The global cost of disasters is growing: The economic burden of disasters is intensifying. While the direct costs of disasters averaged $70–80 billion a year between 1970 and 2000, between 2001 and 2020 these annual costs grew significantly to $180–200 billion. But the real cost is far higher. Disaster costs …
The world’s governments are falling far short of the pledges they made in 2015 to eradicate extreme poverty and create a world with “zero hunger” by 2030 – the first and second Sustainable Development Goals. Behind the raw numbers of the SDG data, millions of people are living with avoidable …
Sweeping global gains in sexual and reproductive health and rights over the last thirty years are marred by an ugly truth – millions of women and girls have not benefited because of who they are or where they were born, according to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) 2024 State …
This edition of the Macro Poverty Outlooks periodical contains country-by-country forecasts and overviews for GDP, fiscal, debt and poverty indicators for the developing countries of the Middle East and North Africa region. Macroeconomic indicators such as population, gross domestic product and gross domestic product per capita, and where available, other …
The report forecasts global economic growth to 2.6% in 2024, barely above the 2.5% threshold commonly associated with a recessionary phase. The report says the prevailing focus on inflation overshadows urgent issues like trade disruptions, climate change and rising inequalities. It advocates for structural reforms and coordinated global efforts, proposing …
The global wind industry installed a record 117GW of new capacity in 2023, making it the best year ever for new wind energy, finds this year’s Global Wind Report from the Global Wind Energy Council. The report finds the wind industry is entering a new era of accelerated growth driven …
Plastic Overshoot Day marks the point when the amount of plastic waste generated exceeds the world’s capacity to manage it, resulting in environmental pollution. In 2024, the global Plastic Overshoot Day is projected to occur on September 5th. Each country has its own Plastic Overshoot Day, which is determined by …
The World Energy Council today published the 15th edition of its World Energy Trilemma Report, titled ‘Evolving with Resilience and Justice’. The World Energy Trilemma framework tracks national energy performance against the three key dimensions of energy security, equity, and environmental sustainability. The latest report exposes the profound changes in …
The number of lives lost due to viral hepatitis infections is increasing and already accounts for 3,500 deaths daily, according to this report by the World Health Organization (WHO). This is the first consolidated WHO report on viral hepatitis epidemiology, service coverage and product access, with improved data for action. …
This new UN report says financing challenges are at the heart of the world’s sustainable development crisis – as staggering debt burdens and sky-high borrowing costs prevent developing countries from responding to the confluence of crises they face. Only a massive surge of financing, and a reform of the international …
The report investigates the broad concept of the economics of drought management, provides a conceptual, two-tier framework for the assessment of proactive and reactive actions, and disseminates case studies for the implementation of the framework in decision-making processes. This report aims to assist decision-makers, policymakers, planners, and national authorities responsible …
The objective for a hydropower hybrid is to take maximum advantage of the integrated technologies by maximizing their utilization, the benefits they bring, and their efficiency. It is widely known that standalone hydropower plants and other technologies can help manage the variability of VRE in the power system. However, with …
In 2023, the Emergency Events Database (EM-DAT) recorded a total of 399 disasters related to natural hazards. These events resulted in 86,473 fatalities and affected 93.1 million people. The economic losses amounted to US$202.7 billion. The 2023 earthquake in Türkiye and the Syrian Arab Republic was the most catastrophic event …
Eight out of 10 Indians support cutting plastic production in order to save the country’s biodiversity and limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius, revealed a new Greenpeace International report. The survey comes ahead of the fourth Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC4) meeting for a Global Plastics Treaty to be held …
This overview sets the scene for the various modules in the Renewables 2024 Global Status Report Collection. It provides high-level trends on the status of renewables in the wider fossil fuel-dominated energy system in the context of global challenges such as climate change, development goals and the geopolitical landscape. Urgent …
The 2024 Climate Risk Landscape Report serves as a comprehensive resource delving into the available tools for financial institutions to assess physical and transition climate risks and boost their institution’s resilience to related impacts. This edition provides best practices for tool utilisation, case studies, and recommendations to navigate the dynamic …
The future of the global energy system is deeply uncertain, and the choices that are made in the coming years will have enormous consequences for the future of the climate and, indeed, human civilization. To understand how the energy system is changing, each year a variety of organizations produce long-term …
This paper explores the evolution and future direction of financial incentives to promote zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) adoption and suggests adjustments to reflect the maturing ZEV market. The analysis highlights the need for tailored incentives that consider local conditions and market changes. The findings outline principles for adapting incentives, including aligning …
In a world where the demands for secure, affordable and sustainable energy are ever-increasing, global and national energy systems are showing signs of deficiencies and strains everywhere. There is an urgent need for collaboration across the entire energy ecosystem to redesign energy systems that enable the improvement of billions of …
From Sun to Roof to Grid: The Economics and Policy of Distributed Photovoltaics explores the benefits, challenges, and risks of DPV, with special attention to the economics of its deployment and its uses for utilities. The challenges addressed include inadequate electricity supply, energy access for low-income groups, natural disasters, decarbonizing …
A decade on from its launch, the Global Atlas for Renewable Energy continues to represent a unique, free global resource for assessing the renewable potential of countries and regions. Since the launch of its ground-breaking free web GIS renewable resource platform in 2012, IRENA has continuously updated and upgraded the …
