The United Nations has launched an appeal for at least $35 billion to address global humanitarian needs. The consolidated request seeks to raise funds on behalf of multiple UN bodies to address needs in more than fifty countries. Topping the list of countries in need are Yemen, Ethiopia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Afghanistan, and Sudan. Even as the broader appeal is launched, UN officials are warning about an acute food shortage in northern Ethiopia, where conflict in the Tigray region has limited access.
The Guardian reports on an effort to add “ecocide” to the list of crimes that the International Criminal Court can investigate and prosecute:
The aim is to draw up a legal definition of “ecocide” that would complement other existing international offences such as crimes against humanity, war crimes and genocide.
The project, convened by the Stop Ecocide Foundation at the request of Swedish parliamentarians, has been launched this month to coincide with the 75th anniversary of the opening of the Nuremberg war crimes trials of Nazi leaders in 1945.
Bloomberg reports that the European Union has a long list of multilateral mending for the Biden administration, including agreeing on a new head of the World Trade Organization, fixing the WTO’s dispute resolution system, and backing a plan for global vaccine distribution.
The foreign ministers of NATO member states will discuss this week a new report analyzing the alliance and its future. Among the report’s many recommendations are refocusing the alliance on the threat posed by China. The document also reportedly acknowledges problems created by the alliance’s consensus decisionmaking process, although it stops short of suggesting that it be altered.
South Africa assumes the presidency of the United Nations Security Council. Security Council Report notes that its diplomatic team will make cooperation between the UN and the African Union a key theme. This month marks the last of South Africa’s current two-year term. Since the end of the apartheid regime, South Africa has been elected to the Council three times. During his speech to the UN General Assembly in September, President Cyril Ramaphosa reiterated South Africa’s longstanding support for expanding the Council’s membership.
The European Union and ASEAN have upgraded their relationship to “strategic partnership.” As part of the enhanced relationship, the EU announced new support for the health systems of ASEAN countries:
The South-East Asia Pandemic Response and Preparedness programme will be implemented by the World Health Organization, working closely with national authorities and the ASEAN Secretariat. It will enhance regional coordination of the COVID-19 response and strengthen the capacity of health systems in South-East Asia, while paying special attention to vulnerable populations.
In its latest assessment, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) is bullish on the world economy:
The 37-member OECD projects global GDP to rise by around 4.2% in 2021 and by a further 3.7% in 2022, helped by COVID-19 vaccine rollouts and accommodative fiscal and monetary policies. The recovery will be led by China, which is forecast to grow by 8% next year, accounting for over one-third of world economic growth.
Briefly noted:
World Health Organization chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warned that Mexico is in “bad shape” as it confronts rising COVID-19 infections.
Diplomats are pessimistic about the prospects for a World Trade Organization agreement to reduce fishing subsidies.
Thailand has a plan for climbing the rankings of the World Bank’s “Ease of Doing Business” report.
The International Monetary Fund says that Greece’s public debt is sustainable in the medium term.