SDGs Goal13

Goal 13 (SDGs)… Climate Action and Partnerships that truly works.

INTRODUCTION

"There are immense challenges to sustainable development as might have been obvious. Billions of our citizens continue to live in poverty and are denied a life of dignity. There exists rising inequality within and among countries. There are enormous disparities of opportunity, wealth, and power. Gender inequality remains a key challenge. Unemployment, particularly youth unemployment, is a major concern. Global health threats, more frequent and intense natural disasters, spiraling conflict, violent extremism, terrorism, and humanitarian crises as well as forced displacement of people threatened to reverse much of the development progress made in recent decades.

Natural resource depletion and adverse impacts of environmental degradation, including desertification, drought, land degradation, freshwater scarcity, and loss of biodiversity, add to and exacerbate the list of challenges that humanity faces. Climate change is one of the greatest challenges of our time and its adverse impacts undermine the ability of all countries to achieve sustainable development.

Increases in global temperature, sea-level rise, ocean acidification, and other climate change impacts are seriously affecting coastal areas and low-lying coastal countries, including many least-developed countries and small island developing States. The survival of many societies, and of the biological support systems of the planet, is at risk." The current speed of urbanization in developing countries and its effects on inequality makes urban governance and adequate planning increasingly challenging, maybe pretty urgent ~ World Social Report2020

DEVELOPMENTAL LITERATURE

"We are committed to ending poverty in all its forms and dimensions, including by eradicating extreme poverty by 2030. All people must enjoy a basic standard of living, including through social protection systems. We are also determined to end hunger and to achieve food security as a testament to attest of our priority and to end all forms of malnutrition. In this regard, we affirm the important role and inclusive nature of the Committee on World Food Security and welcome the Rome Declaration on Nutrition and the Framework for Action. We will devote resources to developing rural areas, and sustainable agriculture and fisheries, supporting smallholder farmers, especially Women farmers, holders, and fishers in developing countries, particularly least developed countries." For the first time in the history of the world has it been that more people live in urban areas than those in rural areas? The reasons are that there is a huge disparity in access to basic amenities/infrastructures. Socially, rapid urbanization has led to growing concerns about deteriorating health conditions. Even if maternal and child health is generally better in urban than in rural areas, they are at times worse in urban slums and other poor neighborhoods of cities than in rural areas. These were on (2/4/2018 on Environment and you on ITV Abuja) made clearer- the best viewpoint to a better understanding of this.

?Sustainable development cannot be realized without peace and security, and peace and security will be at risk without sustainable development. "The new Agenda recognizes the need to build peaceful, just, and inclusive societies that provide equal access to justice and that are based on respect for human rights (including the right to development), on effective rule of law and good governance at all levels and on transparent, effective and accountable institutions. Factors that give rise to violence, insecurity, and injustice, such as inequality, CORRUPTION, poor governance, and illicit financial and arms flows, are addressed in the Agenda.

We must redouble our efforts to resolve or prevent conflict and to support post-conflict countries, including ensuring women have a role in peacebuilding and State-building. We call for further effective measures and actions to be taken, in conformity with international law, to remove the obstacles to the full realization of the right of self-determination of people living under colonial and foreign occupation, which continue to adversely affect their economic and social development as well as their ENVIRONMENT."

?Slums are most times visible symptoms of exclusion in divided cities. Unregulated land and housing markets, as well as poor urban planning, can concentrate disadvantages in specific locations, and lead to a vicious cycle of exclusion and marginalization. The February 16, 2019 edition of The Environment and you on ITV was misconstrued to seek and/or find electoral favors, but anything from me and/or the company I represent is never for flimsy purposes such as elections or politics.

?DISCOURSE

?"Looking ahead to the series of Conference of Parties (COPs), we underscore the commitment of all states to work for an ambitious and universal climate agreement (Paris Accord). We reaffirm that the protocols, another legal instrument or agreed outcome with legal force under the Convention applicable to all Parties shall address in a balanced manner, inter Alia mitigation, adaptation, finance, technology development, and transfer and capacity-building; transparency of action and support." ~ UN Charter. Largely remains to be seen. Income inequality is usually larger in cities than in rural areas and that is an established fact. Climate change's impact on income is beyond comparison in varying places as the DHS and MICS would have made extensively clear. Housing, and land rights with a laser focus on meeting the needs of people living in poverty, and the provision of equitable public service are paramount. Climate change through loss of soil fertility contributes to the great reduction of opportunities.

?Spatial connectivity and promotion of public transportation to facilitate equal access to the few or many opportunities in offing is a needed redress decimal. Promotion of access to decent work and formal employment; strengthening of political and administrative capacities of local authorities to respond quickly to increasingly complex challenges, including and most especially those related to climate change. These are some of the stuff we presented to some government people in Nigeria in 2016, and you know phony people, nothing was in view and still. NOTHING!

?"The scale and ambition of the new Agenda require a revitalized Global Partnership to ensure its implementation. We fully commit to this. This partnership will work in a spirit of global solidarity with the poorest and with people in vulnerable situations. It will facilitate an intensive global engagement in support of the implementation of all the Goals and targets, bringing together Governments, the private sector, civil society, the United Nations systems, and other actors, and mobilizing available resources." And there will be reviews and follow-ups. Forced migration has some benefits and costs; mostly informed by disparity as we have made known through some of our releases in the immediate past. In countries of origin, benefits accrue through remittances and other transfers by migrant communities abroad. "Remittances help to reduce the scale and severity of poverty in these countries and even contribute to the reduction of inequality among countries. Indeed, more than 75% of officially recorded remittances were received by low- and middle-income countries in 2018" (World Bank 2019a).

?The impact of migration on the labor markets of destination countries is at the core of the current public debate. Low-skilled migrants take just any job, and that makes it very difficult for non-migrants to get equal pay for excellence and expertise and that is a huge negative. Migrants undermine the locals, often this has led to xenophobic attacks- symptoms.

?SCOPE

?"Goal 13(Sustainable Development Goals) Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts.

Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries; integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies, and planning; improve education, awareness-raising, and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction, and early warning. Promote mechanisms for raising capacity for effective climate-related planning and management in the least developed countries and small island States, including focusing on women, youth, and local and marginalized communities. Implement the commitment undertaken by developed-country parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change to a goal of mobilizing jointly $100 billion annually by 2020 from all sources to address the needs of developing countries in the context of meaningful mitigation actions and transparency on implementation and fully operational isle the Green Climate Fund through capitalization as soon as possible.

?" How well have we fared four (4) years after? A lot of ground still to cover, or recovered. Climate crisis - an existential threat, deserving of all our preparations, actions, intentions... Energy presents us with more than 60% of GHGs, and renewable energy is the solution but we are not doing enough as a planet in this regard. Unless things change we are headed in the wrong direction.

We at Prigem Concepts Limited (PCL) although self-sponsored, and have never received any funding, have had a good number of solutions/reforms provided frontally to these problems both domestically, and on the international scene. The problems to which this goal is an underlying factor are enormous, with weighty consequences if left undone. While not, and never will discountenance the efforts so far made, a lot more can be done and has to start immediately. Good measurement will put both the developed countries and their developing counterparts in good stead. How much ground has been covered through the numerous innovative solutions available or available as requested? We have said it numerously that peace and development are in tandem with what global stability(geopolitical, financial, and socioeconomic) seeks, but the rising conflicts because of renewable resources are growing. Climate change, rainfall pattern differential, wind speed, an abrupt change in wind direction, humidity increases, surface temperature, soil structural impact, and biodiversity threats.

?Upsurges are all effects of climate change; the fiercer conflicts on land/Air quality and water are symptoms. Global temperatures annually breaking records since 2015, some have caused damages in accidents, exacerbates impacts of natural disasters, etc., in the Sahel region has been our primary concern for a long while, can we be a little more dogmatic in our approaches? Migration is a painful one as it has GNI, per capita, and GDP implications, worse-off life never returns to normal for the affected. Preventable only to the degree of our Actions. Whether the emigration of skilled workers constitutes a net loss or a net gain including through the flows of knowledge and investment it generates - depends on the country of origin, has that been this highlighted in the history of the world? Apparently not.

?CRITICAL REVIEW

?Another United Nations General Assembly is upon us, Secretary-General - Antonio Guttierez has made it clear "I don't need excellent speeches but actionable plans of action, where words and actions are in In-sync." This a shared sentiment because Transport, Energy, Industrial and Municipal Solid wastes, and Agricultural practices all need to be climate-smart and very well decarbonized. The hydrocarbon damages are present with us and we have to gradually move away from it. Seamless transitioning can help us fulfill the promises of a better world. Natural resource depletion has been on the front burner but not a lot has been recorded as success and that is not because we are not doing anything, No! Climate change is moving faster than we possibly can but containment of these shocks are not only needed, there are Noble for our continued existence.

?We acknowledge that everyone's buy-in is required to help us achieve a world where this existential threat is defeated or slowed down considerably. So we have done and might continue to do so because #ClimateActions will require proper understanding for the needed comprehensive action(s). Powerful economic, social, and environmental forces are affecting inequality. "The implications of these global forces - or megatrends - are broad and varied. Some can help equalize opportunities, while others are exerting mounting pressure on income inequality, mainly through their effect on labour markets." - World-Social-Report2020.

?Humanitarianism is fast becoming a thriving business that is not supposed to be. We have been clamoring for an improved outlook from the NorthEast and this current dispensation is paying commendable attention to it. Governor Zulum is a rare breed and we are only too glad for his approach in Borno state (Nigeria), Governor Fintiri of Adamawa State (Nigeria) is not doing badly too, it is all about the new NorthEastern Nigeria, The North-East development commission (NEDC) is up to a slow start but surely they can read the body language of the #NextLevel . Can environmental degradation become history, no! Can better, more efficient and resilience-driven management mechanisms be readily available? Oh ! Absolutely.

Erosion and flooding both coastal and landlocked are present with us now, in fact, they never left. In my village in Northcentral Nigeria, though a big Jeep, and some of the best drivable machines, we cannot get to the next village except by motorcycle, even within the village (some places) you dare not! Erosion has washed off the roads; access to raw materials is limited. Production processes are negatively impacted which affects income redistribution; a tool in the fight against #Climatecrisis Countries where there exists gross inequality or where it has grown is home to more than 71% of the world population.

?The poorest 40% earned less than 25 percent of income in all 92 countries with data (MICS) ~ United Nations, 2019a. Truth be told 2/3 of the world's population live in countries where inequality has grown; the ethnoreligious disparity is a phenomenon in the related terms as the case has been. These further compound the above-enumerated problems, and we will continue to do our best by proffering solutions to the same.

?RESERVATIONS

But this is not to say development is too slow or not thorough, no! The water supply through persistent rainfall which has changed the pattern, volume, and characteristics is the reason to blame. Containment through the best Storm Water Management is also possible to ameliorate the sufferings occasioned by all these. Just so that we do not repeat the need to help victims of disaster with limited resources, a plan that is holistic in nature is what we will re-iterate for the umpteen time. Computable general equilibrium of actions and inactions; stochastic aggregate policy; stock listing.. etc. Farm produce barely gets to town ordinarily due partly to inadequate infrastructure, with Extreme Weather Events the inadequate becomes unavailable - food waste will now be spelled in capital letters. Food waste contributes significantly to greenhouse gases, being 3rd emission giant behind only China and slightly lower than what comes from the United States of America.

The rate of infrastructural damage occasioned by climate change is beyond measurable; many cities barely recovered from it.

?#ClimateAction is very much needed; beyond the English language competition that it has been reduced to in Africa and other low-income continents. Too often even more important concepts get attention only when they have become extremely blatant; food waste is what? 'My friend goes and sits down somewhere, see this one o.' Policy direction is a goal aimed at declassification when/if we are to consider improvement as an option to review and address #Climatecrisis (inequality); by extension views on- waste handling and infrastructural development should be clear and spelled.

?More so, the current speed of urbanization, especially in poor countries, makes urban governance and appropriate urban design and planning increasingly urgent. (October/2/2019 and June/4/2018 on ITV will tell us a little more). Africa can be better run, not to run the globe aground, and the time is now.

?CONCLUSION

Foreign Direct Investment in trades and the attendant gross national income will be slow in nations witnessing civil unrest, political instability, terrorism, or even domestic violent extremism. The above is not only true but also, very present with us in sub-Saharan Africa. The danger it portends for the future is great; grave concerns of our not realizing that the climate change fight is to be won here at all costs. We have heard stories of funds set aside for ecological redress embezzled only for the buildings to be renovated or a new one bought. You see I need to get the latest Bombardier jet, fantastic! But such gains and privileges can be wiped with one disaster. How about planned transportation to reduce Transport Related Air pollution (TRAP); Agroforestry so that food sufficiency and flooding will not balance themselves; renewable energy sources where domestication of the principles|plans of action - creating employment in the same vein; energy recovery from waste has no completion when climate change is in discourse and children have to know.

Tangible and targeted investments in the right direction (policies, plans of action, procedures, and execution of all the above-mentioned) might just be the solution to all of these. We have presented these templates in the past, hopefully, the world will be better for the sake of some of our works. We salute the courage of Greta the activist, Angelina Jolie (UNICEF ambassador), Allison Becker (WHO ambassador), David Beckham, Beyoncé, and Selena Gomez, most of whom give, and are constantly giving of themselves to the course of a better world; an impressive stance. Together we can be more and do more, just so that the world is better because we discovered energy, and civilization and not be destroyed to the level of our enjoyment. When better is possible, good is never enough especially if it is the best thing to do. Climate change is an existential threat, #climateAction is needed so quickly to make good the worse being awaited.

?"We underline the important role and comparative advantage of an adequately resourced, relevant, coherent, efficient, and effective United Nations system in supporting the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals and sustainable development. While stressing the importance of strengthened national ownership and leadership at the country level, we express our support for the ongoing dialogue in the Economic and Social Council on the longer-term positioning of the United Nations development systems in the context of this Agenda." Words within the inverted commas are from the declaration of the United Nations SDG initiation. Many of the factors encouraging inequality, lawlessness, and impunity are specific to countries or regions based on their history, geography, policies, and institutions. It is very difficult to be positive when there is so much to deal with and all is done more often is the exportation of ineptitude.

?Often, Technological innovation, climate change, urbanization, and international migration have been top on our list of solutions as we have proffered more than the people saddled with these #No -clue experts that have been serviced by taxpayers' funds have come up with. Climate change is affecting all countries but hitting the poor countries more. Urbanization offers an unparalleled opportunity for poverty alleviation but the effects, process, and cost evaluation of urbanization have to be known and factored inappropriately. The challenge with the soccer teams I formed when I was younger was that diversity was not a fanciful 'tinz' or option, I paid limited attention to it, now I parade the very best in the work team and of course, #SSS doesn't she impress you so much when you listen to her interviews; we are soon teammates.. #IWD2020 "In my whole life, I have known no wise people who didn't read all the time, None. Zero." ~ Charlie Munger

#SDGs #Goal13

Owa Olumayowa Raymond

African. Citizen of the World.