In spite of everything, a culture of peace is emerging in all fields of human endeavour
monthly, year 22nd, no. 307 – 20th January 2022
Good News Agency carries positive and constructive news from all over the world relating to voluntary work, the work of the United Nations, non-governmental organizations and institutions engaged in improving the quality of life – news that doesn’t “burn out” in the space of a day. It is distributed free of charge through Internet to media and editorial journalists, NGOs, service associations and high schools and colleges around the world.
It is an all-volunteer service of Associazione Culturale dei Triangoli e della Buona Volontà Mondiale, an educational charity associated with the United Nations Department of Public Information It is a supporter of the Global Movement for the Culture of Peace. In the final report of the Decade for a Culture of Peace project (2001-2010) provided to the UN Secretary-General for presentation to the UN General Assembly, Good News Agency is included among the three NGOs that have been playing an active role in the field of Information through Internet.*
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The news are be divided into seven areas of reference:
1. Government and politics
2. Education and teaching
3. Economy, finance and planning
4. Arts of living and relationships
5. Work, science and industry
6. Society and communication
7. Rules, regulations and environment
In this way we intend to cover seven main fields of human life and activities, in which to record and promote, as always, the presence of goodwill in action and the culture of peace and cooperation that are for us the guiding values in these complex times. Each news item you will find in the seven fields will in turn be linked to one in particular of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations 2030 Agenda.
The 17 Sustainable Development Goals of Agenda 2030 United Nations
SDGs number 1-No Poverty-
Goal 1: End poverty in all its forms everywhere
SDGs number 2-Zero Hunger
Goal 2: End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture
SDGs number 3-Good Health and Well-Being
Goal 3: Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages
SDGs number 4-Quality Education
Goal 4: Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all
SDGs number 5-Gender Equality
Goal 5: Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls
SDGs number 6-Clean Water and Sanitation
Goal 6: Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all
SDGs number 7-Affordable and Clean Energy
Goal 7: Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all
SDGs number 8-Decent Work and Economic Growth
Goal 8: Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all
SDGs number 9-Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
Goal 9: Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation
SDGs number 10-Reduced Inequalities
Goal 10: Reduce inequality within and among countries
SDGs number 11-Sustainable Cities and Communities
Goal 11: Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable
SDGs number 12-Responsible Consumption and Production
Goal 12: Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns
SDGs number 13-Climate Action
Goal 13: Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts
SDGs number 14- Life below Water
Goal 14: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development
SDGs number 15-Life on Land
Goal 15: Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss
SDGs number 16-Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
Goal 16: Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels
News related with SDGs number 17-Partnerships to achieve the Goals
Goal 17: Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development
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Government and politics – Education and teaching – Economy, finance and planning
Arts of living and relationships – Work, science and industry
Society and communication –Rules, regulations and environment
For the deprivatisation of water, the rights of nature and the protection of glaciers: More than a thousand social organisations back popular initiative to the new Constitution
5 January 2022 - Modatima, the Movement for Water and Territory (MAT) and the Coordination of Territories for the Defence of Glaciers worked together on a proposal of articles that were sent today to the Technical Secretariat of the Constitutional Convention. Once approved, it will have to collect 15,000 signatures from citizens in order to be discussed.
News related with SDGs number 15-Life on Land
REGULATION (EU) 2021/2282 OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 15 December 2021 on health technology assessment and amending Directive 2011/24/EU - (Text with EEA relevance)
22 December 2021 - The European Parliament and the Council of the European Union (…) have adopted this regulation: (…)
Article 1
Subject matter
1. This Regulation establishes:
(a) a support framework and procedures for cooperation of Member States on health technologies at Union level;
(b) a mechanism which lays down that any information, data, analyses and other evidence required for the joint clinical assessment of health technologies is to be submitted by the health technology developer only once at Union level;
(c) common rules and methodologies for the joint clinical assessment of health technologies. (…)
News related with SDGs number 3-Good Health and Well-Being
EUROPEAN COMMISSION - State aid: Commission approves Finnish investment aid to NordFuel and Veolia for the construction of advanced biofuels plants in Finland
21 December 2021 - The European Commission has approved, under EU State aid rules, two support measures for the construction of advanced biofuels plants in Finland. (…) The objective of the measures is to increase the production of advanced biofuels and biogas for transport. The Commission assessed the 2 measures under EU State aid rules, in particular the Guidelines on State Aid for environmental protection and energy. The Commission found that the measures are necessary and appropriate to promote the production of advanced biofuels. (…)
News related with SDGs number 9-Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
United Nations – General Assembly – Seventy–sixth session - Agenda item 100
Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 6 December 2021: Youth, disarmament and non-proliferation
13 December 2021 - The General Assembly, (…)
2. Calls upon Member States, the United Nations, relevant specialized agencies and regional and subregional organizations to consider developing and implementing policies and programmes for young people to increase and facilitate their constructive engagement in the field of disarmament and non-proliferation;
3. Stresses the importance of realizing the full potential of young people through education and capacity-building, bearing in mind the ongoing efforts and the need to promote the sustainable entry of young people into the field of disarmament and non-proliferation; (…)
https://documents-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/N21/382/76/pdf/N2138276.pdf?OpenElement
News related with SDGs number 16-Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
COMMISSION DELEGATED REGULATION (EU) 2021/2139 of 4 June 2021 supplementing Regulation (EU) 2020/852 of the European Parliament and of the Council by establishing the technical screening criteria for determining the conditions under which an economic activity qualifies as contributing substantially to climate change mitigation (…)
9 December 2021 - THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION (…) HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:
Article 1
The technical screening criteria for determining the conditions under which an economic activity qualifies as contributing substantially to climate change mitigation and for determining whether that economic activity causes no significant harm to any of the other environmental objectives laid down in Article 9 of Regulation (EU) 2020/852 are set out in Annex I to this Regulation.
Article 2
The technical screening criteria for determining the conditions under which an economic activity qualifies as contributing substantially to climate change adaptation and for determining whether that economic activity causes no significant harm to any of the other environmental objectives laid down in Article 9 of Regulation (EU) 2020/852 are set out in Annex II to this Regulation. (…)
News related with SDGs number 13-Climate Action
REGULATION (EU) 2021/2115 OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 2 December 2021 establishing rules on support for strategic plans to be drawn up by Member States under the common agricultural policy (CAP Strategic Plans) (…)
6 December 2021 – The European Parliament and the Council of the European Union (…) have adopted this decision: (…)
Article 1
Subject matter and scope
1. This Regulation lays down rules on:
(a) general and specific objectives to be pursued through Union support financed by the European Agricultural Guarantee Fund (EAGF) and by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) under the common agricultural policy (CAP) as well as the related indicators;
(b) types of intervention and common requirements for Member States to pursue those objectives as well as the related financial arrangements;
(c) CAP Strategic Plans, which are to be drawn up by Member States and which set targets, specify conditions for interventions and allocate financial resources, according to the specific objectives and identified needs;
(d) coordination and governance as well as monitoring, reporting and evaluation. (…)
News related with SDGs number 2-Zero Hunger
United Nations – General Assembly – Seventy–sixth session – Second Committee - Agenda item 20 (a)
Draft resolution: Promoting sustainable consumption and production patterns for the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, building on Agenda 21
December 3, 2021 - The General Assembly, (…)
3. Reaffirms the outcome document of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from 20 to 22 June 2012, entitled “The future we want”, and also reaffirms, as set out in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development,14 all the principles of the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development; (…)
5. Urges the full and effective implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals and all other internationally agreed development goals and commitments in the economic, social and environmental fields, including the Millennium Development Goals and those under the three Rio conventions, building on their contributions, best practices, challenges and lessons learned, in order to support the full and effective implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development; (…)
https://documents-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/N21/370/26/pdf/N2137026.pdf?OpenElement
News related with SDGs number 12-Responsible Consumption and Production
The role of education benefits in supporting Veterans as they transition to civilian life- Veterans' Issues in Focus
(by Jennie W. Wenger, Jason M. Ward)
11 January 2022 - Every year, close to 200,000 active-duty service members leave the military and join the community of American veterans. A key component of the compensation and benefits that these veterans receive is funding for post-service education, including through the Post-9/11 GI Bill. There is evidence that these benefits have a positive impact on veterans' transitions to civilian life and educational attainment, but there has been no systematic data collection on veterans who use these benefits, their transition experiences, or their long-term outcomes.
https://www.rand.org/pubs/perspectives/PEA1363-4.html//
News related with SDGs number 10-Reduced Inequalities
Catch-Up Clubs to stop children dropping out after world’s longest school closure
9 January 2022- Fairfield, Conn. - Children in Uganda head back to the classroom today as the world’s longest school closure ends – but lost learning may lead to high dropout rates in the coming weeks without urgent action, Save the Children said. In March 2020, all schools across the country shut down as the COVID-19 pandemic took hold. Since then, Uganda has kept schools fully or partly closed, putting some children’s education on hold for 83 weeks. Last November, Save the Children revealed that up to one in five children in fragile countries, including Uganda, had dropped out of school because of rising poverty, child marriage, and child labor, which the pandemic has exacerbated. The agency is now warning of a ‘second wave’ of dropouts as returning students who have fallen behind in their learning fear they have no chance of catching up. To tackle the learning crisis in Uganda, Save the Children has launched Catch-up Clubs – an innovative approach to accelerate the recovery of lost learning during the pandemic and help children successfully return to school.
The clubs assess children and teach them at the required level to help them regain literacy and other learning, with child protection support and cash assistance for families struggling to send them to school (…)
News related with SDGs number 4-Quality Education
The Fifth Third Foundation announces more than $23 Million in 2021 Grants
6 January 2022 - The Fifth Third Foundation at Fifth Third Bank, National Association, has announced grants of more than $23 million in 2021. The philanthropic organization made the awards to nearly 140 organizations that focus on culture, civic and community programs, nonprofits, small businesses, affordable housing, financial literacy and workforce development efforts.
News related with SDGs number 4-Quality Education
Integrating “Islamic Law & IHL” into Alkhairaat University’s Curriculum
6January 2022 – Alkhairaat, in the Central Sulawesi capital of Palu, is arguably one of the biggest and most recognized Islamic educational institutions in Eastern Indonesia. Established in the 1930s by an Arab-Indonesian cleric named Habib Sayyid Idrus bin Salim al-Jufri, who was born in Hadhramaut, Yemen, the educational institution is said to have brought significant reform to the local education system and has established itself as a religious authority in the region. Understanding Alkhairaat's significance and having supported various universities in either integrating or inserting elements of "IHL and Islamic Law" into their respective curriculums, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) paid a two-day visit to Alkhairaat from November 3-4, 2021 to further build their capacity through partaking in discussions on Islamic Law related to armed conflict, its convergence with International Humanitarian Law (IHL), and integrating the topic of "IHL and Islamic Law" into their curriculum. (…)
https://www.icrc.org/en/document/integrating-islamic-law-ihl-alkhairaat
News related with SDGs number 16-Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
Democratizing access to care with digital health: Kalia Health and General Prognostics win the 2021 Connected Patient Challenge
(By Dr. Ian Meredith)
5 January 2022 - Digital health solutions that connect patients more quickly to the care they need, and can in turn help them manage their health on a day-to day-basis, have tremendous promise to help ameliorate the strain of these challenges and democratize access to care. Every year at Boston Scientific, we host the Connected Patient Challenge, a competition for entrepreneurs that will help get us closer to a reality where digital health connects all patients more easily to the care they need.
News related with SDGs number 3-Good Health and Well-Being
UK - The Power of Words: How this 22-Year-Old Activist Turned Author is Tackling Inequality
4 January 2022: Whilst growing up, I felt as if I was stuck between two worlds. I had a desire to change the world but I felt like my environment told me I could not. In a place where there was a lack of opportunities, poverty was prevalent, and any form of success seemed like a miracle. My family and I were impacted greatly by a number of different issues whilst growing up. Several forms of inequality prevented me from believing I could achieve my dreams. I wanted to make it my goal to raise awareness around many of these issues that are often swept under the carpet. (…) I am a 22-year-old, activist, author, and entrepreneur from London. The title of my debut book, ‘Dreaming in a Nightmare’, is a manifesto for how we can tackle inequality and improve the lives of young people today. I weave my personal story and experience into a broader exploration of the UK, tackling subjects ranging from housing and education to employment and the criminal justice system. It’s important to know that we all experience different situations that hold us back, sometimes in ways different from others. What is important is how we overcome them. I began my journey into activism after being elected to the UK Youth Parliament in 2011. I later become a young mayor within London. In 2016 I founded EMNL, a youth consultancy agency, with the goal of connecting Gen-Z to the brands they love(…)
News related with SDGs number 10-Reduced Inequalities
Education Cannot Wait announces US$13.2 million catalytic grant to support education for the most vulnerable children and adolescents in Pakistan
1 January 2022 - The new funding will support a Multi-Year Resilience Programme delivered in partnership with the Government of Pakistan and consortia led by UNICEF, Voluntary Service Overseas and the Rural Support Programmes Network.
News related with SDGs number 4-Quality Education
Four positive stories about global development prospects in 2022
(by Homi Kharas)
11 January 2022 - Amid a series of setbacks to global development in 2021—pandemics and lockdowns, hunger and conflict, debt crises and inflation—there were also some positive development victories, which offer some reason to be more optimistic in 2022 and beyond.
News related with SDGs number 8-Decent Work and Economic Growth
From the Field: Working with nature to transform lives
8 January 2022 - So-called “nature-based solutions” are an important element in tackling the climate crisis, but they also play a major role in addressing other challenges, from food security, to health, and sustainable development.
https://news.un.org/en/story/2022/01/1109392//
News related with SDGs number 15-Life on Land
UK - The World's Biggest Offshore Wind Farm, Hornsea 2, generates first power
6 January 2022: First power on Hornsea 2, which is located 89 km off the UK's east coast, was achieved after its offshore substation (OSS), the world’s largest offshore AC substation, and reactive compensation station (RCS), were installed in late October 2021. Since that time, Ørsted and its partner companies have been working hard to commission and energise the wind farm in preparation for its anticipated operational date next year. Once Hornsea 2 is completed, power will be transferred from the 165 wind turbines via 373 km of array cables to the OSS and RCS, reaching the national grid via 390 km of offshore and 40 km of onshore export cables which terminate at the onshore substation in Killingholme. A further two projects in the Hornsea Zone are also underway with Hornsea 3 receiving a Development Consent Order in December 2020 and Hornsea 4 currently going through the planning process. Collectively, the projects would make a significant contribution to the UK government’s target of achieving net-zero by 2050. The Ørsted vision is a world that runs entirely on green energy. Ørsted develops, constructs, and operates offshore and onshore wind farms, solar farms, energy storage facilities, and bioenergy plants, and provides energy products to its customers.
News related with SDGs number 12-Responsible Consumption and Production
Hemp helps France claim world’s first carbon-negative building
(by Rebecca Coons)
27 December 2021 - In France, architecture firm Lemoal Lemoal has built what it claims to be the world’s first carbon-negative building, thanks in large part to the carbon-sequestering power of hemp. The 4,000 square foot Pierre Chevet sports hall in Croissy-Beaubourg was constructed using Hempcrete, a construction alternative that incorporates fast-growing, water-efficient hemp and has advantageous insulation, acoustic and fire-resistant properties. Lemoal Lemoal tells Dezeen that convincing clients to use the more rustic-looking Hempcrete was the biggest challenge, but that the firm was able to sell them on the energy savings. (…) Construction materials account for just over 10% of global carbon emissions.
News related with SDGs number 11-Sustainable Cities and Communities and number 12-Responsible Consumption and Production
Green to the core: Canadian brand launches apple leather handbags
(by Rebecca Coons)
13 December 2021 – In Montreal, vegan brand Matt + Natt will begin incorporating leather made from apple juice industry waste into its handbags. The first bags to use the material—dubbed AppleSkin—will be its forthcoming Studio 901 collection. (…) The line will include several handbags, a backpack, and totes with gold detailing. The interior of the Studio 901 bags will be made out of recycled water bottles, as with all Matt+Nat bags. AppleSkin is produced by Italy’s Frumat using the cellulose-rich apple skin and core pulp leftover from juicing. (…)
News related with SDGs number 12-Responsible Consumption and Production
Stay festive and earth-friendly with fruit-based glitter
(by Rebecca Coons)
13 December 2021 - In the UK, scientists at Cambridge University have developed biodegradable glitter made from fruit pulp that they hope will provide a sparkly alternative to conventional, microplastics-spreading glitter. (…) The glitter under development at Cambridge gets its shine from nanocrystals of cellulose within the cell walls of plant-based materials. It is safe for kids and can be used in everything from cosmetics to art projects. (…)
News related with SDGs number 12-Responsible Consumption and Production
Italian brand launches sneaker made from apple, grape and pineapple waste
(by Rebecca Coons)
6 December 2021 - In Italy, sneaker brand ID.EIGHT has launched a new design using waste from fruits, including apples, grapes, and pineapples. More specifically, ID.EIGHT uses Piñatex, Vegea, and AppleSkin, emerging materials looking to provide eco-friendly alternatives for the fashion industry. (…)
News related with SDGs number 12-Responsible Consumption and Production
Social support helps families during the holidays
10 January 2022 – Imagine fearing the holidays. Yes, the holidays — that magical time of the year that conjures childhood memories engraved in your heart, mind and taste buds as a joyful break from life’s worries. Imagine not being able to afford gifts or a holiday meal — nor being able to take a break from work. And having to live in constant survival mode amid a socioeconomic collapse, during a pandemic, in the vicinity of the site of an explosion which almost decimated your city. This is reality for thousands of people in Lebanon, whether they celebrate the end-of-year holidays or not. To lessen their burdens and address the food security crisis in Lebanon, Anera launched a six-month-long project funded by UN OCHA’s Lebanon Humanitarian Fund (LHF). (…)
https://www.anera.org/stories/social-support-helps-families-during-the-holidays/
News related with SDGs number 2-Zero Hunger
Pakistan: Humanitarian Reporting Award picks winners from 300 entries
10January 2022 – The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the Centre for Excellence in Journalism (CEJ–IBA) hosted the annual Humanitarian Reporting Award on 2 December 2021, recognizing some of the best humanitarian reporting in Pakistan. The awards are part of the "Humanitarian Reporting Initiative" founded in 2017 by the ICRC and the CEJ with the aim of developing a comprehensive training programme that promotes ethical humanitarian reporting through training sessions, awards, fellowships and webinars. The programme also covers issues relating to international humanitarian law (IHL) and journalistic practice. (…) The awards focused on work produced in four categories: mainstream broadcast (Urdu and regional languages), mainstream print (Urdu and regional languages), mainstream print (English) and online (English, Urdu and regional languages). (…)
https://www.icrc.org/en/document/pakistan-humanitarian-reporting-award-2021
News related with SDGs number 3-Good Health and Well-Being
Brazil: Practices that promote a culture of peace at Funase had good results in 2021
8 January 2022 - Restorative justice actions, aimed at promoting a culture of peace in socio-educational units in Pernambuco, had good results in 2021. During this period, 77 circles of restorative justice were carried out with 458 participants, including adolescents and young people in compliance with socio-educational measures and employees of the Socio-Educational Service Foundation (Funase), an institution linked to the Department of Social Development, Children and Youth (SDSCJ) of Pernambuco.
News related with SDGs number 16-Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
Billionaire’s Star Rises as She Takes Bold Stance on Racism in Brazil
(by Ernesto Londoño)
7 January 2022, Sao Paulo, Brazil — It was a casual conversation that led Luiza Trajano, one of Brazil’s wealthiest women, to ponder her country’s racism, to recognize her part in it — and to do something about it. For the past two years, the public company, called Magazine Luiza, or Magalu, has limited its executive trainee program for recent college graduates to Black applicants. The announcement, in September 2020, generated a deluge of news coverage and commentary. The hashtag #MagaluRacista — which means racist Magalu — trended on Twitter for days. A lawmaker close to Jair Bolsonaro, Brazil’s conservative president, urged federal prosecutors to open an investigation into the company, arguing that the program violated constitutional protections. But Magazine Luiza called it a necessary and overdue step to diversify its senior ranks and to atone for the brutal legacy of racism in Brazil, where slavery was not abolished until 1888. Ms. Trajano has made waves far beyond corporate spheres by speaking bluntly about issues like race, inequality, domestic violence and the failings of the political system. Parties across the political spectrum have begged her to run for office — seeing in her a rare blend of pragmatism, charisma and smarts.
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/01/07/world/americas/luiza-trajano-brazil-magalu-racism.html
News related with SDGs number 10-Reduced Inequalities
Multi-religious collaborative effort in Colombia for positive peace
6 January 2022 - One of the many actions recently undertaken by the Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP) and Religions for Peace as part of their global partnership included an in-person Positive Peace workshop for members of the Religions for Peace’s Interreligious Council of Colombia (IRC–Colombia).
https://www.rfp.org/multi-religious-collaborative-effort-in-colombia-for-positive-peace//
News related with SDGs number 16-Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
US contributes $10 million to support UN food agency efforts on COVID-19 response, future pandemics
23 December 2021 - A $10 million contribution from the United States will assist the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in its work on COVID-19 response and addressing threats to human, animal and environmental health, including future pandemics.
https://news.un.org/en/story/2021/12/1108712//
News related with SDGs number 3-Good Health and Well-Being
WFP and partners revive olive production in Iraq
14 December 2021, Baghdad – The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) and partners have inaugurated a new olive press machine as part of economic regeneration efforts for the local community in Bashiqa, Iraq. WFP and Samaritan’s Purse organised training for 80 Olive Association leaders and farmers, on selecting the best olive tree varieties for optimum oil production, olive agroforestry systems, effective irrigation, harvesting and mechanisation, as well as olive oil extraction, with a focus on medicinal properties. WFP and partners also created new information sharing groups among local olive producers, so they can easily continue to share best practice and lessons learned. WFP and partners have planted nearly 13,000 olive, fig, pomegranate, pear trees and grape vines in the area, and are supporting people to start up small businesses in Bashiqa and across the country (…). Several women’s cooperatives have been set up and are successfully selling local products.
https://www.wfp.org/news/wfp-and-partners-revive-olive-production-iraq
News related with SDGs number 8-Decent Work and Economic Growth
Extreme weather could be as expensive as investing in cutting carbon ASAP - Overshoot climate targets, even briefly, and the costs of extreme weather go up.
(by K.E.D.Cohan)
30 December 2021 - Recently, a network of climate modeling groups showed that it will cost more to overshoot the Paris Agreement temperature goals than it will to stay on a low-temperature trajectory. On the same day, that collaboration also published work showing that additional risks of overshooting come in part via ensuing increases in extreme weather. These studies are two of four published this year; together they provide the most comprehensive projections of the requirements and implications of the path we take to reach our end-of-century temperature targets. (…)
News related with SDGs number 13-Climate Action
Feeding this seaweed to cows can eliminate their methane emissions
(by Johnna Crider)
30 December 2021 - A farmer from Prince Edward Island, Canada, has found out that feeding his cattle seaweed could reduce greenhouse gases by up to 40%. (…) Methane is responsible for 30% of global warming, and one-third of that type of pollution is from livestock such as cattle. Dorgan noted that the researchers discovered that feeding seaweed to cattle would reduce greenhouse gases by as much as 40%. (…) In a single year, one cow typically emits as much greenhouse gas as a small car. (…)
https://cleantechnica.com/2021/12/29/feeding-seaweed-to-cows-can-eliminate-their-methane-emissions/
News related with SDGs number 15-Life on Land
Looking through a gender lens can help guide climate investments
(by Sarah Casey)
24 December 2021 - Applying a climate lens to investing is, today, not an unfamiliar notion. (…) Investing with a gender lens, however, is something less familiar but is an increasingly important consideration. Investing with a gender lens incorporates gender considerations into financial analysis in order to achieve better social and financial outcomes. While the Cancun Agreements acknowledged that gender equality and the effective participation of women are important for all aspects of any response to climate change, women remain underrepresented across the board from having key roles in decision-making processes, to being minority recipients and users of capital. (…)
News related with SDGs number 13-Climate Action
African Union: ICRC holds virtual dialogue on Innovative Approaches and Partnerships to Address Health Threats in Africa
23 December 2021 - In times where the threats to the health sector in humanitarian settings are tremendous and where accessibility and the health needs of vulnerable populations often continue to be ignored, innovative approaches and partnerships become indispensable.
News related with SDGs number 3-Good Health and Well-Being
Build brains better: A proposal for a White House Brain Capital Council to accelerate post-COVID recovery and resilience
(Walter D. Dawson, Carol Graham, Erin Smith, Virginia Bennett, Carolee Lee, Geoff Ling, Sandra Bond Chapman, Bruce L. Miller, Thomas Insel, Brad Herbert, Rebecca Brune, and Harris A. Eyre)
22 December 2021 - Brain-based challenges all involve brain health and wellness at an individual and societal level. They all represent internal or external disruptions whether biological, economic, structural, environmental, or social. Collectively, they were reducing life expectancy in the United States, long before the SARS-COV-2 pandemic. The pandemic, in turn, has made all of these brain-based issues profoundly worse.
News related with SDGs number 3-Good Health and Well-Being
To make Wind Power cheaper, bigger is better
(by Jane Marsh)
15 December 2021 - When the United Nations established the Paris Agreement, countries began searching for emission-reduction methods. Many energy professionals turned to renewable sources, producing sustainable power supplies. While many individuals recognize solar as a key clean energy source, wind turbines create more global electricity. Environmental engineers and scientists are improving wind power technology, increasing its affordability while decreasing greenhouse gas emissions. They discovered that larger production plants and turbines could increase supply sizes, helping regions replace fossil fuels with clean electricity. Enhancing wind power's abundance, reliability, and cost-efficiency can improve atmospheric conservation. (…)
https://www.renewableenergymagazine.com/jane-marsh/to-make-wind-power-cheaper-bigger-is-20211215/
News related with SDGs number 9-Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
INTERNATIONAL RENEWABLE ENERGY AGENCY - Better understanding of Rooftop Solar PV installation can support increased deployment
December 7, 2021 - The deployment of rooftop solar photovoltaic (PV) systems has increased significantly in recent years thanks to their rapidly declining costs and supporting policies. Solar PV installations can be arranged in smaller configurations for mini-grids or personal use. This is of particular relevance in developing countries, where many residents need more accessible, affordable, and reliable electricity options. In many markets, self-consuming PV electricity is already more economically attractive than buying electricity from the grid. (…)
News related with SDGs number 9-Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
AFRICA/CENTRAL AFRICA - “Who sings, prays twice”: Carmelites are releasing a CD for the 50th anniversary
5 January 2022 Bangui (Agenzia Fides) - Christian preaching also happens through music. And "whoever sings, prays twice", St. Augustine already knew. Based on this conviction, the Mission of the Discalced Carmelites in Central Africa has published a collection of songs and a CD at the end of the 50th anniversary of the arrival of the first missionaries, which are intended to pay homage to the founders of the mission. As Father Federico Trinchero told Fides, "it is a gesture of gratitude to all the friends and benefactors who have supported us over these fifty years". "The songs", says the missionary, "are all composed and sung by our seminarians. The texts, inspired by the Carmelite tradition, are written in Sango, French, Spanish and Italian: a balance of mutual influence for listening and dancing". The songs can be downloaded from a special link on the Internet or on CD from missioni@carmeloligure.it. (…)
News related with SDGs number 4-Quality Education
ASIA/PAKISTAN - An interreligious meeting for the blind
30 December 2021 - Karachi (Agenzia Fides) - "We blind people face rejection in our daily life; many people do not come forward to greet us or shake hands. We feel rejected when we see that the rights of blind people are not respected. We are faced with so many challenges, especially living as a disabled person is a pain in itself. We have organized this interreligious Christmas program for the blind to make them feel that they are not alone, that they have not been forgotten.
http://www.fides.org/en/news/71388-ASIA_PAKISTAN_An_interreligious_meeting_for_the_blind//
News related with SDGs number 16-Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
AMERICA/BRAZIL - Enhancing and expanding the contribution of women to the mission of the Church
30 December 2021: Brasilia (Agenzia Fides) - The visibility of the contribution offered by women to the mission of the Church, in Brazil and in the world, was one of the main objectives of the Commission for Missionary Action and Inter-ecclesial Cooperation of the Bishops' Conference of Brazil (CNBB) in the year 2021. To this end, the cycle of online meetings was created with the theme: "Women on a mission", which began in the month in which International Women's Day is celebrated, on March 8, and ended on December 8, Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of Mary (see Fides, 8/3/2021). (…) In the Church in Brazil, there are several women who are part of the "living and operational structure" of evangelizing action, at all ecclesial levels, from small communities to coordinating positions in bodies of national impact. (…)
News related with SDGs number 5-Gender Equality
Cape Town hosts interfaith service in memory of Desmond Tutu
29 December 2021 - South Africa's city of Cape Town holds a colourful musical memorial for its first black Anglican Archbishop and global icon, Desmond Tutu, who died on Sunday. The memorial interfaith service held at the city hall is attended by Tutu's window Leah, other family members and politicians. Dozens of tributes toTutu have been held this week following his death Sunday at the age of 90.
https://www.africanews.com/2021/12/29/cape-town-hosts-interfaith-service-in-memory-of-desmond-tutu//
News related with SDGs number 10-Reduced Inequalities
AFRICA/SOUTH SUDAN - We can all contribute to bringing peace to the earth, according to the bishop of Tombura-Yambio
23 December 2021 - "Like these Holy Parents, we also find hope: Hope in the salvation Christ’s birth brings us; hope in a vaccine for the Coronavirus; hope that gradually we can fill our churches again without fear at all, gather as families again, return to school again, and be fully employed again; hope for a better, calmer 2022".
News related with SDGs number 16-Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
Engaging Moral Imagination for Co-creative Interfaith Actions
(by Genevieve Balance-Kupang)
21 December 2021 – For the past days, the bases for dialogue with the religious “others,” the joys and challenges of engaging in IRD were shared. We learned that as brotherly and sisterly relations were forged, the spiritual, moral, ethical, and cultural goods are nurtured and circulated.
https://www.pressenza.com/2021/12/engaging-moral-imagination-for-co-creative-interfaith-actions//
News related with SDGs number 16-Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
United Nations – General Assembly – Seventy–sixth session – Agenda item 16: Culture of Peace
Draft resolution: Promotion of interreligious and intercultural dialogue, understanding and cooperation for peace
1 December 2021 - The General Assembly, (…)
4. (…) calls upon Member States to consider, as appropriate and where applicable, interreligious and intercultural dialogue as an important tool in efforts aimed at achieving peace and social stability and the full realization of the Sustainable Development Goals;
10. Calls upon Member States, which have the primary responsibility to counter discrimination and hate speech, and all relevant actors, including political and religious leaders, to promote inclusion and unity in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and to combat racism, xenophobia, hate speech, violence and discrimination; (…)
https://documents-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/LTD/N21/362/19/pdf/N2136219.pdf?OpenElement
News related with SDGs number 16-Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
Rules, regulations and environment
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Thinking Global, Acting Local: how to get Clean Tech into every community
(by Scott Cooney)
25 December 2021 – (…) The Elemental Excelerator, a Hawaii-based non-profit with a mission to wean Hawaii and the world off fossil fuels, has pioneered a community engagement solution with some of its 100+ clean tech start-ups. It includes investing actual dollars in local communities (funding non-profits and community groups to help build programs, rather than just asking them for free advice). It gets buy-in and shows that the local community’s time and energy is valued in a real way. Elemental has now been spreading this community engagement model and believes that this is the missing piece in our transition to a clean future, and Elemental CEO Dawn Lippert recently did a TED Talk on the topic. (…)
News related with SDGs number 11-Sustainable Cities and Communities
For a smart city, you need to densify, not expand
(by Paul Smits)
23 December 2021 – (…) A remarkable conclusion: densification in, and not expansion outside of a city, has plenty of potential, even with more green zones. But it does come with challenges, such as living smaller, less reliance on private cars and private parties who must be willing to invest in mobility hubs, to name a few things. (…) Whereas the smart alternative assumes a ‘walkable city’, with walking and cycling as the main forms of mobility in urban centers. The ingenuity lies in applying technology effectively. (…) A smart grid refers to a smart electricity network that can influence the demand for electricity based on the availability at a particular moment. (…)
https://innovationorigins.com/en/for-a-smart-city-you-need-to-densify-the-city-not-expand-it/
News related with SDGs number 11-Sustainable Cities and Communities
Smart city organization to put North American HQ in Scottsdale
(by Corina Vanek)
22 December 2021 - United Cities, a global program in partnership with several United Nations agencies, announced Tuesday that it has partnered with Caliber Cos. to develop its North American headquarters and innovation hub on the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community near Scottsdale. United Cities North America, the branch that will be based in Arizona, is focused on bringing the UN’s sustainable development goal 11, which is centered around creating inclusive, safe, sustainable and resilient cities, to North America. (…)
https://www.bizjournals.com/phoenix/news/2021/12/22/smart-city-organization-hq-scottsdale.html
News related with SDGs number 11-Sustainable Cities and Communities
Making Air Travel more sustainable with Soy-Fuel innovations
16 December 2021 - Scientists with the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) in Peoria, Illinois, have developed a way to make a better jet biofuel from soybean oil. Fatty acids from soybean oil can be turned into an array of industrial products normally made from petroleum, including fuel, ink and paints. One appeal of plant-based products is that they recycle carbon found in the atmosphere. This makes plants a far more renewable resource than petroleum and other fossil fuels, which add carbon to the atmosphere as they're extracted from the earth and used. (…)
News related with SDGs number 9-Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
28% Of U.S. Coal Power plants plan to retire by 2035
(by U.S. Energy Information Administration)
15 December 2021 - Although coal-fired power plants have no mandatory retirement age, power plant owners and operators have reported to EIA that they plan to retire 28%, or 59 gigawatts (GW), of the coal-fired capacity currently operating in the United States by 2035. As of September 2021, 212 GW of utility-scale coal-fired electric-generating capacity was operating in the United States, most of which was built in the 1970s and 1980s, according to our Preliminary Monthly Electric Generator Inventory. (…)
https://cleantechnica.com/2021/12/15/28-of-u-s-coal-power-plants-plan-to-retire-by-2035/
News related with SDGs number 12-Responsible Consumption and Production
Greater and smarter electrification is key to combatting climate change
(by Matthias Rebellius, Siemens AG Management Board Member)
15 December 2021 - Businesses and governments can work together to utilise the latest smart technologies in our cities and factories. Global warming is real. Rising greenhouse gas emissions threaten to make coastal regions and river deltas uninhabitable for billions of people. To soften the impact of climate change, we must ramp up electrification using green power.
https://energycentral.com/c/ec/greater-and-smarter-electrification-key-combatting-climate-change
News related with SDGs number 13-Climate Action
INTERNATIONAL ENERGY AGENCY - Energy Efficiency Hub launched to boost cooperation on world's ‘first fuel' - IEA to host platform through which 16 governments will share best practices on policy, regulations and implementation
7 December 2021 - The Energy Efficiency Hub - a global platform for collaboration aimed at delivering the social, economic and environmental benefits of more efficient use of energy - was launched on 1 December at an event hosted at the International Energy Agency in Paris. The Hub's initial 16 members are Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Denmark, the European Commission, France, Germany, Japan, Korea, Luxembourg, Russia, Saudi Arabia, the United Kingdom and the United States. The Hub aims to facilitate government-to-government exchanges on efficiency policy, regulation and implementation, focusing on topics relevant to real-world challenges faced by its members. The launch event showcased digitalisation, efficient equipment and appliance deployment, best energy efficiency technologies, and energy management best practices as areas of collaboration. (…)
News related with SDGs number 12-Responsible Consumption and Production
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Good News Agency is published monthly (except August) in English, Italian and Portuguese. Past issues are available at www.goodnewsagency.org . Rome Law-court registration no. 265 dated 20 June 2000. Managing Editor: Fabio Gatti. Editorial research by Fabio Gatti, Isabella Strippoli, Elisa Minelli, Salvatore Caruso Motta, Chiara Damilano, Francesco Viglienghi, Carlo Toraldo, Andrea Landriscina, Nazzarena Franco. Webmaster, media and NGO coverage: Simone Frassanito (simone.frassanito@goodnewsagency.org)
Good News Agency is distributed free of charge through Internet to media and editorial journalists of the daily newspapers and periodical magazines and of the radio and television stations, NGOs, service associations, high schools and colleges as well as over 26,000 Rotarians around the world.
It is an all-volunteer service of Associazione Culturale dei Triangoli e della Buona Volontà Mondiale, a registered, not-for-profit educational charity chartered in Italy in 1979 The Association operates for the development of consciousness and promotes a culture of peace in the ‘global village’ perspective based on unity in diversity and on sharing. It is based in Piazzale degli Eroi 8, 00136 Rome, Italy. The Association is a member of the World Association of Non Governmental Organizations.
* http://decade-culture-of-peace.org/2010_civil_society_report.pdf - In section A - International Organizations, page 12, the Report says: ”Diffusion and exchange of culture of peace information via the Internet has become the major instrument for several international organizations, notably the Culture of Peace News Network, the Good News Agency and the Education for Peace Globalnet.”