaos. Two moments over the past few weeks stand out as emblematic, even if they have been largely drowned out in the media by the harrumphing over tariffs. Last month the United Nations General Assembly voted on two symbolic resolutions; to declare 28 January the 'International Day of Peaceful Coexistence' and 12 July the 'International Day of Hope'. One might think this a foregone conclusion. Why would any nation be against such concepts? Predictably, every country voted in favour of the resolution, apart from one: the United States of America. But even more astonishing than the lone dissenting vote was the justification for it. Edward Heartney, a veteran US career diplomat with a long track record in economic diplomacy, delivered a blistering rejection — and not just of the symbolic days but of the entire UN framework, including the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). According to Heartney, these goals represented a form of 'soft global governance' that undermined US sovereignty, despite the country playing a critical role in their adoption in 2015. The US argued that the UN's embrace of peaceful coexistence and dialogue among civilisations was a front operation for what it sees as a kind of Chinese Trojan horse. 'We have a concern that this resolution is a reaffirmation of Agenda 2030 and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Although framed in neutral language, Agenda 2030 and the SDGs advance a program of soft global governance that is inconsistent with US sovereignty and adverse to the rights and interests of Americans,' read the official statement. 'We must care first and foremost for our own citizens above others… President Trump set a clear and overdue course correction on 'gender' and climate ideology, which pervade the SDGs. The concept of 'dialogue among civilisations' is rooted in President Xi Jinping's Global Civilization Initiative.' The language was Kafkaesque in its delusional, paranoid insecurity. Amid the flood of headlines that have drowned perspective since 20 January 2025, that the very concept of the Sustainable Development Goals, which have been at the heart of at least the rhetoric of international affairs and development for years, if not always at the crux of its reality, is now being jettisoned by the world's most powerful country is a moment of clarity as to how far the US has changed or, depending on your point of view, has regressed. Even more alarming was what happened on 14 April, when Donald Trump met with El Salvador's strongman vigilante president, Nayib Bukele. That meeting was the moment when the United States openly disregarded a unanimous Supreme Court ruling, choosing instead to align with a foreign autocrat over its own judiciary. Simply put, it was then that the US ceased to have a law-abiding government. The case in question involved the illegal deportation of Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia. The Supreme Court had ruled 9-0 that Garcia must be returned to the US. Trump ignored the ruling, falsely claiming the court had sided with him. His attorney-general, secretary of state, and vice-president followed suit. Bukele, known for his authoritarian streak and for spending $163-million (R3-billion) of taxpayers' money gambling on Bitcoin, happily played along. In terms of clarifying moments, Trump's meeting with Bukele is arguably equal to the public humiliation of Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky in late February. Indeed, the contrast is telling. Zelensky, whose country has been fighting for its existence against a ruthless intruder in the shape of Vladimir Putin, was scolded for being insufficiently thankful for US military aid and for failing to wear a suit. A tieless Bukele was showered with praise. Together, they dismissed the court's ruling and labelled Garcia a terrorist — without evidence. The message to the world was unmistakable: under Trump, America's government shows more deference to foreign strongmen than to its own legal institutions. In a chilling aside, Trump even joked about building more supermax prisons in El Salvador — not for foreigners, but for US citizens he labels ' homegrown ' deportees. The implication? If he deems you a threat — a gang member, a terrorist sympathiser, or simply un-American — due process may no longer apply. The official position of the world's oldest constitutional republic is that the courts should have no say in who its executive deports and on what grounds. Foreign travellers to the US should beware. They can be detained without recourse. Americans should too. Bukele is effectively playing host to an American gulag, a kind of outsourced Guantanamo. Meanwhile, warning signs for the US economy are flashing. Morgan Stanley analysts cautioned last week that investors should brace for repeated surprises, referencing Trump's ever-changing justifications for tariffs, saying that they 'should be prepared to be fooled many more times'. And sure enough, Trump's latest target is Jerome Powell and the independence of the Federal Reserve. Markets have sold off again heavily this week, unsurprisingly. But the message extends beyond economics. 'Fool me once, shame on you…' could now apply to American governance itself. Trump has pardoned white-collar criminals who praised or donated to him. He has suspended laws requiring transparency in corporate ownership and weakened anti-bribery measures, while deporting those who merely don't agree with the strong-arming agenda of the administration. If there is any government acting as a Trojan horse, it is not China. The US — once the chief architect and guarantor of the global world order and rule of law — is now seemingly intent on dismantling it. For other nations, and for citizens both around the world and in the US itself, the lesson is clear: the rules have changed. In this new, ruthless world, adapting quickly is the only way to survive. DM
