The world’s most common human rights violation is still violence against women and girls. The COVID-19 pandemic already had an impact on its prevalence, which is currently being exacerbated by the intertwining problems of climate change, world war, and economic instability.
In response to this situation, there is a global pushback against women’s rights. Anti-feminist movements are expanding, assaults against female human rights advocates and defenders are increasing, and the position of women’s rights in many nations’ legal systems is deteriorating. Governments are deploying force against femicide and gender-based violence protestors, regressive new laws are making it easier for those who commit domestic abuse to get away with it, and organisations that support women’s rights are being sidelined more.
Evidence suggests that a powerful and independent women’s movement is the most significant force behind the policy change, making feminism’s mobilisation in the face of anti-rights backlash a literal matter of life and death.

16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence

Everyone will be encouraged to participate in these 16 Days of Activism. The voices of survivors and activists will be amplified as a result, bolstering feminist movements and supporting women’s groups. It will also strengthen survivors, lessen and stop violence against women and girls, and defend the rights of women.
An annual global campaign called the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence begins on November 25, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, and lasts until December 10, Human Rights Day.
Activists launched the initiative at the Women’s Global Leadership Institute’s opening in 1991. The Center for Women’s Global Leadership has continued to organise it each year. People and groups all across the world utilise it as an organising tactic to demand the prevention and elimination of violence against women and girls.
The UN Secretary-General announced the UNiTE by 2030 to End the Violence Against Women campaign in 2008 to promote this civil society movement. This campaign runs parallel with the 16 Days of Activism.

Theme 2022

The UNiTE Campaign has a different topic every year. “UNITE! Activism to stop violence against women and girls” is the theme for 2022. Everyone is encouraged to take part in the effort to put an end to violence against women and girls, to support and stand in solidarity with those fighting for their rights, and to oppose any attempts to restrict those rights.

Say No-Uniting Since 2009

Say NO-UNiTE to End Violence Against Women is a social mobilisation platform that UN Women launched in 2009 to assist the system-wide UN campaign and increase public engagement.
A global petition calling on the world to give priority to eradicating violence against women received more than 5 million signatures during its initial round. The campaign generated over 5 million actions between 2009 and 2013 in collaboration with more than 900 civil society organisations worldwide.
Actions demonstrated advocacy initiatives by governments, activists, civic society, and the UN system. These varied from grassroots national awareness-raising activities to online petitions, social media campaigns, and more. Involving young people and faith-based organisations, reaching out to schools, getting governments to make specific national commitments, and more were all part of it.

COMMIT initiative

Before the 57th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women in 2012, which had as its main topic the eradication of violence against women, the COMMIT campaign was started by UN Women. This urged nations to take a stand against violence against women and girls by pledging new, significant national commitments.
By the end of 2013, 63 countries, including the European Union, had signed on to the initiative and announced particular initiatives to address and prevent violence against women and girls. These included enacting new laws or amending existing ones, ratifying international treaties, starting public awareness campaigns, offering survivors free legal representation, and safe houses, as well as supporting educational initiatives that address gender stereotypes and violence. Additionally, it has increased the proportion of women working in front-line services, peacekeeping, and law enforcement.

Ending gender-based violence in the context of COVID-19

The UN Secretary-General urged all states to include the prevention and reparation of violence against women and girls as a major component of their national pandemic response plans in 2020 to address the rise of violence against women and girls in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. 146 Member States and Observers responded to the appeal with a statement of strong support.
To spur commitments and action to end gender-based violence in the framework of COVID-19, the Secretary-Executive General’s Committee developed a “Political engagement strategy” for the UN system.
The four primary action areas of Fund, Prevent, Respond, and Collect are what all governments are expected to commit to and do.

A global network to end violence against women and girls

UN Women creates bi-monthly action circulars that are distributed to partner groups and women’s rights activists all over the world to keep the network updated on significant developments and advocacy opportunities.

United Nations Population Fund

By 2030, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) aims to stop all types of violence against women and girls as well as other detrimental behaviours.
Under the theme UNiTE! “Activism to End Violence Against Women & Girls” this year, UNFPA will emphasise digital violence and all other forms of gender-based violence (GBV) that are made possible by technology to make online environments safe. Furthermore, the ability to fuse art and activism to stop violence in both the actual and virtual worlds will be emphasised, along with breakthroughs in GBV prevention and response strategies.

Conclusion

Violence against women and girls is arguably one of the most pervasive, persistent, and severe violations of human rights in existence today. Furthermore, it is still often disregarded because of the impunity, quiet, stigma, and humiliation associated with it. Therefore, such initiatives are necessary now more than ever to raise awareness of gender-based violence and to encourage people to speak out against it.

The UN’s highest environmental honour is the Champions of the Earth award, given annually. Outstanding leaders from the public, private, and non-profit sectors are honoured. The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Champions of the Earth programme recognises people, organisations, and groups whose deeds have a significant positive influence on the environment.

Host

The Champions of the Earth award is hosted by UNEP. 50 years of groundbreaking scientific research that has shaped international environmental policy have helped UNEP earn its status as the world’s non-partisan authority on environmental matters.
In 2022, the United Nations Environment Programme received a record-breaking over 2,200 nominations for its annual Champions of the Earth award. The UN’s top environmental award honours people and groups from a variety of sectors, including civil society, academia, and the commercial sector, that are breaking new ground in their efforts to safeguard our natural environment.

Categories of the Award

This year, there were three categories for the Champions of the Earth award. The categories were Entrepreneurial vision, Inspiration and Action, and finally Science and Innovation. The prize honours people and organisations that are working to better the world.

2022 Champions

The UN Environment Programme announced the 2022 Champions of the Earth on November 22, 2022.
The champions who were awarded belonged to various backgrounds. These were a wildlife biologist, an environmentalist, a business that manages trash sustainably, an economist, and a woman’s rights advocate. They were chosen out of 2,200 nominations.

Inspiration and Action Category

One of the winners was the cutting-edge environmental non-profit organisation, Arcenciel. It was given the honour of assisting Lebanon for 20 years in trash management. According to Robin Richa, general manager of Arcenciel, “We found many issues affecting the environment and particularly the community and the health of society.” We have made an effort to be strategic in determining the activities where we may have a long-lasting impact.
The second choice was Cécile Bibiane Ndjebet. She is the co-founder of Cameroon Ecology and the head of the African Women’s Network for Community Management of Forests. She has received acclaim for her work in reversing the damage caused by unsustainable rates of river pollution, wetlands drainage, and forest destruction. Ndjebet stated, “I discovered that women were struggling a lot, and I wanted to speak for these rural women, to improve their lives.
Additionally, in 2000, scientist Constantino Aucca Chutas created the group Asociación Ecosistemas Andinos. It has protected 30,000 hectares of land and nearly three million trees in Peru. “We give something back to Mother Earth when we plant a tree. According to Aucca, “We are certain that the more trees we plant, the happier people will be.

Entrepreneurial Vision Category

Purnima Devi Barman, the “Hargila Army’s” leader and a wildlife biologist, is also among the awardees. The greater adjutant stork was saved from extinction by an all-female grassroots conservation initiative. It generates entrepreneurs, improves livelihoods, and gives thousands of women more authority. She recalls being taken by her grandmother as a young girl to the neighbouring wetlands and rice fields where she “saw storks and many other species.” Barman claimed, “I fell in love with the birds.

Science and Innovation Category

Last but not least, Partha Dasgupta was also included in the winners. He has improved economics by informing people about the value of protecting ecosystems and the natural world. Forecasts for the economy include growth, employment rates, and factory investment. “They never discuss the state of the ecosystems,” asserted Dasgupta. “We need to think about it right away, it’s incredibly urgent.”
As of this writing, 106 honorees have received the title of Champions of the Earth, including heads of state, community activists, business leaders, and pioneering scientists. The Sea Women of Melanesia, Gladys Kalema-Zikusoka from Uganda, Maria Kolesnikova from the Kyrgyz Republic, and Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley were also among the winners from the previous year.
Every day, people from all around the world take action to invent new ways to restore nature and ensure a healthy planet for future generations. This effort is led by the Champions of the Earth. Their programmes address the triple global issue of climate change, loss of biodiversity and the natural world, and pollution and waste. They serve as a reminder that sustainable growth depends on maintaining the environment.

President of Mongolia U. Khurelsukh on 29 November 2022, held official talks with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida as part of his state visit to Japan. Both parties agreed to adopt the “Special Strategic Partnership for Peace and Prosperity” as the framework for advancing Mongolia-Japan relations.
The two parties discussed collaboration in both global and regional contexts as well as future goals and opportunities during the formal meetings.

The President of Mongolia reaffirmed his commitment to advancing ties and collaboration with Japan and expressed gratitude to the Japanese government for continuing to support Mongolia’s democracy, reforms, and sustainable development.
Moreover, during the formal discussions, the two sides reviewed the 50 years of cooperation between Japan and Mongolia since the two nations’ diplomatic ties were established and exchanged opinions on future objectives and prospects, as well as cooperation in both global and regional contexts.

The President of Mongolia thanked the Government of Japan for continuing to support Mongolia’s democracy, reforms, and sustainable development and reaffirmed his commitment to deepening ties and cooperation with Japan, which Mongolia shares similar values with in terms of democracy, human rights, and the market economy.
Furthermore, the parties also concurred to intensify collective efforts to solve issues affecting the global community while fostering human-centred interactions based on the shared values of democracy, freedom, human rights, and a market economy.

The “Special Strategic Partnership for Peace and Prosperity” between Japan and Mongolia was founded, and its 10-year Action Program’s objectives include enhancing bilateral cooperation in commerce, investment, human-centred development, and citizen exchange. The Mongolia-Japan Strategic Partnership’s Medium-Term Program, which has acted as a road map for the two countries’ relations and collaboration, was also reaffirmed.
In this regard, to diversify Mongolia’s economy, increase domestic production, ensure food security, and improve business and legal conditions, the two parties decided to collaborate. The parties decided to continue collaborating to foster youth exchanges and human resource development.

Within the framework of the UN and other international organisations, both parties reaffirmed their dedication to continuing to work together in coordination.
In order to support the “One Billion Trees” national movement, led by the Mongolian President, and advance cooperation in environmental protection and climate change mitigation, the Japanese side pledged to plant 50,000 trees in Mongolia and arrange training for 20,000 Mongolian children and youth in the areas of environment, desertification, and disaster prevention.

On 1 December 2022, the United States and its Asian allies Japan and South Korea imposed fresh sanctions on North Korean officials involved in the country’s nuclear programs after Pyongyang’s most recent and greatest intercontinental ballistic missile test on 18 November 2022. The North Korean government conducted an intercontinental ballistic missile test on November 18 as part of a record-breaking string of over 60 missile launches this year, raising fears that Pyongyang may soon resume nuclear weapons testing, which has been halted since 2017.

The representative of Washington, Antony Blinken, believes that the recent missile tests by North Korea, including the launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile with the capability of striking the US mainland, “pose grave security risks to the region and entire world.” Consequently, the US Treasury Department sanctioned three individuals named Jon Il Ho, Yu Jin, and Kim Su Gil.

Earlier, the US efforts to impose tougher sanctions on North Korea were blocked by North Korea’s closest allies China, and Russia. Washington then needed to concentrate on trilateral diplomacy to restrain Pyongyang’s belligerence with South Korea, Japan, and European allies. Japan and South Korea both reacted in support of the US and put sanctions on North Korea. Sanctions against various North Korean officials and entities were announced by the foreign ministry of South Korea.

This latest development, according to South Korea’s foreign ministry, was a part of its measures to firmly counter North Korea’s increasing nuclear and missile threats. Similarly, Japan has frozen the assets of three North Korean entities—Korea Haegumgang Trading Corp., Korea Namgang Trading Corp., and Lazarus Group as well as one individual, Kim Su Il.

The highly sophisticated missile and nuclear weapon initiatives of North Korea have not been stopped by decades of US-led sanctions. Anthony Ruggiero, who oversaw North Korea sanctions efforts under former President Donald Trump, said, “Targeting senior officials inside North Korea responsible for WMD and missile activities and working with South Korea and Japan are important, but it is an inadequate and symbolic response to 60+ missile tests, including 8 ICBM tests.

The White House National Security Council spokesperson, however, claimed that sanctions had been effective in “slowing down the development” of the weapons programmes. He further added, “The DPRK’s decision to continue ignoring our outreach is not in their best interest, or the interest of the people of the DPRK.”

India has assumed the Group of 20 (G20) Presidency for a year, succeeding Indonesia at a time of geopolitical unrest and uncertainty regarding the post-pandemic economic recovery.
“Today, there is no longer a need for us to wage war in order to survive. In fact, there must not be one, Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared in a statement on 1 December 2022, to mark the commencement of India’s G20 presidency.

G20

The G20 was modified in 2007 to include heads of state and governments. The G20 was initially established as a platform for finance ministers and central bank governors in the wake of the financial crisis that devastated Southeast Asian nations in the late 1990s.
The G20’s synchronised efforts during and after the 2008 global financial crisis assisted in calming fear and resuming economic development.
The grouping, which consists of 19 nations from different continents and the European Union, accounts for around 85% of the global domestic product (GDP).
Along with international organisations like the United Nations, World Health Organization, World Bank, and International Monetary Fund, the G20 also invites non-member nations like Bangladesh, Singapore, Spain, and Nigeria.

G20 Presidency

The G20 lacks a permanent secretariat, and each year, one member assumes the presidency to guide the agenda of the conference, which is divided into two tracks, one led by finance ministers and the other by representatives of the leaders of member countries.
Following India, Brazil will assume the G20 chairmanship, and South Africa will take over in 2025.
India will host more than 200 meetings in 50 places during its term, bringing together ministers, government representatives, and members of civil society in advance of a major summit in the capital, New Delhi, in September 2023.
About 30 leaders of state and government from G20 members and invited nations will attend the conference.

G20’s Future Agenda

Modi has outlined the nation’s strategy for the G20 and appealed for international cooperation to address global concerns. In a statement, he claimed that the problems of “climate change, terrorism, and pandemics can only be tackled by acting together, not by battling each other.”
The need to “depoliticize the global supply of food, fertilisers, and medical items” was another point made by Modi in order to prevent humanitarian disasters from being brought on by geopolitical tensions.
His remarks reflect New Delhi’s position that the Ukrainian war, which was started by a Russian incursion in February, needs to be settled via negotiation and diplomacy.
When asked whether Russia would participate in the G20 during India’s term as president, a representative of the Indian Foreign Ministry responded that since Russia was a member, “we would expect them to be participating in this process. The grouping needs to speak with one voice, particularly on important issues that are affecting the world.”

G20 and India

According to reports, there has been little stability in international relations since the epidemic, and one topic on the agenda is the post-COVID-19 recovery. India is likewise concerned about the effects of climate change. Additionally, it might be argued that India, which is currently holding the G20 presidency, has a crucial role to play in the Russia-Ukraine crisis.

Conclusion

India may use this chance to go from being a rule-taker to a rule-maker while exercising its G20 role. The G20 has the power to alter India’s perspective on the world and its contribution to multilateral developments, even though India has not made a significant investment in multilateral rule-making institutions like the G20.
The main task for India in this journey would be to restore stability to international relations and to effectively communicate the concerns of developing nations. Given how divided the globe is becoming, this might not be an easy task.

Wherever Covid flares up in China, the “dynamic zero-Covid” strategy is used to get rid of it. These government activities not only prompted the need for countermeasures against the epidemic, but they also significantly affect how people live their daily lives.
As the only developed country with a rigorous zero-Covid policy, China continues to crack down on even the smallest outbreaks through mass testing, quarantines, and emergency lockdowns. However, as a result of the government’s recent actions, there have been widespread protests around the nation.

Cause of Protests

On November 24, a deadly fire broke out in Urumqi, the capital of Xinjiang’s far western region, setting off the protests. After videos of the incident appeared to reveal that lockdown procedures had prevented firefighters from reaching the victims, the public was outraged. The fire in the apartment building claimed the lives of at least 10 people and injured nine more.
Residents of the city had been unable to leave the area for more than 100 days, and many had been forced to remain at home.
Moreover, the Residents of Urumqi were seen in videos walking to a government building and chanting for the lockdown to end. The local authority stated that the lockdown would be lifted gradually but did not give a specific timeline or address the objections. That failed to calm the public’s outrage, and the protests quickly moved beyond Xinjiang, with people taking to the streets in cities and universities all over China.

Where have protests erupted?

Since November 26, 2022, there have reportedly been 23 protests in 17 different Chinese cities, including the nation’s capital Beijing and its financial hub Shanghai.
On Urumqi Road, which has the name of the Xinjiang city, hundreds of people gathered in Shanghai for a candlelight vigil to remember the victims of the fire. Many others screamed, “Need human rights, need freedom,” while holding up white pieces of paper as a sign of their opposition to censorship.
Thousands of locals in Beijing, Chengdu, Guangzhou, and Wuhan joined in mass protests calling for the removal of Covid restrictions and, more surprisingly, political liberties. Some residents of neighbourhoods that were under lockdown tore down fences and went outside.
Additionally, there were demonstrations on college campuses, including those of the esteemed Peking University and Tsinghua University in Beijing, as well as the Communication University of China in Nanjing.
Dozens of protesters gathered for a vigil on November 28, 2022, in Hong Kong’s Central area, where a national security measure imposed by Beijing in 2020 has been used to crush dissent. While others left flowers and held signs honouring those who died in the Urumqi fire, some people held blank sheets of paper.

What’s happening in China amid protests?

Following the historic protests that swept China, numerous localities have moved to relax some Covid-19 restrictions, and a senior official has hinted at a more relaxed approach to virus controls, raising the possibility that zero-Covid may soon come to an end.
Furthermore, the most senior Chinese official in charge of the country’s Covid response stated that the “declining toxicity” of the Omicron strain, rising vaccination rates, and “accumulating expertise” in combating the virus had led to a “new stage and goal” in the pandemic response.

The Demand for Political Freedom

Many protesters, however, also advocated for more political liberties as the demonstrations grew. Some even called for Chinese President Xi Jinping to be ousted. Large-scale protests are quite uncommon in China. Although there have been occasional protests over local issues, this is the largest wave of anti-government rallies since the Tiananmen Square pro-democracy movement in 1989.
In this regard, the Chinese government reacted quickly, stationing police at significant demonstration locations, warning demonstrators by phone, and strengthening web restrictions.

Zero-Covid

One day after China’s National Health Commission (NHC) stated that the country’s current pandemic measures are being fixed and that local governments should “respond to and resolve the reasonable demands of the masses” promptly, Vice Premier Sun Chunlan said China’s “new stage and mission” in pandemic controls had just begun.
In a meeting with the NHC on November 30, 2022, Sun added that a “human-centred approach” should be used. China should also improve its “diagnosis, testing, treatment, and quarantine” measures, keep raising vaccination rates, especially among older people, and bolster its medication and medical resources.
Before any prospective relaxation of limits, experts have already stated that older adults must have greater immunisation rates.
Top health officials appeared to acknowledge the disruptions brought on by actions like lockdowns at a State Council press conference, saying prolonged closures “may generate worry and life troubles.”
According to Mi Feng, a representative for NHC, Covid policies are being changed to include lifting the lockout “as early as feasible” to minimise disruption.
According to the state-run news agency Xinhua, at least six Chinese cities, including Beijing, have recently changed their Covid policy. In certain cases, lockdowns have been lifted, quarantine rules have been loosened, and mass testing has been discontinued.

Global Response

Vigils and protests in support of Chinese demonstrators have recently taken place all around the world, notably in Malaysia, the United States, Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom. Foreign groups and authorities have also expressed their support for the demonstrators and their disapproval of Beijing’s approach.
US National Security Council Coordinator for Strategic Communications John Kirby said “We are watching this closely, as you might expect we would”. “We continue to stand up and support the right of peaceful protest.”
Furthermore, UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly told reporters the Chinese government should “listen to the voices of its people when they are saying that they are not happy with the restrictions imposed upon them.”
The European Broadcasting Union also said that it condemned “the intolerable intimidation and aggression” directed toward member journalists in China, in an apparent reference to foreign journalists who were detained during protests.

Conclusion

China’s potential for a secure China sounds like a fantasy that would take a lot of time to achieve. To give itself more time to implement effective methods like mass vaccinations, China has used short-term fixes like lockdowns.
Chinese residents are under a cloud of mistrust and rage. While these unprecedented protests are showing success, there is a potential that Xi Jinping would adopt more authoritarian tactics. It can be said that China may have to decide between stringent lockdowns and widespread protests or between increased COVID-19 cases and higher lockdowns.

At COP27 in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, the Forest and Climate Leaders’ Partnership (FCLP) was officially established. This represented a significant development in the protection and management of sustainable forests. Over 140 countries agreed to eliminate forest loss and land degradation by 2030 as part of the COP26 agreement in Glasgow last year, and the Partnership aims to make this goal a reality.
In an important research published this year, the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) emphasised the need for more action to achieve forests’ full potential in halting climate change and biodiversity loss.
Only by stepping up efforts to combat deforestation and putting other mitigating measures in place in the forest sector will it be possible to fulfil the Paris Agreement goal of limiting global average temperature rise to 1.5 degrees above pre-industrial levels.

27 countries have already committed to the new alliance and are committed to raising the bar in one or more of the FCLP’s focus areas. These countries are responsible for 33% of the world’s forests and more than 60% of the worldwide GDP. Securing public and donor funds to aid in implementation, supporting local communities’ and indigenous peoples’ initiatives, and promoting the preservation of high-integrity forests are some of the action areas.
“This partnership is an opportunity to implement solutions that reduce deforestation, that increase forest restoration, and that strengthen the livelihoods of individuals living in forest areas,” said Gustavo Manrique Miranda, Ecuador’s Minister of Environment and Water.
The European Commission’s Ursula von der Leyen stated that “only with healthy forests can we deliver on our shared climate goals under the Paris Agreement.” “Only if our woods are healthy and undamaged can we handle biodiversity.”

To ensure accountability, the FCLP will have annual meetings and publish an annual Worldwide Progress Report that includes impartial assessments of the progress made by the entire world toward the 2030 target.
Poor nations are nonetheless making significant efforts to protect forests through the Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+) programme. REDD+ provides a thorough framework for climate action in the forest with the aid of results-based incentives for emissions reductions made in the forestry industry.
The initiative is gaining new life thanks to the growing political and financial support for REDD+ that was shown at COP27.

On 19 November 2022, the last day of the APEC (Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation) Summit 2022 in Bangkok, Thailand, Asia-Pacific regional leaders urged an end to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The majority of the leaders were adamantly opposed to the fighting and the resulting economic unrest.
In a statement, the APEC ministers demanded a total withdrawal. At the APEC Summit, Andrei Belousov, the first deputy prime minister of Russia, however, refrained from acknowledging this.
It was emphasised that the conflict had caused “immense human misery” and had severe deleterious repercussions on the world economy, such as rising prices, energy and food insecurity, and supply chain disruption.

Additionally, Kristalina Georgieva, the President of the International Monetary Fund, spoke to the leaders in Bangkok. Events that none of us foresaw have changed the world, she claimed. When discussing the incidents, she brought up the COVID-19 pandemic and the crisis in Ukraine. “The epidemic has resulted in an irreparable loss of economic output amounting to up to 5.3% of the world GDP. The GDP decreased by 9% in Asia, a tightly integrated region, making the situation even worse. She added that the war in Ukraine caused oil prices to experience a huge shock.
The host and Prime Minister of Thailand, Prayuth Chan-Ocha, also urged the APEC leaders. In order to further the APEC aim of promoting free trade in the Pacific, he said, we must prioritise putting this policy into action.
The next APEC summit is expected to be held in San Francisco in the following year.

The most recent session of United Nations climate negotiations came to a close early on Sunday, November 20, 2022, in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, extending its deadline from Friday, November 18, 2022.
After decades of opposition from wealthy countries that produce the majority of the world’s emissions, COP27 decided on November 20 to create a “loss and damage” fund to aid poorer countries being devastated by climate consequences.
Sherry Rehman, the climate minister of Pakistan, who participated in the effort by developing countries to get the promise during the two-week UN COP27 session in Sharm el-Sheikh, praised the historic choice as a “downpayment on climate justice.”
However, the agreement’s text left a number of significant issues to be resolved over the course of the following year and beyond, including who would make contributions to the fund and who would get benefits.

Loss and Damage:

“Loss and damage” at the UN climate talks refer to costs brought on by weather extremes or consequences, such as rising sea levels.
The majority of climate financing to date has gone toward projects that reduce carbon dioxide emissions in an effort to slow global warming, while roughly a third of it has been allocated to initiatives that assist communities in adapting to its effects.
“Loss and damage” funding is distinct since it focuses on paying for damage that nations cannot prevent or prepare for. But there is still no consensus on what should be included in the definition of “loss and damage” brought on by climate change, which could include destroyed or damaged property and infrastructure as well as less-valuable natural ecosystems or cultural assets.
According to research by 55 vulnerable nations, the overall cost of climate-related losses over the past two decades was $525 billion, or 20% of their combined GDP (GDP). According to some research, these losses might total $580 billion annually by 2030.

Who is Responsible?

In the past, vulnerable nations and activists argued that wealthy nations should shoulder the cost since they were the main contributors to climate change through their historical greenhouse gas emissions.
The United States and the European Union opposed the argument out of concern for liabilities. The EU has claimed that China, the second-largest economy in the world and a developing nation according to the UN, should contribute as well.
A few governments, including the EU, Denmark, Belgium, Germany, and Scotland, have made modest but symbolic financial contributions for loss and damage. China has not agreed to make any payments. Even if it is not formally designated for that purpose, some current financing from the UN and development banks does assist states that have suffered loss and damage.
The details of which nations or disasters qualify for compensation still need to be worked out.

COP27 Agreement on Loss and Damage Fund

The UN summit in Egypt came to an agreement on a fund that will assist developing nations that are “particularly vulnerable” to the effects of climate change. Wealthier countries chose this language to ensure that the money goes to the most urgent cases while also reducing the number of potential recipients.
The agreement lays out a roadmap for future decision-making, with proposals for decisions regarding who would oversee the fund, how the money would be distributed, and to whom to be made at the UN climate summit the following year. Instead of depending on wealthy countries to pay the bill, the agreement stipulates that the funding must come from a range of current sources, including financial institutions.
Other funds already in existence have also been mentioned by several nations as a potential source of funding, although other experts argue that they are insufficient to deal with loss and damage because of things like lengthy delays. Other suggestions include the windfall profit tax on fossil fuel firms proposed by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres as a way to raise money.

The Group of Twenty (G200 is an intergovernmental forum that brings together top economies of the world to discuss urgent issues affecting the world economy such as international financial stability, climate change mitigation, and sustainable development. G20 comprises 19 countries together with the European Union (EU). This forum was founded in 1999 in response to the world economic crisis.

About COP27:

Summit 2022
This year on November 15, in Bali, Indonesia, the G20 summit, which brought together the leaders of the world’s greatest economies, was held. A two-day meeting of G20 leaders was hosted by Indonesia’s G20 chairmanship and which was concluded on November 16, 2022.
Theme
Under the theme “Recover Together, Recover Stronger,” the G20 leaders discussed a variety of topics, including the three areas that Indonesia would focus on during its G20 presidency: global health architecture, digital transformations, and sustainable energy transitions.
Participant in the Summit
Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Republic of Korea, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States, and the European Union are all G20 members. Spain was also invited as a permanent guest.
Since Russian President Vladimir Putin withdrew, Sergei Lavrov, his veteran Foreign Minister, represented Russia.
Bali hosted British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s first important diplomatic test. He made reference to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine directly and emphasised his support for Kiev. We will expose Putin’s regime’s blatant disregard for the kind of global cooperation and respect for national sovereignty that forums like the G20 represent, Sunak said.
The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, has been invited to take part online in the discussion. Also, Indonesia’s Foreign Minister, Retno Marsudi, discussed how difficult it was to conduct the meeting in such a dangerous geopolitical climate. She said, “It might be the most difficult G20 summit yet.”

Key Problems
Rising global tensions brought on by the invasion of Ukraine and its economic repercussions, the climate catastrophe, North Korea’s simmering nuclear programme, and China’s burgeoning global ambitions provided the backdrop for the bilateral discussions.
Moreover, the agenda that Indonesia has established places a strong emphasis on renewable energy, international health initiatives, and economic recovery from the coronavirus pandemic. This was the largest gathering since the pandemic started.
Joko Widodo, President of the G20, hoped that the summit will provide some of the most influential countries with an opportunity to set aside their disagreements and focus on resolving the pressing global concerns of COVID-19’s persistent health dangers, the impending economic recession, and sustainable development. According to Widodo, the G20 is meant to be about the economy and development, not politics.

Key Takeaways of G20 Summit

Condemning Russian Aggression
Leaders at the G20 summit issued a statement denouncing Russia’s aggression in Ukraine “in the strongest terms” and calling for an immediate and complete withdrawal.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky urged Russia to swiftly evacuate its soldiers in his address to the gathering. Zelensky also reiterated his plea for Russian transgressions of international law to be held accountable. He added that resistance would continue until Ukraine’s territory was reclaimed.
Moreover, the majority of members vehemently denounced the conflict in Ukraine and underlined how it was aggravating already-existing economic fragilities by limiting development, raising prices, upsetting supply networks, escalating dangers to financial stability, and enhancing energy and food insecurity.
U.S.-China Ties
Prior to the summit, U.S. President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping met bilaterally for the first time since Biden took office. Even though there were not many obvious outcomes, the meeting was successful in the end.
While the three-hour meeting revealed significant differences, particularly with regard to Taiwan, trade limitations, and technology transfers, both parties claimed they nevertheless agreed to maintain open lines of communication and avoid hostilities. The fact that U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken will now travel to China early next year—the highest-level American visit to China in more than four years—may be the most tangible result of the meeting.

Global Economy

In their declaration, the G20 economies agreed to gradually raise interest rates to prevent negative ripple effects while also expressing concern over “increasing volatility” in currency movements.
Concerning debt, they highlighted the significance of all creditors sharing the cost and expressed concern over the “deteriorating” status of several middle-income countries.

Food Security

The leaders welcomed the Black Sea grains effort and pledged to take joint action to solve issues with food security. This initiative will make it easier to export grain, food, and fertilisers from Ukraine in a secure manner.

Climate Change

The 2015 Paris Agreement on climate change objective was upheld by G20 leaders, who decided to continue efforts to keep the rise in global temperature to 1.5 degrees Celsius.
On the eve of the summit, the United States, Japan, and allies said they would raise $20 billion in public and private funding to support Indonesia’s closure of coal power facilities and a seven-year delay in the peak emission year of 2030. Additionally, on climate change, Biden and Xi decided to work together once more.

Climate Change

The 2015 Paris Agreement on climate change objective was upheld by G20 leaders, who decided to continue efforts to keep the rise in global temperature to 1.5 degrees Celsius.
On the eve of the summit, the United States, Japan, and allies said they would raise $20 billion in public and private funding to support Indonesia’s closure of coal power facilities and a seven-year delay in the peak emission year of 2030. Additionally, on climate change, Biden and Xi decided to work together once more.

China’s Outreach

During his second overseas trip since the COVID-19 outbreak started, Xi attended bilateral meetings with a number of American allies, demonstrating his readiness to patch fences with critics. In addition to his discussion with Biden, Xi spoke with the leaders of Australia, South Korea, Canada, and France. These leaders included Yoon Suk-yeol, the President of South Korea, and Anthony Albanese, the Prime Minister of Canada.