The Time to Act Is
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Sustainable Development Goals
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS DEVELOPMENT GOALS SUSTAINABLE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS | TRANSFORMING OUR WORLD Transforming our world CONTRIBUTORS INCLUDE María Fernanda Espinosa Achim Steiner | Henrietta Fore Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka Michelle Bachelet | Mark Lowcock Mukhisa Kituyi | Devi Sridhar Louis Charbonneau | Liu Zhenmin Ellen MacArthur | Edward Barbier Jonathan Glennie | Lysa John HERMES SDG ENGAGEMENT Aiming to generate outcomes that benefi t people, the planet and investors, through investments aligned with the UN SDGs We are committed to supporting the UN SDGs and engage with businesses to encourage their adoption. It is our belief that the enduring success of companies is intertwined with that of the economies, communities and environments in which they operate. Visit www.hermes-investment.com The value of investments and the income from them can fall as well as rise and you may not get back the original amount invested. For Professional Investors only. Issued and approved by Hermes Investment Management Limited which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Registered address: Sixth fl oor, 150 Cheapside, London EC2V 6ET. Telephone calls will be recorded for training and monitoring purposes. Hermes.indd0005957_SDG_Engagement_Fund_Press_276x210.indd 1 1 03/06/201910/04/2019 22:0113:58 CONTENTS 3 Contents FOREWORDS 20 What to expect from the new champions Where action by national governments on SDG 8 The 2030 Agenda: our answer to the naysayers implementation is lacking, can others fill the void? By María Fernanda Espinosa, By Adriana Erthal Abdenur President, 73rd session, United Nations General Assembly 24 Human development and the SDGs 10 Cooperation can change everything UNDP’s Human Development Report turns 30 next year. -
First International Forum for the Rights of Mother Earth
First International Forum for the Rights of Mother Earth Celebrating World Environment Day Mexico City | June 1-5 2016 First International Forum for the Rights of Mother Earth 2 Movement: horizon, path, and destiny Horizon It is time to globalize legislation for the Rights of Mother Earth and establish a Universal Declaration of the Rights of Nature, to recog- nize her as a living being- the biggest of all-, to protect her, restore her, and link her to humanity by way of respect and preservation of all her species. Only this action can stop the irrational exploitation and the utilita- rian view that today drives the relationship between mankind and Nature. Therefore, this declaration is the first step to ensure the future of the innumerable forms of existence, including the human species, on our planet. Path Mexico has gained significant legal steps to shift from an anthro- pocentric to a biocentric view, such as the Law of Protection of the Earth in Mexico City and the constitutional recognition of the rights of Nature in the state of Guerrero. These legislative advancements First International Forum for the Rights of Mother Earth 3 motivate various national and international organizations and so- cial networks to convene the First International Forum for the Ri- ghts of Mother Earth on June 1st through 5th, 2016 in Mexico City, surrounding World Environment Day, celebrated on June 5th. Destiny The First International Forum for the Rights of Mother Earth brings legislators, scientists, philosophers, ecologists, artists, keepers of ancient traditions, and social and spiritual leaders together to de- fine actions that ignite social awareness —extensive, diverse, and in solidarity— centered around the importance of legislating the Rights of Mother Earth. -
Sustainability/Environment/Clean Energy Awareness & Event Dates
Sustainability/Environment/Clean Energy Awareness & Event Dates: January January 1st: New Year’s Day– Resolve to find new ways to become more eco-friendly! February • February 2nd: World Wetlands Day • February 20th: World Day of Social Justice • February 27th: World Polar Bear Day March • March 3rd: World Wildlife Day • March 8th: International Women’s Day • March 14th: International Day of Action for Rivers • March 18th: Global Recycling Day • March 21st: International Day of Forests • March 22nd: World Water Day • March 23rd: World Meteorological Day (Climate change) • Late March: Earth Hour April • First full week of April: Arbor Day • April 22nd: Earth Day • Last Saturday of April: Save the Frogs Day May • All month: National Bike Month • Bike to Work Week 2021 May 17-23, 2021 Bike to Work Day May 21! • Bike to Work Day • 2nd week of month: International Compost Awareness week Composting Awareness • Second Week in May: Endangered Species Day June • June 5th: World Environment Day • June 8th: World Oceans Day • First Saturday of June: National Trails Day • June 17th: World Day to combat Desertification and Drought • June 22nd: World Rainforest Day July • All Month: Plastic Free July August • August 12th: International Youth Day September • Third weekend in September: Clean up the World Campaign • September 21st: Zero Emissions Day • September 22nd: Car Free Day • September 26th: World Environmental Health Day • Fourth Sunday of September: World Rivers Day • Last week in September: National Clean Energy Week October • All Month: Energy Awareness Month • All Month: Campus Sustainability Month • October 5th: Energy Efficiency Day • October 16th: World Food Day • October 24th: International Day of Climate Action November • November 15th: America Recycles Day • November 17th: Take a Hike Day • After Thanksgiving: Buy Nothing Day December • December 5th: International Volunteers Day and World Soil Day . -
Climate Change, Development and Energy Problems in South Africa: Another World Is Possible
CLIMATE CHANGE, DEVELOPMENT AND ENERGY PROBLEMS IN SOUTH AFRICA: ANOTHER WORLD IS POSSIBLE. Earthlife Africa Jhb Earthlife Africa Jhb 20 CONTENTS Abbreviations 1 Foreword 2 Executive summary 4 Introduction 8 The long road to realising change 10 South Africa’s dilemma 14 Climate change in South Africa 17 The face of climate change 24 Is government response to climate change adequate? 29 The obstacles 34 Another world is possible 37 Conclusion 45 Afterword 47 Bibliography 48 ABBREVIATIONS Asgisa Accelerated and Shared Growth Initiative for South Africa BCLMP Benguela Current Large Marine Ecosystem Programme CDM Clean Development Mechanism CDP Carbon Disclosure Project CO2 Carbon Dioxide CTL Coal to Liquid DEAT Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism GDP Gross Domestic Product GEAR Growth, Employment and Redistribution Strategy GHG Greenhouse gases GWC Growth Without Constraints GWh Gigawatt hour HLG High Level Group IPCC Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change JSE Johannesburg Securities Exchange KWh Kilowatt hour LTMS Long Term Mitigation Scenarios NCCS National Climate Change Strategy NEMA National Environmental Management Act NGO Non-governmental Organisation OCGT Open-Cycle Gas Turbines RBS Required By Science RDP Reconstruction and Development Programme TAC Treatment Action Campaign UNFCCC United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change 1 FOREWORD The scientific verdict is in; our planet is heating up and human activity is the cause. We already see indications of a dire future, with the Arctic ice sheet melting at rates faster than scientists predicted, and methane already bubbling up from the ocean floor. In South Africa, we already see changes in species distribution patterns, and indications of changes to wind and rainfall patterns. -
Children and Youth in the Climate Crisis Ann Sanson,1 Marco Bellemo2
EDITORIAL Children and youth in the climate crisis Ann Sanson,1 Marco Bellemo2 BJPsych Bulletin (2021) 45, 205–209, doi:10.1192/bjb.2021.16 1Department of Paediatrics, University of Summary This editorial is co-written by a developmental psychologist and a young 2 Melbourne, Australia; School Strike For climate activist. We start by showing how the climate crisis is imposing a heavy Climate, Australia psychological burden on children and youth, both from experiencing climate-related Correspondence to Ann Sanson disasters and from the knowledge that worse is to come. We then describe the global ([email protected]) movement of youth demanding urgent climate action. We conclude that health First received 23 Sep 2020, final revision 19 Jan 2021, accepted 28 Jan 2021 professionals can support young people in many ways, but particularly by supporting their capacity to take action, raising awareness about the impact of the climate crisis © The Authors 2021. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of on youth mental and physical health, and taking action themselves to work for a the Royal College of Psychiatrists. This is secure climate future. an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Keywords Post-traumatic stress disorder; anxiety disorders; climate change; Commons Attribution licence (http:// creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4. childhood experience; developmental disorders. 0/), which permits unrestricted re-use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. The climate crisis poses an existential threat by the Global North, also referred to as high-income coun- tries, the minority world or the WEIRD nations (Western, Climate change is well underway and poses a critical threat educated, industrialised, rich democracies), comprising 12% to the future. -
Brazil Will Host of the Global Celebrations of World Environment
Brazil will Host of the Global Brazil, China and the United States, recycling in all its forms, already employed twelve million people. Celebrations of World Environment Day Brazil is also a leader in the sustainable production of ethanol as a fuel for vehicles and is expanding into other The United Nations forms of renewable energy like wind and solar. Recently, Environment Programme the construction of 500 thousand new homes with solar (UNEP) announced today panel installations in Brazil has generated 300 thousand that Brazil, who owns one new jobs. of the fastest growing "We are delighted to host the global celebrations for the economies in the world, environment. The World Environment Day in Brazil will will host the global be a great opportunity to present the environmental celebrations of World Environment Day (WED) , aspects of Sustainable Development in the weeks leading celebrated annually on June 5. up to Rio +20 Conferences," said the Minister of the This year's theme, " Green Economy: It includes you?" environment of Brazil, Izabella Teixeira. invites the world to assess where the "Green Economy" "The history of Brazil, with its complex dynamics and is the day to day life of each one and estimate if the diverse economy, its wealth of natural resources and its development, by the Green Economy way, covers the current role in international relations, offers a unique social, economic and environment needs in a world with perspective through which a large and result transformer 7 billion people, which expected to reach 9 billion 2050. will become possible in the Rio +20 "added Mr. -
Bill Mckibben
Bill McKibben The US environmentalist and founder of 350.org interviewed by Huw Spanner over the internet 22 June 2016 2 Bill McKibben | High Profiles | 22 June 2016 Time We Started Counting! Bill McKibben made his name as an environmentalist in 1989 with his ground- breaking ‘righteous jeremiad’ The End of Nature. Nineteen years later, an ‘unlikely activist’, he founded the global pressure group 350.org with seven of his students. Huw Spanner spoke to him over the internet. PHOTOGRAPHY: WOLFGANG SCHMIDT/RIGHT LIVELIHOOD AwARD When did you first become interested in environmentalism? I certainly knew about environmental issues growing up, though they weren’t my main concern – I was more interested in things like homelessness. When I was a young man I was on the staff of the New Yorker and I wrote a long piece for the magazine – I must have been 24 or something – about where everything in my apartment in New York City came from. They sent me off for a year, all over the world, to follow everything back to its ultimate source. So, I was in the Brazilian jungle looking at oil wells and I was up in the Arctic looking at the huge hydro dams at the tip of Hudson Bay and I was out on the barges that carry the city’s sewage out to sea and so on. And this had for me the interesting intellectual effect of making me realise how physical 3 Bill McKibben | High Profiles | 22 June 2016 the world actually was. I’d grown up in a good American suburb and a suburb is kind of a device for hiding out of sight all the physical workings of the planet. -
Fighting Inequalities Campaign TOOLKIT
Fighting Inequalities Campaign TOOLKIT The future of Europe and the achievement of the SDGs will be possible only if we end extreme inequalities and leave no one behind. This is a public mobilization, communication, and advocacy campaign. In line with the universal and inclusive approach reflected in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the campaign will connect the inequalities experienced by people locally, in all sorts of communities, with the national, European, and, ultimately, the global inequalities faced by billions. We want societal change for everyone, everywhere by 2030! See the campaign video. See the ‘17 steps to equality’ game. Our Goals? 1. Public awareness and public pressure to reduce inequalities 2. Raising citizens’ and decision makers’ awareness 3. Campaigning for collective action on implementing and monitoring of SDG 10 4. Advocating that the EU and its Members take concrete measures 5. Strengthening civil society #FightInequalities Content What do we want to achieve? 2 Timeline of Campaign – Key moments 3 SDG Action Week & Global Day of Action - 25 September 2018 4 Actions – What can you do? 5 Individuals & inequalities – What are people’s challenges? 5 Raising awareness and influencing decision-makers 6 Media and Social media campaigns 10 Tools 11 Factsheets and Infographics 11 #FightInequalities Fight Inequalities Campaign Page 1 of 10 What do we want to achieve? The Fighting Inequalities Campaign seeks to create awareness and promote the SDGs among citizens AND to help you to hold our governments accountable. In the last years, countries around the world - including EU MemBer States - have shown significant gaps Between policy commitments and implementation, especially in the fields of economic justice, human rights, social protection, gender equality and environmental protection. -
Press Release – Tsogo Sun – 05/06/2018
Press Release – Tsogo Sun – 05/06/2018 World Environment Day with Miss Earth and Tsogo Sun As the world observes World Environment Day celebrations, with India playing the host country for 2018, the Miss Earth South Africa Leadership programme alongside strategic partners such as Tsogo Sun are recommitting their focus and work on the importance of their campaign #WasteStopsWithME While plastic has many valuable uses, humanity has become addicted to single-use or disposable plastic — with severe environmental consequences. In light of the staggering statistics, people are relooking at plastic use. Around the world, one million plastic drinking bottles are purchased every minute, while up to 5 trillion single-use plastic bags are used worldwide every year. In total, half of all plastic produced is designed to be used only once — and then thrown away. Plastic waste is now so ubiquitous in the natural environment that scientists have even suggested it could serve as a geological indicator of the Anthropocene era says United Nations Environment. Over the past three years the Miss Earth South Africa Leadership programme has been hard at work at a grass-roots level in communities across the country with a firm focus on the individual responsibility and role that is played by citizens, rethinking plastic consumption, re-addressing the use of single-use plastic and firmly focussing on banning the use of straws, by highlighting and creating much needed awareness of the long-term effects that these have on the environment, our oceans, water bodies and marine life. Pollution, plastic and litter are all part of the same conversation and while the organisation and their partners have been a well-established environmental advocacy platform, there is no doubt that climate leaders from these ranks have become thought leaders within this space. -
WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY 5 June 2021
STATEMENT INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT LAW ORGANIZATION STATEMENT BY THE DIRECTOR-GENERAL, MS JAN BEAGLE WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY 5 June 2021 On the 5th of June 1972 – the day now annually celebrated as ‘World Environment Day’ – leaders convened for the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment, the first major global conference on international environmental issues. That day, almost 50 years ago, also marked a major milestone in the development of international environmental law: the Conference’s outcome document, the Stockholm Declaration, was the first international agreement to acknowledge the intrinsic connection between ecological management, economic development, and human well-being. Since then, we have observed the development of many international legal instruments related to the environment, and an overall increased awareness of states and civil society of the disastrous effects of deforestation, biodiversity loss, and global warming. Nevertheless, our environment is in greater peril than before, and the significance of this day has only grown. Since 1970, global warming has accelerated at an increasing rate. Biodiversity is under threat, as nearly one million species are threatened with extinction within decades. And the growing frequency and severity of natural disasters have put state capacity under greater strain and human lives at greater risk. While ecological degradation, pollution, and climate change affect us all, it disproportionately affects people living in conditions of vulnerability and marginalization, particularly women and youth, and those living in lower-income countries and fragile states, who have contributed the least to climate change. This impact is also distributed unequally across time, as future generations will cope with the consequences of present-day choices. -
Next Global Action On
FTT/Robin Hood Tax Proposal for Global Day of Action 17th February 2011 Introduction Over the last eighteen months, the Financial Transaction Tax (or Robin Hood Tax) has shifted from a radical idea to a realistic proposition that has been considered by the IMF, the European Commission, the G20 and a number of national governments. This is an extraordinary turn around, in no small part due to the campaigning efforts of civil society organisations around the world. 2011 is the crunch point for the campaign and there is a window of opportunity to see significant progress on achieving the FTT. The French government hold the Chair of the G8 and G20 and are championing the FTT for global public goods, whilst public anger towards the financial sector grows as austerity measures begin to bite. Various options for taxing the financial sector are on the table and agreement by a first-wave group of countries during the first half of 2011 is critical. The key to timely progress will be leadership by the French government, and for France to enlist support from Germany and, hopefully, Britain. Renewed pressure from civil society, particularly on these key governments, will be essential to success. A coordinated Global Day of Action in February will kick-start the campaign in 2011 and demonstrate the global movement of citizens supporting a Robin Hood Tax. Objectives and Success Criteria 1. Influence key governments (French, German and UK) through their embassies a) The UK, German and French embassies* are lobbied in at least 15 countries around the world. b) The UK, German and French finance ministries receive communications from all lobbied embassies (via respective foreign offices) *If countries have capacity, they can lobby more than the top three targets. -
Quaker Council for European Affairs Response to the European Commission's Consultation Regarding the Europe 2020 Strategy
Sustainable Energy Security Consultation Response October 2014 Quaker Council for European Affairs Response to the European Commission's Consultation regarding The Europe 2020 Strategy QCEA is registered on the European Commission’s transparency register. Identification number: 3960234639-24 The Quaker Council for European Affairs (QCEA) is an NGO representing the views and concerns of European members of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) on issues of peace, human rights, economic justice, sustainability and democratic governance. We advocate non-violent approaches to conflict resolution, promote policies that respect the intrinsic equality of all people everywhere, and try to ensure that European policy sustains the planet’s resources and the lives of all those who share them. We have been active in these areas at the European level since 1979. For you, what does the Europe 2020 strategy mean? What are the main elements that you associate with the strategy? For the Quaker Council for European Affairs (QCEA), the Europe 2020 strategy is important as it recognises the flaws of our growth model and the importance of climate and environmental elements in changing that model. QCEA advocates that any economic system or energy framework must include consideration of human well-being, and the well-being of the planet, at its heart. The failure to consider human and planetary well-being is the central flaw in our current economic growth model. It is crucial that the European Union not evaluate success using indicators, like economic growth and job creation, which are based solely on quantity of production. Instead the EU should use indicators based on quality of life and production such as living sustainably on the earth and ensuring the well-being of all its citizens.