Thursday, November 3, 2011

Launch of the 2011 Human Development Report - "Sustainability and Equity: A Better Future for All"

HDRO/UNDP
2 November 2011

Environmental trends threaten global progress for the poor, warns 2011 Human Development Report

Development progress in the world's poorest countries could be halted or even reversed by mid-century unless bold steps are taken now to slow climate change, prevent further environmental damage, and reduce deep inequalities within and among nations, according to projections in the 2011 Human Development Report, launched by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) here today.

The 2011 Report—Sustainability and Equity: A Better Future for All—argues that environmental sustain-ability can be most fairly and effectively achieved by addressing health, education, income, and gender disparities together with the need for global action on energy production and ecosystem protection. The Report was launched in Copenhagen today by UNDP Administrator Helen Clark with Danish Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt, whose new government has pledged to reduce Denmark's CO2 emissions by a dramatic 40 percent over the next 10 years.

2011 Human Development Index covers record 187 countries and territories, puts Norway at top, DR Congo last

Norway, Australia and the Netherlands lead the world in the 2011 Human Development Index (HDI), while the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Niger and Burundi are at the bottom of the Human Development Report's annual rankings of national achievement in health, education and income, released today by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

The United States, New Zealand, Canada, Ireland, Liechtenstein, Germany and Sweden round out the top 10 countries in the 2011 HDI, but when the Index is adjusted for internal inequalities in health, education and income, some of the wealthiest nations drop out of the HDI's top 20: the United States falls from #4 to #23, the Republic of Korea from #15 to #32, and Israel from #17 to #25.

The United States and Israel drop in the Report's Inequality-adjusted HDI (IHDI) mainly because of income inequality, though health care is also a factor in the US ranking change, while wide education gaps between generations detract from the Republic of Korea's IHDI performance.

Fighting climate change and inequalities key to progress in Africa, says Human Development Report

Steady advances in human development in sub-Saharan Africa could stall and even reverse unless bold steps are taken to reduce environmental risks and inequalities in the region and around the world, says the 2011 Human Development Report, released today by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

The Report, Sustainability and Equity: a Better Future for All, shows that following current trends, inequality and deteriorating environmental conditions will together pose obstacles to progress in Africa and across the globe.

By 2050, projecting recent positive regional human development trends forward, sub-Saharan Africa's average Human Development Index (HDI) rating—the Report's composite measure of income, health and education—would rise by an estimated 44 percent.

'Arab Spring' shows need for broader, greener development, says Human Development Report

Achieving truly sustainable development in the Arab states will require bolder action on internal inequalities and environmental hazards, says the 2011 Human Development Report, released here today by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

The 2011 Report—titled Sustainability and Equity: A Better Future for All—calls for broader efforts to foster equitable human development by reducing gender imbalances and expanding opportunities for those among the countries' marginalized communities.

It also confronts climate challenges with calls for new funding sources to help pay for balanced development and a shift to renewable energy.

2011 Human Development Report: Inequalities and environmental challenges threaten progress in Asia, Pacific

Pollution, deforestation and rising sea levels threaten development in island nations of Asia and the Pacific, while South Asia must overcome acute poverty and internal inequalities to maintain current rates of progress, warns the 2011 Human Development Report, released here today by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

The 2011 Report—Sustainability and Equity: A Better Future for All—argues that environmental sustainability can be most effectively achieved by simultaneously addressing health, education, income and gender disparities within and among countries.

Environmental challenges fueled largely by rapid industrial development and deforestation sharpen inequalities within many countries and across Asia and the Pacific, according to the Report.

Environmental risks could jeopardize Eastern European and Central Asian nations' high achievement in human development and equality, says 2011 Human Development Report

Industrial pollution and other environmental challenges could undermine development progress in Eastern Europe and Central Asia, according to the 2011 Human Development Report, released today by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

The Report —Sustainability and Equity: A Better Future for All—argues that the urgent global challenges of sustainability and equity must be addressed together—and identifies mutually reinforcing policies on the national and global level that would spur progress towards these interlinked goals.

Throughout Eastern Europe and Central Asia, human development levels continue to rise, with greater equality than other areas of the developing world, the 2011 Report shows, but internal income gaps are widening in many countries, and environmental deterioration could also potentially further undermine hard-won progress in the region.

Environmental risks threaten Latin American, Caribbean gains in cutting poverty and inequality, says Human Development Report

Latin American and Caribbean nations are reducing wide income inequalities while taking steps to confront deforestation and other environmental threats that could slow human development gains in the region, says the 2011 Human Development Report released today by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

Despite development progress in the region, the 2011 Report—titled Sustainability and Equity: A Better Future for All—warns that rapid deforestation and other environmental dangers could sideline regional achievements and hamper advancement. The Report calls for bold action within and across nations to address climate challenges such as rising sea levels that will have profound impacts on Caribbean islands and mainland coastal areas.