Latest news with #SDG
Arab News
4 hours ago
- Business
- Arab News
Madinah leads global discussion on sustainability
RIYADH: Madinah Mayor and CEO of the Madinah Region Development Authority Fahad Albulihshi inaugurated an event at the UN headquarters in New York, emphasizing the critical role of local action in achieving global sustainability goals. The event, titled 'Act Local, Accelerate Global: Advancing Inclusive, Science- and Evidence-Based Solutions for SDG Localization in the Arab Region,' was part of the UN High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development. It underscored the need for inclusive, data-driven approaches to localize the Sustainable Development Goals effectively and ensure no one is left behind, according to the Saudi Press Agency. This year's participation reflects the Kingdom's alignment of Vision 2030 with the global SDG framework and highlights Madinah's efforts in localizing the SDGs and adopting the Quality of Life Index initiative. Albulihshi noted that cities are responsible for implementing 65 percent of the SDGs, adding that the availability and quality of urban data remain major challenges. He stressed the importance of global frameworks in guiding sustainable local development. The Madinah Region Development Authority showcased its Atlas of Sustainable Development for the city and its neighborhoods, along with a report on building a risk-resilient future — both key tools for informed sustainable development decisions. Organized by the Madinah Region Development Authority in collaboration with the UN Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia, United Cities and Local Governments Middle East and West Asia, the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction, and the World Council on City Data, the event brought together regional and international partners. On the sidelines, the mayor will meet with local and regional government representatives to discuss cooperation on the UN 2030 Agenda, including governance, inclusive services, and local investment to support regional SDG progress. The UN forum, running through to July 23, also featured dialogue sessions on global frameworks for resilient urban development and strategies to create value for cities through data-driven trends.
Barnama
5 hours ago
- General
- Barnama
MTA, EGTB Drive Marine Conservation Through ‘Ghost Net & Beach Cleanup' Campaign In Perak
LUMUT, July 19 (Bernama) -- The 'Ghost Net & Beach Cleanup' campaign held around Teluk Nipah, Pulau Pangkor, and the waters of Pulau Sembilan has successfully raised public awareness of the dangers of abandoned fishing nets to marine life while contributing to the preservation of the marine ecosystem. The initiative, organised by the Malaysian Takaful Association (MTA) in collaboration with Etiqa General Takaful Berhad (EGTB) and supported by the Nature Ocean Advocate Society (NOAS), Universiti Sultan Azlan Shah (USAS) and the Perak State Parks Corporation, involved over 80 volunteers, including 50 students, 12 certified divers, 11 NOAS professional divers and representatives from relevant agencies. MTA chief executive officer Mohd Radzuan Mohamed said the campaign was aimed at raising public awareness on the importance of preserving the environment, particularly the marine ecosystem, which was under growing threat due to pollution. 'This campaign reflects the Takaful industry's commitment to environmental sustainability, in line with the Hijrah27 Transformation Plan under Strategic Thrust 8 (Sustainability & ESG), as part of efforts to support Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 14: Life Below Water, which emphasises the conservation of marine resources. 'As a value-based industry, the Takaful sector not only protects people but also the environment. We hope this initiative will inspire more parties to incorporate sustainability into their operations,' he said when met by Bernama here today. Also present at the programme were Etiqa General Takaful Berhad chief executive officer Shahrul Azuan Mohamed, USAS vice-chancellor Prof Datuk Dr Wan Sabri Wan Yusof and USAS deputy vice-chancellor (Student Affairs and Industry Networking) Prof Dr Shamsul Jamili Yeop. Mohd Radzuan said MTA, in collaboration with its strategic partners, would continue the conservation programme at other locations as part of its corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives. He said the programme, which was a continuation of the 'Echoes of the Deep' photo exhibition launched at the AICB Knowledge Centre in Kuala Lumpur last month, had successfully removed 328 kilogrammes (kg) of ghost nets from the seabed off Pulau Sembilan. He added that more than 125 kg of rubbish, including food and drink packaging and discarded items, were collected along a one-kilometre (km) stretch of Teluk Nipah beach.
Indian Express
a day ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
World Bank claims a drastic reduction in inequality in India. There is more to the story
Written by Deepanshu Mohan A recent World Bank report has claimed a drastic reduction in inequality in India between 2011 and 2022. However, it misses a fundamental conceptual and measurable distinction between income surveys and consumption surveys. This distinction is critical, as an income-based Gini index is typically higher — reflecting greater inequality — whereas a consumption-based Gini is lower, particularly in low- and middle-income countries where such surveys are more common. Beyond these methodological issues, normative concerns around how inequality is conceptualised and measured also deserve deeper scrutiny — something the World Bank report fails to elucidate. In addition to the World Bank study, the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) released the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) National Indicator Framework Progress Report 2025, which tracks India's performance across 17 SDGs using 284 indicators. While this report is a valuable tool for aligning India's metrics with global targets, it primarily emphasises administrative progress and aggregate outcomes — overlooking disparities at the ground level in access, affordability, and inclusion. These dimensions are critical to measuring and understanding relative poverty and inequality. This is where the Access (In)Equality Index (AEI) 2025, developed annually by the Centre for New Economic Studies (CNES), offers a vital complement to the current debate on inequality assessment. Grounded in the context and patterns of economic development in low- and middle-income countries, the AEI draws on official data sources and reorganises indicators through a disaggregated, intersectional lens using the 4A framework: Availability, Affordability, Approachability, and Appropriateness. These are then assessed across five measurable pillars: Access to Basic Amenities, Access to Healthcare, Access to Education, Access to Socio-Economic Security, and Access to Legal Recourse. Take, for example, the Basic Amenities pillar. The AEI correlates with SDG-NIF indicators drawn from SDGs 1, 6, 7, and 11—including SDG 6.1.1 (proportion of households with piped water supply), 6.2.1 (households with improved sanitation/toilet facilities), 7.1.1 (households using clean cooking fuel or electricity), and 11.1.1 (access to affordable, safe housing under schemes like PMAY-U). The SDG-NIF Progress Report 2025 presents some encouraging trends. Piped water coverage, for instance, rose from 21.33% in 2019–20 to 80.22% in 2024–25. Access to clean cooking fuel reportedly exceeded 100% coverage in some years, indicating strong programmatic reach. Similarly, over 97% of schools had separate toilets for girls by 2023–24. However, the AEI ranks states not only on the presence of infrastructure but also on its functionality, usability, and inclusivity. Goa, for instance, scores highest in the Basic Amenities pillar (0.97), while Jharkhand (0.31), Bihar (0.38), and Odisha (0.39) lag significantly behind. Although the SDG-NIF reports progress in bringing water 'within premises,' the AEI shows that only 25% of states have piped water coverage exceeding 50%. This implies that in most states, households still fetch water from outside their homes—a burden that falls disproportionately on women. In healthcare, the AEI aligns with SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being, referencing indicators like institutional delivery rates (SDG 3.1.2), immunisation coverage (SDG 3.b.1), out-of-pocket expenditure on health (SDG 3.8.2), and the doctor-to-population ratio. Yet, the AEI provides a more nuanced view by disaggregating access by geography and affordability. While Goa (93%) and Tamil Nadu (89.9%) report high levels of adequate antenatal care, Nagaland reports just 20.7%—highlighting critical gaps in maternal healthcare in the Northeast and other hilly regions. In terms of socio-economic security, both the SDG-NIF and AEI engage with indicators from SDGs 1 (No Poverty), 5 (Gender Equality), 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), and 10 (Reduced Inequalities). National-level data shows steady progress: the labour force participation rate (LFPR) among individuals aged 15–59 increased from 61.6% in 2022–23 to 64.3% in 2023–24. Banking outlets per 100,000 population rose from 59.9 in 2015–16 to a peak of 267.5 in 2021–22, before stabilising at 144.3 in 2023–24. ATM expansion has been more modest, growing from 16.5 to 18.5 in the same period. The AEI contextualises these outcomes by exposing disparities in access to employment, financial infrastructure, and income equity. Andhra Pradesh leads in the socio-economic security pillar with a score of 0.70, followed by Goa (0.60), while Bihar (0.18), Assam, and Manipur (around 0.21 each) perform the worst. Notably, all five southern states feature among the top eight performers, whereas many northeastern states consistently rank at the bottom—reflecting the role of policy focus and institutional strength. In education, both SDG-NIF and AEI monitor indicators aligned with SDG 4: Quality Education. While SDG-NIF time-series data shows improvement, the AEI reveals large disparities in actual access and quality. The proportion of secondary and higher secondary schools with internet access increased from 46.3% in 2015–16 to 78.5% in 2023–24. However, AEI data shows that in over half of Indian states, less than 50% of schools have functional computers, and only 25% of states surpass 75% coverage. In terms of digital readiness, only Kerala and Gujarat exceed 60% school-level internet coverage. The Access to Legal Recourse pillar, aligned with SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions, assesses the functionality and inclusiveness of judicial systems. The SDG-NIF paints a modest picture: courts per lakh population increased from 1.82 in 2016 to 1.93 in 2024, and judges from 1.33 to 1.55 in the same period — suggesting incremental capacity building. The AEI adds an equity lens by incorporating gender-disaggregated data on representation in legal institutions. Sikkim leads with 33.3% of judges being women — an encouraging sign. By contrast, states such as Bihar, Uttarakhand, Manipur, Meghalaya, and Tripura report 0% women judges, underscoring persistent gender exclusion. Moreover, the SDG-NIF records that 1.2% of women aged 18–29 reported experiencing sexual violence before the age of 18 (2019–21), a figure likely understated due to underreporting and cultural stigma. The writer is Professor of Economics and Dean, IDEAS, Office of Interdisciplinary Studies; Director, Centre for New Economics Studies, OP Jindal Global University; and currently Visiting Professor at the London School of Economics and Visiting Research Fellow, University of Oxford. Ankur Singh and Aditi Desai, Research Analysts at CNES, contributed to this column
Oujda City
2 days ago
- Business
- Oujda City
AI Will Reshape Millions of Jobs—ESCWA Calls for Urgent Skills Shift in the Arab Region
Press Release AI Will Reshape Millions of Jobs—ESCWA Calls for Urgent Skills Shift in the Arab Region Beirut, 17 July 2025–As artificial intelligence (AI) rapidly reshapes the global landscape, it brings with it a host of complex challenges that demand urgent attention. Ethical dilemmas, data governance concerns, algorithmic bias, and the risk of exacerbating existing inequalities are all intensifying as AI technologies evolve. These risks underscore the critical need for robust regulatory frameworks and inclusive policymaking to ensure AI development remains equitable and responsible. Amid this paradigm shift, the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) released a report on 'Artificial Intelligence Futures for the Arab Region,' exploring the transformative power of AI and its potential to revolutionize key sectors like health care, education, and government services, and examining its far-reaching implications for the region through 2040. The world is accelerating AI adoption at an unprecedented pace. Since 2022, the Arab region has been steadily advancing its AI capabilities—surpassing even the adoption rates of mobile phones and the internet. While AI is projected to displace approximately 83 million jobs globally, it is also expected to create 69 million new ones. 'The pace of AI advancement leaves no room for delay,' said ESCWA Executive Secretary Rola Dashti. 'Arab leaders must act decisively to unlock its transformative power while mitigating the complex risks it introduces.' The report reveals that by the end of 2024, 35% of the world's businesses had integrated AI technologies into their operations, while another 42% were considering AI for future implementation. Moreover, over half of enterprises with more than 5,000 employees are already utilizing AI. Additionally, more than 90% of government organizations surveyed globally are either using or exploring AI. AI is also reshaping the labour market, according to the report. Skill gaps remain the most significant barrier to business transformation, with 63% of employers identifying this as a top challenge between 2025 and 2030. In response, 85% of employers plan to invest in workforce upskilling, while 70% intend to hire talent with new skills. In the Arab region, AI is increasingly seen as a driver of innovation and sustainable development. The report explores pathways for further embracing it, namely optimizing AI technologies and partnerships for local priorities; investing in AI services rooted in the Arab region's language and culture as a whole; or accelerating the application of AI against specific Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) targets. 'The report offers a timely road map to ensure that AI becomes a catalyst for inclusive, equitable, and sustainable development, aligned with the region's unique aspirations and priorities,' Dashti added. The report calls for the development and adoption of a unified AI governance framework for the region tackling privacy, safety and ethical concerns; the diversification of partnerships for AI, namely with the Global South; the establishment of a region-wide job skill programme leveraging AI tools; and the promotion of data sharing across the region on open source platforms to encourage AI innovation for advancing the SDGs. It also concludes with stressing the need for a proactive, cross-disciplinary approach to AI policy that looks beyond the short term and considers the long-term, multigenerational implications of this technological shift. About ESCWA One of five United Nations regional commissions, ESCWA supports inclusive and sustainable economic and social development in Arab States, and works on enhancing regional integration.
Scoop
2 days ago
- General
- Scoop
Indigenous Youth Meet Trailblazers Ahead Of Nelson Mandela Day
17 July 2025 Accompanied by their parents and mentors from the midwestern state of Wisconsin, the group wore handmade ribbon skirts and vests featuring seven coloured bands, each symbolizing a Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) of personal significance, such as good health and gender equality. Also visiting the UN in New York for the first time that day was Brenda Reynolds, a social worker from Canada and a member of the Fishing Lake First Nation. She was joined by her husband, Robert Buckle, and 12-year-old granddaughter Lillian, and wore one of her own ribbon skirts for the occasion. Ms. Reynolds will be awarded the 2025 United Nations Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela Prize on 18 July. The Prize, presented every five years, recognizes two individuals whose life work exemplifies service to humanity. Ms. Reynolds will receive the award alongside Kennedy Odede, a social entrepreneur from Kenya. Agents of change After a UN tour (unanimously enjoyed) and a quick stop for lunch and souvenirs at the UN Bookshop (where one plushie hummingbird was traded for a green turtle named 'Coral'), the group settled into a briefing room. Onstage, Ms. Reynolds was joined by Mirian Masaquiza Jerez, a Kichwa woman from Ecuador and a Social Affairs Officer at the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA), easily recognized in the UN corridors for always wearing traditional regalia from her Indigenous community of Salasaka, 'Wherever you go to public spaces, wear who you are,' she said. 'The UN is the place to raise your voice. Be free to be who you are.' Encouraging them to speak their languages and honour their cultures, Ms. Masaquiza urged the young students to see themselves as agents of change. 'You didn't come by invitation. You came because you belong,' she said. 'You are the future. You are the present. As Indigenous, we have the space. Use it.' A painful past Ms. Reynolds shared her personal story with the group, reflecting on her early career as a counsellor at Gordon's Indian Residential School in Saskatchewan, the last federally funded residential school to close in Canada. She described seeing children as young as five separated from their families for a year at a time and issued shirts with numbers instead of their names written inside: 'The only other time I had seen people identified that way was when Jewish people had numbers tattooed on them.' During her first year at Gordon's in 1988, a young girl confided that she had been abused. By the next morning, 17 would come forward, launching what would become the province's first major residential school abuse case. Ms. Reynolds, then labeled a 'troublemaker,' went on to help shape the Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement and advise the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. Her work has impacted hundreds of thousands of Indigenous People across Canada. The room echoed with laughter, knowing nods and tears, and phrases from Ojibwe and other languages represented by the Indigenous Peoples in the room, including Potawatomi, Ho-Chunk, Ojibwe, Menomonee, Oneida, Navajo, Hawaiian, Pacific Islander, and Afro-Indigenous communities. Coming full circle The youth came from the Daughters of Tradition and the Sons of Tradition, part of a long-running healing initiative by Milwaukee's Healing Intergenerational Roots (HIR) Wellness Institute, which supports Indigenous communities with no-cost, comprehensive mental healthcare and other services. The founder, Lea S. Denny, wants Indigenous youth to see themselves in positions of power. This particular group has been together for eight years, with some heading off to college in the fall. One father, attending with his three daughters, reflected on raising Indigenous youth in the digital age. 'We want them to access the world out there,' he said, 'but also protect the inside world we want to hold dear.' He said he also offered the advice that 'if you don't see yourself on the screen, sometimes you have to be the first.' The day finished with hugs and exchanges of handmade leis as a symbol of the breath of life and sharing a good life source. They will reunite on 18 July to see Ms. Reynolds accept the Mandela Prize in the General Assembly Hall. Before then, a planned detour to visit Times Square. Meanwhile, Ms. Reynolds and her family discussed their plans for a Broadway show. On the way out, she paused to hug a life-sized bronze statue of Nelson Mandela, a gift from the South African Government to the UN. 'I started my work with children,' she said. 'And today, I spoke to children. This feels full circle for me.'
