Archive for ‘Africa’

14/07/2025

Climate Crisis Tripled Death Toll of Europe’s Latest Heatwave: Greenpeace Calls for Polluters to Pay

Human Wrongs Watch

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14/07/2025

Rich Polluter Profits Tax Could Raise Up to $400 Billion and Help Phase Out Fossil Fuels

Human Wrongs Watch

By Ashfaq Khalfan, Climate Justice Director, Oxfam America*

Mega rich oil, gas and coal companies, described as the Godfathers of climate chaos, are driving humanity to the edge of destruction and earning billions in doing so. For decades, they’ve spread lies and disinformation about the climate crisis and lobbied to create fossil-fuel driven economies.
polluter profits tax
They’ve received billions in government subsidies and as energy prices soared, instead of investing in renewable energy, enriched their shareholders to the tune of $403 billion in 2024 alone.     

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13/07/2025

Transformation to a Healthy Food System Is Blocked by Three Key Barriers

Human Wrongs Watch

By the United Nations Environment Programme*

Nairobi – Despite its critical role in sustaining billions of lives, the global food system fails to deliver for health, rights, and particularly, nature.

Image: Unsplash/Dan Meyers

A report published on 1 July 2025 by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and Chatham House highlights three system barriers – the cheaper food paradigm, market consolidation and investment path dependencies – that must be addressed to meet sustainable development goals.

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13/07/2025

Who Are Climate Migrants? New Data Reveals Stark Socio-Economic Differences in Disaster-Displaced Populations

Human Wrongs Watch

Droughts displace young and poor pastoralists, while wildfires displace older urban residents with higher socio-economic status.
 

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A new study by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) shows the wide range of demographic and socio-economic profiles affected by weather-related displacement worldwide. 

This publication provides first-of-its-kind global insights into the demographic and socio-economic characteristics of communities facing weather-related displacement.

With an estimated 218.6 million internal displacements caused by weather-related disasters over the past decade, the analysis fills a critical data gap by revealing detailed profiles of these populations, including their age, income, education, and livelihoods. 

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12/07/2025

World Population Expected to Grow to 8.5 Billion in 2030; 9.7 Billion in 2050, and 10.9 Billion in 2100

Human Wrongs Watch

By the United Nations*

Global fertility rates are falling, prompting warnings about “population collapse.”

A Thai couple without children.

Young people who are optimistic about the future are more likely to pursue the lives they want for themselves and their families.PHOTO:© UNFPA Asia and the Pacific

But the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)’s State of World Population report shows the real issue is a lack of reproductive agency—many people, especially youth, are unable to have the children they want.

The World Population Day 2025 [11 July] highlights this challenge, focusing on the largest-ever generation of young people.

The theme, “Empowering young people to create the families they want in a fair and hopeful world,” calls for ensuring youth have the rights, tools, and opportunities to shape their futures.

Young people are already driving change, but face major obstacles: economic insecurity, gender inequality, limited healthcare and education, climate disruption, and conflict.

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11/07/2025

For the Aged, Their Sunset Years Will Be Bedeviled by Lethal Heatwaves

Human Wrongs Watch

NAIROBI & BHUBANESWAR, Jul 10 2025 (IPS)* The global population is aging at a time when heat exposure is rising due to climate change. Extreme heat can be deadly for older populations given their reduced ability to regulate body temperature.
Facing frequent climate hazards, resultantly offsprings having migrated out, this South Sikkimese elder in India battles depression, anxiety and early onset of dementia. Credit: Manipadma Jena/IPS

Facing frequent climate hazards, resultantly offsprings having migrated out, this South Sikkimese elder in India battles depression, anxiety and early onset of dementia. Credit: Manipadma Jena/IPS

Already there has been an 85 percent increase since 1990 in annual heat-related deaths of adults aged above 65, driven by both warming trends and fast-growing older populations.

If this were not heartbreakingly disastrous enough, heat-related deaths in older populations are projected to increase by 370 percent annually if global temperatures rise by 2˚ Centigrade mid-century.

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11/07/2025

The Demographic Struggle Over International Migration

Human Wrongs Watch

PORTLAND, USA, Jun 30 2025 (IPS)* Approximately 1.3 billion people, or 16% of the world’s population, wish to leave their country permanently, while over a billion people believe that fewer or no immigrants should be allowed into their countries.
The number of people desiring to emigrate permanently exceeds the number of immigrants countries are willing to admit, leading many individuals to migrate without authorization. Credit: Shutterstock.

The number of people desiring to emigrate permanently exceeds the number of immigrants countries are willing to admit, leading many individuals to migrate without authorization. Credit: Shutterstock.

This demographic struggle between the two sides over international migration is causing significant social, economic, and political repercussions for nations and their citizens.

The 1.3 billion individuals desiring to emigrate to another country is over four times the size of the estimated total number of immigrants worldwide in 2025, which is around 305 million.

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10/07/2025

“Do you want kids?”

Human Wrongs Watch

By the United Nations Population Fund*

The fertility fallacy: Five things you didn’t know about global fertility rates

A watercolour rendition of a couple in profile, in blue against a pale background; the woman on the right is pregnant
In this year’s flagship State of World Population report, UNFPA surveyed some 14,000 people across 14 countries, and found that around one in five said they won’t be able to have the number of children they would like. © Stina Persson

UNITED NATIONS, New York – “Do you want kids?” Every day, people around the world ask themselves, and others, this question. But it also begs another: “Do you feel able to have children?”

With over 8 billion people in the world, it’s a question that has become arguably more loaded.

For some, this number is unsustainable, unequally distributed and will cause the planet’s demise. Others worry we’re in a “population collapse” – that societies cannot sustain their ageing, slowing demographics.

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10/07/2025

UN Summit Confronts Artificial Intelligence’s Dawn of Wonders and Warnings

Human Wrongs Watch

By Vibhu Mishra, with additional reporting by Elma Okic in Geneva

(UN News)* — The UN’s flagship platform on artificial intelligence opened in Geneva on Tuesday [], launching four days of high-level dialogue, cutting-edge demonstrations and urgent calls for inclusive AI governance. The event comes as autonomous and generative systems evolve faster than regulatory frameworks can keep pace.

The AI for Good Global Summit opened in Geneva on 8 July 2025.
© ITU | The AI for Good Global Summit opened in Geneva on 8 July 2025.

The AI for Good Global Summit 2025 brings together governments, tech leaders, academics, civil society and young people to explore how artificial intelligence can be directed toward Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) – and away from growing risks of inequality, disinformation and environmental strain.

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09/07/2025

South Sudan’s Worst and Longest Cholera Outbreak Enters Critical Stage

Human Wrongs Watch

 (UN News)* — On the eve of the fourteenth anniversary of its independence, South Sudan – the world’s youngest country – is experiencing its worst and longest cholera outbreak.  

The World Health Organization (WHO) is working with health authorities in South Sudan and partners to scale up cholera prevention efforts, including a vaccination campaign.
WHO/South Sudan | The World Health Organization (WHO) is working with health authorities in South Sudan and partners to scale up cholera prevention efforts, including a vaccination campaign.

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