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  • MIL-OSI USA: Cook, Entrepreneurs, Innovation, and Participation

    Source: US State of New York Federal Reserve

    Thank you for the kind introduction, Jennet.1 Let me start by saying my thoughts are with all the people in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia who have felt the force of Helene’s and Milton’s impact. I am saddened by the tragic loss of life and widespread disruption in this region. The Federal Reserve Board and other federal and state financial regulatory agencies are working with banks and credit unions in the affected area. As we normally do in these unfortunate situations, we are encouraging institutions operating in the affected areas to meet the needs of their communities.2
    It is an honor to stand before you and speak to this group of audacious, innovative women. I am also very happy to be back in Charleston. I grew up in Milledgeville, Georgia, just about 250 miles down the road. Some of my fondest childhood memories of traveling in the South, especially as a Girl Scout, include South Carolina.
    Today I would like to talk with you about the important role startups, new businesses, and entrepreneurship play in our economy from the perspective of a Federal Reserve policymaker. I also want to share a bit of my story. Just like many of you—including those who have started a business or those who dream of doing that someday—I have faced and overcome hurdles along a winding path.
    My StoryI was born and raised in Milledgeville, where my mother, Professor Mary Murray Cook, was a faculty member in the Nursing Department of Georgia College and State University. She was the first tenured African American faculty member at that university. My father, Rev. Payton B. Cook, was a chaplain and then in senior leadership at the hospital there. My family lived through the events that brought Milledgeville out of a deeply segregated South. My sisters and I were among the first African American students to desegregate the schools we attended. I drew strength from the example set by my family, others in the Civil Rights Movement, and the village that raised me and from their conviction in the hope and promise of a world that could and would continually improve.
    While I had an interest in economics even before I entered high school, that was not the initial field of study I pursued. I entered Spelman College in Atlanta as a physics and philosophy major. After graduation, I had the honor of studying at the University of Oxford as a Marshall Scholar.
    After Oxford, I continued my education at the University of Dakar in Senegal in West Africa. However, at the end of my year in Africa, it was the chance to climb Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania in East Africa where I discovered my love of economics. I hiked alongside a British economist, and, by the end of the trek, he convinced me that studying economics would provide me with the tools to address some big and important questions I had pondered for a long time.
    I went on to earn my Ph.D. in economics from the University of California, Berkeley. Entering the economics profession came with its usual challenges, and, for women, a few more challenges existed. To this day, women are still underrepresented in economics. Women earned just 34 percent of bachelor’s degrees in economics and 36 percent of Ph.D.’s in economics in 2022, the most recent available data from the U.S. Department of Education. The share of women earning those degrees rose only modestly from 1999, when women earned about 32 percent of economics bachelor’s degrees and 27 percent of Ph.D.’s. The data stand in sharp contrast to all science and engineering degrees, including in social science fields, where women earned roughly half of degrees granted in 2022.3
    Education was paramount in my family and was construed as a means of realizing the promise of the Civil Rights Movement and continual improvement of our society and economy. Of course, economics, like physics, is a field where math skills are vitally important. Between my mother, my aunts, and my extended family, I had essentially understood STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics)-related jobs to be women’s work. I was grateful to have these role models in my orbit to give me the confidence to undertake study in a STEM field.
    Access and encouragement for girls to pursue study in math and science are a significant concern. Economist Dania V. Francis’s research shows that Black girls are disproportionately under-recommended for Advanced Placement calculus.4 The course is often a gateway for economics, for STEM classes, and for college preparation, in general.5
    My mentors and role models encouraged careful study, teaching, and scholarship and helped me block out the voices saying I did not belong at each juncture. They encouraged my work and have been champions for me. As a result, I have been committed to serving as a mentor, as well. For several years, I was the director of and taught in the American Economic Association’s Summer Program, an important training ground for disadvantaged students considering economics careers. Each year, the share of students who are women oscillated between 41 percent and 67 percent, much higher than the enrollment in undergraduate economics courses nationally.6 I told those students—and continue to tell them as they make their way through graduate programs in economics and through the economics profession—”You belong here. Your insights are unique, and the profession will benefit from them.”
    In my career as an economist, I studied, researched, and taught in roles at universities and worked in the private sector and in government before I was nominated by the President and confirmed by the Senate to become a member of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System in 2022. I am honored and humbled to serve in this role and proud to be the first African American woman and first woman of color to serve on the Board of Governors. As Fed policymakers, we make decisions affecting the entire economy and the well-being of every American by focusing on the dual mandate given to us by Congress: maximum employment and stable prices.
    Entrepreneurs’ Vital Role in the EconomyIn my years of conducting research and while at the Board, I have met many inventors, innovators, and entrepreneurs who made important contributions to the economy. Many of them happened to be women who were very knowledgeable, creative, and inspiring. So I want to discuss the vital role entrepreneurship and new business creation play in our economy.
    You might ask what interest I have in this subject, as a monetary policymaker focused closely on the dual mandate of maximum employment and stable prices. Well, this topic has interested me for a long time, and I conducted a fair amount of research on entrepreneurship and innovation before joining the Board. But the topic is also important precisely because of our dual mandate. To convince you of this, I will explain a few of the ways in which economists think about entrepreneurship, and how they relate to the dual mandate.
    The first is the most basic: For many people—many millions, in fact—entrepreneurship or self-employment is a career choice.7 It is their preferred way of participating in the labor market and obtaining income for themselves and their families. They prefer to be their own bosses, with all the benefits and risks that entails.8 But whether they end up hiring others or not, self-employed individuals support the labor market by providing a job for themselves.
    A second way economists think about entrepreneurship is a little broader: New business creation is a large contributor to overall job growth. In fact, new businesses punch above their weight. For example, during the handful of years before the pandemic, in a typical year only about 8 percent of all employer firms were new entrants, but these new entrants accounted for about 15 percent of annual gross job creation.9 And research has found that this job creation effect is long lasting. Even though many new firms do not survive, those that do survive tend to grow rapidly over 5 to 10 years, largely offsetting the job losses from those firms that shut down.10
    A third way economists think about entrepreneurship, which I have explored in my own research, is that a small but critical subset of new firms are innovators—they introduce new products or business processes that change how we consume or produce.11 As such, they make large contributions to overall productivity growth over time. That is, innovative entrepreneurs help enable us to do more with less—and even more so if access to innovation participation is equitable.12 It is important that everyone, including women, historically underrepresented groups, people from certain geographic regions, and other diverse representative groups, can participate in the entrepreneurship and innovation economy. In my research, I have found that investors underrate the prospects of Black-founded, or simply outsider-founded, startups in early funding stages. Better assessment of the early stages of invention and innovation could broaden the range of new entrants and the ideas they contribute to their local communities and the broader economy.
    Consider the Dual MandateSo let’s return to the dual mandate. You can now understand that self-employment and entrepreneurial job creation are relevant for our employment mandate. Indeed, one could argue that entrepreneurs are critical to Fed policymakers’ efforts to promote maximum employment. And the productivity gains we reap from entrepreneurship are like productivity growth from any other source. When the pace of productivity growth increases, it allows for economic activity and wage growth to be robust while also being consistent with price stability.
    The importance of business startups to our dual mandate objectives is why I have watched closely as various measures of new business formation have surged since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
    Applications for new businesses jumped to a record pace shortly after the pandemic struck the U.S.13 The pace of applications has remained elevated above pre-pandemic norms all the way from the summer of 2020 to the most recent data, even though the pace appears to be cooling some this year.14 At first, it might have seemed like these business applications were mainly being submitted by people who lost their jobs, or perhaps by an increase in “gig economy” work. There was doubtless some of that going on, but research and data since then have painted a more optimistic picture.
    When researchers look across areas of the country, the pandemic business applications had only a weak connection with layoffs. The surge in applications persisted long after overall layoffs fell to the subdued pace we have seen since early 2021. The applications did have a strong relationship with workers voluntarily leaving their jobs. Some quitting workers may have chosen to join these new businesses as founders or early employees. And surging business applications were soon followed by new businesses hiring workers and expanding. Over the last two years of available data, new firms created 1.9 million jobs per year, a pace not seen since the eve of the Global Financial Crisis.15
    The industry patterns of this surge reflect shifts in consumer and business needs resulting from the pandemic and its aftermath. For example, in large metro areas, new business creation shifted from city centers to the suburbs, perhaps because of the increase in remote work. Suddenly, people wanted to eat lunch or go to the gym closer to their home, rather than close to their downtown office. Likewise, consumer and business tastes for more online purchases, with the shipping requirements that entails, are evident in the surge of business entry in the online retail and transportation sectors. But this is not only about moving restaurants closer to workers or changing patterns of goods consumption. There was also a particularly strong entry into high-tech industries, such as data processing and hosting, as well as research and development services.16 That may have more to do with developments like artificial intelligence than with the pandemic specifically, as I discussed in a speech in Atlanta last week.17
    Economists will spend years debating the various causes of the surge in business creation during and soon after the pandemic. Perhaps strong monetary and fiscal policy backstopping aggregate demand played some role, or pandemic social safety net policies, or simply the accommodative financial conditions of 2020 and 2021.18 Indeed, more research is needed and will be the subject of many dissertations in the near future.
    I do think a large part of the story is ultimately a case of resourceful and determined American entrepreneurs, perhaps including some of you, responding to the tumultuous shocks of the pandemic. They, like some of you, stepped in to meet the rapidly changing needs of households and businesses. This points to a fourth way economists like to think about entrepreneurship, which is that entrepreneurship plays a big role in helping the economy adapt to change. Research suggests that entrepreneurs and the businesses they create are highly responsive to big economic shocks, and the COVID-19 pandemic was certainly a seismic shock.19 To be sure, the future is uncertain. It is unclear what the productivity effects of the pandemic surge of new businesses, particularly in high tech, will be.20 And whether that surge will continue is an open question; after all, the pre-pandemic period was a period of declining rates of new business creation, and the pandemic surge itself does appear to be cooling off recently.21
    ConclusionFor now, let me say that I am grateful that entrepreneurs continue to give us a hand in meeting our employment mandate, and whatever productivity gains we may reap in coming years as a result may help ease tradeoffs with inflation as well.
    Finally, I will share one last story about why South Carolina will always hold a special place in my and my sisters’ hearts. Every summer and at Thanksgiving, we would travel through the Palmetto State to our grandparents’ house in Winston-Salem. Sitting in the back seat of the station wagon, we were entranced by the many colorful signs along Interstate 95 advertising what I, as a child, viewed as South Carolina’s number one attraction: the South of the Border roadside amusement park. We begged our parents to stop every time. It was an epic struggle that went on for more than a decade. Once or twice they did relent, a sweet childhood victory! And here is the funny thing about travels—paths can cross. The timing is such that my sisters and I may have even been helped by a waiter named Ben, a young man from Dillon, South Carolina, who would go on to be Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke! 22 Perhaps it was the world’s way of foreshadowing.
    Thank you for having me here in Charleston. It is inspiring to meet this group of bold, entrepreneurial women in South Carolina, and I look forward to continuing our conversation.

    1. The views expressed here are my own and not necessarily those of my colleagues on the Federal Open Market Committee. Return to text
    2. See Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Federal Reserve Board, National Credit Union Administration, Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, and State Financial Regulators (2024), “Federal and State Financial Regulatory Agencies Issue Interagency Statement on Supervisory Practices regarding Financial Institutions Affected by Hurricane Helene,” joint press release, October 2. Return to text
    3. See U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System, Completions Survey, available on the NCES website at https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/survey-components/7. Return to text
    4. See Dania V. Francis, Angela C.M. de Oliveira, and Carey Dimmitt (2019), “Do School Counselors Exhibit Bias in Recommending Students for Advanced Coursework?” B.E. Journal of Economic Analysis & Policy, vol. 19 (July), pp. 1–17. Return to text
    5. See Lisa D. Cook and Anna Gifty Opoku-Agyeman (2019), “‘It Was a Mistake for Me to Choose This Field,’” New York Times, September 30. Return to text
    6. See Lisa D. Cook and Christine Moser (2024), “Lessons for Expanding the Share of Disadvantaged Students in Economics from the AEA Summer Program at Michigan State University,” Journal of Economic Perspectives, vol. 38 (Summer), pp. 191–208. Return to text
    7. There is no single way to measure the number of self-employed individuals and related businesses, but it certainly numbers in the millions. The latest Bureau of Labor Statistics Current Population Survey indicates there are roughly 10 million unincorporated and 7 million incorporated self-employed individuals. Separate data on businesses from the U.S. Census Bureau indicate that, as of 2021, there were about 25 million nonemployer and 800,000 employer sole proprietorships (Nonemployer Statistics; Statistics of U.S. Businesses).
    For analysis of inconsistencies between self-employment data sources, see Katharine G. Abraham, John C. Haltiwanger, Claire Hou, Kristin Sandusky, and James R. Spletzer (2021), “Reconciling Survey and Administrative Measures of Self-Employment,” Journal of Labor Economics, vol. 39 (October), pp. 825–60. Return to text
    8. See Erik Hurst and Benjamin Wild Pugsley (2011), “What Do Small Businesses Do? (PDF)” Brookings Papers on Economic Activity, Fall, pp. 73–142; and Erik G. Hurst and Benjamin W. Pugsley (2017), “Wealth, Tastes, and Entrepreneurial Choice,” in John Haltiwanger, Erik Hurst, Javier Miranda, and Antoinette Schoar, eds., Measuring Entrepreneurial Businesses: Current Knowledge and Challenges (Chicago: University of Chicago Press). Return to text
    9. Gross job creation refers to all jobs created by entering and expanding establishments. Data are from the Census Bureau Business Dynamics Statistics, averaged for 2015–19. New firms’ share of net job creation is much higher, but this is partly an artifact of measurement practices: Firms with an age less than one measured in annual data cannot contribute negatively to net job creation. Return to text
    10. See John Haltiwanger, Ron S. Jarmin, and Javier Miranda (2013), “Who Creates Jobs? Small versus Large versus Young,” Review of Economics and Statistics, vol. 95 (May), pp. 347–61; and Ryan Decker, John Haltiwanger, Ron Jarmin, and Javier Miranda (2014), “The Role of Entrepreneurship in US Job Creation and Economic Dynamism,” Journal of Economic Perspectives, vol. 28 (Summer), pp. 3–24. Return to text
    11. For evidence on the importance of innovating young and small firms, see Daron Acemoglu, Ufuk Akcigit, Harun Alp, Nicholas Bloom, and William Kerr (2018), “Innovation, Reallocation, and Growth,” American Economic Review, vol. 108 (November), pp. 3450–91. For recent trends in technology diffusion of relevance to business entry, see Ufuk Akcigit and Sina T. Ates (2023), “What Happened to US Business Dynamism?” Journal of Political Economy, vol. 131 (August), pp. 2059–2124. Return to text
    12. See Lisa D. Cook (2011), “Inventing Social Capital: Evidence from African American Inventors, 1843–1930,” Explorations in Economic History, vol. 48 (December), pp. 507–18; Lisa D. Cook (2014), “Violence and Economic Activity: Evidence from African American Patents, 1870–1940,” Journal of Economic Growth, vol. 19 (June), pp. 221–57; and Lisa D. Cook (2020), “Policies to Broaden Participation in the Innovation Process (PDF),” Hamilton Project Policy Proposal 2020-11 (Washington: Brookings Institution, August). Return to text
    13. “Business applications” refers to applications for new Employer Identification Numbers submitted to the Internal Revenue Service. These are reported by the U.S. Census Bureau in the Business Formation Statistics. An application does not necessarily mean an actual firm with employees, revenue, or both will result. Return to text
    14. Unless otherwise noted, the facts described in this section are documented in Ryan A. Decker and John Haltiwanger (2024), “Surging Business Formation in the Pandemic: A Brief Update,” working paper, September; and Ryan A. Decker and John Haltiwanger (2023), “Surging Business Formation in the Pandemic: Causes and Consequences? (PDF)” Brookings Papers on Economic Activity, Fall, pp. 249–302. Return to text
    15. Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Business Employment Dynamics (BED) report new firm job creation of 1.9 million, on average, in 2022 and 2023, the highest pace since 2007. Alternative data on firm births from the Census Bureau Business Dynamics Statistics, which lag the BED by one year, report 2.5 million jobs created by new firms in 2022, also the highest pace since 2007. Return to text
    16. See Ryan Decker and John Haltiwanger (2024), “High Tech Business Entry in the Pandemic Era,” FEDS Notes (Washington: Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, April 19). Return to text
    17. See Lisa D. Cook (2024), “Artificial Intelligence, Big Data, and the Path Ahead for Productivity,” speech delivered at “Technology-Enabled Disruption: Implications of AI, Big Data, and Remote Work,” a conference organized by the Federal Reserve Banks of Atlanta, Boston, and Richmond, Atlanta, October 1. Return to text
    18. For a potential role of fiscal policy, see Catherine E. Fazio, Jorge Guzman, Yupeng Liu, and Scott Stern (2021), “How Is COVID Changing the Geography of Entrepreneurship? Evidence from the Startup Cartography Project,” NBER Working Paper Series 28787 (Cambridge, Mass.: National Bureau of Economic Research, May). For safety net programs (specifically expanded unemployment insurance), see Joonkyu Choi, Samuel Messer, Michael Navarrete, and Veronika Penciakova (2024), “Unemployment Benefits Expansion and Business Formation,” working paper, April. For the importance of financial conditions for entrepreneurship in past business cycles, see Michael Siemer (2019), “Employment Effects of Financial Constraints during the Great Recession,” Review of Economics and Statistics, vol. 101 (March), pp. 16–29; and Teresa C. Fort, John Haltiwanger, Ron S. Jarmin, and Javier Miranda (2013), “How Firms Respond to Business Cycles: The Role of Firm Age and Firm Size,” IMF Economic Review, vol. 61 (3), pp. 520–59. Return to text
    19. Examples of research finding a large role for business entry in responding to aggregate shocks include Manuel Adelino, Song Ma, and David Robinson (2017), “Firm Age, Investment Opportunities, and Job Creation,” Journal of Finance, vol. 72 (June), pp. 999–1038; Ryan A. Decker, Meagan McCollum, and Gregory B. Upton, Jr. (2024), “Boom Town Business Dynamics,” Journal of Human Resources, vol. 59 (March), pp. 627–51; and Fatih Karahan, Benjamin Pugsley, and Ayşegűl Şahin (2024), “Demographic Origins of the Startup Deficit,” American Economic Review, vol. 114 (July), pp. 1986–2023. Return to text
    20. The last period of robust productivity growth in the U.S., the late 1990s and early 2000s, was preceded by several years by strong business creation in high-tech industries; see Lucia Foster, Cheryl Grim, John C. Haltiwanger, and Zoltan Wolf (2021), “Innovation, Productivity Dispersion, and Productivity Growth,” in Carol Corrado, Jonathan Haskel, Javier Miranda, and Daniel Sichel, eds., Measuring and Accounting for Innovation in the Twenty-First Century (Chicago: University of Chicago Press). Return to text
    21. The number of annual new firms as a share of all firms declined from around 12 percent in the 1980s, on average, to around 9 percent in the period of 2010–19. New firms’ share of gross job creation declined from nearly 20 percent to less than 15 percent over the same period. Data are from Census Bureau Business Dynamics Statistics. The pre-pandemic trend decline in entry rates was documented by Ryan Decker, John Haltiwanger, Ron Jarmin, and Javier Miranda (2014), “The Role of Entrepreneurship in US Job Creation and Economic Dynamism,” Journal of Economic Perspectives, vol. 28 (Summer), pp. 3–24. Return to text
    22. See Ben S. Bernanke (2009), “Brief Remarks,” speech delivered at the Interstate Interchange Dedication Ceremony, Dillon, S.C., March 7. Return to text

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: UK climate finance helps reduce more than 105 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions globally

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    The UK’s International Climate Finance (ICF) has helped 110 million people adapt to the effects of climate change.

    • Reduced or avoided over 105 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions, and avoided 750,000 hectares of ecosystem loss, according to official analysis released today.

    • Climate finance has helped to mobilise £8.4 billion of public and £7.8 billion of private finance for climate change.

    The UK’s International Climate Finance (ICF), helps developing countries limit and manage the impacts of climate change, mitigate further global warming from emissions and avert, minimise and address loss and damage.

    The results published today demonstrate the transformational impact of the UK’s International Climate Finance from 2011, ensuring developing countries have access to clean energy and innovative technology to drive the global transition to net zero, while supporting the most vulnerable countries who are experiencing the worst impacts of the climate crisis. Over the last 12 years, the UK has:

    • Supported over 82 million people with improved access to clean energy.
    • Avoided or reduced 105 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions, equivalent to taking all UK cars off the road for approximately 1 year and 7 months.
    • Avoided 750,000 hectares of ecosystem loss, the equivalent to more than 1 million football pitches.

    Through UK International Climate Finance, UK aid is investing in innovative solutions to tackle climate change, such as energy efficiency and forestry across the Global South to demonstrate their commercial viabilities:

    • The Climate Public Partnership (CP3) programme has been addressing the dual challenge of both climate challenge and access to clean, affordable energy by building a public-private partnership to unlock private investments. By investing in private equity funds, including £50 million to the Catalyst Fund, over a portfolio of 124 projects, UK aid successfully mobilised over £86 million of private finance to date.

    • In Madagascar and Indonesia, UK aid is helping to protect, restore and sustainably manage mangrove forests while reducing the poverty of the coastal communities that rely on them. By working together with national governments, local communities and the private sector, the Blue Forests Programme developed green business opportunities based on sustainable mangrove forestry and fisheries management and helped protect around 58,000 hectares of mangrove forests and delivered around 660,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide savings. 

    These results come as the UK has taken swift action at home to tackle the climate crisis and provide energy security for British families and businesses. The UK is first major economy to set a landmark goal in delivering clean power by 2030. In the space of a few months the Government has already:

    • Lifted the ban on onshore wind in England to roll out a new supply of clean and cheap power.
    • Delivered the most successful renewables energy auction to date, securing enough clean power to supply the equivalent of 11 million homes.
    • Introduced Great British Energy, creating the next generation of skilled jobs and protecting family from volatile fossil fuel prices that helped drive the cost of living crisis.
    • Consented unprecedented amounts of nationally significant solar – 2GW – more than the last 14 years combined.

    The UK will use that strong action at home to accelerate global action at the COP29 summit in Baku, raising ambition to agree a new financial target to support developing countries in tackling climate change.

    Minister for International Development, Anneliese Dodds said:

    International climate finance is at the heart of our climate and development objectives and our Mission to be a clean energy superpower.

    Our work – and the billions in private finance it has unlocked – will help the most vulnerable who are experiencing the worst impacts of the climate crisis and enable partners to meet the objectives of the Paris Agreement. 

    Our programmes are making a positive difference to people’s lives and helping to build a liveable planet for all, now and in the future.

    UK Climate Minister Kerry McCarthy said:

    The UK has played a key role in supporting the most vulnerable communities across the globe in tackling climate change while alleviating poverty and improving access to cleaner energy sources.

    But there is more work to do, and unlocking greater global climate finance is crucial in addressing the needs of developing countries who are on the frontline of the crisis.

    That’s why the UK will be pushing for an ambitious finance goal for climate aid at COP29. We will continue to champion the voices of those most affected and we will lead from the front in speeding up the global transition to net zero.

    UK Minister for Nature Mary Creagh said:

    We have a responsibility to tackle the biggest challenges facing our planet. This means putting nature loss and climate change at the forefront of the global agenda.

    We are seeing an unprecedented decline in species and the loss of some of the world’s richest and most diverse ecosystems. Our climate programmes play a vital role in protecting and restoring nature and supporting the communities most affected by this crisis.

    These results come ahead of this year’s UN climate summit COP29 in Baku, which will see countries come together to negotiate a new financial target for supporting developing countries in their climate actions, known as the New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG).

    In addition to UK ICF, the UK’s world leading expertise on green finance and net zero industries is supporting developing countries achieve their own climate goals through leveraging private sector funds. Since 2011, the UK has helped mobile £7.8 billion of private finance for climate change purposes.

    The £11.6 billion commitment for the ICF remains the government’s intention as we undertake the spending review. Speaking at the UN General Assembly on 27 September the Prime Minister made clear the UK would continue to be a leading contributor to international climate finance.

    Background

    • The UK’s International Climate Finance is funded by Official Development Assistance (UK aid) from FCDO, DESNZ and DEFRA.
    • UK International Climate Finance (ICF) is a portfolio of investments with a goal to support international poverty eradication now and in the future, by helping developing countries manage risk and build resilience to the impacts of climate change, take up low-carbon development at scale and manage natural resources sustainably. Through annual publications the ICF sets out results from these investments against a set of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).
    • To find out more about International Climate Finance
    • UK International Climate Finance results 2024

    Updates to this page

    Published 10 October 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Are you over 75? Here’s what you need to know about vitamin D

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Elina Hypponen, Professor of Nutritional and Genetic Epidemiology, University of South Australia

    OPPO Find X5 Pro/Unsplash

    Vitamin D is essential for bone health, immune function and overall wellbeing. And it becomes even more crucial as we age.

    New guidelines from the international Endocrine Society recommend people aged 75 and over should consider taking vitamin D supplements.

    But why is vitamin D so important for older adults? And how much should they take?

    Young people get most vitamin D from the sun

    In Australia, it is possible for most people under 75 to get enough vitamin D from the sun throughout the year. For those who live in the top half of Australia – and for all of us during summer – we only need to have skin exposed to the sun for a few minutes on most days.

    The body can only produce a certain amount of vitamin D at a time. So staying in the sun any longer than needed is not going to help increase your vitamin D levels, while it will increase your risk of skin cancer.

    But it’s difficult for people aged over 75 to get enough vitamin D from a few minutes of sunshine, so the Endocrine Society recommends people get 800 IU (international units) of vitamin D a day from food or supplements.

    Why you need more as you age

    This is higher than the recommendation for younger adults, reflecting the increased needs and reduced ability of older bodies to produce and absorb vitamin D.

    Overall, older adults also tend to have less exposure to sunlight, which is the primary source of natural vitamin D production. Older adults may spend more time indoors and wear more clothing when outdoors.

    As we age, our skin also becomes less efficient at synthesising vitamin D from sunlight.

    The kidneys and the liver, which help convert vitamin D into its active form, also lose some of their efficiency with age. This makes it harder for the body to maintain adequate levels of the vitamin.

    All of this combined means older adults need more vitamin D.

    Deficiency is common in older adults

    Despite their higher needs for vitamin D, people over 75 may not get enough of it.

    Studies have shown one in five older adults in Australia have vitamin D deficiency.

    In higher-latitude parts of the world, such as the United Kingdom, almost half don’t reach sufficient levels.

    This increased risk of deficiency is partly due to lifestyle factors, such as spending less time outdoors and insufficient dietary intakes of vitamin D.

    It’s difficult to get enough vitamin D from food alone. Oily fish, eggs and some mushrooms are good sources of vitamin D, but few other foods contain much of the vitamin. While foods can be fortified with the vitamin D (margarine, some milk and cereals), these may not be readily available or be consumed in sufficient amounts to make a difference.

    In some countries such as the United States, most of the dietary vitamin D comes from fortified products. However, in Australia, dietary intakes of vitamin D are typically very low because only a few foods are fortified with it.

    Why vitamin D is so important as we age

    Vitamin D helps the body absorb calcium, which is essential for maintaining bone density and strength. As we age, our bones become more fragile, increasing the risk of fractures and conditions like osteoporosis.

    Keeping bones healthy is crucial. Studies have shown older people hospitalised with hip fractures are 3.5 times more likely to die in the next 12 months compared to people who aren’t injured.

    People over 75 often have less exposure to sunlight.
    Aila Images/Shutterstock

    Vitamin D may also help lower the risk of respiratory infections, which can be more serious in this age group.

    There is also emerging evidence for other potential benefits, including better brain health. However, this requires more research.

    According to the society’s systematic review, which summarises evidence from randomised controlled trials of vitamin D supplementation in humans, there is moderate evidence to suggest vitamin D supplementation can lower the risk of premature death.

    The society estimates supplements can prevent six deaths per 1,000 people. When considering the uncertainty in the available evidence, the actual number could range from as many as 11 fewer deaths to no benefit at all.

    Should we get our vitamin D levels tested?

    The Endocrine Society’s guidelines suggest routine blood tests to measure vitamin D levels are not necessary for most healthy people over 75.

    There is no clear evidence that regular testing provides significant benefits, unless the person has a specific medical condition that affects vitamin D metabolism, such as kidney disease or certain bone disorders.

    Routine testing can also be expensive and inconvenient.

    In most cases, the recommended approach to over-75s is to consider a daily supplement, without the need for testing.

    You can also try to boost your vitamin D by adding fortified foods to your diet, which might lower the dose you need from supplementation.

    Even if you’re getting a few minutes of sunlight a day, a daily vitamin D is still recommended.

    Elina Hypponen receives funding from the National Health and Medical Research Foundation, Medical Research Future Fund, Australian Research Council, and Arthritis Australia.

    Joshua Sutherland’s studentship is funded by the Australian Research Training Program Scholarship, and he volunteers on the board for the Australasian Association and Register of Practicing Nutritionists.

    – ref. Are you over 75? Here’s what you need to know about vitamin D – https://theconversation.com/are-you-over-75-heres-what-you-need-to-know-about-vitamin-d-231820

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Costa’s Legislation Paves the Way for Affordable Homeownership in the San Joaquin Valley and Rural America

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jim Costa Representing 16th District of California

    FRESNO, Calif. – U.S. Representatives Jim Costa (CA-21), Lori Chavez DeRemer (OR-05), and Doug LaMalfa (CA-01) introduced H.R. 9814 – Rural Homeownership Continuity Act, bipartisan legislation that would help families attain federal loans at lower interest rates, making the American dream of homeownership more affordable in rural America.

    “The Rural Homeownership Continuity Act represents a vital step forward towards strengthening communities in the San Joaquin Valley and rural America,” said Costa. “By helping families take advantage of lower interest rates, we’re not just making homeownership more attainable, but fostering stability and economic growth. Every family deserves the chance to build a future in a home they can afford.”

    “Oregon is ranked the fifth-most unaffordable state for local homebuyers, and all of our communities – urban, suburban, and rural – have felt the effects of this affordability crisis. Too many Oregonians are forced to work multiple jobs just to afford their mortgages,” Chavez-DeRemer said. “That’s why I’ve been working to find bipartisan solutions that will make a direct, lasting impact. I’m honored to help introduce the Rural Homeownership Continuity Act, which will improve housing affordability and access in our rural communities.”

    “As we face a growing rural housing crisis in California and across the country, I’m happy to support this bill that removes bureaucratic barriers to low-income residents’ ability to achieve homeownership. By streamlining the process of loan transfer, this legislation makes it easier for rural families to get the financing they need to own a home,” said LaMalfa. 

    WHAT ARE THEY SAYING?
    “Unfortunately, this year has brought a crisis to both the families that we serve and the families that depend on our business. The approved funding for USDA Home Loans in California has been depleted, leaving families in limbo, unable to close on their new homes. These families, some of whom have been waiting for over a year and a half, continue to live in substandard conditions while brand-new homes sit completed and ready for occupancy,” said Leonel Alvarado, Century Builders.  

    “USDA’s Section 502 Guaranteed Loan program provides low- and moderate-income rural families across the country with a tool to achieve homeownership. And it is an example of a great public-private partnership between local lenders and USDA,” said Jonathan Harwitz, Director of Public Policy at the Housing Assistance Council. “We applaud Rep. Costa, Rep. Chavez-DeRemer, and Rep. LaMalfa for really looking into the nuts and bolts of this important program and identifying commonsense technical fixes. This bill will make the Section 502 Guarantee program more user-friendly for rural families looking to buy a home.”

    BACKGROUND
    The Section 502 Single Family Housing Loan Guarantee Program is a mortgage assistance program within USDA that assists with lending for low- and moderate-income households buying homes located in eligible rural areas. 

    In rural communities, where access to affordable housing is often limited, the Rural Homeownership Continuity Act would amend the Housing Act of 1949 to permit loan assumption under Section 502 to release departing borrowers from liability when their loans are assumed by new borrowers. 

    Right now, when someone sells a home that has a USDA Section 502 Guaranteed Loan, the buyer can’t transfer the seller’s low interest rate. Instead, they often must settle for higher rates from private lenders—averaging around 6% in California. In contrast, existing USDA loans can offer rates as low as 3-4.5%, and even down to 1% for very low-income buyers. This difference can save families a lot of money over time.

    The Senate version of the bill, S.4971 was introduced by U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-VT).    

    View the text of the bill HERE.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Supporting cross-border mobility for Indigenous Peoples

    Source: Government of Canada News

    News release

    Temporary measures to reunite families across the Canada–US border

    October 10, 2024—Ottawa, unceded Algonquin traditional territory—Colonial borders have had profound impacts on Indigenous Peoples. They have put stress on families, kinship, cultural ties, traditional practices, language preservation and revitalization, governance, and economic opportunities. For some communities separated by the Canada–United States border, these impacts are felt on a daily basis.

    To address these challenges and to further advance reconciliation, as a first step, today the Honourable Marc Miller, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, announced temporary measures to help Indigenous people in the United States reunite with their families in Canada and reconnect them with their traditional territories. These measures will allow eligible Indigenous people whose family members live in Canada to:

    • work or study in Canada with some requirements waived
    • extend their stay for up to three years (for those who are already in Canada)

    These temporary measures were implemented to relieve hardship on families while the federal government continues to work toward long-term solutions to address Indigenous border mobility challenges. This work is part of efforts to implement the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UN Declaration) in Canada.

    Indigenous people eligible for these measures can apply as of October 10, 2024. Applicants must apply in advance before they travel to Canada. Those who are already in Canada can also apply from inside Canada. Applications can’t be made at the border (port of entry). Please visit our dedicated web page for details on how the measures work, who is eligible for them and how to apply.

    Quotes

    “First Nations, Inuit, and Métis have long called upon Canada to recognize Indigenous people’s mobility rights across our international borders. Through ongoing consultation and collaboration, Indigenous partners have highlighted how these borders affect their families and communities, limiting connections across their traditional territories. These new measures help us respond more quickly to the urgent needs of families separated by borders, while continuing the work to strengthen and expand Indigenous mobility rights.”

    – The Honourable Marc Miller, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship

    “Reducing the burden of border impacts on Indigenous Peoples, their families and communities is an important part of reconciliation. The Government of Canada is proud to collaborate on these temporary measures with First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities to address longstanding issues at the border.”

    – The Honourable Dominic LeBlanc, Minister of Public Safety, Democratic Institutions and Intergovernmental Affairs

    “These measures to bring together First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities on both sides of the Canada–US border are in line with Shared Priorities Measure 52 of the UN Declaration Act Action Plan. They represent an important step in respecting the right of Indigenous Peoples to maintain contact and develop relationships, including for spiritual, cultural, political, economic and social purposes, with members of their own families and communities.”

    – The Honourable Arif Virani, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada

    “For many Indigenous Peoples, borders are not merely lines on a map but daily barriers that disrupt cultural, spiritual and family ties. These new measures for reconnection, have been developed through meaningful engagement and dialogue with Indigenous partners, and will address urgent challenges Indigenous Peoples face at the Canada–US border. Strengthening Indigenous mobility rights and ensuring families can come together are vital steps in advancing reconciliation and our commitment to the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act Action Plan.”

    – The Honourable Gary Anandasangaree, Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations

    “The announcement made today is another significant step in the right direction. The international border between Canada and the United States continues to separate our families and create hardship for First Nations in many parts of Turtle Island. We will continue to advance our partnership with Canada and advocate for additional reforms that support uniting our people.”

    – Ontario Regional Chief Abram Benedict and Canadian co-chair of the Jay Treaty Border Alliance

    “The United States–Canada border directly bisects our community, resulting in our members living on both sides of the border and crossing daily to see family, go to work, participate in sports and traditional ceremonies, and much more. After working with the Government of Canada for over two years, we are excited to see the government’s roll out of interim measures that get us one step closer to accomplishing our shared goal of uniting our Mohawk families divided by the US–Canada border. These measures will eliminate some of the barriers our members face while we continue to work on a long-term, permanent solution.”

    – Chief Michael Conners of the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe and United States co-chair of the Jay Treaty Border Alliance

    “For generations, our Ktunaxa people lived and moved freely across what is now the US–Canada border. We commend the Government of Canada for collaborating in a joint process with our Tribal leaders and taking action to address our inherent rights. These interim measures are a positive first step, but more work remains to fully restore them.”

    – Chairwoman Jennifer Porter of the Kootenai Tribe of Idaho and United States co-chair of the Jay Treaty Border Alliance

    Quick facts

    • The UN Declaration is an international human rights instrument that sets minimum standards to protect the survival, dignity and well-being of Indigenous Peoples. The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (UN Declaration Act) came into force on June 21, 2021, providing a framework for upholding the human rights of Indigenous Peoples and moving forward with reconciliation in a transformational and action-oriented way.

    • The Government of Canada is exploring legislative and policy reforms so Indigenous people separated by Canada’s international borders have the right to enter and stay in Canada. This work is outlined in Shared Priorities Measure 52 (SP52) of the UN Declaration Act Action Plan, which was developed in consultation and cooperation with First Nations, Inuit and Métis people from across Canada.

    • Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada and the Canada Border Services Agency held roundtables and discussions with Indigenous communities, governments and organizations from October 2023 to February 2024 to address Indigenous mobility issues through legislative reform. Key takeaways are available in an online report, and any updates will be shared publicly.

    • Officials from the Government of Canada have been working closely with the Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami to ensure that these and future measures are expanded as necessary to address their specific circumstances.

    Related products

    Associated links

    Contacts

    Contacts for media only:

    Aïssa Diop
    Director of Communications
    Minister’s Office
    Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
    Aissa.Diop@cic.gc.ca 

    Media Relations
    Communications Sector
    Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
    613-952-1650
    media@cic.gc.ca

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Minister Vandal announces an investment of over $970,000 for Uquutaq Society’s new commercial kitchen and training space

    Source: Government of Canada News

    News release

    October 10, 2024 – Iqaluit, Nunavut – Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency

    The Government of Canada is making strategic upgrades to community infrastructure that benefit residents, build capacity for services and skilled work, while providing immediate support to those in need.

    Today, while visiting the Uquutaq Society’s facilities in Iqaluit, the Honourable Dan Vandal, Minister of Northern Affairs and Minister responsible for PrairiesCan and CanNor, announced that the Government of Canada is investing over $970,000 for the construction of a commercial kitchen and training space.

    The Uquutaq Society is an Iqaluit-based organization servicing the most vulnerable citizens of Iqaluit, including through the operation of a homeless and transitional shelter. The commercial kitchen will be a complementary service, with an in-house catering service, where training programs for cooking and safe food handling will be hosted. The kitchen will generate additional revenue for the Society to support its core work, while also creating a dedicated space to foster food service training capacity in Iqaluit. The project is also expected to create full-time and part-time employment opportunities.

    By investing in this project, the Government of Canada is supporting the vital work of a not-for-profit organization dedicated to helping those less fortunate in Iqaluit, while also creating new training opportunities that strengthen a key sector of the city’s economy.

    Quotes

    “We are proud to support the construction of the new commercial kitchen in Iqaluit, which will create jobs, enhance local food services, and provide valuable training opportunities. This investment reflects our commitment to fostering economic growth and supporting the vital work of organizations like the Uquutaq Society, and we look forward to seeing the positive impact it will have in Iqaluit.”

    The Honourable Dan Vandal,
    Minister of Northern Affairs and Minister responsible for PrairiesCan and CanNor

    “The commercial kitchen project has been in planning since 2019. We’re grateful that we will soon be able to offer our shelter guests and other program participants the choice to grow skills and gain experience while serving the shelters and expanding economic opportunities.”

    Laurel McCorriston,
    Executive Director, Uquutaq Society

    Quick facts

    • CanNor is contributing up to $971,257 for the construction of the commercial kitchen through the Jobs and Growth Fund. The Government of Nunavut is contributing $20,000 and the Uquutaq Society is investing $49,928. In addition, the Qikiqtani Inuit Association is investing $18,000 to this project and Kakivak is contributing $20,000. The total funding for this project is $1,079,185.

    • The Jobs and Growth Fund provides funding to businesses and organizations to help create jobs and position local economies for long-term growth.

    • The Uquutaq Society was founded in November 2009 with the goal of expanding homelessness services to the most vulnerable citizens of Iqaluit, fill in gaps on the housing continuum by providing more options, and developing transition and support services to help Iqalummiut in maintaining safe and secure permanent housing.

    Associated links

    Contacts

    Kyle Allen
    Director of Communications, Parliamentary Affairs and Issues Management
    Office of the Minister of Northern Affairs, Minister Responsible for PrairiesCan, and Minister Responsible for CanNor
    kyle.allen@rcaanc-cirnac.gc.ca

    Craig Welsh
    Communications Advisor, Nunavut
    Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency (CanNor)
    craig.welsh@cannor.gc.ca

    Stay connected

    Follow CanNor on X, Facebook and LinkedIn.

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Speaker Johnson on the Ground in Storm Damaged Western North Carolina

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Mike Johnson (LA-04)

    Asheville, NC — Today, Speaker Johnson joined Representative Chuck Edwards (NC-11) and Senators Thom Tillis (R-NC) and Ted Budd (R-NC) in Western North Carolina to meet with first responders and families impacted by Hurricane Helene, which devastated communities in the Southeast last week. The delegation received multiple on-the-ground tours of the hurricane damage, and afterwards gave remarks to assembled local media.

    “I think it’s important for the Speaker of the House to come,” Speaker Johnson said to reporters. “It’s symbolic to show that it’s the whole of Congress that has our eyes and our attention, our prayers on the community here and those who are affected. We want them to know they will not be forgotten and that we will get recovery dollars to these communities as is needed.”

    “Before we left Congress two Wednesdays ago — we’re on day 13 post-storm here — but the day before Helene made landfall, Congress passed an appropriations, a continuing resolution to fund the government, and we included $20 billion to go to FEMA so that they would have what was necessary for the emergent needs, the urgent needs that followed the hurricane,” Speaker Johnson continued.

    “We supplied FEMA with the resources that it needed to respond directly,” Speaker Johnson concluded. “As of Monday, only 1% of those funds had actually been distributed. There’s concern that the federal response was too slow, and that needs to be addressed. But FEMA and the administration have the resources necessary right now to address the immediate needs.”

    “What happens next after a storm like this is that the states then do their individual assessments and calculations of the damages and then they submit that need to the federal government. Then Congress acts. So as soon as those calculations are prepared, Congress will act in a bipartisan fashion to supply what is needed to help these communities recover, the appropriate amount that the federal government should do.”

    Below are Speaker Johnson’s full remarks: 

    Well, we want to thank you all for being here. We took what really was a heart-breaking tour of the disaster area here. Helene did real damage across six states. Of course, over the last week or so, I’ve been in Georgia to see some of the devastation there. I went to Florida on the coast where the hurricane made landfall and devastated communities there. 

    But I think some of the worst devastation is probably right here in North Carolina, and that may be surprising to people. We don’t think of North Carolina and the mountains here in terms of hurricanes and floods normally, but this probably has been what they refer to as a thousand-year event. It’s devastating, and it’s heartbreaking to see the families, the small business owners, just the communities that are quite literally digging out from debris and all the terrible things that have been left behind the floods. 

    We went to Swannanoa and to Biltmore Village, and we’ve seen some of the most disaster I’ve seen in my life, and that’s saying a lot. 

    I’m from Louisiana where we know hurricanes, we know disasters of this magnitude. Katrina was almost 20 years ago. We’re still recovering in some ways from that in South Louisiana. So, we know these situations well, but it’s hard to see. What is encouraging is the spirit of the people. And we were at the First Baptist Church in Swannanoa there, and it’s become sort of a hub of a community activity where people and organizations and volunteers from all over the nation have come in to lend supplies and support and diapers and baby formula and medicine. 

    They set up what is effectively a makeshift hospital in the parking lot, and they have done such extraordinary work of serving and reaching people up into the hills and the mountains who were unreachable because bridges and roadways have been washed out. Some of the estimates we heard today that there may be as many as 615 roads and major thoroughfares in the state in western North Carolina that are severely damaged, and many will need to be rebuilt and replaced.

    You have bridges out all over the place. You’ve seen the devastation here in Biltmore Village where we are today. Historic levels of flooding and up to 20 feet in some places in these buildings and it will take a long, long time to recover. But the people are very resilient, and they remind us of what is best about America. And that’s the encouraging thing. 

    I came here, we wanted to be here to let them know that not only do they have extraordinary leadership in Congress, Congressman Chuck Edwards here and the Senators Ted Budd and Thom Tillis, also you have Virginia Foxx and Richard Hudson and Patrick McHenry, everyone who has anything to do with Western North Carolina has had all hands on deck working to serve the needs of their constituents and to be on the ground and deeply involved in what’s happening here. 

    But I think it’s important for the Speaker of the House to come as well. It’s symbolic to show that it’s the whole of Congress that has our eyes and our attention, our prayers on the community here and those who are affected. We want them to know they will not be forgotten and that we will get recovery dollars to these communities as is needed. 

    I want to point out that before we left Congress two Wednesdays ago, we’re on day 13 post-storm here, but the day before Helene made landfall, Congress passed an appropriations, a continuing resolution to fund the government, and we included $20 billion to go to FEMA so that they would have what was necessary for the emergent needs, the urgent needs that followed the hurricane. We knew that it would be a large one. Of course, we saw it. We had more than a week’s notice that that would happen. 

    And so, we supplied FEMA with the resources that it needed to respond directly. When I last checked, as of Monday, only 1% of those funds had actually been distributed. There’s concern that the federal response was a little too slow, and that needs to be addressed. But FEMA and the administration have the resources necessary right now to address the immediate needs. 

    What happens next after a storm like this is that the states then do their individual assessments and calculations of the damages and then they submit that need to the federal government. Then Congress acts. So as soon as those calculations are prepared, Congress will act in a bipartisan fashion to supply what is needed to help these communities recover, the appropriate amount that the federal government should do. 

    But it will take some time, sadly and unfortunately, for those calculations to be made. In the meantime, again, literally billions of dollars are sitting in accounts at FEMA with the administration to address the immediate needs. So, we’re hopeful that that can be done. I’ll just say this, and I want to yield to my colleagues here to say a word here to give the local perspective. 

    I want to tell you that one of the encouraging things is to see these valiant, heroic first responders, to see volunteers from churches and private organizations. Samaritan’s Purse has been on the ground, of course. Mercury One, there’s all these outside organizations. We saw the Red Cross here. There’s a lot of really good people, a lot of great Americans doing a lot of important work here. We saw people hugging one another and just leaning on one another and that’s what reminds you about what’s great about our country. We do this better than anybody. The private sector, neighbors, communities are the best in sticking together at a time like this. I was heartened to see state police troopers from Louisiana, my home state, who are here and those friends, they know hurricanes and disaster recovery really well. But there’s law enforcement from all around the country. There’s over a thousand troops deployed right now out of Fort Liberty and out of Kentucky that are out here in the mountains and doing what they do, recovery and rescue and removal of debris and anything that’s needed. So, we’ve seen the best of America. That’s what’s encouraging. We will rebuild, and better days are ahead.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Video: Lebanon, Palestine, Ukraine & other topics – Daily Press Briefing | United Nations

    Source: United Nations (Video News)

    Noon briefing by Farhan Haq, Deputy Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.

    Highlights:

    – Lebanon
    – Senior Personnel Appointment
    – Occupied Palestinian Territory
    – Lao PDR
    – Deputy Secretary-General
    – Libya
    – Sudan
    – South Sudan
    – Zambia
    – Ukraine
    – Nepal
    – Haiti
    – Senior Personnel Appointment
    – Nansen Award
    – Post Day
    – Briefings today and tomorrow

    Lebanon
    We have an update from our peacekeeping colleagues in southern Lebanon. Over the past 24 hours, the exchanges of fire between the Israel Defense Forces and Hizbullah have continued to intensify. Peacekeepers observe large-scale air strikes by Israel, mainly across southern Lebanon, concurrent with its ground activities in the areas of Marun ar-Ras, Bint Jbeil, Aytarun, Kafr Kila and Labbouneh. They have also continued to observe fire by Hizbullah towards Israel.
    The UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) has confirmed that yesterday [8 October] IDF personnel vacated their position in the vicinity of UNIFIL post UNP 6-52, although movement of IDF personnel and vehicles continues on a nearby road.
    Some UN positions have been impacted, sustaining damage from numerous incidents, including to a security camera at UNP 1-31, damage to perimeter walls, gunshots on a vehicle, and shrapnel damage to prefab accommodation. Fortunately, there are no reports of peacekeepers wounded.
    As we have been saying repeatedly, the safety and security of our peacekeepers is a paramount priority and is a shared responsibility of all parties.
    All parties must abide by their obligations under international law, including international humanitarian law.
    We also reiterate our call, both for immediate de-escalation and for the parties to return to a cessation of hostilities and the full implementation of Resolution 1701.

    Occupied Palestinian Territory
    Turning to Gaza, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs has an update on the situation in the northern areas. In recent days, Israeli authorities once again ordered more than 400,000 people who remain north of Wadi Gaza to move south, while at the same time tightening access restrictions and expanding military operations in the north. Crossing points into northern Gaza have been largely closed for both humanitarian and commercial supplies. Checkpoints inside Gaza are only permitting civilians to move south — and allowing just a trickle of humanitarian movement into the north.
    OCHA warns that these developments are forcing services critical for people’s survival to shut down one by one. According to the UN Relief and Works Agency, seven schools sheltering displaced people are being evacuated, and only two of eight water wells in the Jabalya refugee camp remain functional.
    The north is also facing severe shortages of bread and food supplies. Explosive munitions burned down the only bakery supported by the World Food Programme in Jabalya refugee camp.
    Today, OCHA and the World Health Organization tried to reach northern Gaza to support the Kamal Adwan hospital, after Israeli authorities ordered its immediate evacuation. After receiving a green light from the Israeli authorities for the mission, the team was forced to wait at a holding point for many hours. Ultimately, the mission had to be aborted.
    Despite these challenges, aid workers are seizing any opportunity to support people in northern Gaza. UNRWA is utilizing limited stocks already in the north to distribute high-energy biscuits from WFP to children in designated shelters and delivering bread bundles to families in certain areas. Hot meals are being distributed by our partners to newly displaced families, some of whom are also receiving tents. And water is being delivered using trucks.

    Ukraine
    Turning to Ukraine, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs says intense attacks in the south and east of the country this week have killed and injured dozens of civilians and damaged homes, a hospital and schools.
    Authorities and partners on the ground in the southern city of Kherson report that about 20 civilians – including children – were injured in attacks on Monday. At least 280 apartments in 10 buildings were also damaged.
    NGOs have mobilized emergency assistance – including first aid, food kits and shelter materials – to help families cover the damage to their homes as winter approaches.
    Aid workers continue to provide emergency support, including in Chornomorsk Town in the Odesa Region, where attacks yesterday and today injured five civilians and damaged multiple homes and a hospital. Those affected received emergency shelter kits and psychosocial support, as well as child protection and case management services.
    OCHA saus that inter-agency convoys also reached war-affected communities in the Kharkiv and Kherson regions this week, delivering essential hygiene supplies, winter clothes, blankets and charging stations.

    Full Highlights: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/noon-briefing-highlight?date%5Bvalue%5D%5Bdate%5D=09%20October%202024

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6og5F7aYTRc

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Kaptur Announces Over $3 Million in New Federal Funding for NW Ohio Fire Departments

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (OH-09)

    Toledo, Ohio – Today, during National Fire Prevention Week, Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (OH-09), a senior Member of the House Appropriations Committee and of the House Fire Caucus announced $3,052,523 in critical federal funding she helped to secure. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Assistance to Firefighter Grant (AFG) and Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) programs will award 9 Fire Departments across Northwest Ohio new funding to ensure that first responders have the resources and manpower they need to protect local communities. These awards will provide essential funding for equipment, protective gear, vehicle acquisition, hiring, and training, enabling fire department to respond more effectively to emergencies and keep both the public and our emergency personnel safe.

    The 9 Fire Departments in Northwest receiving AFG and SAFER funding are:

    • Village of Sherwood Volunteer Fire Department – $75,428
      • The AFG funds will help the Village of Sherwood Volunteer Fire Department in Defiance County to afford operations and safety improvements, including the purchase of 8 new Self Contained Breathing Apparatuses (SCBA’s) and replace outdated ones.
    • City of Wauseon Fire Department – $53,522
      • The AFG funds will allow the City of Wauseon in Fulton County to purchase a Three Drop Source Capture Exhaust System that will help ensure all Fire Apparatus can utilize the system when parked in the bay. This will minimize their staff’s exposure to cancer causing exhaust contaminants. The City of Wauseon share of the cost is $2,676.14.
    • Village of Whitehouse Fire Department – $294,214
      • The AFG funds will be used by the Village of Whitehouse in Lucas County to upgrade operations and safety with new Self Contained Breathing Apparatuses (SCBA’s).
    • City of Vermilion Volunteer Fire Department – $302,182
      • The AFG funds will be used by the City of Vermillion in Erie County to upgrade operations and safety by replacing outdated air packs for firefighters to better and more safely protect residents
    • Village of Kelleys Island Volunteer Fire Department – $75,361
      • The AFG funds will be used by the Village of Kelleys Island in Erie County for operations and equipment, and will replace aged firehose, handline nozzles, and an additional ground monitor. This equipment will not only be an upgrade, but it will be major upgrades that meet current standards replacing outdated hoses that are 20-30 years old, many of which were donated by other fire departments.
    • City of Huron Fire Department – $135,523
      • The AFG funds will be used by the City of Huron in Erie County to replace bunker gear for the entire department. This will ensure the department is compliant with safety and equipment upgrades.
    • Monclova Township Fire Department – $1,013,046
      • The SAFER funds will be used by Monclova Township in Lucas County for the hiring of additional full-time firefighters for their department, including wages and benefits.
    • Village of Oak Harbor, Portage Fire District – $163,428
      • The AFG funds will be used by the Village of Oak Harbor in Ottawa County for operations and safety improvements and upgrades, including the replacement of soon to be outdated Self Contained Breathing Apparatuses (SCBA’s).
    • City of Northwood Fire Department – $939,819
      • The SAFER funds will be used by the City of Northwood in Wood County for the hiring of 3 additional full-time firefighters for their department, including wages and benefits.

    “Our firefighters and first responders are the ones on the frontlines, running toward danger when others are running in the other direction. They deserve nothing less than the best tools and training to stay safe while protecting our communities,” said Congresswoman Kaptur (OH-09). “This funding will give them exactly that — critical gear, better pay, new vehicles, and equipment upgrades to better protect them as they respond to emergencies and safeguard lives across Northwest Ohio.”

    “With the purchase of the SCBA’s this promotes safety for the public and especially for our firefighters by getting equipment we could not afford to replace. SCBA’s are one of the most essential tools of personal protection for the fire rescue personnel, and will allow them to operate more efficiently,” said Village of Sherwood Fire Chief Darrel Rock.

    “This additional Three Drop Source Capture System ensures that all Wauseon Fire Apparatus can utilize the system when parked in the apparatus bay, therefore, minimizing the exposure our staff have to cancer causing exhaust contaminants. It is important that when our staff come to work, they are provided with a work environment that minimizes any negative exposure that could harm them or be taken home to their families,” said Wauseon Fire Chief Phil Kessler.  “The Assistance to Firefighter Grant Program is extremely important to fire departments across the nation. These funds allow us to invest in our staff, the infrastructure and most importantly the community. Most departments would not be able to procure many of these much-needed items.”

    “The Assistance to Firefighters Grant significantly benefits The Village of Whitehouse by providing funds to upgrade Self-Contained Breathing Apparatuses. This upgrade will impact Whitehouse and surrounding areas by improving Firefighter Safety, embracing new technology, and ensuring operational readiness including mutual aid responses,” said Whitehouse Fire Chief Jason Francis. “As funding is challenging for some communities, this award allows us to replace our outdated equipment that would have been challenging based on our current financial situation.”

    “Congresswoman Kaptur’s FEMA Assistance to Firefighters Grant of $302,182  for the City of  Vermilion Volunteer Fire Department was a true game changer for our community,” said Vermillion Mayor Jim Forthofer. “It allows us to replace the outdated air packs to protect our firefighters as they protect our residents. It also releases funds back to the general community for other worthy purposes. Congresswoman Kaptur is a real friend of Vermilion, especially its first responders”

    “Absolutely, we were very fortunate to receive the funding and it is a financial game-changer for the City,” said Vermillion Fire Chief William H. Brown.

    “First of all, I must express our appreciation of this award from not only from our fire department but also our community as a whole. Our community presents itself with unique fire suppression challenges,” said Kelleys Island Assistant Fire Chief Charles Ehrbar. “We are on Kelleys Island on Lake Erie with a little over 120 year-round residences but our summertime population can near 5,000. We have a roster of only 17 volunteer firefighters. The area of the island is approximately 2 miles by 4 miles. We are now experiencing an influx of new builds of larger and taller residential and commercial structures. Being on an island that is accessed only by ferry and aircraft, in the event of a fire incident, our mutual aid is at best one and a half hours for response, if they can respond at all. That being said, we are on our own and must make the best of any situation. This new and updated equipment gives us an advantage of technology and dependability that we certainly did not have prior to this award.”

    “This grant has allowed us to continue serving the citizens and businesses of our service area along with assisting other surrounding fire departments,” said Portage Fire Chief Antonio Hand.

    These new funding announcements follow a $671,428 award for Ney-Washington Township in August 2024, a $952,380 award to the City of Defiance in July 2023, and a $110,014.28 award to the City of Wauseon in June 2023 all secured through FEMA’s AFG program.

    The Assistance to Firefighters Grant program, established in 2001, provides funding to meet the needs of fire departments and non-affiliated emergency medical service organizations. AFG awards are designed to help these agencies obtain the necessary resources to protect the public and emergency personnel from fire-related hazards. In fiscal year 2023 alone, FEMA distributed 1,616 AFG awards, totaling $289.2 Million.

    # # #

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Gov. Kemp Hosts Final Roundtable on Litigation Reform

    Source: US State of Georgia

    Atlanta, GA – Governor Brian P. Kemp hosted leaders from Georgia businesses and policymakers today for a roundtable discussion on civil litigation and its impact on the state’s economic wellbeing. This was the final of three roundtable events announced by Governor Kemp for this Fall. Today’s session at the headquarters of the iconic Georgia brand Waffle House provided further insight from major employers on how best to approach this topic in the upcoming legislative session. Participants on the panel included representatives from 12 Georgia businesses across various industries.

    “As the No. 1 state for business for 11 consecutive years, we have always made it a priority to foster a pro-business environment that empowers job creators to create opportunity for the hardworking people of Georgia,” said Governor Brian Kemp. “The unfortunate reality is our current litigation climate has led to increased costs for consumers and a higher barrier to entry for those who want to create jobs in our state. As we prepare to address this issue, these listening sessions have allowed us to hear from a diverse group of stakeholders who have shared thoughtful input that will inform our next steps.”

    Governor Kemp hosted the first roundtable on the state’s civil litigation climate in August, hearing from small business leaders on the direct impacts of ballooning civil lawsuits on their operations. This was followed by a roundtable on healthcare civil litigation issues in September, during which healthcare leaders shared the challenges they face in providing care for patients in the current legal climate. The first step in a multi-phase effort to address the issue of litigation reform was taken in the 2024 legislative session with the passage of the Data Analysis for Tort Reform Act, sponsored by the governor’s Floor Leader Rep. Will Wade, which created a mechanism to gather needed information that will guide next steps. Both chambers of the General Assembly also worked on legislation during the 2024 session specific to the issue of civil litigation, including SB 426 and SB 83. Both the Senate and House of Representatives will remain valued partners in the broader effort to address soaring costs due to civil litigation.

    “My priority continues to be removing barriers and unnecessary burdens for businesses across Georgia,” said Lieutenant Governor Burt Jones. “We need to focus on sensible legislation addressing lawsuit reform that will grow Georgia’s workforce and encourage businesses to hire hardworking citizens. I want to thank Governor Brian Kemp for holding these listening sessions so we can hear input from all stakeholders leading up to the 2025 session, when we will address this issue.”

    “I want to thank Governor Kemp for hosting this series of policy roundtable discussions with stakeholders across the state,” said Speaker of the House Jon Burns. “As we continue to gather facts and consider sensible measures to keep Georgia the number one place for business, we recognize there is still more work to be done in order to balance the scales in our courtrooms and level the playing field for every Georgian and our thriving business community.”

    “When I think about lawsuit abuse reform, I think about the thousands of Georgia families who will be stuck in food deserts and struggle to meet their basic needs when these stores are forced to close,” said Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner John King. “I think about the small business owners, who cannot afford their insurance because they must pay for the criminal actions of people who may come to their business. As we continue to discuss the impacts that lawsuit abuse reform will have on our state, and the necessity for its passage this upcoming session, I want us to remember who and what is really at stake.”

    In his remarks opening the roundtable discussion, Governor Kemp discussed the challenges the current climate has placed on Georgia’s economic wellbeing while reiterating his commitment to hearing from all sides on this issue.

    “On behalf of Waffle House, I’d like to thank Governor Kemp, Lt. Governor Jones, Speaker Burns, Commissioner King and the members of the General Assembly for their commitment to addressing the current civil litigation crisis in Georgia,” said Joe Rogers III, CEO of Waffle House. “We look forward to working together on common sense reforms that will restore balance and level the playing field for all Georgians.“

    Participants discussed the impacts of Georgia’s civil litigation climate and its effect on insurance rates and availability and their impact on rising costs for businesses and consumers across the state. Easing the economic burden on Georgians is a top priority of both Governor Kemp and the General Assembly, and that includes taking action to stabilize costs as families continue dealing with the effects of record inflation.

    Hosted by Waffle House, Governor Kemp is grateful to all who participated in today’s roundtable as well as the entire listening session tour. The governor looks forward to continued engagement on this issue as the legislative session approaches.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Murphy Seeks DOT Guidance To Improve Roadway Safety And Address Traffic Fatalities In Letter To Secretary Buttigieg

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Connecticut – Chris Murphy

    October 09, 2024

    HARTFORD—U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) on Wednesday sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg asking for details on the Department of Transportation’s (DOT) efforts to improve roadway safety. Murphy referenced the recent tragic deaths of Connecticut Trooper First Class Aaron Pelletier and ConnDOT worker Andrew DiDomenico, as well as his own Walk Across Connecticut, where he saw dangerous driving conditions firsthand. Expressing concern over rising traffic fatalities in Connecticut, Murphy requested additional information on specific measures being implemented, strategies to address dangerous driving behaviors, and how federal and state governments can collaborate to enhance roadway safety.

    “There were 169 traffic fatalities in Connecticut during the first half of 2024,” Murphy wrote. “This year, Connecticut has also been devastated by several high-profile roadway fatalities. In May, Connecticut Trooper First Class Aaron Pelletier was struck and killed in the line of duty while working at a traffic stop on Interstate 84. In July, a Connecticut Department of Transportation worker, Andrew DiDomenico, died after being struck by a vehicle on Interstate 91. While these two accidents garnered significant attention across the state, there are many more families dealing with the pain of losing a loved one in a traffic accident.”

    Murphy continued: “My office and I regularly hear from constituents about roadway safety. The primary issues identified are drivers traveling at high speed, ignoring traffic signs, and driving while distracted.  During my annual walk across Connecticut, I spoke with a group of road construction workers who told me that they are noticing an uptick in dangerous driving behavior. I also regularly meet with a group of middle school children who advise me on a range of policy issues, and in our conversations these students regularly who tell me how reckless driving can make their walk to school scary and more dangerous. While I understand there is no perfect policy solution or initiative that will eliminate traffic accidents completely, I am writing to inquire what more can be done to protect people on our roadways and seek your Department’s expert opinion on best practices to decrease roadway fatalities.”

    Full text of the letter is available HERE and below:

    Dear Secretary Buttigieg,

    I am writing to inquire about the Department of Transportation’s work on highway safety. Unfortunately, as you are aware, there were 169 traffic fatalities in Connecticut during the first half of 2024. This year, Connecticut has also been devastated by several high-profile roadway fatalities. In May, Connecticut Trooper First Class Aaron Pelletier was struck and killed in the line of duty while working at a traffic stop on Interstate 84. In July, a Connecticut Department of Transportation worker, Andrew DiDomenico, died after being struck by a vehicle on Interstate 91. While these two accidents garnered significant attention across the state, there are many more families dealing with the pain of losing a loved one in a traffic accident.

    My office and I regularly hear from constituents about roadway safety. The primary issues identified are drivers traveling at high speed, ignoring traffic signs, and driving while distracted.  During my annual walk across Connecticut, I spoke with a group of road construction workers who told me that they are noticing an uptick in dangerous driving behavior. I also regularly meet with a group of middle school children who advise me on a range of policy issues, and in our conversations these students regularly who tell me how reckless driving can make their walk to school scary and more dangerous.

    While I understand there is no perfect policy solution or initiative that will eliminate traffic accidents completely, I am writing to inquire what more can be done to protect people on our roadways and seek your Department’s expert opinion on best practices to decrease roadway fatalities. To that end, I am requesting your answers and input on the following questions:

    1. What specific measures is the Department of Transportation implementing under the National Roadway Safety Strategy to address the alarming rise in traffic fatalities, particularly in Northeast states like Connecticut?
    2. What strategies are being developed to combat issues such as high-speed driving, ignoring traffic signs, and distracted driving? Are there any new initiatives on these issues forthcoming?
    3. Has there been an increase in accidents involving young or less experienced drivers? What targeted programs or campaigns does the Department plan to introduce to improve their safety on the roads?
    4. How is the Department of Transportation engaging with local communities, such as schools and construction sites, to gather insights on roadway safety concerns and to promote safer driving practices?
    5. How can state governments like Connecticut better collaborate with the federal government to enhance roadway safety and address specific local concerns?
    6. What additional actions can Congress take to better enable your agency to address this issue?

    Thank you for your attention to this important matter. I look forward to continuing to work with you to build safer roadways that improve safety and the travel experience for the American people.

    Sincerely,

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Ecuador formally accepts Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies

    Source: World Trade Organization

    Director-General Okonjo-Iweala said: “I warmly welcome Ecuador’s formal acceptance of the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies. As one of the largest tuna exporters in the world and the proud steward of the Galapagos islands, Ecuador stands to gain immensely from this global commitment to curb harmful fisheries subsidies. This Agreement will not only preserve marine biodiversity but will also secure long-term economic opportunities for the nation.”

    Ambassador Valencia said: “It is an honour to present, on behalf of Ecuador, the instrument of acceptance of the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies, the first WTO instrument that promotes trade regulations while considering the sustainability of the oceans. The acceptance of this Agreement reaffirms Ecuador’s and its government’s firm commitment to promoting the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 14.6, protecting the life cycles of marine populations, improving the living conditions of citizens who depend on fishing activities—particularly the most economically vulnerable communities—and promoting transparency by prohibiting subsidies to harmful activities such as illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing.”

    Ecuador’s instrument of acceptance brings to 84 the total number of WTO members that have formally accepted the Agreement. Twenty-seven more formal acceptances are needed for the Agreement to come into effect. The Agreement will enter into force upon acceptance by two-thirds of the membership.

    Adopted by consensus at the WTO’s 12th Ministerial Conference (MC12), held in Geneva on 12-17 June 2022, the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies sets new, binding, multilateral rules to curb harmful subsidies, which are a key factor in the widespread depletion of the world’s fish stocks. In addition, the Agreement recognizes the needs of developing economies and least-developed countries and establishes a fund to provide technical assistance and capacity building to help them implement the obligations.

    The Agreement prohibits subsidies for illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, for fishing overfished stocks, and for fishing on the unregulated high seas.

    Members also agreed at MC12 to continue negotiations on outstanding issues, with a view to adopting additional provisions that would further enhance the disciplines of the Agreement.

    The full text of the Agreement can be accessed here. The list of members that have deposited their instruments of acceptance is available here. Information for members on how to accept the Protocol of Amendment is available here.

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    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: DDG Ellard urges swift action on fisheries subsidies to aid Pacific sustainability goals

    Source: WTO

    Headline: DDG Ellard urges swift action on fisheries subsidies to aid Pacific sustainability goals

    Thank you, and good afternoon, distinguished excellencies and to all.
    I appreciate the invitation to engage with you on the pressing environmental challenges confronting the Pacific region, and how a multilateral approach can help tackle those challenges and foster sustainable solutions. 
    Severely affected by the triple planetary crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution, the Pacific Islands have a unique understanding of how trade and trade policy can contribute to addressing these challenges. And that’s why I’m so pleased that this discussion is taking place at the WTO.
    Trade is vital for climate adaptation and resilience, because it facilitates the development and dissemination of adaptation technologies, improves access to essential goods and services during climate shocks, and fosters synergies between climate finance and trade aid to bolster supply chains and trade-related infrastructure.
    The participation and leadership of the Pacific Islands at the WTO in addressing environmental challenges is commendable, including through Fiji’s role as a co-coordinator of the Dialogue on Plastics Pollution and Environmentally Sustainable Plastics Trade (DPP).
    I encourage you to continue bringing forward your interests in the Committee on Trade and Environment, as well as in other environmental initiatives at the WTO to ensure that trade policy supports your adaptation and energy transition efforts.
    Let me now turn to the issue of fisheries subsidies.
    I visited the Pacific in 2022 just as two important and complementary events coincided:
    the adoption of the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies at MC12, and   
    the adoption of the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent by the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders.
    There are many synergies between these two historic achievements, paving the way toward a sustainable, prosperous, and resilient Pacific region.
    As the 2050 Strategy underscores, the Pacific islands countries are the custodians of nearly 20% of the earth’s surface, including vast swaths of ocean.  During my visits to the Pacific, I have witnessed firsthand how the ocean is central not only to the economies of the region, but also to the core identity of its people. Therefore, it is particularly fitting that, through the 2050 Strategy, all Pacific governments have committed to collective action to improve the health of the ocean and prevent the over-exploitation of its resources.
    As we know, the Western and Central Pacific Ocean is home to one of the world’s largest fisheries, supplying more than half of the world’s tuna from predominantly sustainable stocks. However, the sustainability of fishery resources in the Pacific and worldwide, is threatened by harmful subsidies, which total around USD 22 billion annually.
    The WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies is a decisive response to these challenges. It prohibits subsidies to vessels involved in illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU fishing), and to fishing in the unregulated high seas. It also restricts subsidies for activities affecting overfished stocks, unless they are implemented to rebuild the stocks to a biologically sustainable level. By enhancing transparency and enforcing these rules, the Agreement promises significant benefits for fishing communities across the region, aligning with the Blue Pacific Strategy.
    However, this potential will be realized only when the Agreement enters into force, which requires ratification by 2/3 of our 166 Members. To date, we have received 83 out of the 111 instruments of acceptance, and our goal is to hit the required target by the end of the year. The process for acceptance is well under way in many WTO Members, and I strongly urge those who have not yet ratified – including in the Pacific, where fisheries are so vital – to do so as soon as possible.
    I should emphasize that ratification unlocks access to the technical assistance and capacity-building from the WTO Fish Fund. We have more than USD 12 million in the bank, in addition to resources provided by the FAO and the World Bank, our partners in the Fund. This Fund will help developing and LDC Members implement the Agreement and improve their fisheries management – the Fund demonstrates the commitment to work closely with developing Members and LDCs every step of the way.
    But we know our negotiating work is not done.  I encourage Members to constructively engage on the ongoing negotiations on fisheries subsidies contributing to overcapacity and overfishing – Fish 2 – which, together with Fish 1, would constitute comprehensive disciplines to fully meet UN SDG 14.6.  As you know, although WTO Members have not reached an agreement on these provisions yet, they did make significant progress, and we are very close. The four-year sunset clause in Fish 1, initially proposed by the Pacific region, creates a powerful incentive to conclude these negotiations quickly. 
    While the current text may not be ideal or perfect for all, most developing and developed Members believe that it would improve the status quo, perhaps with a few adjustments that are well socialized with the Membership.
    The latest version of the new disciplines circulated by the Chair of the negotiations is a balanced approach.  On one hand, it contains strong disciplines on the largest fishers and subsidizers, as well as those engaged in distant water fishing.    
    On the other hand, the text exempts small-scale and artisanal fishing from its disciplines, as well as least developed Members and small fishing nations. It also includes a review clause to assess the effectiveness of disciplines, with the possibility to amend the Agreement later.
    Sustainable fisheries are crucial for the livelihoods of those who depend on them. The adoption and entry into force of both WTO fisheries agreements will therefore go a long way to helping Pacific nations fulfil the commitments in 2050 Strategy.
    I know we can count on the Pacific and all Members for their continued deep and earnest engagement. At this point, concluding Fish 2 will require significant commitment at the highest political level, to complete negotiations on Fish 2, and to ensure the ratification and entry into force of Fish 1. And so much is at stake, for our ocean, the fish, and those whose livelihood depends on them.  Whether we can finish our work is completely in Members’ – your – hands. 
    Thank you.

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  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Rural News – Southland Federated Farmers to boycott Fish & Game

    Source: Federated Farmers

    Federated Farmers Southland are calling for local farmers to boycott Fish & Game and remove fishing access across their land.
    “Farmers have always allowed anglers to walk across their land as a gesture of goodwill but, unfortunately, that goodwill has been completely eroded by Southland Fish & Game,” Federated Farmers Southland president Jason Herrick says.
    “We’re fed up with Southland Fish & Game’s persistent, belligerent anti-farming rhetoric and their opposition to everything we do.
    “We’ve tried our best to maintain our relationship with them, but they’ve washed that relationship away down the Mataura River.
    “We’re now calling for local farmers to join us in boycotting fishing licences, and to remove fishing access by taking down access signs.
    “Farmers can replace those signs with an orange ribbon to show their frustration with Fish & Game, and anyone else who wants to show their support could do that by attaching an orange ribbon to their roadside gate as well.
    “I want to be very clear: we’re not asking farmers to destroy access signs, but they can return their signs to Southland Fish and Game if they like.”
    Herrick emphasises that the boycott is in Southland only.
    He says the decision has been sparked by a recent court decision that would require more than 3000 Southland farmers to apply for a resource consent just to continue farming.
    “Southland Fish & Game were one of the main groups pushing for that decision, which is an absolute kick in the guts for farmers down here,” Herrick says.
    “This has come on top of a raft of challenges from Fish & Game, including on gravel management and management of flooding in the Waituna Lagoon area.
    “It’s the last straw and we’re now taking action.
    “Southland Fish & Game are using licence funds against farmers and against all New Zealanders by making land use so difficult.
    “They’ve destroyed the goodwill of farmers – and we’ve had enough.” 

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: WTO Fish Fund Steering Committee meeting focuses on preparing for full operations

    Source: WTO

    Headline: WTO Fish Fund Steering Committee meeting focuses on preparing for full operations

    The meeting brought together key stakeholders working for the operationalization of the Fish Fund in support of developing and least-developed country (LDC) members’ implementation of the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies.
    “Last time we gathered in July for the Second Steering Committee meeting, I remarked how impressive it was that this Steering Committee had so quickly achieved tangible results and was about to deliberate on the framework documents that will enable the Fish Fund to begin its operations,” Deputy Director-General Angela Ellard said at the meeting. “Since then, I have been following the Committee’s work very closely, and I can see from today’s full agenda that your remarkable efforts are continuing to deliver results.”
    DDG Ellard reported that the Fund has received close to USD 12 million from donors and has signed contribution agreements for more than USD 3.5 million. The members that have contributed to the Fund thus far are Australia, Canada, the European Union, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Liechtenstein, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, and most recently the United Arab Emirates. The United Kingdom has pledged GBP 1 million.
    “These resources will have a real impact, and members are waiting to put them to good use,” DDG Ellard said.
    The Secretariat updated the Steering Committee that the consulting firm Dalberg was selected through a procurement process to develop the Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) framework for the Fish Fund. The Manager of the Fish Fund reported on progress in planning for future calls for project proposals to be supported by the Fund and other updates on strategy, budget, staffing, and communications.
    The meeting also featured a presentation from the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) on its Self-Assessment Tool for implementing the Fisheries Subsidies Agreement. Belize shared its experiences using this tool.  The Seychelles Fishing Authority unveiled a project to upgrade its fisheries management system.
    Because the new Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies will involve adjustments and enhancements to WTO members’ legislative and administrative frameworks, their transparency and notification obligations, and their fisheries management policies and practices, Article 7 of the Agreement provides for the creation of a voluntary funding mechanism to provide targeted technical assistance and capacity building to help developing and least developed country members with implementation. For the Agreement to enter into force, two-thirds of members have to deposit their “instruments of acceptance” with the WTO. Eighty-four WTO members have formally accepted the Agreement; twenty-seven more are needed for the Agreement to come into effect. Resources from the WTO Fish Fund will be available to members once they have deposited their instrument of acceptance.
    The list of members that have deposited their instruments of acceptance is available here. More information on the Fund is available here.

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    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Golden urges regulators to adopt proposed delay to lobster gauge increase, calls for level playing field with Canadian lobstermen

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02)

    WASHINGTON — Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02) yesterday sent a letter urging the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASFMC) to formally adopt a delay to a lobster gauge increase in the Gulf of Maine until at least July 2025. He called on the Commission to gather more accurate lobster stock data in the meantime while also addressing the unequal regulatory burden between Maine and Canadian lobstermen.

    “It is my hope that the ASFMC will ultimately support a long-term pause of the amendment to allow additional time for the technical committee to consider the stock’s health more carefully.…” Golden wrote. “…These efforts should coincide with robust engagement with your Canadian counterparts to address the regulatory disparity between American and Canadian lobstermen and create a level playing field for all harvesters in the Gulf of Maine.”

    Lobstermen gauge the size of a lobster by measuring its carapace from eye socket to tail. Lobsters that are smaller than the minimum gauge size must be put back in the water so they can grow, protecting the lobster population for the future. According to the ASMFC, lobster stock decline in Lobster Management Area 1 has surpassed 35 percent — the trigger point for an automatic increase in allowable catch size from 3 1/4 inches to 3 5/16 inches. However, Maine fishermen have questioned the data used to justify these changes, including concerns that ASMFC stock data is out of date. 

    This new rule — known as Addendum 27 — was originally scheduled to begin in January 2025. Following calls in April and August from Golden and industry leaders, ASMFC voted to approve a delay until July 2025. However, the Commission has yet to formally adopt the measure — Addendum 31 — which means implementation is still currently slated for January.  

    In his letter, Golden noted that moving forward with the gauge increase is estimated to cause theloss of more than 680 jobs and $59.6 million to Maine’s economy. Any such change in the Gulf of Maine would not apply to Canadian lobstermen.

    “The New England Fishermen’s Stewardship Association would like to express our gratitude to Congressman Golden for highlighting the problems associated with an increase in the minimum gauge size in area 1 for lobster,” Dustin Delano, a lobsterman and chief operating officer of the New England Fishermen’s Stewardship Association said. “We feel the many negative, unintended consequences in this ‘proactive approach’ in management were severely overlooked, will cause major disruptions to the market, and place American dealers and harvesters at a major disadvantage from their Canadian counterparts.”

    “Congressman Golden’s support to review data used to regulate the lobster fishery is vital to the fishermen’s survival,” Virginia Olsen, commercial lobsterman and director of the Maine Lobstering Union said. “The last thing our industry needs is rules with unintended consequences.”  

    In July, Golden introduced a bipartisan amendment to the federal budget that would block any proposed gauge increase for one year. 

    Golden’s newest letter can be found here, and is included below in full:

     

    +++

     

    October 8, 2024

    Robert Beal
    Executive Director
    Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission
    1050 North Highland St, Suite 200 A-N
    Arlington, VA 22201

    Dear Director Beal and Commissioners,

    I am writing to you again requesting that the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) and the American Lobster Board delay the implementation of the Lobster Management Area 1 gauge increase, Addendum XXVII, currently scheduled to begin in January 2025. While I believe that the proposal as written in Addendum XXXI to delay a gauge increase until July 1, 2025, is the better of the two options presented by the ASMFC, I encourage the Commission to proceed solely based on the full consideration of all data sources and a commitment from Canadian regulators to enhance their conservation measures.

    As you know, the intent of Addendum XXVII is to mitigate declining stocks of American lobster proactively, a goal shared by harvesters, dealers, and the ASFMC. In my conversations with lobstermen and dealers, it has always been clear that their top concerns are the sustainability of the stock and the ability for it to be harvested by future generations. That is why, as I previously stated in my letter to you on April 29, 2024, I am concerned that the data used to arrive at the trigger index for a gauge increase is overly precautionary and has limitations that do not entirely reflect the current status of the stock.

    It is my hope that the ASFMC will ultimately support a long-term pause of the amendment to allow additional time for the technical committee to consider the stock’s health more carefully while considering other resiliency measures and incorporating thorough scientific data and objective analysis acceptable to regulators and members of the commercial lobster fishery. Other data that has not been considered or will become available include mandatory harvester reporting, the conservation equivalent from a reduction of overall lobster licenses, and the 2025 lobster stock assessment. These efforts should coincide with robust engagement with your Canadian counterparts to address the regulatory disparity between American and Canadian lobstermen and create a level playing field for all harvesters in the Gulf of Maine.

    Without a longer-term pause, devastating economic consequences are on the horizon for Maine’s lobster industry. For the latest year data is available, it is estimated that if Addendum XXVII goes into effect, it would decrease the value of lobster landings, resulting in a loss of over 680 jobs and $59.6 million to Maine’s economy. I am deeply concerned about how this economic impact would impact the industry and the hundreds of communities in Maine that depend on a viable lobster fishery. Few involved in the fishery or these communities are adequately prepared for the economic disruption that would likely occur.

    These decisions must always include those with significant experience, the harvesters themselves. I trust that you, as the regulators, will also consider and incorporate their invaluable input in matters before you.

    Sincerely,

     

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Police acknowledge IPCA findings into serious crash – Christchurch

    Source: New Zealand Police (District News)

    Police acknowledge the findings by the Independent Police Conduct Authority which found that a Christchurch dog handler was justified in signalling a stolen vehicle to stop moments before it was involved in a serious crash.

    The incident occurred in the early hours of 22 October 2022. Three stolen vehicles were travelling in convoy in the CBD area. The police dog handler was looking for them, travelling slowly along Stanmore Road, when one of the stolen cars drove out of a side street without stopping, colliding with the front of the dog van.

    The stolen car continued at speed and the dog handler immediately activated his lights and sirens to signal the vehicle to stop. However, due to the speed and erratic manner of driving, the handler made the quick decision to deactivate his lights and sirens, slow down and pull to the left.

    The stolen vehicle continued at high speed through a red light at the intersection with Gloucester Street, crashing into a vehicle travelling on a green light.

    One of the passengers of the stolen vehicle sustained serious injuries. Thankfully, the driver of the innocent vehicle did not suffer any injuries, and the driver and two other passengers of the offending vehicle were able to get out of the car and walk to the footpath.

    The entire incident from when the dog handler had his vehicle hit to the stolen vehicle crashing lasted just 24 seconds.

    Canterbury District Commander Superintendent Tony Hill says the officer made the right call to both signal to the vehicle to stop and to then to try and de-escalate the situation.

    “The dog handler made quick decisions based of the circumstances in front of him, all in a period of 24 seconds. That’s how unpredictable and dangerous these types of events can be.

    “It is unfortunate that the driver of this stolen vehicle showed little regard for anyone else, putting the lives of a member of the public, their own passengers and a police officer at risk,” says Superintendent Hill.

    “This is an example of the fast-moving and dynamic situations our officers are placed in every day, and I want to acknowledge this dog handler for his agile and decisive decision making during this incident.”

    Following the incident Police arrested four people aged between 10 and 15, and through Youth Court and Youth Aid, they each faced varying consequences for their actions.

    ENDS

    Issued by the Police Media Centre

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Reps. Lawler and Carbajal Introduce Bill to Strengthen Protections for Rail Workers

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Mike Lawler (R, NY-17)

    Yesterday, Congressman Mike Lawler (NY-17) joined Congressman Salud Carbajal (CA-24) in introducing legislation to strengthen protections for rail yardmasters by giving them the same protections as other rail yard workers. The bipartisan Railroad Yardmaster Protection Act would include railroad yardmasters under federal hours of service requirements which currently cover safety-sensitive rail workers such as locomotive engineers, conductors, switchmen, dispatchers, and signal employees. The bill has been endorsed by SMART, the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers. 

    “Railroad incidents have sparked major concerns here in my district and across America,” said Congressman Lawler. “Ensuring safe conditions for those who operate our railways is essential to ensuring the safety not only of these workers but also of the communities in which these railways operate. Unfortunately, yardmasters are exempt from existing hours of service laws despite the integral rial they play. The Railroad Yardmaster Protection Act will ensure safe conditions for these essential workers and I’m proud to join Congressman Carbajal in introducing this critical common sense legislation.”

    “Yardmasters serve a critical role in our nation’s railroad network. They oversee the operations of a rail yard and manage the duties of various rail workers” said Congressman Carbajal. “They not only direct the activities of their fellow workers but also passenger and freight trains when they arrive and depart. But currently, there are no limitations to the number of hours a yardmaster can work in a day, week, or month. This is not only dangerous for the well-being of the yardmasters but the safety of workers on the yard and train passengers.” 

    Congressman Lawler is one of the most bipartisan members of the 118th Congress and represents New York’s 17th Congressional District, which is just north of New York City and contains all or parts of Rockland, Putnam, Dutchess, and Westchester Counties.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Rural News – Southland Federated Farmers to boycott Fish & Game

    Source: Federated Farmers

    Federated Farmers Southland are calling for local farmers to boycott Fish & Game and remove fishing access across their land.
    “Farmers have always allowed anglers to walk across their land as a gesture of goodwill but, unfortunately, that goodwill has been completely eroded by Southland Fish & Game,” Federated Farmers Southland president Jason Herrick says.
    “We’re fed up with Southland Fish & Game’s persistent, belligerent anti-farming rhetoric and their opposition to everything we do.
    “We’ve tried our best to maintain our relationship with them, but they’ve washed that relationship away down the Mataura River.
    “We’re now calling for local farmers to join us in boycotting fishing licences, and to remove fishing access by taking down access signs.
    “Farmers can replace those signs with an orange ribbon to show their frustration with Fish & Game, and anyone else who wants to show their support could do that by attaching an orange ribbon to their roadside gate as well.
    “I want to be very clear: we’re not asking farmers to destroy access signs, but they can return their signs to Southland Fish and Game if they like.”
    Herrick emphasises that the boycott is in Southland only.
    He says the decision has been sparked by a recent court decision that would require more than 3000 Southland farmers to apply for a resource consent just to continue farming.
    “Southland Fish & Game were one of the main groups pushing for that decision, which is an absolute kick in the guts for farmers down here,” Herrick says.
    “This has come on top of a raft of challenges from Fish & Game, including on gravel management and management of flooding in the Waituna Lagoon area.
    “It’s the last straw and we’re now taking action.
    “Southland Fish & Game are using licence funds against farmers and against all New Zealanders by making land use so difficult.
    “They’ve destroyed the goodwill of farmers – and we’ve had enough.” 

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Local alcohol policy: Freeze on new liquor stores happening now

    Source: Auckland Council

    From Monday 16 September, 24 areas including Auckland’s city centre, will be subject to a freeze on the opening of new off-licences as Auckland’s local alcohol policy starts coming into effect. Pubs, bars and clubs will also need to carry out new practices designed to help keep customers safer. 

    The policy was voted for unanimously by councillors at a Governing Body meeting on 29 August this year. Councillor Josephine Bartley, chair of Auckland’s Regulatory and Safety Committee, says limiting the number of liquor stores in our neighbourhoods is something communities have asked for and is a step forward in creating a thriving, healthy and safe Tāmaki Makaurau.

    “When I grew up, my cousins and I could walk up to our neighbourhood shops and at the time, they consisted of a bakery, lawnmower shop, dairy, and a fish and chip shop. Today the same neighbourhood shops consist of a takeaway, dairy and a heavily branded liquor store. Children today are faced with liquor stores in their neighbourhoods and town centres like it’s a normal thing.

    “These communities have been crying out for change – wanting to see better for their neighbourhoods by objecting to new liquor stores opening up. They have said enough is enough!

    “The freeze aims to put a stop to new liquor stores opening in areas where alcohol is having a negative impact on peoples’ health, or there is already a high number of liquor stores in the area.”

    What changes today?

    From Monday 16 September, the District Licensing Committee (DLC) must consider the local alcohol policy when it’s assessing applications to open new off-licence premises, such as liquor stores, bottle shops and supermarkets selling alcohol. The policy recommends that applications to open off-licences in the city centre, as well as 23 other suburbs across Auckland, should be refused. These areas already have a high number of liquor stores and experience higher levels of alcohol-related harm.

    Rob Abbott, Principal Specialist Alcohol Licensing at Auckland Council says that new stores in the 24 areas subject to the freeze would need to meet a very high threshold for the DLC to consider granting a licence.

    “The local alcohol policy says that applications to open new off-licence premises, like bottle shops, in one of the 24 ‘freeze’ areas should be refused due to the high number of existing bottle shops in the area, and as these areas see higher instances of alcohol impacting on peoples’ health and safety. The DLC has to take this into consideration when it’s assessing applications. There would have to be a very, very good reason for a new licence to be granted.”

    ‘New’ off-licences are shops that have not been licensed to sell alcohol within the past six months. Existing stores in the areas can keep trading. This includes when ownership of a store is being transferred to another person, or when the licence comes up for renewal – as long as it continues to meet the required conditions.

    Outside of the 24 areas, applications for new off-licences in neighbourhood centres face a ‘rebuttable presumption’. Rob explains that this means it will also be tougher to open a new off-licence in other areas of Auckland.

    “There are over 400 neighbourhood centres across Auckland – they’re usually areas with rows of shops. The local alcohol policy will also make it more difficult to open a new off-licence in these areas,” he says.

    From September 16, the DLC will also assess applications for new alcohol licences and renewal of existing licences, to decide if they should have special conditions put on them. This will apply to off-licence premises, as well as pubs, bars and clubs, and includes requirements for them to do things like keep an incident register; display information on transport, such as taxis, to help customers get home safely; have CCTV; and train staff to a certain standard. 

    For more information on the local alcohol policy, visit OurAuckland or read the policy on the Auckland Council website.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressman Valadao Requests Answers for Central Valley Small Businesses

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman David G Valadao (CA-21)

    WASHINGTON –  Today, Congressman David G. Valadao (CA-22) sent a follow-up letter to IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel regarding delays in processing Employee Retention Tax Credit (ERTC) claims, a program created during the COVID-19 pandemic to help businesses keep people employed. In January of this year, Congressman Valadao wrote to Commissioner Werfel requesting answers and expressing concerns over the IRS’ significant issues with processing and payment of ERTC claims.

    Congressman Valadao highlighted the lack of communication from the IRS that has frustrated many small business owners: 

    “Businesses with legitimate ERTC claims deserve prompt processing and payment of their claims. Unfortunately, the IRS has not yet communicated the status of these claims or outlined the process for the analysis needed to complete their processing and payment,” Congressman Valadao wrote.

    While the IRS has made progress since the Congressman’s initial letter to investigate fraud and pay eligible claims, there are still thousands of small businesses waiting for their claim to be processed and paid:

    “The ERTC program was designed to provide crucial relief to businesses during the pandemic. While the steps the IRS has taken in recent months are essential for addressing these claims, I am concerned that the IRS response has been inadequate,” Congressman Valadao wrote.

    Congressman Valadao requested answers from the IRS on the current steps they’re taking to address these claims, including:

    • Will the IRS consider extending the 30-day period for taxpayers who received a disallowance letter to submit a protest? If not, why not?
    • How is the IRS reviewing the 60 to 70 percent of claims that have moderate level of risk? How is the IRS communicating the status of these claims with taxpayers?
    • In August, the IRS announced that 50,000 low-risk claims were moving into processing. Of these claims, how many have been paid?
    • Is the IRS working through ERTC cases that the Taxpayer Advocate Service is sending?

    Read the full text of the letter here.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Yes, nature is complex. But saving our precious environment means finding ways to measure it

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Brendan Wintle, Professor in Conservation Science, School of Ecosystem and Forest Science, The University of Melbourne

    Shutterstock

    Nature loss directly threatens half the global economy. The rapid destruction of biodiversity should alarm the many Australian businesses dependent on nature, such as those in agriculture, tourism, construction and food manufacturing. Yet nature considerations are often ignored in business decision-making.

    At the Global Nature Positive Summit in Sydney this week, scientists, politicians, conservationists and business leaders have gathered to discuss ways to help nature in Australia – not just by protecting it from damage, but improving it. Getting more businesses interested in – and taking positive action on – nature conservation is key to the talks.

    Reducing the environmental impact of a business first requires measuring that impact. It might seem an impossibly difficult task. After all, nature is a diverse and intricate web of connections. How can we capture that in a number?

    After all, nature is complex – but measuring how a business intersects with it need not be.

    Uncovering impacts on nature

    The fishing industry depends directly on stocks of wild fish. And a housing developer has a direct impact on nature if they clear natural vegetation to build a new suburb.

    Businesses interactions with nature can be indirect, too – for example, a margarine producer who uses canola oil from a grower who depends on bees for pollination. Builders might indirectly harm rainforests in Indonesia by buying timber grown there. A superannuation company investing in that developer is also having an indirect negative impact.

    From next year, Australian companies will be required to measure and report their climate impacts. While businesses are not yet required to disclose their impacts on nature more broadly, many are moving in that direction – both in Australia and globally.

    For example in 2022, more than 400 of the world’s largest corporations called for mandatory disclosure of nature impacts. They included Nestlé, Rio Tinto, L’Oréal, Sony and Volvo. And many early-adopter businesses have begun voluntary disclosures.

    Guidelines are available to help businesses understand and measure their impacts, however progress is slow. This is partly due to a perception from business that the task is too complex.

    Nature assessment is challenging. Unlike identifying a company’s contributions to climate change – by measuring tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions – there is no agreed single measure of impacts on nature.

    What’s more, different people ascribe different values to aspects of nature. Rightly or wrongly, for instance, most people would probably value a koala over a mosquito.

    What do you value more – a koala or a mosquito?
    Shutterstock

    Drawing on the expertise of ecologists

    Despite the difficulties, gauging the extent to which a business affects the environment can be done. Essentially, it involves three steps:

    1. understanding how a business broadly intersects with nature

    2. evaluating how specific business activities intersect with and put pressure on nature

    3. measuring and reporting the degree to which specific activities are impacting on the condition of nature. In other words, is the state of animals, plants and ecosystems improving or worsening?

    Online tools such as ENCORE can get businesses started on the first step – understanding a business’ broad impacts and dependency on nature.

    Many businesses are moving to the second stage – evaluating the specific business activities that put pressure on the environment, and determining the extent to which businesses depend on particular services ecosystems provide.

    The pressure a business places on nature can be measured via specific metrics, such as the amount of water consumed, air pollutants emitted, waste generated or area of land changed. Again, a suite of online tools and metrics can help with this.

    The next step is more complicated, yet essential. It requires businesses directly measuring their impacts on specific animals, plants and ecosystems. For this, we can turn to the expertise of ecologists.

    Individuals of a species can be hard to count, and extinction risk can be hard to measure. So ecologists often describe and monitor a species’ habitat – the environments in which a species can survive and reproduce – as a proxy for the fate of the species itself.

    Ecosystems – such as a rainforest, wetland or desert – can be described as being in good or poor condition. The rating depends on whether all the ecosystem’s plants, animals and other components are present, or whether unwanted components, such as weeds or invasive species, are found there.

    A graphic showing how ecologists measure the state of nature.
    TNFD

    In addition, maps, showing ecosystem condition and extent are available for much of Australia.

    Habitat mapping is also available for most threatened animals and plants, and thousands of other species. And mapping exists for World Heritage areas, important wetlands, national parks, Indigenous Protected Areas and other environment types.

    These resources are not difficult or expensive to access, and people and organisations with the skills to interpret and use such data are becoming more common.

    Some businesses are attempting these measurements. For example, plantation forestry company Forico last year prepared a natural capital report on a range of nature metrics, including the extent of species habitats, and assessment of vegetation condition.

    But many businesses are not yet grappling with this deeper nature analysis.

    This map, from ecosystem research organisation TERN, is one of many freely available to businesses seeking nature data.
    TERN

    Looking ahead

    We have the information and metrics to help businesses measure their impact on nature.

    Collaboration is urgently needed between business and nature experts, so the data available can be tailored to the needs of businesses, and presented in a form they can use.

    Governments can support this – for example by establishing accessible and practical online data platforms, and funding training for more nature experts who understand business.

    A new federal government agency, Environment Information Australia, will also hopefully become an important hub for data and information.

    By measuring what might seem immeasurable, businesses can become part of the solution to the nature crisis. There is cause for optimism – but no time to waste.

    Brendan Wintle has received funding from The Australian Research Council, the Victorian government, the NSW government, the Queensland government, the Commonwealth National Environmental Science Program, the Ian Potter Foundation, the Hermon Slade Foundation and the Australian Conservation Foundation. Wintle is a Board Director of Zoos Victoria and a lead councillor of the Biodiversity Council.

    Sarah Bekessy receives funding from the Australian Research Council, the National Health and Medical Research Council, the Ian Potter Foundation and the European Commission. She is a Lead Councillor with The Biodiversity Council, a board member of Bush Heritage Australia, a member of the WWF Eminent Scientists Group and an advisor to ELM Responsible Investment, the Living Building Challenge and Wood for Good.

    Simon O’Connor is affiliated with the Australian government as a member of the Minister for Environment and Water’s Nature Finance Council, and previously oversaw the national consultation group for the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures

    William Geary receives funding from the Victorian government and is associated with the Victorian Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action.

    – ref. Yes, nature is complex. But saving our precious environment means finding ways to measure it – https://theconversation.com/yes-nature-is-complex-but-saving-our-precious-environment-means-finding-ways-to-measure-it-240583

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Culture – Auckland Museum sinks its teeth into nature’s vampires

    Source: Auckland Museum

    Discover the fascinating science lurking beneath the surface of history’s most enduring legends at Tāmaki Paenga Hira Auckland War Memorial Museum in a new exhibition, Bloodsuckers: Legends to Leeches, open from Monday 9 December 2024 until Sunday 27 April 2025.

    Blood is a vital source of life for humans, and an abundant food source for an astounding 30,000 species across the globe, including birds, mammals, fish, insects, leeches, and flatworms. Bloodsuckers draws visitors into this world, starting on a microscopic level with the biology behind blood. Immersive experiences, larger-than-life installations, and interactive displays delve into these diverse organisms and their feeding mechanisms in detail, showing visitors just how clever blood-feeders are, and the intricate ways they have evolved to take blood and thrive on it.

    Bloodsucking animals have captured the human imagination for centuries, providing fodder for fear and fantasy. Stories of vampiric creatures persist across cultures and time, borne out of fear of the unknown, from the first publication of Bram Stoker’s Dracula in 1897 and his immortal incarnations on stage and screen, to the more recent urban legend of the coyote-like Chupacabra. In the exhibition, immersive experiences bring myths and beliefs in the undead and bloodthirsty beasts to life, highlighting the history of vampire hunting and pop culture’s most famous monsters.

    Auckland Museum’s Tumu Whakarae Chief Executive David Reeves says, “Bloodsuckers blends of science, history, and pop culture, to explore the natural environment and the cultural impact of blood feeding creatures in both our real and imaginary worlds. Drawing from science and culture, Bloodsuckers transforms a subject that might seem gory into something truly fascinating.”

    “This award-winning international exhibition lets you get close to bloodsuckers – without the risk of being bitten,” says Reeves.

    Bloodsuckers is full of juicy facts on the role that bloodfeeders have played in medicine for over 3,000 years, and how they spark scientific discoveries today. The exhibition explores the evolution of bloodletting, from hungry leeches feeding on patients in the name of health, to barbers and physicians tapping veins for vitality in Medieval and Victorian times. Current research on bloodborne diseases around the world and how leech anticoagulants—the strongest in the world—enable advancements in medical care highlight the impact bloodfeeders continue to have on human health. The exhibition will also arm visitors with knowledge on how to identify, avoid, and heal bites from bloodfeeding organisms, and ultimately live in harmony with them.

    Reeves says, “In Aotearoa, bloodsuckers like mosquitoes, sandflies, and ticks are an inevitable part of the summer experience. While they may be a nuisance, these creatures have evolved fascinating adaptations to survive and thrive. Bloodsuckers gives visitors the opportunity to understand species like these in a new light, from their role in nature to their influence on our daily lives.”

    The exhibition showcases over 200 unique objects, including wet, mounted, and taxidermy specimens, 17th–19th century bloodletting instruments, and 20th-century pop culture artefacts, all telling the story of blood feeding creatures through time. The interactive exhibits allow visitors to explore these creatures up close, with highlights including a giant glowing column of red blood cells, an old-world bloodletting shop, an audio experience of a mosquito swarm and a retro movie theatre playing clips from classic bloodsucker-inspired films.

    Bloodsuckers: Legends to Leeches is coming exclusively to Auckland Museum and opens Monday 9 December. Tickets are on sale from Tuesday 26 November at aucklandmuseum.com.

    Auckland Museum Membership provides unlimited free entry to Bloodsuckers: Legends to Leeches, discounted event tickets and exclusive Member-only events. Find out more at aucklandmuseum.com/membership.

    Bloodsuckers: Legends to Leeches is produced and circulated by ROM (Royal Ontario Museum), Toronto, Canada.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Banking: Huawei Austria Celebrates Five Years of TECH4ALL Nature Conservation at Biodiversity Forum

    Source: Huawei

    Headline: Huawei Austria Celebrates Five Years of TECH4ALL Nature Conservation at Biodiversity Forum

    [Vienna, Austria, October 10, 2024] Huawei hosted the Innovations for Biodiversity Forum this week to commemorate the fifth anniversary of Huawei’s TECH4ALL digital inclusion initiative and share insights into how technology is revolutionizing biodiversity protection.
    Launched in 2019 and aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, TECH4ALL leverages technology and partnerships to create a positive impact in four domains: environment, education, health, and development. In the environment domain, Huawei TECH4ALL has run nature conservation projects in 53 protected areas with global and local partners in forest, wetland, and ocean ecosystems around the world.
    Media delegates at the TECH4ALL Innovations for Biodiversity Forum

    “Over the past five years, Huawei’s TECH4ALL program has demonstrated how technology can be a powerful force for good, addressing global challenges in environmental protection, education, and digital inclusion,” said Harvey Zhang, CEO of Huawei Austria.
    The Innovations for Biodiversity Forum focused on TECH4ALL nature conservation projects in Europe, including findings of biodiversity monitoring in the wetland ecosystem around Austria’s Lake Neusiedl.
    The quality of the reed bed habitats in this ecosystem is declining, negatively impacting amphibian species, mammals, and bird life. Since 2021, audio monitoring devices have collected more than 2 million individual audio files of 69 bird species.
    Wildlife in the reed beds of Lake Neusiedl in Austria

    This vast dataset will help develop a conservation management plan for the ecosystem, including controlled fire management to rejuvenate aging reed beds and strengthen overall biodiversity by understanding the habitat preferences of the individual species studied.
    “Hardly any reed harvesting has been done in recent decades, which has had a negative impact on the state of the reed belt. The study investigated whether targeted fires could have an effect similar to that of harvesting. To do this, areas that show different age conditions due to fires were compared,” said Dr. Christian Schulze from the Department of Biodiversity Research at the University of Vienna. “The research showed that older reed beds harbor the greatest diversity of bird species. However, the analysis of individual species also shows that controlled reed fires have positive aspects.”
    The forum explored a similar TECH4ALL monitoring project in Poland to build a more complete picture of biodiversity in the Białowieża National Park ecosystem, also with the aim of developing targeted conservation measures.
    Greek startup PROBOTEK introduced a forest fire-prevention solution that uses sensors, drones, AI, and 5G to detect and transmit real-time video-footage of fire risks, which are on the rise in parts of Europe due to climate change and rising temperatures. The project is designed to enable emergency response in the first ‘golden 15 minutes’ of a forest fire being detected, notify residents of evacuation routes, and plan routes for fire trucks and ambulances.
    The forum also looked at the success of an AI-based filtering system designed to protect Norway’s wild Atlantic salmon from possible extinction due to the invasive pink salmon species. The pilot project in 2023 successfully filtered out 6,000 invasive salmon, and expectations are high that the solution, the world’s first of its type, can be scaled out across Norway’s river systems.
    On day two of the forum, the media delegation in attendance visited Lake Neusiedl to learn how the TECH4ALL solution works in practice and the transformative effect that intelligent digital technologies can have on nature conservation.

    MIL OSI Global Banks –

  • MIL-Evening Report: These 5 ‘post-truth’ claims are fuelling the water wars in Australia

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Quentin Grafton, Australian Laureate Professor of Economics, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University

    Mr Privacy/Shutterstock

    The contest between truth and post-truth matters when trying to solve big public policy questions. One of these questions is how to sustainably manage water in Australia for the benefit of all.

    Truths can be confirmed or, at the very least, can be proved false. Post-truths, however, are opinions that masquerade as facts and are not supported by verifiable evidence.

    Post-truths muddy political and policy debates. They leave everyday people simply not knowing what to believe anymore. This prevents good policy being enacted.

    As I outline in a speech to the National Press Club today, several post-truths, espoused by a wide range of people and organisations, are getting in the way of Australian water reforms. These reforms are essential to secure a better water future for the driest inhabitable continent.

    Water policy in Australia is now at a crucial juncture. This year is the 20th anniversary of the National Water Initiative that was meant to lay the foundations for sustainable water management. The completion date of the Murray-Darling Basin Plan, accompanied by billions of dollars in funding, is just two years away.

    Yet the so-called “water wars” are raging again. Here are five post-truth claims to watch out for.

    Australia’s water wars are raging again.
    Shutterstock

    1. Water buybacks to sustain rivers harm communities

    The Australian government buys water rights from willing sellers to return water to the environment. These buybacks have been controversial and blamed, with little evidence, for causing many farmers to become distressed and bankrupt, and to leave farming.

    It’s true some irrigators are opposed to buybacks and prefer subsidies to build more efficient irrigation infrastructure on their properties.

    But converting state water licences to a system of tradeable water rights gifted irrigators rights now worth tens of billions of dollars. In return, the government was supposed to buy back enough water from willing sellers to return rivers to health.

    But insufficient water has been bought back from irrigators, for a couple of reasons.

    First, the federal budget for buybacks was much less than needed to reduce irrigators’ water use to sustainable levels.

    Second, the Abbott government capped buybacks in 2015. Its justification was the post-truth claim, based on “low quality” consultant reports, that buybacks were “destroying” irrigation communities.

    The truth is, buybacks from willing sellers are much more cost-effective than taxpayer-subsidised irrigation infrastructure. Research shows infrastructure subsidies give irrigators an incentive to use even more water.

    And there is robust evidence that, overall, the net social and economic impacts of water buybacks are positive. They give sellers the flexibility to adjust their farming practices in ways that are best for them.

    2. Efficient irrigation ‘saves’ water and increases stream flows

    Australia’s irrigation industry, in general, uses water efficiently. It’s a result of many practices, ranging from drip irrigation to covered water channels to digital monitoring technology, among other things.

    However, spending on irrigation efficiencies has not saved much water.

    Landholders have been paid billions of dollars for efficiency improvements. These same taxpayer dollars, paradoxically, may have reduced stream flows in some of our largest rivers. That’s because more efficient irrigation can decrease the amount of water flowing from farmers’ fields to rivers and aquifers.

    3. Australia has world-best water management

    Australia has one of the world’s largest formal water markets. But that doesn’t mean everyone benefits.

    For a start, the water markets are unjust. First Peoples, who were dispossessed of their land and water from 1788 onwards, still have only a tiny share of Australia’s water rights.

    In key areas, Australian water management is also far from best practice. For example, building weirs and dams has partly or completely disconnected groundwater from surface water and prevented or restricted the water flows to floodplains and wetlands that keep them healthy.

    Fish, bird and invertebrate habitats have been destroyed as a result. This must change if we are to avoid further degradation of river ecosystems.

    There is no more obvious sign of the ongoing destruction of Australia’s waterways than the fish kills along the Baaka (Lower Darling River) at Menindee. This happened in 2018–19, during a drought, and again in early 2023, when there was no drought.

    The New South Wales Office of the Chief Scientist and Engineer investigated the 2023 fish kill. Its report found:

    Mass fish deaths are symptomatic of degradation of the broader river ecosystem over many years […] failure in policy implementation is the root cause of the decline in the river ecosystem and the consequent fish deaths.

    4. All Australians have reliable access to good-quality water

    It’s true that residents of Australia’s biggest cities and towns enjoy reliable, good-quality water supplies 24/7. But it’s also true that hundreds of thousands of Australians in rural and remote areas regularly face multiple drinking water threats.

    These threats result in temporary public advice notices to boil water to remove microbiological pollution and health warnings about contaminants that boiling cannot remove, such as nitrates. A few dozen communities have elevated levels of the “forever chemicals”, PFAS, in their tap water.

    5. Dams can ‘drought-proof’ Australia

    It’s true that dams have helped Australia cope with variable rainfall from year to year. It’s also true, however, that despite building very large water storages in the 20th century, too much water is being diverted in multiple places. They include the Murray–Darling Basin, Australia’s “food bowl”.

    Australia is over-extracting the available water in its dams. It’s happening in the northern Murray-Darling Basin, where there is little control over how much overflow from rivers onto floodplains can be taken.

    Over-extraction is a big problem, especially during long droughts when there may be very little water to spare. It means the livelihoods of downstream irrigators with perennial plantings, such as grapes or fruit trees, are at stake. If their trees die, so do their businesses.

    A sustainable future must be built on facts

    Responding to Australia’s water crises is a huge challenge. It’s made even more difficult if we accept the post-truth claims, rather than verifiable facts about how we manage our waters.

    Real reform is needed to secure a sustainable Australian water future. To achieve this, we must tell the truth, acknowledge what’s wrong and be clear about what works and what doesn’t.

    Quentin Grafton receives funding from the Australian Research Council in relation to his water research. He is a former Member of the Wentworth Group of Concerned Scientists (2010-2011).

    John Williams is affiliated as founding member of the Wentworth Group of Concerned Scientists, a former Chief CSIRO Land and Water and former NSW Comissioner of Natural Resources.

    – ref. These 5 ‘post-truth’ claims are fuelling the water wars in Australia – https://theconversation.com/these-5-post-truth-claims-are-fuelling-the-water-wars-in-australia-239941

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Huawei Austria Celebrates Five Years of TECH4ALL Nature Conservation at Biodiversity Forum Oct 10, 2024

    Source: Huawei

    Headline: Huawei Austria Celebrates Five Years of TECH4ALL Nature Conservation at Biodiversity Forum
    Oct 10, 2024

    [Vienna, Austria, October 10, 2024] Huawei hosted the Innovations for Biodiversity Forum this week to commemorate the fifth anniversary of Huawei’s TECH4ALL digital inclusion initiative and share insights into how technology is revolutionizing biodiversity protection.
    Launched in 2019 and aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, TECH4ALL leverages technology and partnerships to create a positive impact in four domains: environment, education, health, and development. In the environment domain, Huawei TECH4ALL has run nature conservation projects in 53 protected areas with global and local partners in forest, wetland, and ocean ecosystems around the world.
    Media delegates at the TECH4ALL Innovations for Biodiversity Forum

    “Over the past five years, Huawei’s TECH4ALL program has demonstrated how technology can be a powerful force for good, addressing global challenges in environmental protection, education, and digital inclusion,” said Harvey Zhang, CEO of Huawei Austria.
    The Innovations for Biodiversity Forum focused on TECH4ALL nature conservation projects in Europe, including findings of biodiversity monitoring in the wetland ecosystem around Austria’s Lake Neusiedl.
    The quality of the reed bed habitats in this ecosystem is declining, negatively impacting amphibian species, mammals, and bird life. Since 2021, audio monitoring devices have collected more than 2 million individual audio files of 69 bird species.
    Wildlife in the reed beds of Lake Neusiedl in Austria

    This vast dataset will help develop a conservation management plan for the ecosystem, including controlled fire management to rejuvenate aging reed beds and strengthen overall biodiversity by understanding the habitat preferences of the individual species studied.
    “Hardly any reed harvesting has been done in recent decades, which has had a negative impact on the state of the reed belt. The study investigated whether targeted fires could have an effect similar to that of harvesting. To do this, areas that show different age conditions due to fires were compared,” said Dr. Christian Schulze from the Department of Biodiversity Research at the University of Vienna. “The research showed that older reed beds harbor the greatest diversity of bird species. However, the analysis of individual species also shows that controlled reed fires have positive aspects.”
    The forum explored a similar TECH4ALL monitoring project in Poland to build a more complete picture of biodiversity in the Białowieża National Park ecosystem, also with the aim of developing targeted conservation measures.
    Greek startup PROBOTEK introduced a forest fire-prevention solution that uses sensors, drones, AI, and 5G to detect and transmit real-time video-footage of fire risks, which are on the rise in parts of Europe due to climate change and rising temperatures. The project is designed to enable emergency response in the first ‘golden 15 minutes’ of a forest fire being detected, notify residents of evacuation routes, and plan routes for fire trucks and ambulances.
    The forum also looked at the success of an AI-based filtering system designed to protect Norway’s wild Atlantic salmon from possible extinction due to the invasive pink salmon species. The pilot project in 2023 successfully filtered out 6,000 invasive salmon, and expectations are high that the solution, the world’s first of its type, can be scaled out across Norway’s river systems.
    On day two of the forum, the media delegation in attendance visited Lake Neusiedl to learn how the TECH4ALL solution works in practice and the transformative effect that intelligent digital technologies can have on nature conservation.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Fatal Crash, SH2, Waioeka River, Ōpōtiki

    Source: New Zealand Police (District News)

    Attributable to Senior Sergeant Richard Miller, Eastern Bay of Plenty Police:

    Police have today located the body of a person who died following a single vehicle crash into Waioeka River, Ōpōtiki on Friday.

    Emergency Services responded to the scene around 10:20am on 4 October after we were alerted that a vehicle had gone down a bank into the river, around 2.5km south of the Tauranga Bridge, State Highway 2.

    Search and rescue teams, including a boat, helicopter and Coastguard jet skis conducted sweeps of the river and riverbank on Friday. Unfortunately, the person and vehicle were unable to be located.

    Since that time Police and rescue teams have been on standby ready to respond once the river conditions were right to safely deploy a team to the area.

    Today, the river conditions had cleared sufficiently and Police along with search and rescue teams, local jet boat operators, and the Police National Dive Squad responded, searching the river. The vehicle was located at about 12:05pm, around 400 metres from the original crash site.

    The victim was located deceased inside the vehicle and has since been successfully recovered.

    While located deceased, police are pleased to have been able to reunite whānau with their loved one.

    Enquiries into the circumstances of the crash are ongoing.

    ENDS

    Issued by Police Media Centre 

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Resumption of live rock lobster trade with China

    Source: Australian Government – Minister of Foreign Affairs

    The Albanese Labor Government has agreed a timetable with China for the full resumption of Australian live rock lobster exports by the end of the year.

    This will save the jobs of 3,000 Australians employed in the industry, 2,000 of which are in Western Australia.

    The agreement to a timetable for the re-entry of live rock lobster was made during a meeting between Prime Minister Albanese and China’s Premier Li Qiang today on the sidelines of the ASEAN Summit in Vientiane, Laos.

    This outcome is another step towards stabilising the bilateral relationship between China and Australia. This is positive news for the lobster industry and for Chinese consumers, who will have access to high-quality Australian rock lobsters in time for Lunar New Year.  

    Since 2020, Australian rock lobsters have been effectively prevented from entering China’s market, which was worth over $700 million in 2019.

    We acknowledge the Australian rock lobster industry for their resilience during a challenging period.

    The Albanese Government has seen progress on the removal of trade impediments for wine, barley, coal, cotton, timber logs, copper ores and concentrates; and some meat establishments – almost $20 billion worth of Australian exports.

    With our patient, calibrated, and deliberate approach, we are restoring Australian trade with our largest export market.

    The Albanese Government will continue with its calm and consistent approach to the China relationship – where we cooperate where we can, disagree where we must, and engage in the national interest.

    Quotes attributable to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese:

    “Resolution of trade impediments is at the top of our Government’s agenda. The reinstatement in normalised trade for all commodities is front and centre of the Government’s engagement strategy with China.

    “It is in the interests of both our countries to continue this path of stabilising our relationship. A resumption in trade for all Australian commodities is an important part of this process.

    “Having dialogue helps us navigate our differences and build upon areas where we can cooperate – without compromising on any Australian interests.”

    Quotes attributable to Foreign Minister Penny Wong:

    “The Albanese Government’s approach to China has been patient, calibrated and deliberate – and our approach has paid dividends for Australians and for the national interest.

    “We continue to urge Australian businesses to diversify to grow value for their companies and for their country.

    Quotes attributable to Trade and Tourism Minister Don Farrell:

    “This is a great outcome for the Australian lobster industry and for Chinese consumers.

    “The Albanese Government is delivering for Australian farmers, miners, businesses and workers.

    “I encourage businesses to continue to take advantage of new trade diversification opportunities created by this Government.”

    Quotes attributable to Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Julie Collins:

    “This agreement on a timetable with China for the full resumption of trade by the end of the year is a significant step forward for Australia’s rock lobster industry and will deliver job security for fishing communities in regional areas.

    “The resumption of full Australian rock lobster exports to China is expected to have a trade potential of over $700 million.”

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: City marks World Mental Health Day and World Homeless Day

    Source: City of Wolverhampton

    Housing and mental health are often linked. Living in stable, good quality, safe housing is a protective factor for good mental health and wellbeing – but poor mental health can make it harder to cope with housing problems, and being homeless or having problems where you live can make your mental health worse.

    Homelessness, rough sleeping and poor living conditions can also make people feel more isolated and more likely to experience stigma and poorer health.

    A World Homeless Day stall will be in Queen Square from 10am today supported by Wolverhampton BID on behalf of Alternative Giving CIO, P3, Changing Lives, Wolverhampton Homes, Good Shepherd Ministry, The Haven, SUIT and others. 

    John Denley, Wolverhampton’s Director of Public Health, said: “Around a quarter of people in England are likely to experience a mental health problem but, among people experiencing homelessness, and those at risk of homelessness, that number is much higher.

    “As a city, we are committed to supporting people who are homeless, who may risk losing their home, or are otherwise suffering from mental health issues, and – this World Mental Health Day and World Homeless Day – I would encourage people to seek the support they, or their loved ones, may need.”

    Following the Wolverhampton Homeless Health Needs Audit, recognising the barriers that people experiencing homelessness may face in accessing mental health support, homelessness and mental health has been recognised as a key priority for 2024/2025 by the One Wolverhampton Adult Mental Health Strategic Working Group.

    Chair Laura Brookes said: “Poor mental health is both a cause and consequence of homelessness. Drawing on people’s lived experiences to develop a peer support model for mental health and wellbeing in Wolverhampton will enable people experiencing homelessness to access tailored support to build their social and recovery capital.”

    Tom Hayden, Chief Executive Officer of the Good Shepherd Wolverhampton, added: “At the Good Shepherd, we offer a range of services to support people experiencing many complex issues including homelessness and mental health, and, so often, those two will be linked.

    “For example, we run a Breakfast Club where we provide food and drink, a shower and a change of clothes to those who have been rough sleeping, but from there we have been able to help people into accommodation, or to access some of the support groups that we deliver on a weekly basis.

    “These include specific groups to discuss experiences and emotions, meaningful activities including walking, cooking classes and fishing, and our LEAP project, which offers people with lived experience structured volunteering opportunities alongside studying for a diploma.”

    If you are experiencing difficulties with your mental health, housing problems or homelessness, or are worried about the cost of living, please know that you are not alone – and there is a range of support to help you:

    • If you need urgent help with your mental health or you are struggling to cope, call NHS 111 and select option 2 (mental health option) to be connected to your local mental health support team, or text 07860 025 281
    • Your doctor or GP is there to help you with your mental health as well as your physical health
    • Wolverhampton Sanctuary Hub offers out of hours support – book a face to face appointment for by calling freephone 0808 802 2288, texting 07860 065 168 or emailing wolverhamptonsanctuaryhub@rethink.org. 
    • Wolverhampton NHS Talking Therapies offers psychological therapy for people experiencing common mental health problems including anxiety, depression, stress and low mood
    • Visit Hub of Hope to find local support that’s right for you.

    If you need someone to talk to, contact:

    • SANE – call 0300 304 7000 (4.30pm to 10.30pm)
    • Samaritans – call 116 123 
    • Rethink Mental Illness – call 0300 5000 927 (Monday to Friday, 9.30am to 4pm)
    • Mind – call 0300 123 3393.

    For housing and homelessness advice, visit Homelessness. If you are homeless, or are at risk of becoming homeless very soon, contact Homeless Services on 01902 556789 (option 2) or via homeless.services@wolverhamptonhomes.org.uk.

    Seen someone sleeping rough? Connect them with support by making a referral through StreetLink.

    For information about support services for homeless people see Street Support Wolverhampton.

    Good Shepherd Wolverhampton and P3 offer support programmes for those in crisis and people experiencing homelessness, including help with accessing accommodation.

    Tailored advice for landlords and tenants in the private sector can be found at Rent With Confidence.

    Support with the cost of living support is available through the council at Cost of Living Support and further information can be found on the Government’s Help for Households website.

    If you would like to take action to help, Alternative Giving gathers donations online or through its 16 donation points and two ‘tap to donate’ points around the city centre. 100% of these donations are then directed to organisations and charities that work to provide long term support for the city’s vulnerable and homeless people. Find out more at Wolverhampton Change.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Safety bulletin 4/2024 published

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Owners, operators and skippers of fishing vessels fitted with side shell doors urged to ensure suitable and sufficient risk assessment of watertight integrity.

    Image courtesy of Royal Air Force

    Today, we have issued a safety bulletin to the fishing vessel community following the foundering of fishing vessel Argos Georgia approximately 190 nautical miles east of Port Stanley, Falkland Islands on 22 July 2024, with the loss of 13 lives.

    The bulletin, available via this link, contains details of what happened, initial findings, safety lessons and a recommendation.

    The Marine Accident Investigation Branch is carrying out an investigation on behalf of St Helena Government.

    Media enquiries (telephone only)

    Media enquiries during office hours 01932 440015

    Media enquiries out of hours 0300 7777878

    Updates to this page

    Published 10 October 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –