Against ‘Add and Stir’: On BLM and Non-Normative Gender
Looking beyond Gender Binary issues in an effort to move from Black Lives Matter to Black Life Matters. I’ve been long dissatisfied with common critiques. These critiques often simply point out that which is missing. That is, I have long been
What’s At Stake: Gender, Agriculture and Crisis
As women face unprecedented upheavals, the development community has an opportunity to not only meet immediate needs, but to support a more innovative, equitable future. While agriculture is the primary source of income and food security for billions of people globally,
Future Trends – Climate Refugees, Libya Protests, Israel Lockdown
Introducing another week of Future Trends — tracking current global news stories that provide insight into the future. This week's Future Trends: Libya protests, climate refugees, floating vegetable gardens, Israel lockdown and life on Venus. CONFLICT Islamic extremists suspected in the death of
Least Peaceful Countries Have The Most Ecological Threats
The ETR measures ecological threats that countries are currently facing and provides projections to 2050. This is the inaugural edition of the Ecological Threat Register (ETR), which covers 157 independent states and territories. The ETR measures ecological threats that countries are
A Peace Deal in the Absence of Conflict
Following the announcement that Bahrain, too, had decided to enter into the so-called peace deal with Israel, I approached political analyst for the MENA region and facilitator for the UNITAR Masters in Peacekeeping and Post-Conflict Resolution, Dr. Nicolai Due-Gundersen, for
The Future of Agriculture? Integrating Agroecology and Climate-Smart Agriculture
Re-assessing agroecology's role in sustainable agriculture. Integrating agroecology and climate-smart agriculture in CCAFS activities. The CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS) is committed to tackling humankind's greatest challenges in the 21st century: food security, adaptation to
How Cycle Lanes Can Help Ensure Low Emission Cities Post-COVID
The pandemic has shown us what a low emission city can look like, governments have swiftly created new bicycle lanes and promised greener investments. Such commitments are paramount for sustainable development and a healthy planet. What if our new normal offered us more time, health and
Reconstructing Beirut with Faith, Love, and Empathy
A month after the staggering blast in Lebanon's capital city, Beirut's social organizations have started the extensive cycle of reconstructing the city. In unflagging solidarity with Lebanon's individuals, the UN Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) underscored its duty to apply
Sustainable Cotton or Recycled Polyester? The Conscious Shopper’s Dilemma
Some brands claim to be sustainable but not all of their products meet the same criteria and transparency gaps abound. How can the average consumer make the right decisions? Today’s USD 3 trillion fashion industry offers eco-minded consumers a plethora of sustainable and
Crop Loss Assessment Monitor: A Multi-Model and Multistage Decision Support System
Study shows how the Crop Loss Assessment Monitor - a decision support system - could help improve loss assessment and make crop insurance more efficient. Farming has often been quoted as one of the noblest professions, shouldering the responsibility of feeding
A Virtual Journey to Some of the Most Wondrous Landscapes of the Earth
From the mighty tiger to the humble worker bee, the huge variety of life on Earth contributes to our lives and well-being in more ways than we think. From providing us with food, clean water and air, to supporting our
Pantanal, the World’s Biggest Wetland, is on Fire – Why You Need to Worry
One of UNESCO’s world heritage sites, Pantanal is one of the world’s most diverse biomes, and home to endangered species such as Jaguars and the Brazilian native, Blue Macaw. Sixty percent of the 250,000 km2 Pantanal - an area larger