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Category: Climate Change

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: ‘Addressing Plastic Pollution Must Be at Core of Corporate Responsibility’, Secretary-General Tells Event Marking International Day of Zero Waste

    Source: United Nations MIL OSI b

    Following are UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ remarks to the General Assembly event on the International Day of Zero Waste, in New York today:

    The waste crisis is an issue that goes to the heart of how we produce, and how we consume.  And one that requires action at every level ‑ local, national and global.

    This year’s International Day focuses on fashion and textiles.  And rightly so.  Unless we accelerate action, dressing to kill could kill the planet.

    Textile production often uses thousands of chemicals ‑ many of them harmful to people and the environment.  It devours resources like land and water — putting pressure on ecosystems.  And it belches out greenhouse gases — inflaming the climate crisis.

    Clothes are being produced and discarded at a staggering rate — driven by business models that prioritize newness, speed and disposability. Every second, the equivalent of one garbage truck full of clothing is incinerated or sent to landfill.

    Fashion is just the tip of a toxic iceberg.  Waste is an issue in every sector.

    Every year, humanity produces over 2 billion tons of garbage.  If you pack all that into shipping containers stacked end to end, they would stretch to the moon and back.

    Here on Earth, toxin-filled waste is seeping into our soil, our water and our air.  And ultimately into us.  As usual, the poorest pay the highest price.  More than 1 billion people live in slums and informal urban settlements, where waste management is non-existent and disease runs rampant.

    The rich world is flooding the Global South with garbage, from obsolete computers to single-use plastic and more.  Many nations do not have the infrastructure to process even a fraction of what is dumped on their shores.

    As a result, materials that could be recycled are burned or sent to landfill.  And waste-pickers are exposed to toxic chemicals as they sift through potentially hazardous materials, including broken electronics, in appalling conditions.

    We need a different approach:  one that delivers on the commitment in the Sustainable Development Goals for sustainable production and consumption.

    And there are signs of hope.  Change is possible.  And it presents exciting opportunities.  In fashion, for example, designers are experimenting with recycled materials.  Consumers are increasingly demanding sustainability. In many countries, resale markets are booming.

    And important initiatives are bringing together large and small businesses, industry associations, civil society and many others to drive sustainability across the sector.  They include the Fashion Industry Charter for Climate Action, and the Fashion Pact.

    We must celebrate the power of these innovations to transform the industry.  But, we need more, and we need change in every sector.

    I welcome the work of the Chair and the First Lady and members of the United Nations Advisory Board on Zero Waste to raise awareness and help meet the Sustainable Development Goals.  The fight against waste requires us all.

    Governments must act:  through policies, regulations and subsidies.  That promote sustainability and zero-waste initiatives.  That encourage businesses to adopt positive practices.  That provide decent jobs.  And that empower everyone ‑ not just the wealthy ‑ to afford products that last.

    The current negotiations for a legally binding treaty to end plastic pollution — due in August this year — are a key opportunity for Governments to drive progress.  I urge them to take it.  And to translate any treaty into action to support consumers to make environmentally friendly choices, and into a clear roadmap across industries.

    Addressing plastic pollution must be at the core of corporate responsibility.  There is no space for greenwashing.  Businesses must increase circularity, waste reduction and resource efficiency across their supply chains.

    We need accountability for corporate sustainability commitments.  We need transparency for customers.  And we need consumers to use their purchasing power to encourage change.

    Reducing excessive consumption, valuing products that last and embracing exchanges and resales.  And we need young people and civil society to keep using their voices and power to demand change through advocacy.

    We must build on progress, to end the waste practices wasting our planet.  On this International Day, let us commit to do our part to clean up our act, and build a healthier, more sustainable world for us all.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

    March 28, 2025

  • MIL-Evening Report: Can Peter Dutton flip Labor voters to rewrite electoral history? It might just work

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Mark Kenny, Professor, Australian Studies Institute, Australian National University

    They are neither as leafy nor as affluent as much of the Liberal heartland, but Peter Dutton believes the outer ring-roads of Australia’s capitals provide the most direct route to power.
    He has been telling his MPs these once-safe Labor-voting suburbs are where the 2025 election can be won.

    From the moment the Queenslander assumed control of the Liberal Party in 2022, he was intent on this suburbs-first strategy, even if it seemed historically unlikely and involved repositioning his formerly business-loyal party as the new tribune of the working class. As he told Minerals Week in September 2023:

    The Liberal Party is the party of the worker. The Labor Party has become the party of the inner city elite and Greens.

    This has been Dutton’s long game. It’s an outsider approach reminiscent of what US President Donald Trump had achieved with disaffected blue-collar Democratic supporters in the United States, and what Boris Johnson managed by turning British Labour supporters in England’s de-industrialised north into Brexiteers and then Conservative voters.



    Read more:
    Labor’s in with a fighting chance, but must work around an unpopular leader

    A political gamble

    It was not the obvious play but it may prove the right one.

    After a tumultuous period in which the Liberals had cycled through three prime ministers and ignored a clear public clamour for policy modernisation on women, anti-corruption and climate change, the Morrison government had been bundled from office.

    Morrison hadn’t merely failed to attract disengaged undecideds in the middle-ground, but had haemorrhaged engaged constituents from some of Australia’s safest Liberal postcodes.

    Nineteen seats came off the Coalition tally in that election, yet Labor’s gain was only nine.

    Something fundamental had happened. Six new centrist independents now sat in Liberal heartland seats – all of them professional women.

    Numerically, they formed a kind of electoral Swiss Guard around the new Labor government’s otherwise weak primary vote and thin (two-seat) parliamentary majority.

    In a sharp visual contrast to the Coalition parties, women made up around half of Anthony Albanese’s new Labor government and he moved to prioritise the very things on which the Coalition had steadfastly refused to budge – including meaningful constitutional recognition of First Peoples.

    Albanese, it seemed, had tuned in to the zeitgeist. He would even go on to break a 102-year record a year later, becoming the first PM to increase his majority by taking a set off the opposition in a byelection. One more urban jewel shifted out of the Liberals’ column.

    Dutton, however, never blinked.

    His first press conference as leader in 2022 had been notable for the absence of the usual mea culpa – a suitably contrite acknowledgement that he’d heard the message from erstwhile Liberals who had abandoned their party for more progressive community independents.

    Instead, Dutton confidently responded that the 2025 election would be decided not in these comfortable seats but in the further-flung parts of Australia’s cities where people make long commutes to work and struggle to find adequate childcare and other services.

    It was a bold strategy because it meant targeting seats with healthy Labor margins.
    Canberra insiders wondered privately if this was brave or simply delusional. Some concluded it could only work as a two-election strategy.

    Many asked where a net gain of 19 seats would come from if not through the recovery of most or all of what became known as the “teal” seats?

    Yet the combative Liberal continued to focus on prising suburbanites away from Labor with a relentless campaign emphasising the rising cost-of-living under Labor.

    Three years later and even accounting for the first interest rate cut in over four years, it is Dutton’s strategy that has looked the more attuned to the electoral zeitgeist.

    So much so that he goes into this election with a realistic chance of breaking another longstanding electoral record: that of replacing a first-term government.

    This hasn’t been done federally since the Great Depression took out the Scullin Labor government of 1929-1931.

    It’s all about geography

    While only votes in ballot boxes will tell, the Coalition’s rebounding support appears to have come from the outer mortgage belt, just as he predicted.

    These voters absorb their political news sporadically via social media feeds, soft breakfast interviews, and car-radio snippets.

    These are media where Dutton’s crisp sound-bite messaging around cost-of-living pressures has simply been sharper and more resonant than Labor’s.

    And it is by this means that these voters may have picked up that a Dutton government would seek to deport dual citizens convicted of serious crimes, stop new migrants from buying property (a policy first ridiculed as inconsequential by Labor and since copied), and cut petrol excise, temporarily taking around $14 off the price of a tank of fuel.

    These voters may have noticed Dutton’s campaign against the supermarket duopoly, which includes the option of forced divestiture for so-called “price-gouging”.

    Recently, he added insurance conglomerates to that divestment hit-list.

    And they might have heard his dramatic nuclear “solution” to high energy costs and emissions (in reality, devilishly complex and expensive).

    On top of these, semi-engaged voters might recall Dutton’s culture-war topics for which he has regularly received generous media minutes, including:

    • his opposition to what he called “the Canberra Voice”
    • his defence of Australia Day
    • his refusal to stand in front of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags
    • his oft-made claim that a Greens-Teals-Labor preoccupation with progressive issues has left the cost-of-living crisis unaddressed.

    Beyond such rhetoric, Dutton has had little to say in detailed policy terms. But will that matter? However comprehensive, Labor’s list of legislated achievements has, arguably, achieved even less purchase in the electoral mind.

    Polls taken as the election campaign neared showed Dutton’s Coalition was well-placed to win seats from Labor in suburban and outer-suburban areas of Perth, Melbourne, and Sydney, as well as regional seats in the NSW Central Coast.

    These include seats such as Tangney and Bullwinkel in outer Perth; McEwen and Chisolm in suburban Melbourne, and as many as seven seats in NSW – mostly on the periphery of Sydney or in the industrial Hunter Valley region.

    There may be other seats to move also. Liberal sources say they like their chances in Goldstein, currently held by the Teal, Zoe Daniel. And with a recent conservative turn in the Northern Territory election to the CLP, seats like the ultra-marginal Lingiari and the numerically safer Solomon could also be in play.

    A YouGov MRP poll reported by the ABC on February 16 put Dutton’s chances of securing an outright majority after the election at 20%.

    It measured the Coalition’s two-party-preferred support at 51.1% over Labor on 48.9%. That represents a swing towards the Coalition of 3.2%. But it is where the swing occurs that matters most.

    Seat-by-seat assessment of the YouGov results suggested the Coalition would be likely to win about 73 seats (median), with a lower estimate of 65 and an upper estimate of 80, if a federal election was held today.

    The same modelling indicates Labor would go backwards, holding about 66 seats in the next parliament, with a lower estimate of 59 and an upper estimate of 72. This is just one, albeit unusually large poll, but it will concern Albanese that even on its upper margin of Labor seat holds, he would not retain a majority.

    Of course, the campaign can change things and already, the delayed start caused by Cyclone Alfred introduced further variables in the form of a federal budget, replete with income tax cuts.

    A succession of polls conducted through March point to a Labor recovery with a Redbridge poll of 2,007 respondents, taken over March 3–11 putting Labor ahead 51%–49%. The same poll however showed a majority of people worry that the country is heading in the wrong direction.

    The final contest

    In political circles, people talk about momentum in campaigns, and say things like “the trend is our friend”. If true, that electoral amity has leaned decisively towards Dutton for the past year, and only recently to Labor.

    But caution is always advised. Election counts invariably throw up oddities – swings being more (or less) marked in one state compared to others, and seats retained (or lost) against a broader national trend on the night.

    Such surprises give the lie to the concept of uniform swings and makes prediction of a final seat count more difficult.

    If the polling consensus is broadly correct – rather than being the result of herding – and the source of Dutton’s rising support is former Labor suburbs, the question is, will those vote gains materialise at sufficient scale to translate into seat gains?

    If so, this election could redraw the political map and require new thinking about major party voting bases, policies and strategies into the future.

    The final outcome seems likely to turn on three things:

    1. Dutton’s ability to stay on message about the cost-of-living through the campaign when others in his team, buoyed by Trump’s war on wokeness, want to raise tendentious social issues.

    2. Albanese’s effectiveness in convincing wayward Labor voters that Labor has in fact delivered, that the economy has turned the corner, and that Dutton’s comparative toughness is code for budget cuts that would hit them hardest.

    3. Unforeseen events – at home or abroad.

    The Liberal leader is surprisingly well-placed. But remember, he is coming from a long way back.

    Mark Kenny does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. Can Peter Dutton flip Labor voters to rewrite electoral history? It might just work – https://theconversation.com/can-peter-dutton-flip-labor-voters-to-rewrite-electoral-history-it-might-just-work-248664

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

    March 28, 2025

  • MIL-Evening Report: Australia’s embrace of independent political candidates shows there’s no such thing as a safe seat

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Joshua Black, Visitor, School of History, Australian National University

    At the last federal election, Australia elected the largest lower house crossbench in its post-war federal history.

    In addition to four Greens MPs, Rebekah Sharkie from the Centre Alliance and Bob Katter (with his own micro-party), there were ten independent MPs, seven of them new to parliament. These MPs have the freedom and flexibility to vote on every piece of legislation without having to adhere to any party-room pledge.

    Micro-parties and independents also fared well in the Senate in 2022, thanks in part to the fact that we use proportional representation to elect our senators. In a half-Senate election with 40 vacancies, six went to the Greens, one to Independent ACT candidate David Pocock, one to United Australia Party Senator Ralph Babet and one to Pauline Hanson in Queensland.

    Defections during the 47th parliament grew the crossbench even further. Five former Coalition MPs and Senators have moved to the crossbench, one over allegations of sexual harassment, one over the Voice to Parliament referendum and three over bruising preselection defeats.

    Senator Fatima Payman defected from the Labor Party last year, citing problems with the party’s stance on Palestine, and has now set up the Australia’s Voice party.

    Getting elected

    Independents hardly enjoy a level playing field in federal elections. Brian Costar and Jennifer Curtin pointed out in their book, Rebels with a Cause, that independent candidates lack equal access to the electoral roll, do not initially benefit from the public funding that flows consistently to the major parties, and cannot be listed above the line on the Senate ballot paper unless they form a group or party.

    Unless they are party defectors with a seat in parliament already, independent candidates also lack the advantages of incumbency. Previous research from the Australia Institute has shown the dollar value of an incumbent MP’s entitlements (in terms of their salary and those of staff, printing and travel allowances, public exposure), is about $2.9 million per term.

    Once elected, though, Independents have shown the major parties that they can be very hard to beat. Helen Haines and her predecessor as Member for Indi, Cathy McGowan, have won four consecutive elections between them. Zali Steggall, who famously beat former prime minister Tony Abbott in the electorate of Warringah in 2019, has been re-elected once, and the people of metropolitan Hobart have returned former public servant and whistleblower Andrew Wilkie to Canberra five times in a row.

    No safe seats

    Political parties and journalists have conventionally treated certain seats as “safe” (if the winning party’s vote two-party preferred margin was 60% or higher), others as “fairly safe” (if the winning party’s 2PP margin was between 56% and 60%) and others as “marginal” (those won by less than 56% at the previous election).

    But the days of safe and marginal seats are over. These terms belong to an age of two-party contests and more predictable preference flows. As Bill Browne and Richard Denniss of the Australia Institute have pointed out, the major party vote share has now “crossed a threshold” below which the idea of “safe seats” becomes redundant.

    Independent candidates can win with a relatively low share of the primary vote. In 2022, community independent Kylea Tink won the electorate of North Sydney with 25% of the primary vote, having ranked favourably, but not first, on many voters’ ballots.

    Holding on?

    Several contests involving current crossbenchers may prove nationally influential in the event of a hung parliament. Tink, whose electorate has been abolished in a routine redistribution, will not be among the incumbents hoping to hold their seat.

    The Liberal Party, by some accounts, perceives the Perth seat of Curtin, won by community independent Kate Chaney in 2022, as an important litmus test for the future. January saw a “surge in volunteers and donations” for Liberal candidate Tom White’s campaign, according to media reports.

    Elsewhere, the Liberals are attempting to meet incumbent community independents with candidates that more closely resemble them. The Liberal candidate for Warringah, Jaimee Rogers, is, like the sitting member Zali Steggall, a former athlete with a public profile. Wentworth candidate Ro Knox, a former Deloitte consultant, will run against Allegra Spender, whose own pitch for re-election has emphasised tax reform and productivity.

    In Victoria, Monique Ryan, who won the seat of Kooyong from then-treasurer Josh Frydenberg, will this time face Amelia Hamer, a local woman, professional and grand-niece of former Victorian premier Rupert Hamer.

    There are exceptions to that pattern. Former RSL President James Brown was preselected as the Liberal candidate for Mackellar, currently held by community independent Sophie Scamps. And in Goldstein, there will be a rerun of the previous contest between community independent Zoe Daniel and her Liberal predecessor Tim Wilson.

    At least three of the major party defectors in both houses are hoping to keep their seats, too. Gerard Rennick, formerly a Coalition senator who was denied a winnable spot on the Liberal National Party ticket, has registered the Gerard Rennick People First Party ahead of his bid for re-election this year. Rennick has pointed out that this will get his name “above the line” on the Senate ballot paper.

    Former Liberals Ian Goodenough and Russell Broadbent have both indicated they will run as independents to defend their seats – Moore and Monash respectively – from their erstwhile colleagues.

    Room for growth?

    Despite the watershed result in 2022, the crossbench may grow yet. Fundraising group Climate 200 is reported to be backing up to 35 candidates across the country, and an army of volunteers has already begun to mobilise in support.

    Health professional Carolyn Heise will hope that, with the support of the new campaign fundraiser the Regional Voices Fund, her second campaign in the regional electorate of Cowper may land her in parliament alongside Indi MP Helen Haines.

    The retirement of shadow minister Paul Fletcher as member for Bradfield in inner-Sydney makes for a particularly interesting contest in that electorate. Gisele Kapterian, who won Liberal preselection against Warren Mundine, will campaign against community independent Nicolette Boele, who would need a swing of only 5% in her favour to win on her second attempt.

    In Victoria’s western district, community independent Alex Dyson will attempt for the third time to win the seat of Wannon from shadow immigration minister Dan Tehan. Dyson came close in 2022 and would need only a 4% swing (two-candidate preferred) to win this time.

    In 2022, community groups supported independent candidate Penny Ackery in her campaign against then-minister and now shadow treasurer Angus Taylor. The two-candidate preferred vote left the seat “relatively safe” (in old terms), but declining support for the Coalition saw the state electorate of Wollondilly (within Hume’s borders) elect community independent Judy Hannan in a “surprise win” at the 2023 state election.

    There is plenty of potential for surprise victories and shock defeats at the forthcoming election. Community independents are running in at least four Labor-held seats. What should surprise nobody is that every vote in every seat will count on election day.

    Joshua Black is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Australia Institute.

    – ref. Australia’s embrace of independent political candidates shows there’s no such thing as a safe seat – https://theconversation.com/australias-embrace-of-independent-political-candidates-shows-theres-no-such-thing-as-a-safe-seat-250751

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

    March 28, 2025

  • MIL-Evening Report: Albanese calls May 3 election, with cost of living the central battleground

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra

    Australians will go to the polls on May 3 for an election squarely centred on the cost of living.

    Prime Minister Anthony Albanese visited Governor-General Sam Mostyn at Yarralumla first thing on Friday morning.

    Later he told an 8am news conference at parliament house the election choice was “between Labor’s plan to keep building or Peter Dutton’s plan to cut.

    “Only Labor has the plan to make you better off over the next three years,” he said. “Now is not the time for cutting and wrecking, punching down.”

    Less than a week after the federal budget and following an earlier delay caused by Cyclone Alfred, the formal campaign starts with government and opposition neck and neck and minority government considered a real possibility.

    But in recent days, the government has gained more momentum and Labor enters the campaign more confident than at the start of the year.

    The aggregated January-March quarterly Newspoll had the Coalition leading Labor 51-49%, but Albanese leading Peter Dutton as preferred PM 45% to 40%. Polling only shows a snapshot of the present, and the campaign itself could be crucial to the election result.

    This is the fourth consecutive election launched off the back of a budget, with both sides this week bidding for voters’ support with big handouts.

    Labor pushed through legislation for its $17 billion tax cut, the first stage of which comes in mid next year. Opposition leader Peter Dutton in his budget reply promised a 12-month halving of excise on petrol and diesel and a gas reservation scheme.

    Labor goes into the election with 78 seats in the lower house, and the Coalition with 57 (counting the seats of two recent Liberal defectors). The large crossbench includes four Greens and half a dozen “teals”.

    With a majority being 76 seats in the new 150-seat parliament, the Coalition needs to win 19 seats for an outright majority. This would require a uniform swing of 5.3% (although swings are not uniform). A swing of less than 1% could take Labor into minority. The Coalition would need a swing of about 3.6% to end with more seats than the government. While all states are important if the result is close, Victoria and NSW are regarded as the crucial battlegrounds.

    If the Coalition won, it would be the first time that a first-term government had been defeated since 1931, during the great depression.

    Since the end of the second world war, while all first term governments have been reelected, each saw a two-party swing against them.

    One challenge for Albanese is that he has only a tiny majority, providing little buffer against a swing.

    The combined vote of the major parties will be something to watch, with the vote steadily declining from 85.47% of the vote just 19 years ago at the 2007 election, to only 68.28% at the 2022 election.

    Labor won the last election with a two-party vote of
    52.13% to the Coalition’s 47.87%.

    As of December 31 2024, 17,939,818 Australians were enrolled to vote.

    The start of the formal campaign follows a long “faux” campaign in which both leaders have been travelling the length and breadth of the country non-stop, with the government making a series of major spending announcement but the opposition holding back on policy.

    Marginal seats based on the redistribution

    Michelle Grattan does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. Albanese calls May 3 election, with cost of living the central battleground – https://theconversation.com/albanese-calls-may-3-election-with-cost-of-living-the-central-battleground-250774

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

    March 28, 2025

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Fast fashion fuelling global waste crisis, UN chief warns

    Source: United Nations MIL OSI b

    By Vibhu Mishra

    27 March 2025 Climate and Environment

    Fast fashion is accelerating an environmental catastrophe, with the equivalent of one garbage truck’s worth of clothing either incinerated or sent to landfill every second, the UN chief warned on Thursday.

    Speaking at an event commemorating Sunday’s International Day of Zero Waste, Secretary-General António Guterres called for urgent action to curb the textile industry’s devastating impact on the planet.

    “Dressing to kill could kill the planet,” he stressed.

    The fashion industry is one of the world’s most polluting sectors, responsible for up to eight per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions.

    It consumes vast amounts of water – 215 trillion litres annually, equivalent to 86 million Olympic-sized swimming pools – and relies on thousands of chemicals, many of them harmful to human health and ecosystems.

    Despite these staggering figures, clothing is being produced and discarded at an unprecedented rate, driven by business models that prioritise speed and disposability over sustainability.

    A crisis woven into our clothes

    Mr. Guterres cautioned that the waste crisis in fashion is only a symptom of a much larger global problem.

    Humans globally generate more than two billion tonnes of waste each year – enough to wrap around the planet 25 times if packed into standard shipping containers – polluting land, air and water, disproportionately affecting the poorest communities.

    “The rich world is flooding the Global South with garbage, from obsolete computers to single-use plastics,” he said.

    Many countries lack the infrastructure to process even a fraction of what is dumped on their shores, leading to increased pollution and hazardous working conditions for waste pickers.

    This year’s focus: Fashion

    Fashion is under the spotlight for this year’s international day, underscoring staggering resource consumption and pollution levels. It is an industry where trends change rapidly, garments are often discarded after being worn a handful of times.

    Experts estimate that doubling the lifespan of clothing could reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 44 per cent.

    However, it is also an industry with exciting opportunities to transform lives and livelihoods for the better.

    “Designers are experimenting with recycled materials. Consumers are increasingly demanding sustainability. In many countries, resale markets are booming,” Mr. Guterres said, urging everyone to contribute to the fight against waste.

    UNEP Video | Fast fashion is fuelling an ecological crisis

    Shun greenwashing

    Governments, he said, must enact policies and regulations that promote sustainability and zero-waste initiatives.

    Businesses must move beyond “greenwashing” and take real steps to reduce waste, increase circularity, and improve resource efficiency across supply chains.

    Consumers, in turn, can play a crucial role by making environmentally responsible choices – valuing durable products, reducing excessive consumption, and embracing resale markets.

    “There is no space for greenwashing,” he emphasised. “Businesses must increase circularity, waste reduction, and resource efficiency across their supply chains.”

    Beyond the fashion industry, the broader fight against waste requires global coordination, he added.

    More than a billion people live in slums or informal settlements without proper waste management, leading to severe health risks. Unregulated dumping and poor waste disposal practices are exacerbating pollution and biodiversity loss worldwide.

    “Let us commit to do our part to clean up our act, and build a healthier, more sustainable world for us all,” Mr. Guterres concluded.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

    March 28, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Highway 1 lanes closed in Hope for sinkhole repairs

    Drivers are advised Highway 1 will be reduced to one lane eastbound and one lane westbound starting tonight, March 27, 2025, at Flood Hope Road in Hope (Exit 165) to address a rapidly deteriorating sinkhole across the eastbound lanes.

    A sinkhole initially appeared on Highway 1 in November 2024. It was quickly repaired and has been continually monitored while a design was underway for a permanent fix.

    Due to heavy rainfall, conditions have deteriorated and now require further interim repairs to ensure the safety of motorists. The repairs will begin tonight and will extend through the weekend and into next week.

    A highway median crossover will be implemented by moving an eastbound lane into the westbound fast lane for a 300-metre stretch of Highway 1. Eastbound highway traffic will continue to be detoured through the median crossover until repairs are complete and safety assessments confirm the eastbound lanes can be safely reopened. Commercial vehicles up to five metres in width can be accommodated through this crossover detour.

    Eastbound Exit 165 will be closed throughout the work and vehicles can take Exit 168 to access Flood Hope Road.

    Drivers should plan for delays. Peak traffic volumes are expected between noon and 10 p.m. on Sunday, March 30, especially for traffic travelling west toward Vancouver due to spring break travel. Drivers are urged to travel outside of these periods when possible or plan for additional travel time given the congestion expected.

    A reduced speed zone will be in place and drivers are reminded to obey all signage and be aware that roadside workers are present. 

    An update on the estimated time of full reopening will be provided on DriveBC on Monday, March 31, once repair work progresses through the weekend. Ongoing updated traffic information for this project will be available at: https://drivebc.ca/

    MIL OSI Canada News –

    March 28, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Press Briefing Transcript: Julie Kozack, Director, Communications Department, March 27, 2025

    Source: International Monetary Fund

    March 27, 2025

    SPEAKER:  Ms. Julie Kozack, Director of the Communications Department, IMF

    MS. KOZACK: Good morning, everyone, and welcome to today’s IMF Press Briefing. It’s great to see you all, those of you here in person and, of course, our colleagues online as well.

    I am Julie Kozak, Director of Communications at the IMF.  And as usual, this program press briefing is embargoed until 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time in the United States.  I will start with two short announcements and then I’ll take your questions in person, on Webex, and via the Press Center. 

    First, the 2025 Spring Meetings of the IMF and World Bank Group will take place from Monday, April 21st, to Saturday, April 26th.  The press registration to attend these meetings in person in Washington is now open, and you can register through www.imfconnect.org. 

    And second, I would like to announce that the Managing Director, Kristalina Georgieva, will be delivering her Curtain Raiser speech outlining the key issues facing the world economy.  The speech and a related fireside chat will be held here at IMF headquarters on Thursday, April 17th.  It will be open to registered media and via live streaming on our Press Center and IMF social media channels.  And we will provide more details closer to the date.

    And with that, I will now open the floor for your questions.  For those connecting virtually, please turn on both your camera and microphone when you are speaking.  And I’m now over to you.

    All right, let’s start with you.  Thank you.  Microphone here in the front. 

    QUESTIONER: Thank you very much, Julie.  Minister Luis Caputo announced this morning in Argentina that the Argentine government had agreed with the IMF staff amount of $20 billion for the new program.  I’m sure you know this was a very highly unusual announcement.  I wanted to know first if this was coordinated with the IMF, if you had agreed with Mr. Caputo to release this information?  Second, if you can confirm that the actual amount of the program that’s been discussed is $20 billion.  Then the IMF has a lot of internal processes before a program is actually announced, so could this number change through that process?  And if you can give us a sense of the timing before the actual staff-level agreement announcement and eventually the board meeting and that’s all.  Thanks. 

    MS. KOZACK: Okay, very good. Thank you. Other questions on Argentina. 

    QUESTIONER: Mr. Caputo said the disbursement will be $20 billion.  Will it be a single disbursement, just one single disbursement?  Thank you, Julie.

    MS. KOZACK: Okay, thank you. Let’s go online.

    QUESTIONER: Hi, good morning.  Well, we are all referring to the speech of Caputo, which was a big surprise in Argentina at least.  So one of the rumors that Minister Caputo denied was that the IMF was demanding a 30 percent devaluation.  My question is, does the IMF believe an exchange rate correction is necessary?  Thank you, Julie. 

    MS. KOZACK: Thank you.

    QUESTIONER: Yes.  Hi, Julie.  Thank you.  So my question is, first of all, if you can confirm how much of the $20 billion dollars are going to be freely available?  And second, if there is any certainty at this stage of the negotiations whether the new program will include modifications to the current exchange rate regime, as the market and private sector seem to have considered in recent days?  Thank you.

    QUESTIONER: Good morning.  Well, I would like to know if a scheme of exchange rate bands is being considered in this agreement and if the agreement implies an increase in depth with the IMF?  And finally, if there is a technical agreement already done?

    MS. KOZACK: Okay, thank you. Anybody else want to come in on Argentina? Okay, let me go ahead and take these questions. 

    So first I want to just start by saying, and this is consistent with our previous statements, that Argentina has embarked on a truly impressive stabilization program.  And the country has shown that it’s determined to steer the — the authorities have shown that they are determined to steer the economy toward a more sustainable path. 

    Since the end of 2023, inflation has declined thanks to a very large fiscal consolidation and steps to heal the Central Bank’s balance sheet.  These measures have been complemented by deregulation, market reforms, and the elimination of distortions and some controls.  The reforms are starting to bear fruit.  Despite the sharp macroeconomic adjustment, economic activity is recovering strongly, real wages are increasing and poverty is declining.  This decline in poverty also reflects, of course, a significant increase in social assistance to vulnerable groups.  There is also a shared recognition between the Fund and the authorities that now is the time to move to the next steps of the authority’s stabilization plan. 

    In this regard, significant progress has been made in reaching understandings toward a new IMF supported program.  And this has followed intense and productive discussion, and those include in-person meetings in Buenos Aires and also here in Washington, D.C.  And at the Fund we have engaged at all levels. 

    What I can say now is that discussions on a new Fund supported program are very advanced and those discussions include discussions around a sizable financing package.  The size of that package is ultimately to be determined by our Executive Board, but I can confirm that discussions are focusing on a sizable package. 

    As for our processes, we do have a set of processes that we always follow when engaging with country authorities on a program.  And as part of these routine internal processes, we have also been engaging with our Executive Board.  With respect to the policies that will be covered under the program, as we’ve noted in the past here, discussions are still ongoing on the specific policies that will be covered under the program. 

    What I can say is that to sustain the gains that have been achieved so far by the authorities, there is a shared recognition about the need to continue to adopt a consistent set of fiscal, monetary, and foreign exchange policies while fostering further and furthering growth enhancing reforms.  And what I can also say is that we will keep you updated as discussions continue. 

    QUESTIONER: What about the amount?

    MS. KOZACK: So with respect to the amount, the amount or the size of the program will be determined ultimately by our Executive Board. What I can say today is that discussions are focused on a sizable financing program.

    And in terms of your question about single disbursement versus a phased disbursement, as with all of our programs, disbursements will come in tranches over the life of the program.  But the exact phasing and the size of each tranche is also, of course, part of the discussions that are underway. 

    QUESTIONER: The number is okay?

    MS. KOZACK: All I’m saying now is that the discussion is around a sizable financing program. That’s what I can say today.

    QUESTIONER: Thank you, Julie. 

    MS. KOZACK: Okay. Let’s go here.

    QUESTIONER: Thank you so much, Julie.  So I would like to ask you about the IMF prospects on the Russian economy.  Does the IMF plan to update its outlook on Russian GDP growth in 2025 during its next review?  What is the overall perspective on inflation easing signs?  Does the IMF plan to highlight any changes in potential monetary policy from the Central Bank?  And what is, from the IMF perspective, the current level of business activity in the Russian economy?  Thanks. 

    MS. KOZACK: Okay, thank you. On Russia.

    QUESTIONER: The Central Bank of Russia has maintained its key interest rate at 21 percent since October 2024 to combat inflation.  How does the IMF assess the effectiveness of this high-interest rate policy in controlling inflation?  And what are the IMF’s projections for Russia’s inflation trajectory in 2025 and what factors are expected to influence these trends?  Thank you. 

    MS. KOZACK: Great. Thank you very much. Are there any other questions on Russia?  Okay. 

    What I can say about the Russian economy is that our assessment is that the Russian economy was affected by overheating in 2024 and growth was driven by private consumption, which was supported by a tight labor market, fast-growing wages, and buoyant credit from the banking system into the economy.  This overheating also reflected strong corporate investment.  Fiscal policy did play a role in driving growth. 

    In 2025, what I can say is, and here I’m quoting from the January WEO, and I can confirm that we will be updating the projections for Russia, as with all countries for the April WEO.  But in January, we said we expected a slowdown in 2025 as the impact of tighter monetary policy took hold and the cyclical recovery ran its course, meaning that the boost to growth waned into 2025.  So in January, we had growth slowing from 3.8 percent in 2024 to 1.4 percent in 2025.  And again, that assessment will be updated as part of the WEO. 

    Now, with respect to inflation in particular, inflation in Russia remains high.  It is well above the Central Bank of Russia’s target, which is 4 percent.  And this partly reflects the tight labor market and also strong wage growth.  Currently, we are not seeing signs of an easing of inflation, although the projections that we had in the January WEO did suggest an easing of price pressures in the coming year.  And of course, just to reiterate that our assessment of Russia, the Russian economy, will be updated as part of the WEO. 

    QUESTIONER: Thank you, Julie.  My question is on the inflation expectation at the global level, not only U.S. but also in Japan recently, inflation expectation raised substantially up.  And how much are you concerned about such movement translating into the real inflation and, in the near future, given the tariff policies conducted by U.S. Administrations?  Thank you. 

    MS. KOZACK: Thank you. So what I can say on inflation at the global level, and this is, again, I’m going to be quoting here from our January and October WEOs. So what we expected at the time of our January WEO update was that global inflation would continue to decline.  We expected in January that it would reach 4.2 percent in 2025 and 3.5 percent in 2026.  And at that time, we expected that advanced economies would achieve their inflation targets earlier than emerging market economies. 

    Now, since that January update, what we have seen is greater than expected persistence in inflation.  And so this is a key factor that will be taken into account as we are updating not only our growth projections in the April WEO, but also our inflation projections.  And what this means for central banks and policymakers is, of course, that agile and proactive monetary policy is going to be needed to ensure that inflation expectations remain well anchored.  And of course, we’ll have a full discussion of inflation developments at the time of the WEO. 

    QUESTIONER: Hi.  Thanks, Julie.  I’m wondering if you can weigh in a bit on President Trump’s announcement yesterday of universal car tariffs of 25 percent.  This is going to send shock waves through a production system throughout the world that provides employment to millions of people, and supports economies all over.  I know it’s early to gauge the exact impact of what this would mean, but I’m wondering if you can talk directionally about how this could start to impact countries, particularly emerging markets that are in that supply chain.  Thanks. 

    MS. KOZACK: Thank you. Same topic, right?

    QUESTIONER: Thank you.  We have seen the impacts of the — sorry, let me start over again.  So following up on what David said regarding the tariff, how do you see the impact on these on economies — on the African continent in particular?  And also, you know, we are seeing more of nationalism and protectionism.  It’s from the U.S., and it’s spreading around the world as well.  So how concerned is the IMF regarding these. 

    QUESTIONER: Just to follow up.  In terms of the WEO that you’re preparing, how will these tariff actions be filtered into that in terms of inflation projections as it raises costs, does the IMF sort of see these as a one-time jump up in price level or is it going to contribute to ongoing inflation?  Thank you. 

    MS. KOZACK: Same topic?

    QUESTIONER: Thank you, Julie.  As a result of all the policy that we are witnessing right now, can the IMF rule out any risk of recession in the United States in 2025, 2026, or if we are not talking about annual decline, could you see any risks in quarter estimates? 

    MS. KOZACK: Okay, so let me say a few — respond to this set of questions.

    What I can say today is, we’ve seen several new developments on the trade front over the past several weeks and of course yesterday we had announcements about tariffs on the auto sector.  And the U.S. administration has also noted and announced that it will — that there will be new announcements coming next week on April 2nd. 

    What  I can say today is that we are in the process of assessing the impact of all of these announcements, and we will continue to do that work in the context of our World Economic Outlook that will be released as I noted in April. 

    We have previously noted that for countries like Mexico and Canada that if sustained tariffs could have a significant effect on Mexico and Canada, a significant adverse impact on Mexico and Canada.  For other regions and groups of countries, we’re in the process of undertaking that analysis at the moment. 

    What I can say about the way or the process by which this will be incorporated into the WEO, the way the process works is we will look at all of the announcements and economic developments and data up until as far as we can into the process.  But at some point, there will need to be sort of a cutoff date after which we’re no longer able to incorporate new information.  We’re not there yet.  But at some point in the process there will be a date after which we just for production processes, need to kind of stop the churning of the data. 

    What the WEO will then have is a very clear exposition of what is incorporated into our baseline forecast, our main forecast.  We’ll talk about the assumptions that are included and any policy announcements and actions that are included in the baseline forecast.  Anything that occurs after our cut-off date will be discussed in qualitative terms or as part of the risks section of the report.  But we will aim, of course, in that report to be very clear about what is incorporated into the forecast and what is not incorporated into the forecast.  And of course, you will have an opportunity the week of the Annual Meetings to not only read the WEO, but we will have a press conference led by our Economic Counselor to answer detailed questions around the forecast.  And we will also have the press conferences of our regional area department heads to talk to answer specific regional questions. 

    And just maybe on the question about the U.S. economy, just to say perhaps a few words.  What I can say now is that the performance of the U.S. economy has been remarkably strong throughout the recent monetary policy tightening cycle.  Activity and employment exceeded expectations, and the disinflation process proved less costly than most feared.  And this was our assessment at the time of our January WEO.  Since then, of course, there have been many developments.  Large policy shifts have been announced, and the incoming data is signaling a slowdown in economic activity from the very strong pace in 2024.  All of this said, recession is not part of our baseline. 

    Let’s now move online. 

    QUESTIONER: Thank you, Julie, for taking my questions.  My question is on Sri Lanka.  Sri Lanka’s Central Bank Governor has hinted, also suggested that the heavily indebted state-owned enterprises should be listed in the Colombo Stock Exchange as part of a program to perform these enterprises.  What is the IMF’s take on such a proposal given that the program also calls for extensive reforms in SEOs — I beg your pardon, SOEs? At the same time, $334 million was approved by the IMF Executive Board recently.  Has that tranche been given to Sri Lanka?  If not, why?  Thank you. 

    MS. KOZACK: Okay. Any other questions on Sri Lanka online? Okay, let me take this question on Sri Lanka. 

    So first, let me just step back on Sri Lanka.  First, I’ll say that on Friday, February 28th, the IMF Executive Board approved the Third Review under the EFF (Extended Fund Facility) arrangement for Sri Lanka.  And this provided the country with immediate access to $334 million of support.  So, yes, once the Board approved that Third Review, the $334 million was made available to Sri Lanka to support its economic policies and reforms.  And with this $334 million, it brings total financial support from the IMF to Sri Lanka to $1.34 billion. 

    What I can also add is that reforms in Sri Lanka are bearing fruit.  The economic recovery is gaining momentum.  Inflation remains low in Sri Lanka, revenue collection on the fiscal side is improving, and international reserves are continuing to accumulate.  Economic growth reached 5 percent in 2024, and that was after two years of economic contraction.  And we do expect the recovery to continue in 2025 in Sri Lanka.  These are all very positive developments for Sri Lanka and for the people of Sri Lanka. 

    All of this said, the economy still does remain vulnerable, and therefore it is critical that the reform momentum be sustained to ensure that macroeconomic stability and debt sustainability are durably achieved. 

    And with respect to your specific question, I don’t have anything for you on that regarding the SOEs, but we’ll come back to you bilaterally. 

    I have one question here online from Shoaib Nizami from ARY News TV.  And the question is, when will Pakistan receive Climate Resilience Funds?  So before I turn to this, are there any other questions on Pakistan?  Okay, let me talk a little bit about Pakistan then. 

    So again, just stepping back to explain where we are with Pakistan.  On September 25th of 2024, the Executive Board approved a 37-month EFF arrangement for Pakistan, and it was for $7 billion.  The First Review took place… the First Review mission took place recently, and a staff-level agreement on the First Review was reached on March 25th.  And in addition to reaching a staff-level agreement on the EFF arrangement for the First Review, there was also a staff-level agreement reached on an RSF, a Resilience and Sustainability Facility, that was also reached on March 25th.

    Under the EFF part – so I’m going to talk about both of them.  So the EFF part, which is the First Review under the program, once approved by the IMF’s Executive Board, that would enable Pakistan to have access of about $1 billion for that disbursement.  For the RSF over the length of the arrangement, again subject to approval by the IMF’s Executive Board, the staff-level agreement references an amount of $1.3 billion and that access will be over the life of the RSF, delivered in tranches. 

    Okay.  Kyle, you had a question in the room. 

    QUESTIONER: Good morning.  Kyle Fitzgerald with the National.  So, following the recent staff visit to Lebanon, the IMF and Lebanon agreed to remain in close contact on a new economic reform program.  I was just wondering if you could provide more clarity on what the next steps are and what a potential timeline for this looks like.  Thank you. 

    MS. KOZACK: Okay, very good. With respect to Lebanon, I also have another question online which I am going to read out loud. It is from Sabine Oawais from Annahar (phonetic).  There are two questions here.  The first is when does the IMF anticipate the signing of a program with Lebanon?  What prior actions must the Lebanese government take before reaching final agreement?  The second is, given Lebanon’s ongoing economic challenges, what specific reforms does the IMF see as critical for stabilizing the country’s financial system and securing a sustainable recovery? 

    Before I respond on Lebanon, are there any other questions on Lebanon?  Okay.

    So on Lebanon, an IMF fact-finding mission visited Lebanon from March 10th to 13th.  And on that mission, the staff welcomed the authority’s request for a new IMF-supported program to support the authority’s efforts to address Lebanon’s significant economic challenges.  We have received, obviously, this request for a new program.  We’re working with the authorities to help them develop their comprehensive economic reform program.  The engagement and discussions with the Lebanese authorities are ongoing. 

    And in terms of what is needed, what I can say is that first and foremost what is needed is a comprehensive strategy for economic rehabilitation.  This is going to be critical to restore growth, reduce unemployment and improve social conditions.  The authority’s reform program is going to need to be focused on fiscal and debt sustainability, financial sector restructuring, international reserves are continuing to accumulate.  Economic growth reached 5 percent in 2024, and that was after two years of economic contraction.  And we do expect the recovery to continue in 2025 in Sri Lanka.  These are all very positive developments for Sri Lanka and for the people of Sri Lanka. 

    All of this said, the economy still does remain vulnerable, and therefore it is critical that the reform momentum be sustained to ensure that macroeconomic stability and debt sustainability are durably achieved. 

    And with respect to your specific question, I don’t have anything for you on that regarding the SOEs, but we’ll come back to you bilaterally. 

    I have one question here online . And the question is, when will Pakistan receive Climate Resilience Funds?  So, before I turn to this, are there any other questions on Pakistan?  Okay, let me talk a little bit about Pakistan then. 

    So again, just stepping back to explain where we are with Pakistan.  On September 25th of 2024, the Executive Board approved a 37-month EFF arrangement for Pakistan, and it was for $7 billion.  The First Review took place… the First Review mission took place recently, and a staff-level agreement on the First Review was reached on March 25th.  And in addition to reaching a staff-level agreement on the EFF arrangement for the First Review, there was also a staff-level agreement reached on an RSF, a Resilience and Sustainability Facility, that was also reached on March 25th.

    Under the EFF part – so I’m going to talk about both of them.  So the EFF part, which is the First Review under the program, once approved by the IMF’s Executive Board, that would enable Pakistan to have access of about $1 billion for that disbursement.  For the RSF over the length of the arrangement, again subject to approval by the IMF’s Executive Board, the staff-level agreement references an amount of $1.3 billion and that access will be over the life of the RSF, delivered in tranches. 

    QUESTIONER: Good morning. So, following the recent staff visit to Lebanon, the IMF and Lebanon agreed to remain in close contact on a new economic reform program.  I was just wondering if you could provide more clarity on what the next steps are and what a potential timeline for this looks like.  MS. KOZACK: Okay, very good.  With respect to Lebanon, I also have another question online which I am going to read out loud.  There are two questions here.  The first is when does the IMF anticipate the signing of a program with Lebanon?  What prior actions must the Lebanese government take before reaching final agreement?  The second is, given Lebanon’s ongoing economic challenges, what specific reforms does the IMF see as critical for stabilizing the country’s financial system and securing a sustainable recovery? 

    Before I respond on Lebanon, are there any other questions on Lebanon?  So on Lebanon, an IMF fact-finding mission visited Lebanon from March 10th to 13th.  And on that mission, the staff welcomed the authority’s request for a new IMF-supported program to support the authority’s efforts to address Lebanon’s significant economic challenges.  We have received, obviously, this request for a new program.  We’re working with the authorities to help them develop their comprehensive economic reform program.  The engagement and discussions with the Lebanese authorities are ongoing. 

    And in terms of what is needed, what I can say is that first and foremost what is needed is a comprehensive strategy for economic rehabilitation.  This is going to be critical to restore growth, reduce unemployment and improve social conditions.  The authority’s reform program is going to need to be focused on fiscal and debt sustainability, financial sector restructuring, governance improvements, and reforms to state owned enterprises.  And critically, it’s going to be important to enhance data provision, to improve transparency and to inform policymaking.  And that is the latest update that I have on Lebanon.  We’ll of course keep you updated and I just want to reassure that we are fully committed to working with the Lebanese authorities and the engagement is ongoing and constructive. 

    Let me go online.  We have a few online before I come back to the room.  And I have another question to read here, which is on Egypt.  The question on Egypt is how do you assess the Egyptian economy right now, taking into consideration the impact of geopolitical tensions in the Middle East region? 

    So let me say a few words on Egypt, but before I do so, are there any other questions on Egypt?  So on Egypt, first, I just want to start by saying that on March 10th, the IMF’s Executive Board concluded the 2025 Article IV consultation and completed the Fourth Review under the EFF arrangement.  This enabled the authorities to draw $1.2 billion.  The Executive Board at that time also approved the RSF arrangement, which paves the way for Egypt to access about $1.3 billion over the life of the RSF. 

    Now, with respect to the specific question, our projections for growth, and this is the question about the impact on the Egyptian economy of tensions, our projections for growth in inflation for the next fiscal year — Egypt uses fiscal year, so it’s a 2025-2026 fiscal year — indicate a growth rate of 4.1 percent.  And this is an increase from 3.6 percent in the previous fiscal year.  And on the inflation side, we expect inflation to continue a downward trajectory and reach 13.4 percent by the end of this period.  We’ll be looking to update these projections for Egypt as part of our update in April of the World Economic Outlook.  And of course, those projections will take into account any recent developments. 

    What I can say more broadly for Egypt is that the main economic impact on Egypt of the tensions in the region has been through disruptions in the Red Sea and the disruptions to revenues through the Suez Canal.  Trade disruptions in the Red Sea in Egypt since December of 2023 have reduced foreign exchange inflows from the Suez Canal by about $6 billion in 2024 alone for Egypt.  And the volume of transit trade is about one third of pre conflict levels.  And so this has of course, adverse spillovers to growth in Egypt and also to fiscal revenues in Egypt.  That is the main area that we’re focused on in terms of how Egypt is being affected by the tensions in the region.  And of course, we’ll continue to closely monitor that as part of our deep and constructive engagement with Egypt. 

    QUESTIONER: Yes, thank you, Julie.  Can you hear me all right? 

    MS. KOZACK: Yes, we can hear you.

    QUESTIONER: Just a quick follow up on Argentina.  You mentioned the amount of discussion will be sizable.  I appreciate we can’t discuss what a final figure might be at this point, but can you confirm that Argentina has requested a loan package of around $20 billion or at least discussed a similar figure as Minister Caputo said this morning. 

    MS. KOZACK: Look, I’m not — just as with the other questions in terms of the ongoing discussions, I’m not going to get into the details of those discussions. They are ongoing. And I can simply confirm that the size of the final package for Argentina will be determined by our Executive Board and that the discussions are for a sizable financing package. 

    QUESTIONER: I want to look at the Caribbean specifically on this one.  With the U.S. proposing to tariff Chinese vessels to the tune of $1.5 million docking to an extent in the U.S., what recommendations or how does the — what does the IMF foresee in terms of potential economic fallouts for Small Island States within the Caribbean region going forward?  And this is in keeping with the tone of questions in the room there.  Do you foresee any potential — or what recommendation would the IMF give to Small Island States, especially those in the Caribbean region, about potential inflation as you look towards the future and tariffs “here is the name of the game” from the United States?

    MS. KOZACK: I’d say like with all of the other impacts of recent developments, we will be discussing this in our World Economic Outlook. But also, I think importantly for the Caribbean, we will have a discussion around regional developments by our Western Hemisphere Department.  And that discussion will, of course, cover the specific impacts on the Caribbean. 

    What I can say today about the Caribbean is to just give a sense of where we stood in our latest forecast, which was in January of 2025.  At that time we expected that growth in the region would be normalized.  So, what we saw in the Caribbean was a kind of rapid recovery after the Pandemic.  And now we’re seeing a normalization phase, or at least that was our assessment in January.  And we expected real GDP growth to reach 2.4 percent in 2025, which would have been about the same as in 2024.  What we saw on inflation again in January was that it had moderated significantly in 2023 and 2024 and that inflation in the Caribbean had returned to pre-Pandemic levels.  So of course, we will then incorporate any of the recent developments in our revised forecast, which will be coming out in April, and we can have a — we’ll have a fuller picture at that time. 

    But just to say a few words on the policy advice, our policy advice for the Caribbean has been more broadly to continue to pursue sustainable fiscal policies to continue to rebuild policy buffers and to strengthen the resilience of domestic economies and institutions.  We also encouraged Caribbean economies to accelerate investment in infrastructure and to implement necessary reforms to boost growth.  And again, we will have a fuller update in January — I mean, sorry, in April. 

    I see some more questions coming online for me to read.  I have a question online on Kenya.  And the question says at the end of the Eighth Review, and I assume under the program, Ms. Gita Gopinath stated, Kenya’s economy remains resilient with growth above the regional average, inflation decelerating and external inflows supporting the shilling and a buildup of external buffers despite a difficult socioeconomic environment.  What has changed since then that has prevented completion of the Final Review under the program? 

    So, before I move to Kenya, are there other questions on Kenya?  QUESTIONER: Thank you, Julie.  Yes, on Kenya, if there’s any details on, on why that last review was ditched as, as my colleague asked, and did they fail to meet any of their targets?  And can we expect any update on, on a request of a new program?  MS. KOZACK: Okay.  I don’t see anything else on Kenya.  So let me give this update on Kenya. So we did recently have an IMF staff team recently visited Kenya for a staff visit.  We did issue a statement on March 17th and in that statement, what was noted is that the Kenyan authorities and the IMF reached an understanding that the Ninth Review under the EFF and ECF programs would not proceed. 

    Where we — what I can say more generally is that the authorities, policy, agenda, and reform programs have been supported by the IMF and they have helped improve Kenya’s economic resilience.  As was stated in the first question, the external position has indeed strengthened over the past year and inflation has eased. 

    All of this said, fiscal challenges do remain amid continued revenue shortfalls and the materialization of additional spending pressures.  And what this is going to require is a reassessment of the medium-term fiscal consolidation strategy to ensure that fiscal sustainability can be preserved.  These challenges will require more time to resolve, and the IMF has therefore received a formal request for a new program from the authorities.  And we are going to — we are, our team is engaging on this request of the authorities, and they remain closely in contact with the authorities.  We’ll provide additional details as we have them.  I can just add that we do remain committed to supporting Kenya’s efforts to realize its full economic potential. 

    QUESTIONER: So I was wondering if you could provide an update on Nigeria, Senegal, and Zambia.  I know the Managing director met with the Finance Minister of Zambia yesterday.  So if you have any update that you could provide regarding the debt restructuring.  And on Senegal, there was a release that was issued yesterday by the IMF defining, confirming that there was a significant underreporting of the fiscal deficit.  How did the IMF miss that information and how do you plan to ensure that it doesn’t happen?  And are you looking to change your methodology? 

    MS. KOZACK: So, on Nigeria, what I can say is [that] the first Deputy Managing Director, Gita Gopinath, traveled to Abuja and Lagos on March 3rd and 4th. She met with Finance Minister Edun, Central Bank Governor Cardoso, as well as civil society groups and private sector leaders. And she also participated in an event with students at the University of Lagos.  Our staff are planning to travel to Nigeria next week in preparation for the 2025 Article IV Consultation.  The authorities’ policies to stabilize the economy and to promote growth are welcome, and they will, of course, need to be accompanied by targeted social transfers to support the most vulnerable populations. 

    We do recognize the extremely difficult situation that many Nigerians face.  And for that reason, I just want to emphasize that completing the rollout of cash transfers to vulnerable households is an important priority for Nigeria, as is improving revenue mobilization domestically. 

    And that is the latest that I have on Argentina and not will — not Argentina, I’m looking at Rafael — on Nigeria, and we will have, of course, more after the mission completes its work.

    MS. KOZACK: Now on Senegal, what I can say on Senegal is, you know, we are actively engaged with the Senegalese authorities and a staff team, which included experts from several different IMF departments, visited Senegal on March 18th through 26th. And they released the statement, of course, that you referred to at the end of that mission. The purpose of the mission was to advance efforts to resolve the recent misreporting case. 

    I think, as we have discussed here before, Senegal’s Court of Auditors released its final report on February 12.  The Court confirmed that the fiscal deficit and public debt were under-reported over the period 2019 to 2023.  And we’re also, our team is also working closely with the authorities to resolve those — that misreporting case and to look at what measures can be taken to ensure, of course, that it doesn’t happen going forward, what are the root causes, and what needs to be done to support Senegal as it seeks to move forward.

    What I can also add is that we collaborate.  The IMF collaborates closely with member countries in all of our engagements, but at the end of the day, it is the member country that is responsible for providing us with accurate and comprehensive data.  While we are partners in the process, it is really the primary responsibility of the country authorities to ensure that the credibility and the quality of the data is accurate.  And we do, of course, for countries that are finding shortcomings in data quality or data accuracy or who want to improve their data reporting, we do offer technical assistance through our experts to help support countries that are interested in improving their data provision. 

    QUESTIONER: Can I quickly ask, regarding that, about the technical support that you provide?  How much — how many African countries are taking advantage of? 

    MS. KOZACK: It is a good question. I do not have the numbers in front of me, but we can certainly come back to you bilaterally. Overall, the continent of, you know — well, Sub-Saharan Africa, the region of Sub-Saharan Africa, is a heavy user of technical assistance services.  How [many] of those are in the area of data and statistics, I do not know.  But we can certainly come back to you bilaterally with that information

    And then on Zambia, I don’t have an update here for you, but we can come back to you bilaterally on Zambia. 

    QUESTIONER: Okay.  Thank you very much.

    MS. KOZACK: Last question.

    QUESTIONER: Thank you, Julie.  And I am sorry for bothering you a third time in a row.  It is about the Black Sea Grain Initiative.  I presume that it is too early to assess, but from the IMF perspective, how can potential moratorium on strikes on the Black Sea between Russia and Ukraine contribute to global trade, food security, and overall, does the IMF monitor the current ongoing discussions on this topic?  MS. KOZACK: Okay, very good.  So, on this one, what I can say is, of course, we are closely monitoring the discussions around the Black Sea.  I do not have a full assessment, of course, now.  What I can say is that there is quite a bit of global trade that goes through the Black Sea.  I think the number is about 7 percent.  And also, we know that some of that global trade is concentrated in key food commodities like wheat.  And to the extent that there is a, let us say, improvement in the ability for transit through the Black Sea, particularly with respect to important global food commodities, that should help ease food shortages globally. 

    With that, I’m going to bring this Press Briefing to a close.  Thank you all for joining us today.  As a reminder, the briefing is embargoed until 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time in the United States.  A transcript will be made available later on IMF.org and as always, in the case of clarifications or additional queries, please do not hesitate to reach out to my colleagues at media@imf.org.

    This concludes our Press Briefing for today, and I wish everyone a wonderful day.  I look forward to seeing you next time and, of course, at the Spring Meetings.  Thank you. 

    IMF Communications Department
    MEDIA RELATIONS

    PRESS OFFICER: Brian Walker

    Phone: +1 202 623-7100Email: MEDIA@IMF.org

    @IMFSpokesperson

    MIL OSI Economics –

    March 28, 2025

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: University Research – Land water loss the leading cause of sea level rise in 21st century – UoM

    Source: University of Melbourne (UoM)

    An international team of scientists led jointly by the University of Melbourne and Seoul National University has found global water storage of land has plummeted since the start of the 21st century, overtaking glacier melt as the leading cause of sea level rise and measurably shifting the Earth’s pole of rotation.

    Published today in Science, the research combined global soil moisture data estimated by the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecast (ECMWF) Reanalysis v5 (ERA5), global mean sea level measurements and observations of Earth’s pole movement to estimate changes in terrestrial (land) water storage (TWS) from 1979 to 2016.

    “The study raises critical questions about the main drivers of declining water storage on land and whether global lands will continue to become drier,” said University of Melbourne author Professor Dongryeol Ryu.

    “Water constantly cycles between land and oceans, but the current rate of water loss from land is outpacing its replenishment. This is potentially irreversible because it’s unlikely this trend will reverse if global temperatures and evaporative demand continue to rise at their current rates. Without substantial changes in climate patterns, the imbalance in the water cycle is likely to persist, leading to a net loss of water from land to oceans over time.”

    Between 2000 and 2002, soil moisture decreased by around 1614 gigatonnes (1 Gt: one cubic kilometre of water), nearly double Greenland’s ice loss of about 900 Gt in 2002–2006. From 2003 to 2016, soil moisture depletion continued, with an additional 1009 Gt lost.

    Soil moisture had not recovered as of 2021, with little likelihood of recovery under present climate conditions. The authors say this decline is corroborated by independent observations of global mean sea level rise (~4.4mm) and Earth’s polar shift (~45cm in 2003-2012).

    Water loss was most pronounced across East and Central Asia, Central Africa and North and South America. In Australia, the growing depletion has impacted parts of Western Australia and south-eastern Australia, including western Victoria, although the Northern Territory and Queensland saw a small replenishment of soil moisture.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

    March 28, 2025

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: SRSG Kamal Kishore’s speech at the High-Level Policy Forum on Accelerated Financing for Disaster Risk Reduction to Build Resilience in Oslo, Norway

    Source: UNISDR Disaster Risk Reduction

    Your Excellency, Åsmund Aukrust, Minister of International Development,

    Excellencies and Colleagues,

    It is a great honour for the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction to be organizing this high-level forum with the Kingdom of Norway. I would like to start by expressing my deep appreciation to Norway for hosting this forum and for its leadership on the topic of finance – both for disaster risk reduction and for sustainable development, especially in the context of the ongoing negotiations ahead of the 4th International Conference on Financing for Development. 

    I am also thankful to Norway for serving as co-chair of the Group of Friends for Disaster Risk Reduction, which is critical to supporting the work of UNDRR as we race towards the 2030 deadline of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction.

    Indeed, as we look around the world, it is clear that we must accelerate the implementation of the Sendai Framework to protect people and sustainable development from the growing impacts of disasters.

    Countries, rich and poor, are facing disasters that are larger and more destructive. This is partially driven by an increase in extreme weather events, but it is also driven by risk-blind investments, which increase the exposure and vulnerability of people and assets. The end result is more expensive disasters, which are a threat to economic prosperity and sustainable development.

    Over the last five years, global economic losses from disasters have increased on average by 25%. This increase represents tens of billions of additional losses each year.

    We have seen this manifest on one end of the spectrum with the recent California wildfires, which were reportedly the most expensive disaster in the history of the United States. 

    On the other end of the spectrum, we have seen war-ravaged Syria suffer approximately $5 billion US dollars in damages as a result of the 2023 earthquakes, and the Libyan city of Derna largely swept into the Mediterranean as a result of severe floods. This is on top of the loss of life, which was in the thousands, and continues to be felt most acutely by the Least Developed Countries. 

    When we add on top of these direct costs, the cost of slow-onset events and the indirect impacts of disasters, such as productivity losses, compromised health, and disrupted education, the total cost of disasters is likely in excess of a trillion US dollars a year.

    Moreover, as disaster costs increase, insurance companies are pulling out of high-risk markets, even in developed economies. For instance, “nonrenewal notices” of home insurance in the United States surged by nearly 30% from 2018 to 2022 to more than 600,000 a year.  And in developing countries, much of the losses, are not even covered by insurance, driving more people into poverty. 

    Even humanitarian assistance, which is a measure of last resort for many affected countries, is becoming scarcer. In 2024, only 43% of the budgeted needs were funded.  This year, the gap will likely be higher.

    Therefore, to reduce the burden of disasters, avoid a spiral of decreasing insurability, and limit humanitarian needs, it is essential that we invest in disaster risk reduction. 

    This means increasing dedicated funding to disaster risk reduction, while also ensuring that all other development investments are risk-informed. 

    At this Forum, we will dive into this issue in detail. And to help set the stage, I would like to briefly review where these investments could come from, starting first with domestic resources. 

    Domestic public funds are the primary source for investments in DRR. Early warning systems, resilient hospitals, and other DRR investments tend to have a public good nature, meaning that they benefit society but are difficult for investors to capture direct financial returns. 

    Yet, our research shows that only a limited share of the public budget, less than 1%, is allocated to DRR and that current spending only meets in most countries 10 to 25% of the needs, leaving a significant gap. 

    Although resources are limited, countries have an opportunity to make public spending more efficient and impactful by further integrating disaster risk reduction in public finance. This requires a conscious effort to create a ring-fenced budget allocation for DRR to empower responsible agencies, while also mainstreaming DRR in sectoral plans. To that end, we recommend the use of appropriate accountability mechanisms, including budget tagging and tracking of DRR-related expenditures. 

    We also need to reinforce synergies across government, for instance between the Ministries of Environment and National Disaster Management Authorities, to break silos and optimize the use of climate and DRR-related financing. Similarly, we need to ensure that finance is available both at the national and sub-national levels, as many investments happen locally.

    That said, it is important to consider that many developing countries face unique challenges that constrain their ability to scale up investment in DRR – and that is high levels of debt. 

    Since 2010, debt in developing countries has grown twice as fast as in developed countries, and they face much higher borrowing costs. 

    At the same time, disasters fuel debt in affected countries. For example, a recent study from the Inter-American Development Bank shows that debt levels in the Caribbean are 18% higher three years after a severe storm than normally expected. 

    These outcomes can be mitigated by pre-arranging financing mechanisms ahead of disasters, such as contingency credit lines, disaster-related clauses in sovereign debt instruments, and risk-transfer instruments. These mechanisms allow for a quicker recovery, thus limiting the impact on growth and the economy. 

    The second primary source of finance is the private sector. 

    On average, the private sector is responsible for about 75% of a country’s investment in assets, such as factories and real estate. If those investments are risk-blind, they will lead to the creation of new disaster risks and exacerbate existing ones. We see this, for instance, through the expansion of urban development into hazard-prone areas or the construction of infrastructure that is not disaster-resilient. 

    This can be avoided through regulatory frameworks, risk information, and financial incentives to make private investment risk-informed and to create markets for resilience-building solutions. 

    We should also better leverage the financial sector, which has played a limited role thus far in DRR financing. For example, the rapid rise in the green bond markets has only had a limited impact on driving investments into adaptation and resilience, in part due to the lack of market standards and taxonomies. These market standards are necessary for the emergence of financial instruments, such as resilience bonds, and to guide investor decisions. 

    Similarly, the local banking sector can play a role in supporting small and medium businesses to access finance for investment in resilience-building, including through blended finance mechanisms. 

    In this regard, I am happy to report that UNDRR has been pioneering some work in this area, including the development of a “Resilience Taxonomy,” in partnership with the Climate Bond Initiative, and the launch of a guide for adaptation and resilience finance, which we developed with Standard Chartered Bank and KPMG.

    The third and final major source of finance is the international community, specifically through the provision of Official Development Assistance. This is an area that is currently under stress but remains critical for many developing countries, and its promotion is one of the seven targets of the Sendai Framework.

    Looking at the data, we see that, between 2019 and 2023, only 2% of ODA projects had DRR as an objective. And within the humanitarian sector, we find that the amount of funding for disaster prevention and preparedness has actually gone down over the years – from an already low level of 3.6% between 2015 and 2018, to 3.3% between 2019 and 2023. 

    These trends show an imbalance between the increase in disaster risks around the world and the limited international funding being allocated to Disaster Risk Reduction.

    Such funding is critical to protecting development gains and reducing humanitarian needs, and for some of the most vulnerable countries, they are unable to invest in DRR without international assistance.

    With that overview, I believe we at this Forum have a unique opportunity to address some of the biggest challenges around DRR financing. And to help guide our discussions, I would like to suggest that we aim to make progress on three main objectives:

    First, the development of a national-level Roadmap for DRR financing systems to help countries raise the funds they need. 

    Some of the questions we would need to answer are: what key elements should be included in such a roadmap and what has worked, or not worked, in countries? 

    Second, explore international actions that we can commit to together. 

    For example, what initiatives or partnerships can emerge from this Forum on DRR Financing? How can we better leverage existing international cooperation to strengthen DRR? And how can we ensure the integration of DRR in the global discourse on financing, in particular, in the upcoming 4th International Conference on Financing for Development? 

    And third, what more can be done to ensure that all investments are risk-informed and do not lead to disasters

    For public sector investments, how can we encourage the alignment of economic development plans with DRR strategies to avoid the creation of new risks? And what reforms or changes are needed to encourage risk-informed investing in the private sector?

    I think it is fair to say that this is a lot to cover over two days. That said, given the calibre of the participants, and the leadership of our host, I am confident that we can achieve concrete outcomes. 

    In closing, I want to again thank Norway for making this Forum possible at a critical time when financing is the single challenge that unites the disaster, climate, development, and humanitarian domains. The unique advantage of disaster risk reduction is that it can simultaneously strengthen all the other domains because of its emphasis on reducing vulnerabilities and building resilience.

    I am grateful for your participation in this Forum, and I look forward to our discussions.

    Thank you.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

    March 28, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: FEMA Mitigation Experts Offer Rebuilding Advice in Charlotte County

    Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency 2

    FEMA Mitigation Experts Offer Rebuilding Advice in Charlotte County

    TALLAHASSEE, Fla.– As Floridians rebuild, survivors of Hurricanes Milton, Helene and Debby can get free advice on how to rebuild stronger and safer against storms. FEMA mitigation specialists will be available to answer questions and offer free home improvement tips and proven methods to lessen damage from future disasters.This information is geared for do-it-yourself work and general contractors.FEMA specialists will be available from March 27 through April 5 from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. ET, Monday – Friday and on Saturday from 8:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. ET, at the following location:Charlotte County: Home Depot, 12621 McCall Road, Port Charlotte, FL 33981Mitigation is an effort to reduce the loss of life and property damage by lessening the impact of a disaster through   construction and remodeling best practices.An insurance specialist will be present to answer National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) questions. Disaster Survivor Assistance teams will be on hand to provide updates on FEMA applications and answer questions.Stay in Touch with FEMAIt is important to let FEMA know about any changes to your contact information. You may update contact information or check on the status of your application by:Visiting DisasterAssistance.govCalling FEMA directly at 800-621-3362Using the FEMA app###FEMA’s mission is helping people before, during and after disaster.Follow FEMA online, on X @FEMA or @FEMAEspanol, on FEMA’s Facebook page or Espanol page and at FEMA’s YouTube account. Also, follow on X FEMA_Cam.  For preparedness information follow the Ready Campaign on X at @Ready.gov, on Instagram @Ready.gov or on the Ready Facebook page.  
    lindsay.tozer
    Thu, 03/27/2025 – 15:38

    MIL OSI USA News –

    March 28, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Video: 200,000 Truckloads of Debris Removed from a County in Georgia Recovering from Helene

    Source: United States of America – Federal Government Departments (video statements)

    With more than 1.1 million cubic yards of debris left in Bacon County, Georgia, after Hurricane Helene, the community is recognizing an important milestone in recovery as debris removal operations near the finish line. FEMA’s Public Assistance program provides funds and coordinates alongside our state and county partners to remove widespread debris after disasters.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1abqD2KNcmU

    MIL OSI Video –

    March 28, 2025

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Secretary-General’s remarks to the General Assembly on the International Day of Zero Waste [as delivered]

    Source: United Nations secretary general

    Mr. President, Madame First Lady, Excellencies, Dear Friends,

    The waste crisis is an issue that goes to the heart of how we produce, and how we consume.

    And one that requires action at every level – local, national, and global. 

    This year’s International Day focuses on fashion and textiles.

    And rightly so.

    Unless we accelerate action, dressing to kill could kill the planet.

    Textile production often uses thousands of chemicals – many of them harmful to people and the environment.

    It devours resources like land and water – putting pressure on ecosystems.

    And it belches out greenhouse gases – inflaming the climate crisis.  

    Clothes are being produced and discarded at a staggering rate – driven by business models that prioritize newness, speed, and disposability.  

    Every second, the equivalent of one garbage truck full of clothing is incinerated or sent to landfill.

    Excellencies, Dear Friends,

    Fashion is just the tip of a toxic iceberg.

    Waste is an issue in every sector. 

    Every year, humanity produces over two billion tonnes of garbage.

    If you pack all that into shipping containers stacked end to end, they would stretch to the moon and back.

    Here on Earth, toxin-filled waste is seeping into our soil, our water, and our air. And ultimately into us.

    As usual, the poorest pay the highest price.

    More than one billion people live in slums and informal urban settlements, where waste management is non-existent and disease runs rampant.

    The rich world is flooding the Global South with garbage, from obsolete computers to single-use plastic and more.

    Many nations do not have the infrastructure to process even a fraction of what is dumped on their shores.

    As a result, materials that could be recycled are burned or sent to landfill. 

    And waste pickers are exposed to toxic chemicals as they sift through potentially hazardous materials, including broken electronics, in appalling conditions.

    Excellencies, Dear Friends,

    We need a different approach: one that delivers on the commitment in the Sustainable Development Goals for sustainable production and consumption.

    And there are signs of hope.

    Change is possible. And it presents exciting opportunities.

    In fashion, for example, designers are experimenting with recycled materials.

    Consumers are increasingly demanding sustainability.

    In many countries, resale markets are booming.

    And important initiatives are bringing together large and small businesses, industry associations, civil society and many others to drive sustainability across the sector.

    They include the Fashion Industry Charter for Climate Action, and the Fashion Pact.

    We must celebrate the power of these innovations to transform the industry.

    But we need more.

    And we need change in every sector.

    I welcome the work of the Chair and the First Lady and members of the United Nations Advisory Board on Zero Waste to raise awareness, and help meet the SDGs.

    The fight against waste requires us all.

    Governments must act:

    Through policies, regulations and subsidies:

    That promote sustainability, and zero waste initiatives…

    That encourage businesses to adopt positive practices…

    That provide decent jobs…

    And that empower everyone – not just the wealthy – to afford products that last.

    The current negotiations for a legally binding treaty to end plastic pollution – due in August this year – are a key opportunity for governments to drive progress.

    I urge them to take it…

    And to translate any treaty into action to support consumers to make environmentally friendly choices, and into a clear roadmap across industries.

    Addressing plastic pollution must be at the core of corporate responsibility.

    There is no space for greenwashing.

    Businesses must increase circularity, waste reduction and resource efficiency across their supply chains.

    We need accountability for corporate sustainability commitments.

    We need transparency for customers. 

    And we need consumers to use their purchasing power to encourage change:

    Reducing excessive consumption, valuing products that last, and embracing exchanges and resales.

    And we need young people and civil society to keep using their voices and power to demand change through advocacy.

    Excellencies, Dear Friends,

    We must build on progress, to end the waste practices wasting our planet.

    On this International Day, let us commit to do our part to clean up our act, and build a healthier, more sustainable world for us all. 

    And I thank you.
     

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

    March 28, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Briefing – Croatia’s climate action strategy – 27-03-2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Croatia does not set its own national climate targets, but has emissions reduction obligations under EU law, and contributes to the EU-wide target of reaching climate neutrality by 2050 (see trajectory in Figure 1). Croatia accounts for 0.62 % of the EU’s net greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and has reduced its net emissions by 19.5 % from 2005 to 2023, compared with an average EU reduction of 30.5 % over the same period. The country’s land use, land-use change and forestry (LULUCF) sector is a significant but declining carbon sink. Emissions from sectors under the EU emissions trading system (ETS) were reduced by 51.6 %. For the effort-sharing sectors, Croatia remained within emissions allocations from 2013 to 2020. Although slightly exceeding allocations in 2022, and at the limit in 2023, the country projects that it will achieve its 2030 obligation. In August 2023, Croatia proposed to add a REPowerEU chapter to its recovery and resilience plan, comprising significant climate spending. Croatia submitted a draft updated national energy and climate plan (NECP) on 4 July 2023. The European Commission assessed it and made recommendations for Croatia’s final updated NECP, overdue since June 2024. In a 2023 survey, 42 % of Croatians, compared with an EU average of 46 %, identified climate change to be one of the four most serious problems facing the world. Most expect the EU (53 %) and national government (50 %) to tackle climate change, while 26 % find it to be a personal responsibility. This briefing is one in a series covering all EU Member States.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

    March 28, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Briefing – Luxembourg’s climate action strategy – 27-03-2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Luxembourg is legally bound to reach climate neutrality by 2050 (see trajectory in Figure 1) and deliver a 55 % greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction in the effort-sharing sectors by 2030 compared with 2005. Luxembourg accounts for 0.3 % of the EU’s net GHG emissions, and achieved a net emissions reduction of 35.7 % from 2005 to 2023, greater than the 30.5 % EU average reduction over the same period. Emissions from sectors under the EU emissions trading system (ETS) dropped by more than two thirds (-69.5 %). The land use, land-use change and forestry (LULUCF) sector remains a carbon sink, albeit with fluctuations. For the effort-sharing sectors, Luxembourg managed to stay within its 2013 2020 allocations, and would overachieve its 2030 target based on the European Commission’s assessment of its draft national energy and climate plan (NECP). Luxembourg submitted its final updated NECP on 24 July 2024. In May 2024, Luxembourg added a REPowerEU chapter to its recovery and resilience plan, increasing its climate spending. In a 2023 survey, 57 % of Luxembourgers, compared with an EU average of 46 %, identified climate change to be one of the four most serious problems facing the world. Most expect the EU (76 %), business and industry (66 %) or national government (63 %) to tackle climate change, while 62 % find it to be a personal responsibility. This briefing is one in a series covering all EU Member States.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

    March 28, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Briefing – Slovenia’s climate action strategy – 27-03-2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Slovenia is legally bound to reach climate neutrality by 2050 (see trajectory on Figure 1) and reduce total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by at least 55 % by 2033 compared with 2005. Slovenia accounts for 0.5 % of the EU’s net GHG emissions, and increased its net emissions by 8.0 % from 2005 to 2023, compared with an EU average reduction of 30.5 % over the same period. This was due to a sharp increase in emissions from the land use, land-use change and forestry (LULUCF) sector – traditionally a carbon sink – in the 2014-2019 period. Nonetheless, Slovenia’s total emissions reduction of 28.9 % over the 2005 2023 period only falls slightly short of the -30.2 % EU average. Emissions covered by the EU emissions trading system (ETS) over the same period fell by 48.4 %. For the effort-sharing sectors, Slovenia overachieved its 2020 target but must enhance efforts to meet its 2030 obligations. In July 2023, Slovenia sent its draft updated national energy and climate plan (NECP) to the European Commission, which assessed it, before submitting the final updated NECP in December 2024. In a 2023 survey, 41 % of Slovenians, compared with an EU average of 46 %, identified climate change as one of the four most serious problems facing the world. Most expect business and industry (58 %) and/or the EU (43 %) to tackle climate change, while 22 % find it to be a personal responsibility. This briefing is one in a series covering all EU Member States.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

    March 28, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Croatia to get EIB guidance on promoting capital markets and business innovation

    Source: European Investment Bank

    EIB

    • EIB to support Croatia in deepening its capital market in alignment with the EU’s Capital Markets Union (CMU)
    • New advisory accord with Finance Ministry aims for “Fintech Hub”  
    • Separate deal with Croatian investment-promotion agency to aid business financing

    The European Investment Bank (EIB) will offer policy guidance to Croatia on becoming a regional hub for financial technologies and capital markets. Under a new advisory agreement with Croatia’s Ministry of Finance, the EIB will support plans to turn the country into a fintech leader. In a parallel move, the EIB plans to advise Croatian Agency for SMEs, Innovation and Investments HAMAG-BICRO on helping small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) as well as startups enhance their investment readiness and gain access to early-stage finance. The advisory support is funded by the InvestEU Advisory Hub programme.

    “With the rapid evolution of technology and the growing importance of deep capital markets, Croatia has a unique opportunity to position itself as a regional leader in the innovation ecosystem,” said EIB Vice-President Teresa Czerwińska. “Through these two partnerships, we are committed to supporting the country’s economic growth and competitiveness.”

    The goal of the EIB accord with the Finance Ministry is to help establish a “Fintech Hub” to act as a catalyst for innovation in this field. It will serve startups as well as established businesses and ensure alignment with evolving European Union regulations and global market trends.

    As part of the pact, the EIB will map the current fintech system in Croatia, benchmark leading hubs in Europe and provide recommendations on legal and operational issues. This will help drive the adoption of advanced financial technologies in Croatia and strengthen its role on the European fintech stage.

    The EIB will also carry out a study on ways to deepen capital markets in Croatia, identifying opportunities to bolster the investment environment. The study, meant to support the country’s new “Strategy on Capital Market Development 2025-2030”, will benchmark Croatia against innovative small and established large capital markets in an effort to position Croatia as a regional hub for initial public offerings in central and eastern Europe, leading the way towards the CMU.

    “Through collaboration with the European Investment Bank, we will continue investing efforts in order to accelerate the development of the fintech industry and capital market. This will ultimately improve access to capital for fintech entrepreneurs, startups, and the wider business community,” said Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Marko Primorac. “Today’s partnership marks a significant step forward in positioning Croatia as a regional hub for fintech and further strengthening our capital market. By fostering fintech development and expanding capital market opportunities, we enhance Croatia’s standing both domestically and internationally. I extend my gratitude to the European Investment Bank for their cooperation and am confident that this initiative will contribute to Croatia’s long-term economic growth,” the Deputy Prime Minister added.

    In its partnership with HAMAG-BICRO, the EIB will enhance the country’s innovation ecosystem through training programmes for SMEs and startups covering issues such as business strategy, financial planning and investor engagement. The goals include helping Croatian businesses tap EU funding, including the European Innovation Council Accelerator. Envisaged cross-border mentorship and corporate partnership programmes will facilitate knowledge-sharing to support start-ups in scaling their technologies and accessing broader markets.

    Vjeran Vrbanec, HAMAG-BICRO Management Board President said: ‘’The increasingly complex conditions of a demanding market require a very high level of readiness from our entrepreneurs – both in terms of project preparation and investment – which can be achieved much faster with quality support from those who understand economic and technological trends. At our agency, our priority is to continuously provide services that make the portfolios of our companies more innovative, competitive and sustainable. In this regard, this partnership with the EIB, in the form of an investment hub for entrepreneurs, will contribute significantly to improving the quality of their knowledge structure, which can then be used in the process of applying for European Union funding.’’

    Background information  

    EIB 

    The European Investment Bank (ElB) is the long-term lending institution of the European Union, owned by its Member States. Built around eight core priorities, we finance investments that contribute to EU policy objectives by bolstering climate action and the environment, digitalisation and technological innovation, security and defence, cohesion, agriculture and bioeconomy, social infrastructure, high-impact investments outside the European Union, and the capital markets union.  

    The EIB Group, which also includes the European Investment Fund (EIF), signed nearly €89 billion in new financing for over 900 high-impact projects in 2024, boosting Europe’s competitiveness and security.  

    All projects financed by the EIB Group are in line with the Paris Climate Agreement, as pledged in our Climate Bank Roadmap. Almost 60% of the EIB Group’s annual financing supports projects directly contributing to climate change mitigation, adaptation, and a healthier environment.  

    Fostering market integration and mobilising investment, the Group supported a record of over €100 billion in new investment for Europe’s energy security in 2024 and mobilised €110 billion in growth capital for startups, scale-ups and European pioneers. Approximately half of the EIB’s financing within the European Union is directed towards cohesion regions, where per capita income is lower than the EU average.

    High-quality, up-to-date photos of our headquarters for media use are available here.

    InvestEU: The InvestEU programme provides the European Union with long-term funding by leveraging substantial private and public funds in support of a sustainable recovery. It also helps to crowd in private investment for the European Union’s strategic priorities such as the European Green Deal and the digital transition. InvestEU brings all EU financial instruments previously available for supporting investments within the European Union together under one roof, making funding for investment projects in Europe simpler, more efficient and more flexible. The programme consists of three components: the InvestEU Fund, the InvestEU Advisory Hub, and the InvestEU Portal. The InvestEU Fund is deployed through implementing partners that will invest in projects using the EU budget guarantee of €26.2 billion. The entire budget guarantee will back the investment projects of the implementing partners, increase their risk-bearing capacity and thus mobilise at least €372 billion in additional investment.

    Croatia to get EIB guidance on promoting capital markets and business innovation
    Croatia to get EIB guidance on promoting capital markets and business innovation
    ©EIB
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    MIL OSI Europe News –

    March 28, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Congo Energy & Investment Forum (CEIF) 2025: Collaboration Key to Achieving 500,000 BPD Target

    Source: Africa Press Organisation – English (2) – Report:

    BRAZZAVILLE, Congo (Republic of the), March 27, 2025/APO Group/ —

    Collaboration was identified as being a key pillar for achieving the Republic of Congo’s oil production goals during a Congo Energy & Investment Forum 2025 panel discussion sponsored by Weatherford – an Associate Sponsor of CEIF 2025. Operators and service providers underscored the value of partnerships in maximizing output at mature fields as well as the need for aligned priorities, including exploration and supply chain development.

    Targeting 500,000 barrels per day (bpd) within the next three years, the Republic of Congo is seeking investment across the upstream sector, from greenfield to brownfield assets. In a keynote address ahead of the panel, Omar Yordi, EUA Product Line Director Production, Digital and Well Services, Weatherford, emphasized the value of mature field development in achieving production goals.

    “It is vital to address field challenges in mature assets, where we work together in collaboration with service providers, plan accordingly and maintain the outcome of the job. The most successful jobs we have undertaken in recent years have been through intrinsic collaboration,” he said.

    Companies active across the broader region have been highly successful in maximizing output at mature fields. According to Osayande Igiehon, CEO of Heirs Energies, the company “doubled its production in Nigeria after taking over an asset in 2021. We used a unique approach called brownfield excellence. Our goals were maximizing oil potential, optimizing facilities and sustainably maximizing production. Today, we have over 90 wells producing.”

    Through collaboration, companies active in Congo can unlock addition value at mature fields. Collaboration will not only enable operators to share risk and reduce working costs, but leverage the expertise of other players to drive projects forward. Antoine Berel, Managing Director Sub-Saharan Africa, Halliburton, said that, “The priority must be to make sure that the cost of operation remains low, to ensure that Congo remains competitive in international markets. Halliburton aims to collaborate to find solutions that maximize the value of producing assets.”

    Yachtze Luchin, President & CEO, Unite Oil & Gas – a Silver Sponsor of CEIF 2025 – added that, “Partnerships are important because no one person by themselves has the answer. When you bring a collective gathering of people together, you give yourself a better chance to be successful.”

    Achieving the target of 500,000 bpd will require a strategic approach, incorporating both investment in frontier exploration as well as field intervention and redevelopment. As one of sub-Saharan Africa’s biggest oil producers, the Republic of Congo has a diverse slate of oilfields, with opportunities in shallow water acreage, onshore blocks and deepwater basins offering enticing prospects for major operators.

    Tim O’Hanlon, Senior Adviser, Panoro Energy, said that “The country has everything: onshore, offshore, big assets, small assets, brownfields, gas and blocks yet to be developed. It has ambitious targets and there is a lot of talent in the oil industry, with cutting edge [solutions].”

    He added that Congo will not achieve its production goals with existing assets alone, but “should promote exploration in new fields. Congo has a lot of potential. What is important is to be flexible and have an attractive fiscal framework. Congo is a safe and pleasant place to work.”

    Echoing these remarks, Jean-Michel Jacoulot, CEO of Trident Energy, said that “If you want to achieve these objectives in three years, we need to focus on exploration prospects that are not far from infrastructure. Congo must promote attractive fields in order to attract investment. We are competing with other countries in the sub-region and Congo needs to promote visibility, transparency and policy.”

    MIL OSI Africa –

    March 28, 2025

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Sudan war: Displacement figures fall for first time

    Source: United Nations 2

    By Vibhu Mishra

    27 March 2025 Peace and Security

    For the first time in nearly two years of brutal conflict the number of Sudanese internally displaced during nearly two years of brutal conflict between rival militaries has fallen, the UN International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported on Thursday.

    However, the country remains in the grip of one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises, with millions facing famine, disease and insecurity.

    IOM data shows that between December last year and March, displacement fell by 2.4 per cent – with nearly 400,000 people returning to their places of origin in Aj Jazirah, Sennar and Khartoum states.

    While the decrease signals a hopeful shift, it does not necessarily indicate improved conditions, IOM said.

    Many are heading back to towns and villages devastated by months of war, where food, shelter and basic services are virtually non-existent.

    Conditions not yet in place

    Mohamed Refaat, who heads IOM’s country team in Sudan, warned that while many people are eager to return home, “the conditions for safe and sustainable return and integration are not yet in place.”

    “Basic services including healthcare, protection, education, and food are scarce, and the lack of functional infrastructure and financial capacity will make it difficult for families to rebuild their lives.”

    Fewer than a quarter of health facilities in the worst-affected areas remain functional – the rest have been destroyed, severely damaged or abandoned amid fighting between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and their affiliated militias.

    More than 30.4 million people – over half of Sudan’s population – require urgent assistance, according to the UN relief coordination office (OCHA).

    Food insecurity is at catastrophic levels, with 24.6 million people facing acute hunger. Famine has already been confirmed in parts of North Darfur and the Nuba Mountains, and similar conditions are expected to spread in the coming months.

    Across Sudan, there are an estimated 11.3 million IDPs – one of the largest displacement crises in the world, while nearly four million have fled to neighbouring countries – primarily Egypt, South Sudan and Chad.

    WFP/Abeer Etefa

    An aerial view of Khartoum, the capital of Sudan. (file)

    Situation in Khartoum

    Meanwhile in Khartoum, OCHA is closely monitoring the latest shifts in control within the city, amid alarming reports of reprisals by armed groups against civilians, UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said on Thursday.

    Sudan’s army retook the capital on Wednesday and reportedly drove RSF troops south.

    Mr. Dujarric reiterated that civilians must never be targeted and called on all parties to adhere to their obligations under international humanitarian and human rights law.

    “Serious violations must be investigated, with perpetrators held to account,” he said.

    Rise in sexual violence

    Women and children remain particularly vulnerable across the country, with UN agencies reporting an alarming rise in conflict-related sexual violence against women and girls.

    Over half of all displaced persons are children, and nearly four million children under five – along with pregnant and breastfeeding women – are suffering from acute malnutrition.

    Grave violations against children have also surged with an 83 per cent increase in child casualties since January, compared to the first quarter of 2024.

    Furthermore, more than 17 million children are out of school, as the conflict has disrupted the education system nationwide.

    Funding shortages

    Amid staggering needs, the response from humanitarian agencies has been severely hampered by a drastic funding shortfall.

    As of 26 March, only about $276 million (6.6 per cent) of the $4.2 billion required for the overall humanitarian response has been received.

    Similarly, IOM’s Sudan response plan which aims to assist 1.7 million people, is only six per cent funded.

    “Nearly two years of relentless conflict in Sudan have inflicted immense suffering, triggering the world’s largest and most devastating humanitarian crisis,” Mr. Refaat warned.

    “Recent cuts in international humanitarian aid budgets are compounding the crisis and deepening the suffering.”

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

    March 28, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor Lamont and Serve Connecticut Announce Grants To Support Youth-Led Service Projects

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    (HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont and Connecticut Office of Higher Education Commissioner Timothy D. Larson today announced the awarding of $38,787 in mini-grants through the Connecticut Commission on Community Service, also known as Serve Connecticut, to support five youth-led initiatives in Connecticut.

    The funding is made available by a grant from The Allstate Foundation in partnership with America’s Service Commissions. Serve Connecticut is one of ten state and territorial service commissions that received a 2024 Empowering Youth-Led Service Grant to increase youth-led service opportunities in the state.

    “The volume and quality of youth-led service project proposals received by Serve Connecticut for this opportunity is a testament to the motivation among youth in our state to have a voice and make an impact,” Governor Lamont said. “We are so proud of every applicant and urge them all to keep up the great service.”

    “Serve Connecticut congratulates the five youth-led service mini-grant recipient projects and is eager to see these projects come to life and create the impact these youth envision in their communities,” Commissioner Larson, who also serves as a Service Connecticut board member, said. “We are grateful to The Allstate Foundation for providing this resource to our state’s youth.”

    Awarded youth-led service projects engage youth between the ages of 5 and 25 in meaningful service to Connecticut communities, centering youth voice, decision-making, action and impact in their project design. Awarded projects include:

    • The Community Table/Mesa Comunitaria Foodshare, a youth-led project sponsored by CLiCK (Commercially Licensed Cooperative Kitchen, Inc.) in Willimantic that delivers healthy, culturally relevant food boxes to area households that lack access to resources.
    • Co-Curating for Younger Children and Youth with Limited Access to the Arts, a youth-led project sponsored by cARTie Corp. in Shelton that engages a youth advisory board in curating a mobile juried art exhibition of middle and high school art that is transported to young children in communities across the state who do not have access to art museum enrichment.
    • EmpowerHER Period Poverty Initiative for Girls, a youth-led project sponsored by 100GirlsLeading, Inc. in. Bridgeport that engages youth in providing access to menstrual products and related education to girls ages 10 to 18 in Bridgeport.
    • Danbury High School Peer Leadership, a youth-led project sponsored by Danbury High School in Danbury that engages youth in designing and implementing fundraising projects that engage the high school and surrounding communities in raising funds for youth-selected causes.
    • Teen-Driven Community Service, a youth-led project sponsored by New London Youth Affairs in New London that engages youth in youth-determined service projects while providing positive youth development opportunities to participating youth members.

    Serve Connecticut received more than 150 applications from eligible applicants including schools, out-of-school time programs (after school or summer school), municipalities, agencies, youth-serving organizations, and individual youth proposing a wide range of youth-led service projects. Mini-grant funding requests of up to $8,000 were considered for activities associated with developing and implementing service projects and removing barriers to youth participation.

    “The Allstate Foundation believes that empowering youth to lead service is key to supporting communities and creating lasting change,” Greg Weatherford II, director of The Allstate Foundation and Social Impact, said. “These grants catalyze youth service opportunities by increasing access, deepening quality, and putting dollars behind young people’s innovative and transformational ideas about how to strengthen their communities.”

    Questions about this grant opportunity can be directed to Kate Scheuritzel, Serve Connecticut’s director of programs, via email at Kate.Scheuritzel@ct.gov. Serve Connecticut is a program of the Connecticut Office of Higher Education that administers AmeriCorps grants on behalf of the state and promotes service and volunteerism.

     

    MIL OSI USA News –

    March 28, 2025

  • MIL-OSI: 2025 BC Cleantech Awards Winners: Meet the Leaders Driving the Future Economy

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    VANCOUVER, British Columbia, March 27, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Foresight Canada revealed the winners of the fifth annual British Columbia Cleantech Awards at last night’s sold-out ceremony in Vancouver. The awards recognize the innovators, funders, adopters, and supporters working together to catalyze clean technology adoption and net zero progress across the province.

    As global environmental and economic challenges grow, BC’s leadership in cleantech demonstrates how innovation delivers real solutions—advancing a sustainable global economy while simultaneously supporting and growing businesses and industries at home. Recognizing these leaders strengthens BC’s cleantech ecosystem, inspiring innovation and driving meaningful change toward a more resilient and sustainable future economy.

    Meet the winners:

    Adopter of the Year: City of Vancouver

    The City of Vancouver recently expanded its Neighbourhood Energy Utility, tripling sewage heat recovery capacity to supply low-carbon thermal energy to key communities. This project demonstrates cutting-edge filtration and heat pump technologies while serving as a model for urban decarbonization.

    Funder of the Year: Active Impact Investments

    As Canada’s largest climate tech seed fund, Active Impact Investments has fueled early-stage cleantech innovation, catalyzing sustainable growth. In 2024, they launched their third fund and supported startups that collectively mitigated over 1M tonnes of CO2e.

    Cleantech Supporter of the Year: Zero Emissions Innovation Centre

    Led by Melina Scholefield, ZEIC accelerates climate solutions through programs like Building to Electrification, ZEBx, and BC Retrofit Accelerator. ZEIC is driving market transformation, advancing sustainable building practices, and supporting BC’s net zero economy.

    Startup Venture of the Year: Green Manganese Technologies

    Green Manganese Ltd. has developed a revolutionary, eco-friendly method for extracting battery-grade manganese. Their closed-loop process eliminates harmful by-products, remediates mine waste, and sets new sustainability standards for EV battery production.

    Scaleup Venture of the Year: pH7 Technologies Inc.

    pH7 Technologies is transforming metal extraction with a sustainable, near-zero-emissions process. Partnering with industry leaders, pH7 has scaled its operations to recover critical metals from mining waste and recycled materials, supporting the global energy transition.

    Learn more about all our 2025 Canada Cleantech Awards finalists and winners.

    Quotes

    “It’s truly an honour to receive this recognition, and we’re very grateful for the support. This award is a big milestone for our company, which is still young but deeply committed to making a real impact in cleantech. Our journey has been full of learning and growth. As we continue to develop and scale, this recognition reinforces our mission and motivates us to push forward.” — Alexey Demykin, Co-Founder, Green Manganese

    “The 2025 BC Cleantech Award winners are a testament to BC’s unwavering leadership in the cleantech sector, and it fills me with immense pride to recognize their achievements. The winners’ efforts prove that we are not just talking about a sustainable future—we are building it, while also supporting a resilient provincial economy, setting an example for Canada and the world to follow.” — Jeanette Jackson, CEO, Foresight Canada

    About Foresight Canada

    ​​Foresight Canada helps the world do more with less, sustainably. As Canada’s largest cleantech innovation and adoption accelerator, they connect public and private sectors to the world’s best clean technologies, de-risking and simplifying the adoption of innovative solutions that improve productivity, profitability, and economic competitiveness, all while addressing today’s most urgent climate challenges.

    Contact:
    Heather Kingdon
    Manager, Communications
    hkingdon@foresightcac.com

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/d437486b-001c-4506-924a-5a3b5c488443

    The MIL Network –

    March 28, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Protecting homes and businesses from drought and floods

    In recent years, drought and flooding have been felt across the province, and building the critical infrastructure needed to protect Albertans can be costly for many municipalities. That’s why Alberta’s government is investing more than $19 million in 10 different projects through the Drought and Flood Protection Program to protect homes, safeguard businesses and, ultimately, save lives.

    These 10 projects will help protect critical infrastructure from floods, while increasing water storage to reduce the impacts of drought and build other necessary projects across the province.

    “Albertans have seen first-hand the impacts that floods and drought can have on our communities and livelihoods. This funding is helping communities build the next generation of drought and flood mitigation projects. While we can’t change the weather, we can help protect families, businesses and communities for years to come.”

    Rebecca Schulz, Minister of Environment and Protected Areas

    This funding will help eight municipalities and two First Nations build projects designed to keep homes and businesses dry, ensure critical infrastructure remains operational during emergencies and maintain reliable access to water. This includes community upgrades such as:

    • Building a retaining wall to protect the Slave Lake Airport and Helitack Base during floods.
    • Constructing a berm to safeguard Siksika Nation’s newly constructed Washington Sewage Lagoon and other local infrastructure.
    • Building 300 metres of shoreline protection along the South Saskatchewan River to protect the Medicine Hat Wastewater Treatment Plant.
    • Stopping erosion along Carrot Creek to help protect infrastructure in St. Albert.
    • Creating a naturalized stormwater management pond in St. Paul to reduce drought risks and improve water quality.
    • Improving flood protections in the Calgary area by replacing the Landon Ditch with a system to manage stormwater and guard infrastructure.

    “By investing in preventative erosion measures now, we will be minimizing the impacts of large storm events for St. Albertans and our municipal neighbors in the future. It is through partnerships with the Government of Alberta such as these that we can efficiently build resilient communities across the province.”

    Cathy Heron, mayor, St. Albert

    “Lake Elizabeth and its surrounding natural space are a treasured part of our city. Rising water levels over the past decade have eroded the shoreline, flooded natural areas, and threatened both private property and city infrastructure. The Drought and Flood Protection grant is critical to stabilizing the water levels and restoring these valuable natural spaces, ensuring that Lake Elizabeth remains a community asset for generations to come.”

    Grant Creasey, mayor, City of Lacombe

    “This is good news for the county, as we work to manage surface storm water issues for the benefit of all residents.”

    Bart Guyon, reeve, Brazeau County

    “The investment confirmed by the Government of Alberta will help the City of Medicine Hat’s plans to reduce the risk of flood damage to the Wastewater Treatment Plant. Combining this funding, along with the city’s contributions, will aid in providing shoreline protection, flood risk management, environmental protection, operational safety and sustainability.”

    Pat Bohan, managing director of development and infrastructure, City of Medicine Hat

    Alberta’s government is investing $125 million over five years into the Drought and Flood Protection Program, which is already showing results. Last year, the government delivered millions to counties, towns, cities and Indigenous partners for infrastructure projects, which are now underway. In total, more than $50 million has now been invested in 28 projects through the program.

    The next round of funding applications will open in October, with another $25 million available to protect businesses, families and communities.

    Budget 2025 is meeting the challenge faced by Alberta with continued investments in education and health, environmental protection, lower taxes for families and a focus on the economy.

    Quick facts

    • Funding for all projects approved in this round will be paid out in 2025-26.
    • Of the 10 projects receiving funding, seven are focused on primarily responding to floods, one focused on responding to the impacts of drought and two are focused on mitigating impacts from both drought and floods.
    • Of the 18 projects receiving funding in round one, 10 were focused on responding to the impacts of drought.
    • In round one of funding, $5,727,119 was deferred to 2025-26, with $5 million going to the Fort Mckay Water Supply Infrastructure Rehabilitation and $727,119 going to the Glenmore Trail Stormwater Diversion Project.

    Related information

    • Drought and Flood Protection Program
    • Approved projects

    MIL OSI Canada News –

    March 28, 2025

  • MIL-OSI: GeoRedox Announces New Stimulated Geologic Hydrogen Approach and Strategic Partnership with Sage Geosystems

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    BOSTON, March 27, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — GeoRedox Corporation (GeoRedox) announced today it’s launching its Advanced Weathering Enhancement (AWE) technology to produce stimulated geologic hydrogen (SGH) at low-cost and at scale. Additionally, the company announced a new partnership with Sage Geosystems (Sage) to cooperate in the design, construction, and operation of an advanced field demonstration to produce SGH and to collaborate in future production projects. The partnership will include sharing of related technical expertise, data, and resources necessary for project planning and implementation.

    This effort builds on recent progress created by discoveries around the world of sizable deposits of geologic hydrogen that have accumulated in the earth’s crust through naturally occurring processes. Using advanced drilling and subsurface engineering techniques adapted from the oil and gas industry in combination with GeoRedox’s AWE technology, the collaboration with Sage seeks to accelerate those processes in much more widely distributed source rocks. The approach has the potential to enable the production of ultra-low-cost, carbon-free geologic hydrogen close to existing industrial hydrogen markets, and to provide hydrogen at large-scale carbon-free liquid fuel production in the future.

    According to ARPA-E, U.S. Department of Energy, while the supply of naturally accumulating hydrogen, in and of itself, can enhance the U.S. energy economy, reduced iron minerals within the Earth’s crust have the theoretical potential to produce even more hydrogen from reactions within the subsurface. Using stimulated mineralogical processes could yield larger quantities of hydrogen than what are produced naturally. Thus, engineering the production of subsurface hydrogen could yield a substantial source of clean energy.

    “This collaboration brings together unmatched breadth and depth of experience in geoscience and advanced subsurface engineering to make stimulated geologic hydrogen a reality,” said GeoRedox President Robert Stoner. “Our demonstration project will simultaneously validate our geochemical and thermodynamic models and at the same time show that we can deliver commercially compelling outcomes in real-world settings. We expect our hydrogen to compete unsubsidized in the 100-megaton existing global hydrogen market – and that’s just a beginning.”

    “Stimulated geologic hydrogen represents a new use case for the cutting-edge technologies we’ve developed at Sage,” said Cindy Taff, CEO of Sage. “Our work with GeoRedox positions Sage on the ground floor of a new global opportunity that we expect to grow alongside our Pressure Geothermal businesses.”

    GeoRedox’s partnership with Sage to develop stimulated geologic hydrogen signals a significant step forward in the use of subsurface knowledge and resources to create a secure new global energy economy.

    Construction of the field demonstration site is expected to begin in 2026.

    About GeoRedox Corporation
    GeoRedox Corporation is a Boston-based early-stage technology developer founded in 2024 by a group of scientists and engineers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) based in Boston, Massachusetts. It has developed proprietary technology for producing ultralow cost stimulated geologic hydrogen from a wide variety of rocks and formations. For more information, visit www.georedox.com.

    About Sage Geosystems
    Sage Geosystems is a leader in the next-generation geothermal industry, pioneering the use of Pressure Geothermal. Pressure Geothermal leverages both the heat and the pressure of the earth to enable three applications: energy storage, power generation and district heating. Sage is enabling geothermal to be deployable globally. For more information, visit www.sagegeosystems.com

    Contact: 
    Marjorie Bonga
    marjorie@teamsilverline.com

    The MIL Network –

    March 28, 2025

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Council shortlisted for prominent national local government awards including Local Authority of the Year Lancaster City Council is proud to have been shortlisted in four different categories at this year’s MJ Awards, including the prestigious Local Authority of the Year category.

    Source: City of Lancaster

    Lancaster City Council is proud to have been shortlisted in four different categories at this year’s MJ Awards, including the prestigious Local Authority of the Year category.

    Lancaster City Council has been shortlisted for Local Authority of the Year at the MJ Awards

    The recognition follows the council’s positive Local Government Association Corporate Peer Challenge in 2024, which praised the ‘Let’s do it’ culture and clear vision for the district.

    The MJ awards are held annually and recognise success in local government and outstanding work and commitment to local communities.

    The categories the city council has been shortlisted for in are:

    • Local Authority of the Year

    This category highlights success not just in one local authority department or project but right across the organisation. Successes celebrated in the entry include delivery of new recycling initiatives, support for Council Housing tenants, digital transformation initiatives, and leading the fight to tackle climate change.

    • Leadership in Responding to the Climate Emergency

    This recognises the city council’s work in delivering the Climate Emergency Local Plan Review, which focused on how new developments can be made better for nature while also making sure that homes and residents are better protected from flooding, lower fuel bills, and better access to sustainable travel. 

    Described as being “at the forefront of integrating net zero into local planning policy” the review has received national attention and featured on Channel 4’s The Great Climate Fight with Grand Design’s presenter Kevin McCloud.

    • Rising Star

    Susanna Dart (Principal Climate Policy Officer) has been instrumental in shaping the council’s response to the climate crisis, contributing significantly to policy development and community engagement. She has been shortlisted in the Rising Star category for her pivotal role in influencing climate resilience across the district and advocating the co-benefits that can ensue from taking a proactive approach to mitigating and adapting to climate change.

    • Digital Transformation

    The entry for this category featured a number of components that the council has focused on over the last 12 months to improve its digital services. It includes the installation of new digital screens across the district to provide visitor information, introduction of a new online portal to manage relationships with customers, and development of the 3D Mill Race App in conjunction with Lancaster University, underpinned by a new Digital Strategy which was co-created with key partners.

    Mark Davies, chief executive of Lancaster City Council, said: “Lancaster City Council is committed to delivering high quality services to its communities and being at the forefront of taking action to tackle our changing climate. All this has been achieved during particularly difficult financial times and by the council making the most of its resources while gaining outside funding to supplement its own investment.

    “Being shortlisted for these prestigious awards is testament to the hard work, innovative thinking and ingenuity that takes place every single day.

    “It’s particularly pleasing to be shortlisted for Council of the Year as this is recognises the work that takes place right across the authority and is something in which every single Elected Member and member of staff can take pride. Congratulations to all the teams representing the council and good luck in the final judging.”

    Judging in each of the categories will take place this spring with the results being announced in June.

    Last updated: 27 March 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

    March 28, 2025

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: ‘An absolute dud’: Peter Dutton’s energy plan a fail for family budgets, our kids’ future, and our environment 

    Source: Greenpeace Statement –

    MELBOURNE, 27 MARCH 2025—Responding to Peter Dutton’s gas policy, announced tonight in his Budget Reply speech, Joe Rafalowicz, Head of Climate and Energy, Greenpeace, said: 

    Peter Dutton’s energy policy is an absolute dud for everyone except his mates – the fossil fuel lobby. It contains everything that would benefit coal and gas corporations, and absolutely nothing that would help household budgets, or stop the destruction of our ecosystems and climate. 

    Fast-tracking gas approvals, opening up new gas fields in our oceans and fracking the land, diverting money meant for clean energy to dirty gas, and stopping the construction of essential infrastructure to make renewable energy more affordable for Australians: these are all cynical measures designed to hamper the growth of affordable and clean renewable energy, while gas corporations continue to rake in profits.

    Wind and solar are already the cheapest form of energy in Australia, while gas is expensive, tied to volatile global markets for price, and wrecks the climate and our ecosystems. To truly reduce energy prices for Australians, Mr Dutton should be helping families buy home solar systems with batteries, and expanding the share of renewable energy generation, backed by storage.

    The Coalition’s nuclear plans are also nothing more than a risky, ok bad-faith delay tactic to prop up coal, oil, and gas, while holding back the rollout of renewable energy. Only the fossil fuel industry benefits from nuclear, while the rest of us pay the price for worsening climate damage, which is costing Australian taxpayers billions of dollars a year. 

    If Peter Dutton is serious about lowering bills for Australians, and wants the approval of the majority of Australians who love nature and are concerned about the climate, this absolute dud of an energy policy will not cut it. We call on Mr. Dutton to produce a real and effective energy and climate plan, based on cheap, clean renewable power. 

    For interviews, contact Vai – 0452 290 092 / [email protected]

    MIL OSI NGO –

    March 28, 2025

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Launch of the Global Compact on Nutrition Integration: Baroness Chapman’s speech

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Speech

    Launch of the Global Compact on Nutrition Integration: Baroness Chapman’s speech

    Baroness Chapman gave a speech at the launch of a new Global Compact on Nutrition Integration on the eve of the Nutrition for Growth Summit in Paris.

    Welcome everyone. Thank you to our co-hosts – the Government of Nigeria, the International Fund for Agricultural Development, the World Bank, and the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation, and thank you to the Government of France for bringing us together.

    It is great to see such a diverse group of people gathered here – from Gavi and the Green Climate Fund, to private sector investors, philanthropy, and civil society networks, to countries deeply affected by malnutrition, including members of the Scaling Up Nutrition Movement.

    I know that for some of you this is your life’s work. And as the UK’s Minister for International Development, and for Latin America and Caribbean, it is a pleasure to welcome you all on the eve of the fourth Nutrition for Growth Summit, and to share a few reflections before we hear from you.

    Thanks in no small part to many of you – the work we have done together over many decades has shown that we can make a difference. Lives changed and lives saved.

    This agenda can serve as an example of how coming together, being more than the sum of our parts, can help us maximise our impact.

    Now, before going into more detail about our collective work on nutrition, I want to address something head on. I know many of you will have seen our announcement about our ODA budget in recent weeks –  as the UK responds to the world as it is now – less stable, more insecure.

    It was a decision we neither relish, nor take lightly. But I hope my presence here, the work of our dedicated experts, and our continued efforts on this important agenda, demonstrates the UK will never turn its back on the world – or on international development. Far from it.

    How we work has to change, but I promise, what we all care about is not. The task for all of us now is to make sure we secure the reforms we need to meet the challenges and opportunities of our times.

    That includes making the case for development anew. And thinking afresh about the kind of genuine, respectful, modern partnerships we pursue, and the commitment, energy and expertise we bring to forums like this – not just how much public money we have to spend.

    And as we work through the difficult choices before us now, my focus is on making sure this new reality gives even greater impetus to modernising the UK’s approach to international development. That is already underway. And it is how we maximise the impact of every pound of public money we are able to put in – and our collective impact.

    So let me talk about our impact.

    Over a decade after the world came together in the UK for the first of these important summits, the UK has helped to improve the nutrition of over 50 million women and children – from Nigeria, to Pakistan, Bangladesh, and beyond.

    That spans everything from getting micronutrient supplements, specialist support, and therapeutic foods to treat malnutrition in women and children, to helping farmers grow more nutritious foods like vegetables and legumes, to improve the diets of their families and communities.

    I talked a moment ago about the importance of working in partnership – we need to learn from our successes. Partnerships like the Child Nutrition Fund. Alongside UNICEF, the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation, and the Gates Foundation, we are aiming to prevent, detect, and treat malnutrition for 70 million women and 230 million children in 23 countries, from Afghanistan, to DRC, Malawi, Madagascar, Somalia, and South Sudan.

    At the end of last year, a new partnership with the World Food Programme, World Health Organisation, and UNICEF got underway – focused on preventing the most horrible and deadliest form of malnutrition, child wasting.

    It’s a dreadful and shameful phrase to even say – and we must keep our minds on that, as we stand here together in these wonderful surroundings, to reaffirm all our commitments and initiatives.

    Commitments like those we made at the last summit in Tokyo 4 years ago, on integrating nutrition across everything we do, from climate to health – such as developing nutritious crops that help us address a lack of key nutrients. So that the 2 billion people who don’t get the nutrition they need can have a healthier life.

    It means working with Gavi, the Government of Ethiopia, and the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation to reach vulnerable mothers and children with life-saving immunisation and nutrition.

    And, when it comes to nutrition, we all know what is at stake in every country in the world. Combating malnutrition is vital for a healthy population and healthy economies – malnutrition translates into a loss of 10% of GDP for countries most affected. It’s a good investment – every pound, euro or dollar we invest pays for itself 23 times over.

    We know how to make our work even more effective. Invest in science. Go for solutions supported by the evidence. Put nutrition at the heart of everything we do – from health, to water, hygiene, and sanitation, food systems, social protection, and our wider resilience.

    So, this evening, it’s fantastic we have all come together to launch the Global Compact on Nutrition Integration.

    Tomorrow, we convene a new coalition of signatories. And I am looking forward to hearing from some of you this evening, about your commitment to this vital cause.

    As we learn from each other, challenge each other, push each other to do more, and keep going – not just at summits like this where we all get together. That is how we maximise the impact we can achieve.

    So, thank you all once again for being here.

    Updates to this page

    Published 27 March 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

    March 28, 2025

  • MIL-Evening Report: Dutton unveils plan to force more gas into Australian market and expand production in major pre-election pitch

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Wesley Morgan, Research Associate, Institute for Climate Risk and Response, UNSW Sydney

    Opposition Leader Peter Dutton says a Coalition government would introduce a long-awaited gas reservation scheme, in a budget reply speech that puts energy policy firmly at the centre of the upcoming election campaign.

    On Thursday night, Dutton pledged a national gas plan that he claimed would “prioritise domestic gas supply, address shortfalls and reduce energy prices for Australians”.

    Under the proposed reservation policy, gas companies would be required to divert more gas to the Australian market, rather than sell it overseas. Dutton also pledged measures to speed up development approvals for proposed gas projects.

    A gas reservation scheme could help to ease supply concerns in Australia. Labor is expected to announce its own plan to reserve more gas for domestic use.

    Gas reservation policy may ruffle the feathers of gas importers such as Japan. But it offers a chance to reset relations with our energy-trading partners, and position Australia as a renewable-energy powerhouse.

    However, Dutton’s plan to expand gas production is a folly. No new gas projects are needed to meet Australia’s energy needs. The best way to cut energy prices is to accelerate the shift to the cheapest form of energy – which is from wind, solar and storage.

    Gas reservation: a long time coming

    Australia is one of the world’s biggest gas exporters. But only a fraction of gas produced here is used to power our homes and businesses. Around 80% is exported or is used to liquefy gas so it can be shipped abroad.

    This means despite massive production, parts of Australia face potential gas shortages. The Australian Energy Market Operator has warned of a seasonal supply crunch in the nation’s south from 2028, as production in Bass Strait declines. Reserving gas for the domestic market instead of exporting it could close these potential gaps.

    The idea of reserving gas for use in Australia is broadly popular. It is supported by Australia’s manufacturing industry, and crossbenchers including David Pocock and Jacqui Lambie.

    Western Australia has had a gas reservation policy for more than a decade. However, federal policymakers have, to date, not followed suit.

    This is likely in part due to opposition from the gas industry, which has traditionally opposed the move, arguing it would discourage investment and create uncertainty.

    There have also been concerns the policy could harm Australia’s relations with strategic partners – especially Japan.

    Spotlight on Japan

    Australia supplied 43% of Japan’s liquefied natural gas (LNG) in 2022. Japan has previously expressed concern about federal government moves towards diverting Australia’s gas supplies for domestic use, saying it could threaten long-established trade practices and future Japanese investment.

    However, contrary to Japan’s claims, Australian gas is not needed to keep the lights on. Gas use in Japan is falling. Today, Japan on-sells more gas to other nations than it imports from Australia.

    Importantly, gas contributes to dangerous climate change – both when it leaks into the atmosphere as methane, and when it is burned, releasing carbon dioxide and other pollutants.

    Around a quarter of Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions come from the production and use of gas. Australian gas burned overseas is also responsible for substantial carbon emissions in other countries .

    Tokyo’s finance for gas projects in Australia is slowing the shift away from fossil fuels and diverting investment, workforce, and supply-chain capacity away from clean energy industries.

    Diverting Australian gas to meet local needs would help reset trading relations in our region. Australia’s economic prospects are tied to embracing our potential as a clean energy superpower. This requires signalling to our trading partners our intention to shift away from gas extraction for export.

    Japan does not need Australia’s gas to keep the lights on.
    Luciano Mortula – LGM/Shutterstock

    No new gas is needed

    In his budget reply, Dutton pledged to audit development-ready gas projects with a focus on the southern states and, as previously announced, fast-track a decision on Western Australia’s Northwest Shelf gas project.

    A Coalition government, if elected, would also:

    • invest A$1 billion into a critical gas infrastructure fund
    • increase gas pipeline and storage capacity
    • prevent gas companies from prolonged delays in drilling offshore gas fields.

    However, Australia does not need any new gas projects. We only use a fraction of what we produce.

    What’s more, evidence suggests more gas production will not bring prices down. East coast gas production has doubled over the past decade even as gas prices have tripled.

    Keeping more gas onshore may help with energy prices. But the best way to reduce power bills is to shift to the cheapest form of electricity generation – which is renewables, not gas.

    Australia’s gas use is declining as we move to cleaner, cheaper and more efficient types of energy for homes and businesses.

    On the east coast, gas consumption has declined by 25% in the past decade. Just last week the Australian Energy Market Operator found gas demand is falling faster than anticipated.

    Reducing gas use even faster would avoid potential seasonal shortages.

    Gas has a small, short-term role as Australia switches to renewables, smoothing out electricity supplies when demand exceeds generation from wind, solar and energy storage.

    But the gas won’t be used very often. And a looming surge in batteries to store renewable energy is also likely to displace gas generation at peak times.

    Research suggests production from Australia’s existing projects through to 2035 could meet our remaining gas needs for 60 years.

    A domestic reservation policy could ensure this gas is used to avoid potential supply gaps.

    Our shared clean energy future

    With a national gas reservation scheme on the table no matter who wins the election, Australia will have some tough conversations ahead with international customers – especially Japan.

    However both Australia and Japan have committed to cut emissions over the next decade and achieve net-zero emissions in their economies by 2050.

    Gas will play an ever-dwindling role in both countries in coming years, as it is replaced by cleaner forms of energy from wind, solar and storage.

    Government efforts to manage the energy transition should not encourage new gas projects. Instead, it should position Australia at the forefront of the clean energy revolution.

    Wesley Morgan is a fellow with the Climate Council of Australia.

    – ref. Dutton unveils plan to force more gas into Australian market and expand production in major pre-election pitch – https://theconversation.com/dutton-unveils-plan-to-force-more-gas-into-australian-market-and-expand-production-in-major-pre-election-pitch-253228

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

    March 28, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Less Than One Week Left to Apply for Federal Assistance

    Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency

    Headline: Less Than One Week Left to Apply for Federal Assistance

    Less Than One Week Left to Apply for Federal Assistance

    LOS ANGELES – Less than one week remains for homeowners, renters, nonprofits and businesses impacted by the January wildfires in Los Angeles County to apply for federal disaster assistance

    Monday, March 31, is the deadline to apply for both FEMA disaster assistance and a U

    S

    Small Business Administration (SBA) low-interest disaster loan

     Apply for FEMA Individual Assistance: Online at DisasterAssistance

    gov (fastest option)

    On the FEMA App (available at the Apple App Store or Google Play)

    On the FEMA Helpline at 1-800-621-3362

    If you use a relay service, give FEMA your number for that service

    Assistance is available in multiple languages

    Lines are open Sunday–Saturday, from 4 a

    m

    – 10 p

    m

    Pacific Time

    Visit a Disaster Recovery Center (DRC)

    To locate a DRC near you, visit the DRC Locator

    For an American Sign Language video on how to apply, visit FEMA Accessible: Three Ways to Register for FEMA Disaster Assistance

    Apply for a SBA Low-Interest Disaster Loan:Online at sba

    gov/disaster

    At SBA’s Customer Service Center at 1-800-659-2955

    People who are deaf, hard of hearing or have a speech disability may dial 711 to access telecommunications relay services

    By emailing DisasterCustomerService@sba

    gov, where you can get information or request a loan application

    At a Disaster Recovery Center or Business Recovery Center, where you can submit a completed application, or SBA representatives can help you apply

    To find a BRC near you, go to Appointment

    sba

    gov

    Applications for disaster loans may be submitted online using the MySBA Loan Portal at https://lending

    sba

    gov or other locally announced locations

    Follow FEMA online, on X @FEMA or @FEMAEspanol, on FEMA’s Facebook page or Espanol page and at FEMA’s YouTube account

    For preparedness information follow the Ready Campaign on X at @Ready

    gov, on Instagram @Ready

    gov or on the Ready Facebook page

    California is committed to supporting residents impacted by the Los Angeles Hurricane-Force Firestorm as they navigate the recovery process

    Visit CA

    gov/LAFires for up-to-date information on disaster recovery programs, important deadlines, and how to apply for assistance

    alberto

    pillot
    Wed, 03/26/2025 – 22:38

    MIL OSI USA News –

    March 27, 2025

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: 27 March 2025 Departmental update A unified call for One Health: driving implementation, science, policy and investment for global impact

    Source: World Health Organisation

    Issued at the Third Quadripartite Executive Annual Meeting, 25–27 March 2025, WOAH headquarters, Paris

    As global leaders in human, animal and environmental health, the Quadripartite collaboration comprising the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the World Health Organization (WHO), and the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) reaffirms its unwavering commitment to advancing the One Health approach. This integrated approach is essential to sustainably balance and optimize the health of people, animals, plants and ecosystems and to address health risks at the human-animal-environment interface. Meeting at WOAH headquarters in Paris for the Third Quadripartite Executive Annual Meeting, we call for urgent, strategic and sustained support and investments to scale up One Health implementation worldwide.

    Advancing the One Health agenda

    Since its establishment in March 2022, the Quadripartite has made significant progress in four strategic priority areas.

    1. Implementation of the One Health Joint Plan of Action (OH JPA). Over the past year, the Quadripartite has strengthened cross-sectoral collaboration through regional and sub-regional One Health workshops in Europe, central Asia, and Pacific islands, leading to increased adoption of the OH JPA at the national level. Capacity-building efforts have expanded, with multiple country-level workshops focusing on workforce development, joint risk assessments and multisectoral coordination mechanisms. Additionally, key implementation tools have been translated into multiple languages, increasing their accessibility and adoption.
    2. Strengthening One Health science and evidence. The second term of the Quadripartite One Health High-Level Expert Panel (OHHLEP) has been established, broadening its expertise to include social sciences, economics and governance. Key scientific deliverables will include mapping international legal and policy instruments that have a bearing on One Health and analysing barriers and enablers of One Health implementation. The Quadripartite One Health Knowledge Nexus serves as an interactive space for collective knowledge generation and co-learning. Under this platform, a joint Community of Practice was launched in November 2023 on the return on investment for One Health. A new community of practice on One Health governance is planned to be launched in 2025. In 2024, the Quadripartite contributed actively to the 8th World One Health Congress and several other international scientific fora to strengthen partnerships with the scientific community.
    3. Enhancing political engagement and advocacy. The Quadripartite played a significant role in global political processes, advocating for the inclusion of One Health in major discussions and declarations. This includes supporting the adoption of a UN General Assembly political declaration on antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and advocating for One Health integration in G20 health ministerial discussions and declarations. Additionally, the Quadripartite contributed to the adoption of a Global Action Plan on Biodiversity and Health at the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP16) and hosted a high-level One Health event at UN Climate Change Conference (COP29) to promote climate-health policy integration.
    4. Mobilizing investments for One Health. The Quadripartite is developing a Joint Offer – a unified advocacy document for targeted One Health investments. This effort will be bolstered by structured outreach to funding partners through roundtable discussions and high-level dialogues. The Quadripartite continues to advocate for embedding One Health in existing financial mechanisms, and strengthening regional and national One Health investment planning to catalyse broader financial commitments, ensuring sustainable investments at national and global levels.

    Investing in One Health now

    The complexity of today’s health challenges – ranging from AMR and zoonotic diseases to food safety risks and climate-related health threats, amongst others – demands an integrated and well-resourced One Health response. Investing in One Health is not an option; it is an imperative. It is a strategic and cost-effective approach to preventing future health crises, reducing economic losses, strengthening global health security and promoting sustainable development.

    The Quadripartite underscores that investing in One Health today is an investment in a safer, healthier and more resilient future. The world cannot afford to wait. We call on policymakers, donors and global leaders to act decisively, turning commitments into concrete actions and ensuring that One Health is effectively implemented, leaving no one behind.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

    March 27, 2025

  • MIL-OSI China: Full text: Joint Statement between the People’s Republic of China and the French Republic on Climate Change on the occasion of the Tenth Anniversary of the Paris Agreement

    Source: China State Council Information Office 2

    China and France issued a joint statement on climate change on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the Paris Agreement on Thursday in Beijing.
    Please see the attachment for the full text of the statement.
    Full text: Joint Statement between the People’s Republic of China and the French Republic on Climate Change on the occasion of the Tenth Anniversary of the Paris Agreement
    Follow China.org.cn on Twitter and Facebook to join the conversation.ChinaNews App Download

    MIL OSI China News –

    March 27, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Australia: East coast gas supply outlook worsens July to September 2025, but forward longer-term prices ease

    Source: Australian Ministers for Regional Development

    The ACCC is predicting gas supply in the east coast gas market could fall short by 9 petajoules (PJ) in the period July to September 2025, if LNG producers export all their uncontracted gas, according to its updated assessment.

    This period, which includes winter months, usually sees the highest demand domestically for gas due to colder temperatures.

    The ACCC’s short-term update indicates the supply-demand forecast has dropped by 22 PJ since the December 2024 quarter report, due to a fall in production and increased exports.

    In the southern states, the supply shortfall is projected to reach a historic high of 40 PJ for the quarter.

    The revised outlook coupled with market risks, such as higher demand for gas in case of unexpected weather events or outages of coal-fired power plants, increases the risk of a shortfall across the east coast without access to the LNG producers’ surplus gas.

    “This changed outlook reflects the susceptibility of the supply/demand balance to short-term reductions in gas production and changes in LNG producers’ intended exports and swaps,” ACCC Commissioner Anna Brakey said.

    “The east coast supply and demand balance is projected to worsen further over the next few years, which will increase the impact of LNG producers’ decisions on the market. It remains crucial that LNG producers have regard to the domestic outlook before making any significant variations to export volumes or schedules.”

    “To ensure that the east coast gas market has enough gas this winter, including through any significant demand or supply shocks, we recommend that the Australian Government work with LNG producers to secure additional gas, which is currently uncommitted, for the domestic market,” Ms Brakey said.

    Chart 2: Quarterly supply demand outlook for quarter 3, 2025 (PJ)

    Source: ACCC analysis of data obtained from gas producers in January 2025 and of the domestic demand forecast (Step Change scenario) from AEMO, Gas Statement of Opportunities (GSOO), March 2025.

      Note:     Totals may not sum due to rounding.

    Shortfall of gas supply in the southern states doubles

    The predicted 40 PJ shortfall of gas in the southern states for the third quarter of 2025 is twice that of the same time in 2024.

    This is mainly due to declining production from the Gippsland, Otway and Cooper basins, and higher forecast demand for gas-powered electricity generation.

    The ACCC projects that the 40 PJ gap will be able to be met by transporting surplus gas from Queensland (about 30 PJ) and drawing on southern state gas stores (about 10 PJ).

    “Pleasingly, we expect that there will be adequate gas and sufficient pipeline and storage capacity to meet the shortfall in the south. But, without access to the LNG producers’ surplus gas, the current outlook provides very little buffer for unexpected events, including extreme weather, higher than allowed-for demand, or higher than usual outages in coal-fired power stations,” Ms Brakey said.

    “Actual supply and demand for the third quarter of the year could surprise on the up or down sides. But with not enough new supply coming online to offset declining production in the southern states and higher, more volatile, demand for gas-powered generation, there needs to be a bigger buffer for downside risks.”

    The report highlights the importance of sufficient storage in the southern states in averting a shortfall.

    “Iona underground storage is essential to meet winter demand,” Ms Brakey said.

    Chart 2: Southern states outlook for quarter 3, 2025

    Source: ACCC analysis of data obtained from gas producers in January 2025 and of the domestic demand forecast (Step Change scenario) from AEMO, Gas Statement of Opportunities (GSOO), March 2025.

      Note:     Totals may not sum due to rounding.

    Government response to ACCC report

    The ACCC report recommended that the Australian Government work with LNG producers to secure additional gas, which is currently uncommitted, for the domestic market, to ensure that the east coast gas market has enough gas this winter.  

    The ACCC recognises the commitments made by the LNG producers to the government and welcomes the progress this represents. It is important that LNG producers ensure that the needs of the domestic market are met before they export gas that is currently uncontracted.

    “It is an important step for the LNG producers to fulfil the commitments they have made to the government in order to reduce the risk of a shortfall eventuating over the July to September period if all uncontracted gas was exported,” Ms Brakey said.

    “Our March report identified that, between them, the three LNG producers have sufficient uncontracted gas to supply the domestic market if they make it available.”

    “We will continue to report quarterly on the supply and demand balance in the market.”

    Long-term gas contract update shows prices have eased

    In another update to the market released today, ACCC analysis of contracts for supply over 2025 and 2026 shows that prices eased, and agreed volumes for supply increased, over the six months to December 2024 compared to the preceding six months.

    The average price for gas in producer contracts for supply in 2025 fell by about 10 per cent (to $13.58 per gigajoule) in the second half of 2024 compared to the previous six months. Prices in retailer gas supply contracts dropped slightly in the same period, to an average of $14.51 per gigajoule (GJ).

    Average producer prices for 2026 supply fell by 2 per cent to $13.94 per GJ compared to the first half of 2024. Retailer prices averaged $13.55 per GJ. “This report shows encouraging signs on gas supply, but there is still a way to go,” Ms Brakey said.

    “While the increase in contracted gas and the reduction in prices are positive developments, the total volumes for 2025 and 2026 remain significantly below those contracted before the energy crisis for 2021 and 2022.”

    Background

    In 2017, the Australian Government directed the ACCC to conduct a wide-ranging inquiry into the supply of and demand for natural gas in Australia, and to publish regular information on the supply and pricing of gas. The ACCC will conduct the inquiry until 2030.

    The Interim update on east coast gas supply-demand outlook provides an updated picture on the gas supply-demand balance for the east coast gas market for quarter 3 of 2025. The ACCC reports quarterly on the gas supply outlook which provides information that assists Government decision making, including in relation to the ADGSM.

    The Interim update on long-term contract prices for July – December 2024 provides updated pricing and other information on contracts agreed for long-term supply of gas (for terms of 12 months or more) on the east coast market during the period July to December 2024. This report is in response to a request from the Minister for Climate Change and Energy on 14 November 2024 to increase the frequency of reporting on gas supply agreements as an interim means of improving the transparency of gas prices.

    MIL OSI News –

    March 27, 2025
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