Growth in Asia and the Pacific outperformed expectations in late 2023, reaching 5.0 percent for the year. Inflation has continued to decline, albeit at varying speeds: some economies are still seeing sustained price pressures, while others are facing deflationary risks.In 2024, growth is projected to slow modestly to 4.5 percent. …
Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, Ghana had taken proactive measures to solidify its commitments to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including financing the SDGs as a long-standing priority. In partnership with the World Economic Forum’s Sustainable Development Investment Partnership (SDIP), the Country Financing Roadmap (CFR) for SDGs initiative is …
Agriculture is a key sector of the Gambian economy and contributes to 17% of GDP and 30-40% of export earnings. It employs almost half (46%) of the workforce and is the source of income for 80% of the rural population. Economic performance is improving, without translating into a reduction in …
Although spending on science has risen worldwide, greater investment is needed in the face of growing crises, the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has recommended in a new report published. The latest edition of its Science Report, which is published every five years, further reveals that there is …
This weekend the members of the G7 will meet in the UK, in a year that marks an important deadline for countries to bring forward stronger climate targets. All of the G7 governments, covering roughly half of global GDP and over a fifth of greenhouse gas emissions, have enhanced their …
As parts of the world begin to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, a fundamental shift in the global energy system is needed to avoid the worst impacts of climate change. Despite efforts by policymakers in some nations to stimulate a “green” recovery, far greater effort will be required to spur …
The world economy is experiencing a very strong but uneven recovery, with many emerging market and developing economies facing obstacles to vaccination. The global outlook remains uncertain, with major risks around the path of the pandemic and the possibility of financial stress amid large debt loads. Policy makers face a …
Are policies designed to avert climate change (Climate Change Policies, or CCPs) politically costly? Using data on governmental popular support and the OECD’s Environmental Stringency Index, find that CCPs are not necessarily politically costly: policy design matters. First, only market-based CCPs (such as emission taxes) generate negative effects on popular …
This third edition of the Zimbabwe Economic Update (ZEU) aims to provide both a current and historical background covering the pre-pandemic (2019) and pandemic (2020 to April 2021) period. The 2019-2020 period marked a very difficult time for the country as 2019 was clouded by a prolonged drought, unprecedented cyclone …
Over the past few decades, some countries in Asia have been more successful than others in addressing poverty and malnutrition. The key question is what policies, strategies, legislation and institutional arrangements have led to a transformed agricultural sector, effectively contributing to poverty alleviation and addressing malnutrition. The great majority of …
The South Sudan economy is projected to contract by 4.1 percent in FY2020/21, with growth negatively affected by the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, lower oil production, floods, and increased conflict intensity in parts of the country. With the economic decline in FY2020/21, living conditions have deteriorated, with some 8.3 …
A comprehensive study of the economic impact of Southeast Asia’s Agri-food sector in 2019, with deeper analysis into the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the policy challenges faced by the sector in the years ahead. In 2019, the agri-food sector supported over 40% of jobs in Vietnam, Indonesia, Thailand, …
The Rwanda Economic Update (REU) analyzes recent economic developments and prospects, as well as Rwanda’s policy priorities. The REU is intended for a wide audience of policymakers, business leaders, other market participants, analysts of Rwanda’s economy, and civil society. It draws on data reported by the Government of Rwanda and …
This is the third Comprehensive Food Security and Vulnerability Analysis in Sierra Leone evidencing trend analysis that spans over ten years. The 2020 food security and vulnerability analysis was conducted eight months after the first COVID-19 case was confirmed in Sierra Leone. The pandemic has had a devastating impact on …
Climate change is a major threat to the sustainability and inclusiveness of our societies, and to the planet’s habitability. A just transition to a low-carbon economy is the only viable way forward. This paper reviews the climate change challenge. It stresses the criticality of systems changes (energy, transport, urban, land …
India saw 1.67 million deaths —18% of total mortality— due to air pollution in 2019. However, the impacts of air pollution are not limited to health but also on the economic front. Now, a report titled “Air pollution – the silent pandemic and its impact on business” by the Clean …
European member states agreed in December 2020 to an increased climate target for 2030 of -55% net emissions reductions. In July, the European Commission will propose an update of the EU’s key climate and energy legislation to turn that climate target into concrete policy. This report by Cambridge Econometrics looks …
Nature underpins all economic activities and human well-being. It is the world’s most important asset. Yet humanity is destroying biodiversity at an unprecedented rate, posing significant but often overlooked risks to the economy, the financial sector and the well-being of current and future generations. This report provides the latest findings …
This report by the International Energy Agency offers world's first comprehensive roadmap for transitioning to a net zero energy system by 2050. It includes more than 400 milestones that set out how governments and businesses could navigate the rapid transformation of the global economy The number of countries announcing pledges …
This paper analyses the long-term effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and associated government responses on the environment. It uses large-scale modelling to investigate the impact of sectoral and regional shocks to the economy until 2040. These detailed economic impacts are linked to a range of environmental pressures, including greenhouse gas …
This paper analyses the long-term effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and associated government responses on the environment. It uses large-scale modelling to investigate the impact of sectoral and regional shocks to the economy until 2040. These detailed economic impacts are linked to a range of environmental pressures, including greenhouse gas …
