Foreign direct investment (FDI) flows are at a low point as a result of not only the COVID-19 pandemic but also restrictive FDI policies adopted in recent years. Investment facilitation has gained in importance as a set of practical measures to increase the transparency and predictability of investment frameworks and promote cooperation to advance development. … Read more
The COVID-19 pandemic has put new emphasis on the intrinsic weaknesses of current food production and consumption models across the world. These weaknesses include an unsustainable use of natural resources, the relocation of unprofitable production and limited exploitation of local specificities, with detrimental effects on communities’ natural and social assets. More efficient, eco-sustainable and site … Read more
While there is an immediate need to tackle global environmental issues, the decarbonization of the transport sector represents a key challenge at the policy level and in particular the financial and environmental sustainability of this process. This is of critical importance not just for the G20 but the non-G20 world also. Decarbonization poses a significant … Read more
Global goals are inherently interrelated and therefore effective, comprehensive action taken towards one goal can support the achievement of others. Identifying and addressing these interconnections will help communities and their active institutions to build holistic and systemic solutions, amplifying progress and minimising negative impacts (un.org). The relevance of this policy brief to the G20 is … Read more
Whilst the COVID-19 pandemic continues its successive waves worldwide and amidst the uncertainty about the timing and the effectiveness of the vaccine coupled with virus mutation, continuous lockdowns and social distancing measures, countries and particularly low-income countries (LICs) and lower-middle-income countries (LMICs) will continue borrowing and pushing debt levels to further heights to alleviate the … Read more
The COVID-19 pandemic has added urgency to addressing Energy Poverty challenges. Local energy initiatives can support local employment, while bringing benefits to vulnerable consumers. In more developed countries, energy communities can deliver the energy transition at citizen level. For rural areas lacking access to electricity, it appears essential to encourage the role of private investors … Read more
Digital technologies are indispensable for achieving sustainable development goals and reducing carbon emissions in many sectors. Yet, computer systems themselves have an immense energy requirement for their countless devices, data centres, applications and global networks. With COVID-19, the shift to digital in living, learning and earning has raised the spectre of digital harms and brought … Read more
This brief elaborates on the development of sustainable agriculture in smart cities, addressing the challenges related to increasing demand for protein-rich food due to intense urbanisation. It considers development of the appropriate technologies and optimised infrastructure required for the massive uptake of smart urban farming and simultaneously enabling circular economy mechanisms for recycling waste into … Read more
The wealth of our societies is typically described in terms of economic growth, production and income. Yet, people would probably name good health as their most important goal, particularly under the current pandemic circumstances. Economic prosperity is intrinsically dependent on public health. Investments in healthcare and R&D, as well as in other social and health-promoting … Read more
Former Head of Sustainable Business and Economics at WWF-UK Former Senior Strategist at BBC World Service Former Associate at Booz Allen Hamilton
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