Special News--July 2021Climate--Conflict--Corruption
Safeguarding People and the Planet"To resolutely "end poverty in all its forms everywhere" (SDG 1) how can we "substantially reduce corruption and bribery in all their forms" (SDG 16.5)? How can multi-dimensional probity (integrity at all levels: individual, institutional, international) help to end corruption's devastating role in multi-dimensional poverty? Think of this in terms of the 2.6T for the 1.3B. That is, the estimated $2.6 trillion dollars stolen annually via corruption (2018, World Economic Forum) and its impact on the estimated 1.3 billion humans living in multi-dimensional poverty (2018, UN Development Program. Note: Add an additional $1 trillion/year for the estimated bribes." Global Integrity Day 2021
Gathering with our neighbors, International Friendship Day, 20 July
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In this Update we address three crucial issues for safeguarding humanity and the planet: climate/environment action, conflict prevention/resolution, and corruption reduction. We share several recent materials--including links to highlights, key messages, and summaries--from the UN and civil society organizations to further inform and inspire us at all levels: individual, institutional, international, and everything in-between.
What must we do to foster policies, commitments, and lifestyles that promote the planet, peace, integrity, and the wellbeing of all people? How must we change course? This is not about aspirations or idealism. This is survival. Read on, let's consider our ways, and spread the word!
See these Global Integration Updates:
--March 2021: Global Trends–Perspectives and Priorities from the Sectors
--January 2021: State of the Planet: Our Suicidal War on Nature
--December 2019: Peace, Justice, Inclusion and Strong Institutions: SDG 16+
--GI Update June 2017: Doomsday: Next Stop, Global Dis-Integration?
We also continue to share Reflections and Resources for Covid Care (click the link for access). These materials have been compiled over the past 18 months to support you, others in your life, and your work in mission and member care. We acknowledge that there are different views about this pandemic including how best to manage it and future health emergencies via science, public health policy, human rights principles, and international cooperation.
Note: We include four quotes in this Update from UN Secretary-General António Guterres. Mr. Guterres was just re-appointed for a second term (2022—2026) and is the ninth person to serve in this office since the founding of the UN in 1945.
Warm greetings,
Kelly and Michèle
MCAresources@gmail.com
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Featured Resources
Climate--Conflict--Corruption
Safeguarding People and The Planet
"Like it or not, pandemics, like most crises, bring out people's best selves or their worse selves--our selfless and our selfish qualities. The reality of the uncertainties and anxieties of life, and indeed survival--existential risk--is heavy upon the world. Positively, the current COVID-19 pandemic certainly provides plenty of opportunities for us all--individually and collectively--to reflect on the types of people we want to be, the types of societies we need to build, and the types of changes we have to make.
...We also note that the many overlapping problems in our world continue unabated--pandemics themselves--even as this covid pandemic dominates the center stage globally: multi-dimensional poverty, protracted violence, conflicts, forced migration, human rights violations, gross inequalities, racism, mental ill health, environmental degradation, corruption, etc....This is the ongoing, cascading context which challenges us daily as we seek to practically support the wellbeing of all persons, all peoples, and the planet." Covid Care: Reflections and Resources for Wellbeing. Global Integration Update (February 2021)
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Climate and Environment Action
“We are facing a devastating pandemic, new heights of global heating, new lows of ecological degradation and new setbacks in our work towards global goals for more equitable, inclusive and sustainable development. To put it simply, the state of the planet is broken.
Dear friends, Humanity is waging war on nature. This is suicidal. Nature always strikes back -- and it is already doing so with growing force and fury. Biodiversity is collapsing. One million species are at risk of extinction. Ecosystems are disappearing before our eyes. Deserts are spreading. Wetlands are being lost. Every year, we lose 10 million hectares of forests. Oceans are overfished -- and choking with plastic waste. The carbon dioxide they absorb is acidifying the seas. Coral reefs are bleached and dying. Air and water pollution are killing 9 million people annually – more than six times the current toll of the pandemic….
Dear friends, Let’s be clear: human activities are at the root of our descent towards chaos. But that means human action can help solve it. Making peace with nature is the defining task of the 21st century. It must be the top, top priority for everyone, everywhere.” UN Secretary-General António Guterres, Special Address on The State of The Planet, 2 December 2020
Making Peace with Nature: A Scientific Blueprint to Tackle the Climate, Biodiversity, and Pollution Emergencies. United Nations Environment Program (18 February 2021). Executive Summary HERE. Key Messages HERE.
Key Messages (from the Executive Summary)
• Environmental changes are undermining hard-won development gains by causing economic costs and millions of premature deaths annually. It is impeding progress towards ending poverty and hunger, reducing inequalities and promoting sustainable economic growth, work for all and peaceful and inclusive societies.
• The well-being of today‘s youth and future generations depends on an urgent and clear break with current trends of environmental decline. The coming decade is crucial. Society needs to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 45 per cent by 2030 compared to 2010 levels and reach net-zero emissions by 2050 to achieve the 1.5°C Paris Agreement target, while at the same time conserving and restoring biodiversity and minimizing pollution and waste.
• Earth’s environmental emergencies and human well-being need to be addressed together to achieve sustainability. The development of the goals, targets, commitments, and mechanisms under the key environmental conventions and their implementation need to be aligned to become more synergistic and effective.
• The economic, financial and productive systems can and should be transformed to lead and power the shift to sustainability. Society needs to include natural capital in decision-making, eliminate environmentally harmful subsidies and invest in the transition to a sustainable future.
• Everyone has a role to play in ensuring that human knowledge, ingenuity, technology and cooperation are redeployed from transforming nature to transforming humankind‘s relationship with nature. Polycentric governance is key to empowering people to express themselves and act environmentally responsibly without undue difficulty or self-sacrifice.
From the UN Civil Society Unit--Department of Global Communications, Announcements for the Civil Society Representatives, Week of 21 June 2021: “The health of our planet's ecosystems is critical to life on Earth. In June, as the world marks several days relating to the restoration and conservation of our natural environment, we highlight Goal 13, 14 & 15 of the #GlobalGoals. Click below to learn more about them and why they matter?”
Goal 13 (Climate Action)
Goal 14 (Life Under Water)
Goal 15 (Life on Land)
See also:
--UN Climate Action Website
--26th UN Climate Change Conference, Glasgow (31 October-12 November 2021)
Conflict and Peace
“We must recognize that in some fundamental ways, our world is going backwards. More countries are experiencing violent conflict than at any time in nearly three decades. Record numbers of civilians are being killed or injured by explosive weapons in urban areas. Record numbers of people are on the move, displaced by violence, war and persecution. We see horrific violations of human rights, and rising nationalism, racism and xenophobia. Inequalities are increasing; whole regions, countries and communities can find themselves isolated from progress and left behind by growth. Women and girls face discrimination of all kinds. These are all indications that we need greater unity and courage – to ease the fears of the people we serve; to set the world on track to a better future; and to lay the foundations of sustainable peace and development.” United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres (24 April 2018) UN General Assembly’s High-level Meeting on Sustaining Peace
Report of the Secretary-General on Peacebuilding and Sustaining Peace (30 July 2020). “…3. The world’s population continues to face increased poverty, inequality and exclusion as well as threats to peace and security. By the end of 2019, the number of forcibly displaced persons had reached 79.5 million, having doubled over the preceding 20 years. A record 19 million children were internally displaced owing to conflict and violence in 2019.1 As at late 2018, only 18 per cent of conflict-affected States were on track to meet Sustainable Development Goal targets related to basic needs.2 Inequalities in human development persist3 and are likely to increase because of the COVID-19 pandemic and climate change. There are growing gaps in trust among people, institutions and leaders. Around the world, mass protests and unrest have multiplied over the past decade, with increased intensity in 2019. In 2019 and 2020, global protests have called for greater inclusion, equality, climate action and justice as well as women’s rights. Some have also identified racism as a pervasive and systemic threat to justice, sustainable development and equality.”
See also:
--Global Peace Index 2021. Institute for Economics and Peace (January 2021)
--Pathways for Peace: Inclusive Approaches to Preventing Violent Conflict. United Nations and World Bank (2018)
Pro-Integrity and Anti-Corruption
"Corruption is criminal, immoral and the ultimate betrayal of public trust.….We must hold leaders to account….A vibrant civic space and open access to information are essential. And we must protect the rights and recognize the courage of whistle-blowers who expose wrongdoing….As an age-old plague takes on new forms, let us combat it with new heights of resolve.” UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, Statement on corruption in the context of COVID-19 (15 October 2020)
United Nations General Assembly Special Session Against Corruption: Challenges and Measures to Prevent and Combat Corruption and Strengthen International Cooperation (2-4 June 2021). “The special session [provided] an opportunity to galvanize the political will of governments and the international community as a whole in advancing the fight against corruption. Governments [took] stock of global efforts and commitments and identify solutions to common challenges in preventing and combating corruption. The special session also [contributed] to driving forward the efforts of countries to fully and effectively implement the Convention, including by, inter alia, sharing best practices and lessons learned." (excerpt from website)
We suggest watching these two short Statements from the opening of Day One, archived on UN Web TV and also available HERE.
• H.E. Ms. Amina J. Mohammed, Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations
(starting around minute 13)
• Ms. Serena Ibrahim, Youth Forum representative, founder of Youth against Corruption
(starting around minute 37:30)
See the Political Declaration against corruption that was formally adopted (noting among many other items that the word integrity is included about 20 times). "Our Common Commitment to Effectively Addressing Challenges and Implementing Measures to Prevent and Combat Corruption and Strengthen International Cooperation."
See also:--Corruption Perceptions Index 2020. Transparency International (2021). Highlights HERE
--Global Integrity Day Website
