Articles
CLIMATE NEWS:
The Climate Portal from Prof. Jan Dash at http://climate.uu-uno.org/ has been updated with links to these climate news items
The Climate Portal from Prof. Jan Dash at http://climate.uu-uno.org/ has been updated with links to these climate news items:
Governor of Bank of England Backs Company Climate Disclosure Effort
Southern hemisphere CO2 level rises above symbolic 400 ppm milestone
Dubai Shatters all Records for Cost of Solar with Largest Solar Power Plant
Recent burning of boreal forests exceeds fire regime limits of past 10,000 years
Elon Musk: Fossil fuel industry propaganda is 'unrelenting and enormous'
The bodies of these shorebirds are shrinking, and global warming is the cause
Great talk by Al Gore: The Case for Optimism on Climate Change
US Chief Climate Negotiator Stern to be replaced by Jonathan Pershing
Solar/Wind/NG - proposal lowers U.S. electricity emissions 80% - NOAA
BRIEF OVERVIEW ON CIRCULAR ECONOMY
It all begins with an idea.
By Mina Kobilarev, PhD
The circular economy (CE) concept has been explored for many years already, becoming rather popular in regard to waste management, economics and sustainability. Government and business leaders have devoted much more attention to CE, as this concept is considered a method for superseding the existing consumption and production pattern based on constant growth and higher resource output. CE promotes patterns of production which imply the closure of the loop, and thus aims to enhance the efficiency of using resources, with an emphasis on industrial and urban waste, while at the same time striking a better balance between the environment, society and the economy. This paper aims to enhance the understanding of the CE and of its different dimensions and predicted effects. The article aims to explain some of the basics about the CE such as its origin, underlying core principles, the way some organisations seek to embed circular principles in their work, the way the circular economy compares to the race to improve efficiency within today’s ‘take-make-dispose’ economy, the financial, societal, and environmental benefits of a restorative model to businesses and the economy, and the manner in which companies and policy makers carry the concept to its breakthrough at scale. Furthermore, the article contains case studies demonstrating how substantial savings are possible at a company level or how companies can benefit from circular business models. Besides, an overview of circular policies and actions made by policymakers in order to further enhance and implement the circular concept is given in the article.
Women’s Employment, Entrepreneurship and Empowerment
The SIDS (Small Island Developing States) has been recognized as a distinct group of developing countries with specific social, economic, and environmental vulnerabilities at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), which is also known as the Earth Summit held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in June 1992.
In Small Island Developing States: the Maldives
by Mina Kobilarev, PhD
The SIDS (Small Island Developing States) have been recognized as a distinct group of developing countries with specific social, economic and environmental vulnerabilities at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), which is also known as the Earth Summit held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in June 1992. The Barbados Programme of Action was initiated in 1994 to support the SIDS in their efforts aimed at sustainable development. The UN considers the 38 UN Member States which belong to the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) an ad hoc negotiating body established by SIDS at the United Nations. AOSIS also covers other island entities which are non-UN Member States or are not self-governing or non- independent territories being members of UN regional commissions. The United Nations Office of the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States (UN-OHRLLS) represents these states so as to give them international support and resources to implement the Programme of Action for SIDS.
SIDS are islands covering three geographical regions: the Caribbean, the Pacific and the Atlantic, Indian Ocean, Mediterranean and South China Sea (AIMS). Each of these regions has regional bodies to which the respective SIDS may belong with the aim of regional cooperation within the United Nations system. These are the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) and the Indian Ocean Commission (IOC). There are also sub-regional organizations established to a similar end. According to the UNCTAD website, the UN never defined the criteria to determine an official list of SIDS; the unofficial list on its numbered 29 countries of SIDS is employed only for the UNCAD analytical purposes. At the moment, the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, lists 57 small island developing states.
SIDS are incredibly beautiful countries, with atolls of white sand beaches, mountain ranges covered in cloud forest, picturesque ports and towns. Most of them are small, low-lying coastal countries which face a set of similar sustainable development challenges, such as small but growing populations, geographic isolation, limited resources, vulnerability to environmental impacts and overdependence on foreign trade. Their growth and development is also hindered by very costly communication, energy and transportation, uneven international transport volumes, overly costly public administration and infrastructure, which is due to their small size and practically no chance to create economies of scale.
Proper work and social justice are the cornerstone of sustainable development. In such a setting, creating proper jobs in all SIDS is one of the priority development goals. Solid governance, rule of law and respect for human rights are the crucial basis for development and growth. Employment which results in appropriate livelihoods, social protection and labour rights protection is a paramount element of economic, environmental and social sustainability. It is noteworthy that economic, social and labour market circumstances are significantly different, which is why most SIDS lack decent work. Workforce discrimination, notably in respect of women and disabled workers, limits productivity of the labour force and creates emotional distress, social disintegration and soaring welfare costs. It is also strongly related to violence and harassment at work. Employers, trade unions and governments must exercise a more proactive approach to tackle discrimination, while respecting human rights principles and recognizing that a workplace free of discrimination and harassment results in better work performance and higher productivity.
Women’s Employment and Empowerment in Small Island Developing States