Ranjit Devraj Climate change action demands stricter emissions control of Asia Pacific’s coal burners, say analysts. With coal-based energy responsible for 40 per cent of the world’s carbon dioxide emissions, serious climate change action must begin with strict monitoring and control of coal-fired power plants pending their complete phaseout, analysts say. Yet China and India,… Continue reading CO2 cuts in doubt as China, India bend coal targets
Author: SciDevNet
SciDev.Net is the world’s leading source of reliable and authoritative news, views and analysis on information about science and technology for global development.
Renewed malaria push needed after COVID-19 setback
Syriacus Buguzi New approaches are needed to tackle malaria after disruption caused by COVID-19 led to an additional 13 million infections and 63,000 deaths from the mosquito-borne disease, say global health leaders. The World Malaria Report released by the World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday (8 December) indicates that yearly malaria cases rose—albeit at a slow pace—from… Continue reading Renewed malaria push needed after COVID-19 setback
Sea-level rise ‘may cross two metres by 2100
An ADB report warns that sea levels in the Asia-Pacific could exceed two metres by 2100 due to the double whammy of sinking land mainly due groundwater withdrawal as well as the warming of the oceans as a result of climate change The Asian Development Bank (ADB) recommends raising to two metres, instead of the existing one metre, the imaginary… Continue reading Sea-level rise ‘may cross two metres by 2100
Under attack, global sexual health ‘can’t rely on US’
Fiona Broom For almost 40 years, the controversial US ‘global gag rule’ has been used by Republican presidents to block federal funding to non-US organisations that provide abortion counselling, referrals, and related services, or those that advocate for greater legal rights to abortion. Religious campaigns and political interference could threaten hard-won reproductive health rights in… Continue reading Under attack, global sexual health ‘can’t rely on US’
COVID-19 could derail SDGs for next five years – report
Dann Okoth The report singles out lost education as one of the worst consequences of the pandemic, warning that its effects could be felt until the end of the century. The COVID-19 pandemic will further derail the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the next five years without concerted action, warn international scientists. The SDGs were adopted by the United Nations… Continue reading COVID-19 could derail SDGs for next five years – report
Bottled water sales rose globally as pandemic took hold
Fiona Broom Families in some of the poorest parts of the world turned to buying bottled water as the pandemic sent countries into lockdown, with larger chunks of incomes being spent on drinking water, SciDev.Net analysis shows. Lack of access to safe water or adequate infrastructure, coupled with health concerns, drove up sales of bottled… Continue reading Bottled water sales rose globally as pandemic took hold
Interview: Urban farms, insects, key in battle against hunger
Michael Kaloki Climate change has brought about several extremes including drought, which affects our ability to grow crops. If we use insects for food, we would not need to depend on rains. Food security is an ongoing challenge in Sub-Saharan Africa. But Esther Ngumbi says bugs offer a solution. Ngumbi is an assistant professor of… Continue reading Interview: Urban farms, insects, key in battle against hunger
Global South observers ‘blocked from COP26 negotiations’
Fiona Broom A participation revolution is needed to stop the “outrageous” exclusion of civil society and the global South from major international talks, development advocates have said amid accusations that COP26 is the least inclusive climate summit in a decade. Vaccine and visa complications, coupled with COVID-19 restrictions on capacity in official negotiating spaces, have… Continue reading Global South observers ‘blocked from COP26 negotiations’
The worlds first malaria vaccine is here
Gilbert Nakweya According to the latest World Malaria Report, there were an estimated 229 million cases of malaria globally in 2019, with the WHO African region accounting for 94 per cent of all cases and deaths. The World Health Organization’s recommendation of broad deployment of the first malaria vaccine among children in Sub-Saharan Africa has been widely celebrated,… Continue reading The worlds first malaria vaccine is here
Calls for halt to funding for industrial agriculture in Africa
Inga Vesper Civil society organisations have called on influential donors to stop funding industrial agriculture programmes, which they say harm smallholder farmers and the environment. The Alliance for Food Sovereignty in Africa (AFSA) — which represents 200 million small-scale food producers — along with 165 organisations from 40 countries, sent a letter Tuesday to donors of the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa… Continue reading Calls for halt to funding for industrial agriculture in Africa