#Public-private partnerships for inclusive growth and reduced inequality

[greenthestral]

Breaking Barriers: Achieving Goal 10 - Reduced Inequality for a Fairer World

Reducing inequality is a fundamental pillar for creating a just and prosperous society. As we progress into the future, it becomes imperative to address the disparities that hinder progress and restrict opportunities for individuals and communities. United Nations' Sustainable Development Goal 10, aptly named "Reduced Inequality," aims to tackle this issue head-on, fostering a more inclusive world. In this article, we delve into the significance of Goal 10 and explore various strategies that can help us overcome barriers and achieve a fairer and more equitable society.

Understanding the Goal

Goal 10, part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, is a critical global commitment that aims to tackle the issue of inequality within and among countries. It recognizes that reducing inequality is not only a matter of social justice but also a fundamental prerequisite for achieving sustainable development.

At its core, Goal 10 seeks to ensure equal opportunities for all individuals, irrespective of their socio-economic background, gender, age, disability, or any other form of marginalization. By addressing disparities and promoting inclusivity, the goal aims to create a world where everyone can thrive and contribute to their fullest potential.

One of the key principles of Goal 10 is the concept of "leaving no one behind." It recognizes that progress should not be measured solely by overall economic growth but also by the extent to which it reaches and benefits all segments of society, particularly the most vulnerable and marginalized populations. This includes addressing income inequality, gender disparities, social exclusion, and the empowerment of marginalized communities.

Income inequality is a significant aspect of Goal 10. It focuses on bridging the gap between the rich and the poor by promoting fair and inclusive economic growth. This involves implementing policies that ensure equitable distribution of wealth and income, such as progressive taxation, social protection measures, and inclusive labor markets. By addressing income disparities, societies can create more balanced and just economic systems that provide opportunities for upward mobility and social cohesion.

Gender inequality is another crucial dimension of Goal 10. It recognizes that women and girls often face unique challenges and barriers that hinder their full participation in society. Achieving gender equality involves ensuring equal access to education, healthcare, employment, and political representation for women and girls. By empowering women and promoting gender equality, societies can unlock the untapped potential of half of their population and foster more inclusive and sustainable development.

Addressing social exclusion is a key component of Goal 10. It acknowledges that discrimination based on race, ethnicity, religion, or disability can perpetuate inequalities and limit opportunities for certain groups. By promoting inclusive policies and combating discrimination, societies can create environments that value diversity, foster social cohesion, and respect the rights and dignity of all individuals. This includes initiatives such as inclusive education, access to healthcare, and promoting cultural acceptance and understanding.

Moreover, Goal 10 emphasizes the importance of empowering marginalized communities and ensuring their inclusion in decision-making processes. This includes providing targeted support and resources to overcome historical disadvantages and promoting inclusive governance structures. By giving voice and agency to marginalized groups, societies can address the specific challenges they face and create more equitable and participatory societies.

Achieving Goal 10 also requires investing in sustainable development. Recognizing the interlinkages between social, economic, and environmental dimensions, the goal emphasizes the need for infrastructure development, innovation, and technology transfer in marginalized areas. By providing access to clean energy, improving transportation networks, and promoting sustainable practices, societies can bridge the gap between developed and developing regions, reducing inequalities and ensuring a more sustainable future for all.

In conclusion, Goal 10 - Reduced Inequality, is a vital component of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. By addressing disparities and promoting inclusivity, it strives to create a world where everyone has equal opportunities to thrive and contribute. Through efforts to reduce income inequality, bridge gender gaps, combat social exclusion, empower marginalized communities, and invest in sustainable development, societies can move closer to achieving this ambitious goal. By working collectively and leaving no one behind, we can build a fairer and more equitable world for present and future generations.

The Impact of Inequality

Inequality, in all its manifestations, has far-reaching consequences that undermine social cohesion, impede economic growth, and hinder sustainable development. By perpetuating cycles of poverty and exclusion, inequality restricts access to essential resources and opportunities, such as education, healthcare, and basic services. As a result, individuals and communities are trapped in circumstances that limit their potential for advancement and improvement.

One of the most significant consequences of inequality is its adverse impact on social mobility. When opportunities for upward mobility are limited or unevenly distributed, individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds face significant barriers to improving their socio-economic status. This lack of mobility not only affects individuals but also has broader implications for society as a whole. It hampers the overall progress and economic growth of a nation, as talent and potential remain untapped due to systemic barriers.

Moreover, inequality exacerbates social tensions and can lead to heightened levels of conflict and instability within nations. When a significant portion of the population feels marginalized and excluded from the benefits of development, it creates a fertile ground for social unrest and discontent. In extreme cases, this can escalate into political instability and social upheaval, with severe implications for peace and security.

Inequality also has adverse effects on health outcomes and access to quality healthcare. Individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds often face greater health risks and reduced access to essential healthcare services. The lack of resources and opportunities to maintain good health and well-being further perpetuates the cycle of inequality. This, in turn, leads to a less productive and healthy workforce, hindering economic growth and development.

Education is another area where inequality has a profound impact. Limited access to quality education perpetuates disparities and reinforces existing inequalities. When individuals are denied access to education or receive substandard education due to their socio-economic status, it limits their potential for personal and professional growth. Education is a powerful tool for social and economic empowerment, and unequal access to it perpetuates intergenerational cycles of disadvantage.

Furthermore, inequality has environmental implications. Disadvantaged communities often bear the brunt of environmental degradation and pollution. They have limited access to clean air, water, and sanitation, which further exacerbates health disparities. Additionally, inequality can lead to unequal exposure to the impacts of climate change, with marginalized communities being disproportionately affected by extreme weather events and natural disasters.

Understanding the impact of inequality is crucial in recognizing the urgency and significance of Goal 10 - Reduced Inequality. By comprehending the negative consequences of inequality on social cohesion, economic growth, and sustainable development, we can appreciate the importance of addressing this issue. Goal 10 seeks to rectify these disparities by promoting inclusive policies and initiatives that provide equal opportunities for all, regardless of their background or circumstances.

By reducing inequality, societies can foster social cohesion, where individuals feel valued and included, contributing to a more harmonious and prosperous world. Economic growth becomes more sustainable when it benefits a broader range of people, ensuring that progress is shared equitably. By breaking the cycles of poverty and exclusion, Goal 10 creates pathways for individuals to improve their lives, fostering social mobility and empowerment.

In conclusion, inequality undermines the fabric of societies, hindering social cohesion, economic growth, and sustainable development. It perpetuates cycles of poverty, limits access to education, healthcare, and basic services, and exacerbates social tensions. By understanding the impact of inequality, we realize the urgent need to address this issue. Goal 10 - Reduced Inequality plays a vital role in shaping a more inclusive and harmonious world, where everyone has equal opportunities to thrive and contribute to their fullest potential.

Tackling Income Inequality

Income inequality is a significant facet of overall inequality that demands attention and concerted efforts to promote a fair distribution of wealth and income. It is crucial for a well-functioning society to ensure that individuals have equal access to resources and opportunities, regardless of their socio-economic background. By addressing income inequality, policymakers can work towards creating a more inclusive and just society.

One of the key strategies to tackle income inequality is through implementing progressive taxation. Progressive taxation involves levying higher tax rates on individuals with higher incomes. This approach ensures that those who can afford to contribute more to society do so, enabling the government to allocate resources towards public goods and services that benefit everyone. Progressive taxation helps redistribute wealth, reduce income disparities, and create a more equitable society.

Ensuring living wages is another essential aspect of reducing income inequality. A living wage is the minimum income necessary for an individual or household to meet their basic needs, such as food, housing, healthcare, and education. By establishing policies that mandate employers to pay fair wages that meet or exceed the living wage, policymakers can help lift individuals and families out of poverty and reduce income inequality. This approach promotes economic stability, improves living standards, and empowers individuals to participate fully in the economy.

Promoting inclusive economic growth is also critical in addressing income inequality. It involves creating an economic environment that benefits all sections of society, including marginalized and disadvantaged groups. Policymakers can focus on implementing policies that foster entrepreneurship, encourage job creation, and support small and medium-sized enterprises. Additionally, investing in infrastructure development, particularly in underserved areas, can create opportunities for economic growth and reduce regional income disparities. By prioritizing inclusive economic growth, policymakers can ensure that the benefits of development are shared equitably, leading to a more balanced and fair society.

Investing in quality education and skill development programs is instrumental in empowering individuals to overcome economic barriers and access better opportunities. Education plays a crucial role in providing individuals with the knowledge and skills necessary for economic mobility. By improving access to quality education at all levels, policymakers can ensure that individuals from all backgrounds have an equal chance to succeed. Additionally, investing in vocational training and skill development programs equips individuals with the skills needed to thrive in the job market, enhancing their employability and earning potential. By promoting equal access to education and skills development, policymakers can help level the playing field and reduce income disparities.

Furthermore, addressing income inequality requires addressing systemic barriers and discrimination that limit opportunities for certain groups. Policymakers can work towards eliminating gender-based pay gaps, ensuring equal access to employment, and providing support for historically marginalized communities. By implementing policies and initiatives that promote diversity and inclusion in the workplace, policymakers can create an environment that fosters equal opportunities for all, regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, or other forms of identity. This approach contributes to a more equitable distribution of income and wealth.

Income inequality is a significant aspect of overall inequality that requires focused attention. Policymakers can play a crucial role in addressing income disparities by implementing progressive taxation, ensuring living wages, promoting inclusive economic growth, and investing in quality education and skill development programs. By adopting these strategies, societies can strive towards a more equitable distribution of wealth and income, creating opportunities for individuals to overcome economic barriers and access better opportunities. Ultimately, reducing income inequality contributes to a more just and inclusive society where everyone can thrive and contribute to their fullest potential.

Bridging Gender Gaps

Gender inequality continues to persist as a significant global challenge, and addressing this issue is a key focus of Goal 10 - Reduced Inequality. Empowering women and girls and bridging gender gaps is essential for creating a more equitable and inclusive society. By promoting equal access to education, healthcare, and employment opportunities, societies can unlock the full potential of women and benefit from their valuable contributions in various spheres.

Equal access to education is a fundamental aspect of achieving gender equality. By ensuring that girls have the same opportunities as boys to receive quality education, societies can break the cycle of gender inequality and empower women to pursue their aspirations. Access to education equips women with knowledge and skills, enabling them to participate fully in social, economic, and political life. Additionally, investing in girls' education has a multiplier effect, leading to positive outcomes for families, communities, and future generations.

Addressing gender disparities in healthcare is another critical step towards achieving gender equality. Women and girls often face unique health challenges, and unequal access to healthcare exacerbates these disparities. By providing gender-responsive healthcare services, policymakers can ensure that women have access to reproductive health services, maternal care, and other essential healthcare interventions. By addressing gender-specific health needs and reducing barriers to healthcare access, societies can improve overall health outcomes and advance gender equality.

Equal employment opportunities and addressing discriminatory practices in the workforce are vital for achieving gender equality. Women continue to face barriers to entering certain sectors and occupations, as well as disparities in wages and career advancement. By promoting policies that eliminate gender-based discrimination and bias in hiring, promotion, and remuneration, societies can create more inclusive work environments. Additionally, providing support for work-life balance, such as affordable childcare and parental leave policies, helps women balance their caregiving responsibilities with their careers. This enables women to fully participate in the workforce and contributes to closing the gender pay gap and enhancing gender equality in economic participation.

Furthermore, engaging men and boys as allies in promoting gender equality is crucial. By challenging harmful stereotypes and norms that perpetuate gender inequality, societies can foster an environment that supports gender equality. Engaging men and boys in conversations and initiatives that promote gender equality helps to break down rigid gender roles and stereotypes, fostering a more inclusive and equitable society for all.

Achieving gender equality requires a multi-dimensional approach that involves collaboration between governments, civil society organizations, and the private sector. Policy frameworks and legislation that promote gender equality, such as laws against gender-based violence and discrimination, are crucial. Additionally, targeted interventions and programs that provide women with skills training, entrepreneurship opportunities, and access to financial resources can empower women economically and enhance their decision-making power.

Moreover, promoting women's leadership and participation in decision-making processes is essential. This includes increasing the representation of women in political and public positions, as well as promoting their participation in community and grassroots organizations. By amplifying women's voices and perspectives, societies can benefit from diverse ideas, priorities, and solutions.

Goal 10 - Reduced Inequality recognizes the importance of addressing gender inequality as a crucial component of achieving a more equitable and inclusive society. By promoting equal access to education, healthcare, and employment opportunities, as well as addressing discriminatory practices and supporting work-life balance, societies can bridge gender gaps and empower women and girls. Ensuring equal opportunities for women to participate fully in all aspects of society enables societies to tap into their full potential and benefit from their invaluable contributions. Achieving gender equality is not only a matter of justice but also a pathway to sustainable development and social progress for all.

Combating Social Exclusion

Social exclusion is a deeply concerning issue that takes various forms, including discrimination based on race, ethnicity, religion, or disability. Goal 10 of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development emphasizes the need for inclusive policies that promote diversity and prohibit discrimination in all its manifestations. It is imperative to foster an environment that embraces cultural differences, promotes tolerance, and respects the fundamental rights of every individual. By eliminating barriers and prejudices, societies can strive towards inclusivity, where everyone feels valued, respected, and can participate fully in all aspects of life.

Discrimination based on race and ethnicity is a pervasive form of social exclusion that marginalizes certain groups and perpetuates inequality. Goal 10 calls for the promotion of equal rights and opportunities for all, irrespective of their racial or ethnic background. This involves implementing policies that address systemic racism, promoting diversity and inclusion, and fostering a sense of belonging for all individuals, regardless of their racial or ethnic identity. By recognizing and appreciating the diverse backgrounds and cultures within societies, we can create a more inclusive and harmonious environment where everyone can thrive.

Religious discrimination is another form of social exclusion that undermines the principles of equality and freedom of religion. Goal 10 emphasizes the importance of promoting tolerance, understanding, and respect for diverse religious beliefs and practices. Inclusive policies and initiatives should ensure that individuals have the freedom to practice their religion without fear of discrimination or persecution. By fostering religious pluralism and promoting interfaith dialogue, societies can create an environment where different religious communities coexist peacefully, contributing to social cohesion and mutual understanding.

Addressing disability-based discrimination is essential for building inclusive societies. People with disabilities often face significant barriers to equal participation in various aspects of life, including education, employment, and access to public services. Goal 10 emphasizes the need for inclusive policies that promote the rights and well-being of persons with disabilities. This includes providing equal access to education, employment opportunities, and barrier-free infrastructure. By removing physical, attitudinal, and systemic barriers, societies can ensure that individuals with disabilities can fully participate and contribute to society.

Creating inclusive societies also involves fostering a culture of respect for human rights. Goal 10 emphasizes the importance of upholding and promoting the principles of equality, non-discrimination, and justice. It calls for the implementation of legislation and policies that protect individuals from discrimination based on any grounds, including race, ethnicity, religion, or disability. By ensuring that everyone has equal protection under the law and equal access to justice, societies can build a foundation for inclusivity and social cohesion.

Education and awareness play a crucial role in promoting inclusion and combating social exclusion. By integrating inclusive education into school curricula and promoting awareness campaigns, societies can challenge stereotypes, prejudices, and discriminatory attitudes. Education can empower individuals to recognize the value of diversity, foster empathy and understanding, and promote social inclusion from an early age.

Moreover, promoting diversity and inclusion in all spheres of society, including the workplace, is essential. Companies and organizations should adopt inclusive practices that promote diversity, equality, and non-discrimination. This includes implementing equal employment opportunities, diverse recruitment processes, and providing a supportive and inclusive work environment. By embracing diverse perspectives, experiences, and talents, organizations can foster innovation, creativity, and productivity.

Social exclusion manifests in various forms, including discrimination based on race, ethnicity, religion, or disability. Goal 10 of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development calls for inclusive policies that promote diversity, prohibit discrimination, and foster inclusive societies. By embracing cultural differences, promoting tolerance, and respecting human rights, societies can eliminate barriers and prejudices. Creating an inclusive environment where everyone feels valued and can participate fully is not only a matter of justice and equality but also a catalyst for social progress, cohesion, and sustainable development.

Empowering Marginalized Communities

Marginalized communities, including those based on race, ethnicity, gender, socio-economic status, and other factors, often face significant challenges in accessing opportunities and resources. Goal 10 of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development recognizes the importance of empowering these communities and ensuring their inclusion in decision-making processes. By addressing the unique barriers they face and providing targeted support, societies can work towards leveling the playing field and enabling marginalized groups to overcome historical disadvantages.

One important approach to empower marginalized communities is through the implementation of affirmative action policies. Affirmative action aims to redress historical inequalities and create opportunities for individuals from marginalized backgrounds. These policies can include measures such as preferential hiring, quotas in education, and targeted support for entrepreneurship and economic development. By providing these opportunities, societies can help bridge the gap and create a more equitable and inclusive society.

In addition to affirmative action, strengthening social safety nets is crucial in supporting marginalized communities. Social safety nets encompass programs such as social assistance, healthcare, and access to basic services. By ensuring that marginalized individuals and communities have access to these essential services, societies can mitigate the impact of inequality and provide a foundation for social and economic well-being. Strengthening social safety nets can help lift individuals and communities out of poverty, reduce vulnerability, and promote social inclusion.

Promoting inclusive governance is another vital aspect of reducing inequality and empowering marginalized communities. Inclusive governance involves ensuring that marginalized groups have a voice in decision-making processes that affect their lives. It requires creating spaces for participation, consultation, and representation of marginalized communities in policy development, implementation, and monitoring. By including diverse perspectives, societies can make more informed and equitable decisions, and address the specific needs and concerns of marginalized communities.

Education plays a pivotal role in empowering marginalized communities and breaking the cycle of inequality. Goal 10 highlights the importance of providing equal access to quality education for all individuals, regardless of their background. By investing in education systems that are inclusive and culturally responsive, societies can create opportunities for marginalized communities to acquire knowledge, skills, and capacities necessary for social and economic mobility. It is crucial to address barriers to education, such as lack of infrastructure, discrimination, and gender-based biases, to ensure that marginalized individuals have equal opportunities to succeed.

Furthermore, addressing the root causes of marginalization and discrimination is essential. Societies must work towards eliminating systemic barriers, biases, and prejudices that perpetuate inequality. This requires promoting awareness, challenging stereotypes, and fostering a culture of inclusivity and respect. Creating spaces for dialogue and engagement between marginalized communities and broader society can help foster understanding, empathy, and solidarity.

Economic empowerment is a key factor in reducing inequality and empowering marginalized communities. This can be achieved through targeted economic development initiatives that promote entrepreneurship, job creation, and access to financial resources. By providing marginalized individuals and communities with the tools and resources they need to thrive economically, societies can help break the cycle of poverty and inequality.

Lastly, it is crucial to recognize and celebrate the strengths and contributions of marginalized communities. Promoting diversity and cultural appreciation can help combat stereotypes and create a more inclusive society. By valuing and respecting the unique perspectives, knowledge, and experiences of marginalized communities, societies can foster social cohesion and harness the potential of all individuals.

In conclusion, Goal 10 emphasizes the importance of empowering marginalized communities and reducing inequality. Through affirmative action policies, strengthening social safety nets, promoting inclusive governance, investing in education, addressing systemic barriers, and fostering economic empowerment, societies can work towards a more equitable and inclusive society. By ensuring that marginalized communities have equal access to opportunities and resources, societies can unlock their full potential and create a more just and prosperous future for all.

Investing in Sustainable Development

Reducing inequality is intricately connected to the principles of sustainable development. Goal 10 of the 2030 Agenda recognizes the significance of investing in infrastructure, innovation, and technology in marginalized areas to address the disparities between developed and developing regions. By focusing on sustainable practices and ensuring equal access to essential services, societies can create opportunities, bridge the gap, and foster inclusive and resilient communities.

One critical aspect of reducing inequality is improving infrastructure in marginalized areas. Access to reliable and sustainable infrastructure, such as transportation networks, water and sanitation systems, and energy services, is essential for economic growth, social development, and poverty reduction. By investing in the development of infrastructure in marginalized regions, societies can facilitate the movement of goods, services, and people, connecting communities and providing access to markets, education, healthcare, and other vital resources. This helps to create equal opportunities and enhance the quality of life for all individuals, regardless of their geographic location.

In particular, access to clean energy is crucial in reducing inequality and promoting sustainable development. Energy poverty disproportionately affects marginalized communities, hindering their access to education, healthcare, and economic opportunities. Goal 10 emphasizes the importance of expanding access to affordable, reliable, and modern energy sources, particularly in underserved areas. By investing in renewable energy solutions and improving energy efficiency, societies can not only reduce inequalities but also mitigate the environmental impact associated with conventional energy sources, contributing to a more sustainable future for all.

Sustainable practices and environmental conservation also play a vital role in reducing inequality and promoting inclusive development. Goal 10 recognizes that the pursuit of economic growth should be accompanied by responsible consumption and production patterns. By prioritizing environmental sustainability, societies can prevent further exacerbation of inequalities and ensure a better future for all. Sustainable agriculture, for example, promotes food security, reduces environmental degradation, and provides income-generating opportunities for small-scale farmers. Similarly, adopting sustainable forestry practices can protect ecosystems, preserve biodiversity, and support the livelihoods of indigenous and marginalized communities.

Moreover, the promotion of innovation and technology is crucial in reducing inequalities and advancing sustainable development. Goal 10 emphasizes the need to enhance the technological capabilities of marginalized regions and promote research and development to foster inclusive growth. By investing in innovation and technology, societies can bridge the digital divide, provide access to information and communication technologies, and empower marginalized communities to participate in the global economy. This helps create opportunities for education, entrepreneurship, and access to markets, contributing to the reduction of inequalities and the promotion of sustainable economic development.

Inclusive and sustainable urbanization is another important aspect of reducing inequality. Goal 10 recognizes the importance of creating cities and human settlements that are inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable. By prioritizing affordable housing, accessible transportation, green spaces, and social infrastructure, societies can ensure that marginalized communities have equal access to urban opportunities and services. This helps prevent the concentration of wealth and resources in specific areas, promoting balanced development and reducing spatial inequalities.

Furthermore, the participation of marginalized communities in decision-making processes is crucial for sustainable development and reducing inequality. Goal 10 emphasizes the importance of promoting inclusive institutions and ensuring that marginalized voices are heard in policy formulation and implementation. By engaging marginalized communities in decision-making processes, societies can ensure that their specific needs, concerns, and aspirations are taken into account, contributing to more equitable and inclusive development outcomes.

In conclusion, reducing inequality is closely linked to sustainable development. Goal 10 highlights the importance of investing in infrastructure, innovation, and technology in marginalized areas to bridge the gap between developed and developing regions. By providing equal access to clean energy, improving transportation networks, promoting sustainable practices, and prioritizing environmental sustainability, societies can create equal opportunities and foster inclusive and resilient communities. By embracing the principles of sustainable development, societies can work towards a more equitable and sustainable future for all individuals, leaving no one behind.

Strengthening Global Partnerships

Achieving Goal 10, which aims to reduce inequality within and among countries, requires collaborative efforts on a global scale. Governments, civil society organizations, and the private sector all have important roles to play in implementing effective policies and initiatives that promote equality and inclusivity. By working together and fostering partnerships, we can combine resources, knowledge, and expertise to address the root causes of inequality and create lasting change.

One of the key aspects of achieving Goal 10 is strengthening international cooperation. Inequality is not confined to national boundaries; it is a global challenge that requires collective action. Governments need to collaborate and share best practices to develop comprehensive policies that address inequality at both the national and international levels. International organizations and forums provide platforms for dialogue and cooperation, enabling countries to learn from each other's experiences and develop joint strategies to tackle inequality effectively.

Promoting fair trade is another important component of reducing inequality. Global trade can play a significant role in creating economic opportunities and reducing poverty. However, unfair trade practices, such as tariff barriers, subsidies, and market access restrictions, can exacerbate inequalities and hinder the development of disadvantaged regions. Goal 10 emphasizes the need for fair and equitable trade rules that promote inclusive and sustainable economic growth. By addressing trade imbalances and ensuring a level playing field, countries can promote inclusive economic development and reduce inequality within and among nations.

Increasing development assistance to disadvantaged regions is a crucial step in reducing inequality. Official Development Assistance (ODA) plays a vital role in supporting developing countries in their efforts to address inequality and achieve sustainable development. Goal 10 calls for the fulfillment of ODA commitments and the provision of additional resources to countries most in need. By increasing financial assistance, technology transfer, and capacity-building support, the international community can help level the playing field and enable disadvantaged regions to overcome structural barriers and achieve equitable development.

Public-private partnerships are essential in driving progress towards Goal 10. The private sector has a significant role to play in promoting inclusive growth, creating jobs, and supporting sustainable development. By aligning business strategies with social and environmental objectives, companies can contribute to reducing inequality. Collaboration between the private sector, governments, and civil society organizations can lead to innovative solutions and investments in sectors that directly impact marginalized communities, such as education, healthcare, and infrastructure development. Through responsible business practices and investments, the private sector can help create equal opportunities and contribute to sustainable and inclusive development.

Civil society organizations also play a crucial role in advancing Goal 10. They serve as advocates for marginalized communities, holding governments and other stakeholders accountable for their commitments to reducing inequality. Civil society organizations work on the ground, engaging with communities, and providing valuable insights and perspectives that inform policy-making processes. Their expertise and grassroots connections can help ensure that policies and initiatives are inclusive, responsive, and address the specific needs of marginalized groups.

Furthermore, knowledge sharing and capacity-building initiatives are essential for achieving Goal 10. Governments, organizations, and academia need to collaborate in generating and disseminating research, data, and best practices on reducing inequality. This exchange of knowledge and expertise can inform policy decisions and enhance the effectiveness of interventions aimed at reducing inequality. Capacity-building programs can also empower individuals and organizations to address inequality effectively, equipping them with the skills and resources needed to implement sustainable solutions.

Achieving Goal 10 requires collaborative efforts on a global scale. Governments, civil society organizations, and the private sector must work together, sharing resources, knowledge, and expertise, to implement effective policies and initiatives. Strengthening international cooperation, promoting fair trade, increasing development assistance, fostering public-private partnerships, and supporting civil society organizations are crucial steps towards reducing inequality worldwide. By joining forces and leveraging collective strengths, we can make significant progress in creating a more equitable and inclusive world for all.

Conclusion

Goal 10 - Reduced Inequality, represents a bold and necessary vision for a fairer and more inclusive world. By addressing income inequality, bridging gender gaps, combating social exclusion, empowering marginalized communities, and investing in sustainable development, we can overcome barriers and create a society where everyone has equal opportunities to succeed. Achieving this goal requires the collective efforts of individuals, governments, and organizations worldwide. Let us strive together to break down the walls of inequality and build a brighter future for all.

[albertpeter]

How Can Stablecoin Development Solutions Align with Sustainable Development Goals?

In recent years, stablecoins have emerged as a crucial innovation in the world of digital currencies. These cryptocurrencies are designed to minimize price volatility by pegging their value to a stable asset, such as a fiat currency like the US dollar or a commodity like gold. As the popularity of stablecoins grows, so does the importance of ensuring that their development and use align with sustainable development goals (SDGs).

The Sustainable Development Goals, adopted by all United Nations Member States in 2015, provide a shared blueprint for peace and prosperity for people and the planet, now and into the future. They encompass 17 goals aimed at addressing global challenges such as poverty, inequality, climate change, environmental degradation, peace, and justice. Aligning stablecoin development solutions with these goals can contribute to a more sustainable and equitable world. Here’s how:

Financial Inclusion (SDG 1, 8, 10): Stablecoins can help promote financial inclusion by providing access to digital financial services for the unbanked and underbanked populations. By reducing transaction costs and increasing financial access, stablecoins can empower individuals and communities to participate more fully in the economy, thereby contributing to poverty reduction (SDG 1), economic growth (SDG 8), and reduced inequalities (SDG 10).

Transparency and Accountability (SDG 16): The use of blockchain technology in stablecoin development can enhance transparency and accountability in financial transactions. By recording transactions on a public ledger that is immutable and transparent, blockchain technology can help combat corruption and promote good governance, thereby contributing to the goal of peace, justice, and strong institutions (SDG 16).

Environmental Sustainability (SDG 7, 13): The energy-intensive nature of blockchain technology, particularly in the case of proof-of-work consensus mechanisms, has raised concerns about its environmental impact. However, stablecoin developers can mitigate this impact by adopting more energy-efficient consensus mechanisms, such as proof-of-stake. Additionally, stablecoins can support the transition to renewable energy by facilitating the financing of renewable energy projects, thereby contributing to the goals of affordable and clean energy (SDG 7) and climate action (SDG 13).

Partnerships for the Goals (SDG 17): Achieving the SDGs requires collaboration and partnerships between governments, the private sector, civil society, and other stakeholders. Stablecoin developers can contribute to this goal by engaging in partnerships with organizations that are working to achieve the SDGs, such as development agencies, NGOs, and impact investors. By aligning their efforts with existing initiatives, stablecoin developers can amplify their impact and contribute to the achievement of the SDGs.

Education and Awareness (SDG 4, 5, 9): Promoting education and awareness about stablecoins and blockchain technology can help drive adoption and ensure that their benefits are realized by a wider audience. By providing educational resources and engaging with stakeholders, stablecoin developers can contribute to the goals of quality education (SDG 4), gender equality (SDG 5), and industry, innovation, and infrastructure (SDG 9).

Conclusion

Stablecoin development solutions have the potential to align with sustainable development goals in a variety of ways, from promoting financial inclusion and transparency to supporting environmental sustainability and fostering partnerships for the goals. By incorporating these principles into their development and adoption strategies, stablecoin developers can contribute to a more sustainable and equitable world for all.

[adenhoru]

Top 7 Challenges in Municipal Land Use Planning

Municipal land use planning plays a pivotal role in shaping communities, balancing development needs with environmental sustainability, social equity, and economic prosperity. However, numerous challenges confront municipalities in effectively managing land use decisions. This article explores the top seven challenges in municipal land use planning and proposes strategies to overcome them, ensuring more resilient and vibrant communities.

Urban Sprawl and Infrastructure Pressure: Urban sprawl, characterized by unplanned, low-density development extending outward from urban centers, strains municipal infrastructure and services. Challenges include increased traffic congestion, higher infrastructure maintenance costs, and diminished agricultural or green spaces. To combat sprawl, municipalities can implement smart growth policies, promoting compact, mixed-use development, transit-oriented development, and infill projects. By prioritizing urban revitalization and efficient land use, municipalities can alleviate infrastructure pressure and foster sustainable growth.

Affordable Housing Shortages: Many municipalities face affordable housing shortages due to escalating real estate prices, limited housing stock, and regulatory barriers. Affordability challenges disproportionately affect low and moderate-income households, exacerbating social inequality and housing insecurity. To address this issue, municipalities can adopt inclusionary zoning policies, incentivize affordable housing development through density bonuses or tax credits, and streamline regulatory processes for affordable housing projects. Collaborations with nonprofit organizations and leveraging public-private partnerships can also enhance affordable housing opportunities and promote inclusive communities.

Environmental Conservation and Climate Resilience: Municipalities grapple with balancing development pressures with environmental conservation imperatives and climate resilience goals. Climate change exacerbates risks such as flooding, sea-level rise, and extreme weather events, necessitating proactive land use planning strategies. Municipalities can integrate climate adaptation and mitigation measures into land use plans, such as incorporating green infrastructure, preserving natural habitats, and promoting energy-efficient building standards. By prioritizing environmental sustainability and resilience, municipalities can safeguard ecosystems, protect vulnerable communities, and enhance overall quality of life.

Transportation and Mobility Challenges: Inadequate transportation infrastructure and limited mobility options pose significant challenges for municipalities, contributing to congestion, pollution, and reduced accessibility. To address transportation challenges, municipalities can develop comprehensive transportation plans that prioritize multi-modal transportation options, including public transit, biking, and pedestrian infrastructure. Investing in transit-oriented development, complete streets initiatives, and intelligent transportation systems can enhance mobility, reduce dependency on private vehicles, and improve overall transportation efficiency.

Community Engagement and Participation: Effective community engagement is essential for inclusive and transparent land use planning processes. However, municipalities often face challenges in engaging diverse stakeholders, fostering meaningful dialogue, and incorporating community input into decision-making. To enhance community engagement, municipalities can employ a variety of outreach strategies, including public hearings, workshops, online surveys, and citizen advisory boards. By fostering collaborative partnerships with residents, businesses, and community organizations, municipalities can build consensus, increase public trust, and ensure that land use decisions reflect community values and priorities.

Economic Development and Revitalization: Municipalities strive to promote economic development and revitalization while preserving community character and heritage. However, economic development initiatives must balance growth opportunities with social equity considerations and mitigate potential displacement impacts. To support economic development, municipalities can implement targeted incentive programs, streamline permitting processes, and support small business incubation and entrepreneurship. Additionally, preserving historic districts, cultural assets, and local landmarks can enhance community identity and attract visitors, contributing to sustainable economic growth.

Regulatory Complexity and Administrative Burden: Municipal land use planning is often hindered by regulatory complexity, bureaucratic inefficiencies, and administrative burdens. Cumbersome zoning codes, conflicting regulations, and lengthy approval processes can stifle development and deter investment. To streamline land use regulations, municipalities can undertake zoning code revisions, consolidate permitting procedures, and implement online permitting systems to enhance accessibility and transparency. By improving regulatory clarity and administrative efficiency, municipalities can facilitate responsible development, spur economic growth, and enhance overall land use planning effectiveness.

Conclusion: Municipal land use planning faces a myriad of challenges, from urban sprawl and affordable housing shortages to environmental conservation and regulatory complexity. However, by adopting proactive strategies and fostering collaboration among stakeholders, municipalities can overcome these challenges and create more resilient, equitable, and sustainable communities. Through innovative planning approaches, inclusive community engagement, and adaptive governance, municipalities can chart a path towards a more vibrant and prosperous future for all residents.

[ghousetechnologies]

Affordable Housing Bridging the Gap

Affordable housing has emerged as a pressing global issue, impacting the lives of millions of people across the world. The fundamental concept of affordable housing is simple: it refers to housing that is reasonably priced, allowing individuals and families to meet their basic living needs without being financially burdened. However, despite its simplicity, achieving affordable housing remains a complex and multifaceted challenge.

The demand for affordable housing is on the rise, driven by various factors such as urbanization, population growth, and income inequality. In cities and urban areas, soaring real estate prices have made it increasingly difficult for low and middle-income individuals to find suitable accommodation. As a result, housing insecurity has become a widespread concern, affecting not only the economically disadvantaged but also the working-class population.

Affordable housing is not just about providing shelter; it's about creating stable communities, fostering economic development, and improving overall quality of life. When individuals can access affordable housing, they have more resources to invest in education, healthcare, and other essential needs. It can lead to a positive cycle of social and economic growth, benefiting not only the individuals and families but also the larger society.

One of the main challenges in providing affordable housing is the lack of available units. With the demand exceeding the supply, many cities face housing shortages, leading to inflated prices. To address this issue, governments and private organizations are taking various approaches. Some are investing in the construction of affordable housing units, while others are implementing rent control policies or providing subsidies to make housing more accessible.

Innovative solutions are also emerging to tackle this problem. Adaptive reuse of existing buildings, tiny homes, co-housing, and micro-apartments are just a few examples of creative strategies being employed to offer affordable housing options. Moreover, technological advancements are playing a significant role in reducing construction costs and increasing housing efficiency.

Another critical aspect of affordable housing is its accessibility to public transportation, healthcare, education, and employment opportunities. Strategic urban planning can help ensure that affordable housing is well-connected to these essential services, reducing the overall cost of living for residents and promoting a sustainable lifestyle.

Affordable housing policies need to address the diverse needs of various demographic groups. This includes seniors, people with disabilities, single-parent households, and veterans. Tailoring housing solutions to meet these specific needs is vital for creating an inclusive and equitable society.

It is also essential to recognize that affordable housing is not solely the responsibility of governments. Public-private partnerships, community organizations, and non-profit entities are contributing significantly to the affordable housing movement. By working together, they can create a comprehensive approach to affordable housing that encompasses both housing supply and support services.

In conclusion, affordable housing is not just a matter of providing shelter; it is the cornerstone of building vibrant and sustainable communities. The increasing demand for affordable housing necessitates innovative solutions that cater to the diverse needs of the population. Governments, private sector organizations, and the community all play a crucial role in addressing this issue.

Affordable housing is not an impossible dream; it is an achievable goal. By focusing on housing supply, accessibility, affordability, and community development, we can bridge the gap and provide individuals and families with the opportunity to live in secure, comfortable, and affordable homes. In doing so, we can create a brighter future for our communities and ensure that everyone has a place to call home.

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[tiozambia]

Foreign Affairs ministry calls for Japanese help

By Maimbo Mweemba Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Stanley Kakubo has appealed to the Japanese government to support Zambia restore debt sustainability. Mr Kakubo made the appeal when he virtually addressed the ministerial meeting of the eighth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD8). Mr Kakubo assured the Japanese government that Zambia has devised measures and remains committed to restoring debt sustainability and achieving economic transformation and diversification. He urged TICAD to urgently find ways of helping countries restore economic growth and improve general living conditions following the impact of the Covid 19 pandemic. Mr Kakubo observed that private sector and public private partnerships are critical in a post Covid era to help unlock and mobilise resources that can accelerate economic recovery and foster socio-economic development. He said the mobilized resources under the private sector and public private partnerships can be used to support industrialization and generate employment, income and reduce socio-economic inequalities. He also acknowledged that Official Development Assistance has been instrumental in providing additional resources from cooperating partners like Japan to support the private sector to increase their productive capacities and open up market access opportunities. The Tokyo International Conference on African Development is held every three years, and TICAD7, was held in Yokohama in 2019. The virtual TICAD meeting was held from March 26 to 27, 2022, under the theme “Achieving sustainable and inclusive growth with reduced economic inequalities. Read the full article

[your-dietician]

The Clean Economy Revolution Will Be Unionized

New Post has been published on https://tattlepress.com/economy/the-clean-economy-revolution-will-be-unionized/

The Clean Economy Revolution Will Be Unionized

Introduction and summary

This year, the United States has an enormous opportunity to invest in a clean energy-driven economic recovery that will support millions of good-paying union jobs, confront environmental injustice, and prevent the worst impacts of climate change. On March 31, President Joe Biden released the American Jobs Plan calling for major job-creating public investments in clean energy industries, clean infrastructure, and innovation. This plan would simultaneously confront the climate challenge; drive investment in high-quality, family-supporting jobs; and build worker power by including high-road labor standards and expanding the right to organize.

Importantly, the enormous opportunity now facing the nation—the creation of millions of good union jobs to build a clean energy-driven economic recovery—flows in great measure from lessons learned through successful state leadership. The Center for American Progress and League of Conservation Voters have argued that state, tribal, and local governments are laying a road map for jobs, justice, and climate solutions. These include actions taken to promote job quality in new and fast-growing clean energy industries; efforts to expand existing industries that support union jobs critical to the clean economy, such as in transportation, water infrastructure, and manufacturing; and efforts to advance labor standards and the right to organize, ensure government spending does not undercut workers’ ability to bargain collectively, and promote local hiring and equitable access to good jobs. This report provides an illustrative overview of state and local progress and how it can inform federal action in 2021.

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Now is the time for Congress to build a clean economy that truly works for working people. Labor and climate advocates have spent years building together toward this moment. In 2019, the BlueGreen Alliance—a coalition of 13 labor unions and environmental organizations—released its Solidarity for Climate Action platform, which demands that “working people are front and center as we create a new economy.” That same year, CAP released its “100 Percent Clean Future” report, which pointed to the opportunity to create good union jobs to build a clean economy. The combination of advocacy for climate action and good jobs has a long history, from the creation nearly two decades ago of the Apollo Alliance—a coalition of environmental groups, labor unions, and businesses working together to transform the economy—to the work of the Peoples’ Climate March that began in 2014 for “climate, jobs and justice,” to national movements organizing for transformative change today.

In May, 21 labor, progressive, environmental, and environmental justice organizations sent a letter to Congress urging it to pass legislation “that invests at least $4 trillion throughout the economy over this presidential term, bound by high-road labor, equity and climate standards.” Such legislation, the letter argues, will “rebuild the economy, reverse growing inequality, confront systemic racism, reduce pollution, guarantee labor rights, and make necessary down payments in tackling the climate crisis.” And last month, Reps. Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), Stephanie Murphy (D-FL), Susan Wild (D-PA), and more than 200 members of Congress wrote, “Congress must ensure that middle class family-sustaining jobs will be created by including strong labor standards on all forms of federal infrastructure investment moving forward.”

However, tension has long existed between labor and environmental constituencies over whether or not actions to stop climate change and build a clean economy can also support workers and retain and create good union jobs. Translating advocacy into concrete policies has proven to be particularly challenging, but never before has there been a greater federal policy opportunity to tackle these challenges together. And thanks to state and local advocates and lawmakers, there is now a road map that federal lawmakers can follow. While no state or city government has taken every necessary step to achieve good jobs, climate action, and environmental justice, many of them have made important progress—and from this progress, federal lawmakers and lawmakers in other states can derive policy lessons and political momentum. This report offers a recap of some informative state and local actions designed to support good jobs, ensure high-road labor standards, and confront the climate crisis.

The climate agenda is an investment agenda

Climate action offers the greatest investment opportunity in decades to fundamentally rebuild the fabric of the American economy. Done right, this economic transformation can create millions of good-paying jobs. Around the world, the commitments made through the Paris Agreement alone provide a $23 trillion investment opportunity in climate solutions, according to an analysis conducted by the International Finance Corporation. Automakers in North America, Europe, and China are investing hundreds of billions of dollars in a race to dominate electric vehicles industries in the coming years. And growing and transforming traditional manufacturing industries to reduce emissions and build more advanced technologies offers an investment opportunity as large as $11 trillion to $21 trillion globally, according to McKinsey and Company. A recent study published by the Sierra Club, in partnership with the Political Economy Research Institute at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst, estimated that upgrading U.S. infrastructure, expanding renewable energy, and increasing energy efficiency could create 9.3 million jobs over the next 10 years. Clearly, the potential for job and economic growth is tremendous. Fully realizing these gains will require robust federal government policy and public investment, as well as strong standards to ensure the creation of good jobs with benefits that ripple throughout local economies. The climate solutions agenda is fundamentally a jobs agenda, and it is up to federal lawmakers to seize it.

Unions are critical to supporting good jobs and inclusive prosperity

Building the clean energy economy must go hand in hand with creating high-quality American jobs. Unions and worker power are integral to realizing this outcome. Union workers earn higher wages and are more likely to receive necessary benefits such as health insurance, retirement plans, and paid leave than their nonunionized counterparts. Unionization raises total compensation—both wages and benefits—of union workers by an average of about 28 percent, according to the Economic Policy Institute. Communities with high union density also tend to have higher rates of economic mobility, and unions have been shown to decrease the racial wealth gap and help narrow pay gaps for women and Black and Latinx workers. Indeed, the union wage premium is higher for Black, Hispanic, and Asian workers than it is for white workers.

Moreover, union membership can also strengthen democracy, at a time when working families in the United States need equitable and just representation in the nation’s highest political offices. Beyond their role as an active counterbalance to corporate power, unions represent one of the few interest groups whose positions line up with the interests of the middle class. Research shows that lawmakers representing strong union districts are more responsive to working-class constituents, and unions have been shown to increase voter turnout among both members and nonmembers.

Years of de-unionization have harmed the middle class

Despite the evident health and livelihood benefits of unionization, the past five decades have seen declining union membership rates. Just 10.8 percent of Americans belonged to a union in 2020, down from nearly 30 percent in 1970. Jobs in the private sector, which are particularly pertinent in discussion of a clean economy transition, are only about 6 percent unionized. Declining unionization is strongly correlated with a downward trend in the share of national income garnered by the middle class. In fact, researchers estimate that the decline in unionization explains one-fifth to as much of one-third of the increase in wage inequality between 1973 and 2007. Once overlooked or avoided in some policy circles, the empirical evidence showing the benefits of unionization for economic and wage growth are now overwhelming and undeniable.

Sound government spending upholds high standards for workers

CAP, the BlueGreen Alliance, and the League of Conservation Voters have called for federal action to ensure that investments in the clean energy economy promote high-quality, good jobs. In addition, state and local policies should take steps to uphold industrywide standards and prevent union wages from being undercut, preference employers who have a track record of upholding high standards and complying with the law, and promote unionization opportunities by pledging to maintain neutrality in union representation elections.

A bold national agenda aimed simultaneously at addressing the climate crisis and recovering from the pandemic-induced economic downturn by getting Americans back to work in good jobs provides the opportunity to tie together public investments and basic labor standards, including:

Paying decent wages and providing quality benefits

Preventing discrimination and complying with equal pay protections

Expanding access to apprenticeship and other labor-management training programs

Using targeted or local hire programs

Respecting workers’ right to join a union and helping prevent labor disruptions on large projects

Complying with existing workplace laws

Adhering to “Buy America” rules that create jobs in the United States

These standards can be achieved with specific policies that broadly cover government spending programs, such as prevailing wage laws and anti-discrimination protections. In addition, project-specific project labor agreements and community workforce agreements can be used to raise standards, boost efficiency, and prevent costly delays on large projects.

Examples of state and local progress

Many states and local governments are taking steps to center workers, the creation of high-quality union jobs, and strong labor standards in their climate and clean energy policy agendas. While all states and cities can go further, the programs described below provide initial ideas for how federal lawmakers can follow suit.

State and local governments have long demonstrated their ability to improve labor conditions by codifying into law standards that surpass federal labor standards. Aggressive federal and subnational climate goals present an even greater opportunity for governments to further support good union jobs. Already, state and local climate policies have helped create high-quality union jobs and make the economy more equitable for people of color, women, and other disadvantaged groups. Climate policies that require the purchase of goods and services or that promote clean energy projects through public investments and financing can also promote strong labor standards.

This section provides an overview of some of the state and local policies that can best inform a path forward for lawmakers, particularly at the federal level, but also in other states and cities. Some of these interventions can be used to uphold strong wage floors that do not undercut the market and prevent disruption on large clean energy projects. Others promote the creation of good jobs in fast-growing clean energy industries; invest in key sectors that already support good union jobs; support workers’ rights and confront de-unionization; and promote local hiring and equitable access. This section borrows especially from the BlueGreen Alliance state policy toolkit, published in July 2020, which provides examples of state actions that promote good, union jobs in growing clean energy industries.

Project labor agreements (PLAs) are collective bargaining agreements covering all of the craft workers, union and nonunion, on a construction project. PLAs are often supported by building trades unions, employers, and the government as a means of ensuring that large projects uphold high standards for workers, high-road firms are not undercut by contractors that pay below-market wages, and costly delays and disruptions due to labor shortages or disruptions are prevented.

Community benefits agreements (CBAs) and community workforce agreements (CWAs) are similar in nature to PLAs but are broader and often include community organizations as signatories. CBAs and CWAs connect building trades unions with the local community through targeted hire provisions and pre-apprenticeship programs that create career pathways to high-wage jobs for workers in low-income and under-resourced communities.

Prevailing wages establish a wage floor for each occupation that all contractors on a government-funded project must pay at or above, typically set to reflect the market wage for a given type of work in a given area. The Davis-Bacon Act and the McNamara-O’Hara Service Contract Act require that workers on federally funded construction and service work are paid prevailing wages and receive benefits that do not undercut local market wages. Numerous cities and states have enacted their own prevailing wage laws to ensure that government-supported construction and service work create middle-class jobs and do not undercut collectively bargained wage rates in areas where unions are strong. These laws also set a minimum standard for benefits contributions, such as health and retirement, that must be given to workers on a project.

Organizing rights provisions include anything that helps rebalance the power dynamic between workers trying to organize a union and their employer or helps prevent disruptions due to labor disputes, such as neutrality clauses and card check agreements.

Local hire agreements mandate or incentivize the hiring of workers on a project from within the state or community where the project takes place. Without this provision, developers often bring in work crews from out of state to do the work and then leave.

Targeted hire mandates or incentivizes the hiring of workers on a project from certain communities, which may include women, individuals of color, veterans, the formerly incarcerated, economically disadvantaged communities, communities heavily affected by climate change or climate change policies, and many others.

Promoting good, union jobs in fast-growing clean energy industries

At the end of 2020, more than 3 million American workers were employed in clean energy jobs, such as in energy efficiency, solar, wind, and electric vehicles. Clean energy accounted for more than 40 percent of America’s overall energy workforce. Renewable energy jobs make up a fast-growing segment of these jobs, but only a small portion have historically been unionized, and unionization rates are higher in some industries and regions than others.

Some states and localities have stepped up to the plate and demonstrated how climate action is made stronger by unionization and pro-worker policies. In several states, prompted by coalitions that include both labor unions and environmental groups, elected leaders are successfully promoting unionized, renewable energy jobs in fast-growing industries. Clean energy investments, tax incentives, and performance standards are powerful tools for deploying solar, wind, and other forms of zero-carbon energy at the state level. These policy tools can also be effective means of ensuring companies respect workers’ right to unionize and promoting high-paying jobs. Governments can require that companies providing goods and services purchased or subsidized by the government, receiving other types of financial assistance, or working on projects subject to the government’s regulatory standards or permitting decisions adhere to wage, benefit, and other job quality standards that will provide good jobs and deliver quality goods and services to taxpayers. These actions provide a framework for how federal lawmakers and policymakers in other states can think about the same.

For example, Washington state tied labor standards to tax incentives for renewable energy development through the Clean Energy Transformation Act (CETA) signed by Gov. Jay Inslee (D) in 2019. The bill contains a clean electricity standard (CES)—which drives utilities to invest in clean energy projects to achieve 80 percent clean electricity generation by 2030, en route to 100 percent carbon-free energy—and conditions related business tax incentives on high-road labor standards and practices, such as apprenticeship utilization, prevailing wage, local hire, and the use of PLAs and CWAs, to promote good jobs. To date, Washington’s CETA has resulted in new major renewables projects advancing under PLAs, such as the Rattlesnake Flats wind farm developed by Clearway Energy. The CETA legislation represents successful coalition-building between local labor and climate advocates. In the years prior to its passage, climate advocates and union locals, such as the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) and its certified electrical workers division, engaged together around the opportunity for policy action that would catalyze major investments in clean energy projects, including how those policies could more intentionally support union jobs.

In 2021, New York—which also has a bold CES aimed at decarbonizing the power sector—enacted a law requiring developers of renewable energy projects that are 5 megawatts (MW) and larger to pay prevailing wage or enter into PLAs for construction work in order to receive state renewable energy credits (RECs) under its standard. This new law requires renewable energy system owners of projects 5 MW and larger that receive state RECs to enter into labor peace agreements for operations and maintenance work. It also broke important ground in connecting U.S. industries to clean energy and preventing the continued offshoring of manufacturing and industrial jobs by requiring all public entities procuring clean energy to use domestically produced steel and iron in their projects. Similarly, since 2013, New Jersey has required developers of solar projects 1 MW and greater that receive state RECs to pay prevailing wages to construction workers.

This year, the Oregon Legislature passed legislation requiring 80 percent clean electricity by 2030 and 100 percent clean electricity by 2040, as well as requiring large clean energy projects to pay prevailing wages, ensure benefits for their workers, and encourage midsize projects to use PLAs and apprenticeship programs with high graduation rates. The bill also commits to ensuring that 15 percent of clean energy project work hours are performed by people of color, women, veterans, or people with disabilities. Also this year, Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont (D) signed legislation requiring prevailing wages and CBAs for in-state renewable energy projects.

In Maine, there is also growing support for clean energy and ambitious climate policies among labor unions in the state. Maine’s Green New Deal—which passed with the backing of the Maine AFL-CIO in June 2019—creates strategies necessary to the creation of clean energy jobs and a robust clean energy economy in the state and requires opportunities for training and retraining workers and the development of registered apprenticeship programs.

The Virginia Clean Economy Act, sponsored by state Sen. Jennifer McClellan (D) and Del. Richard “Rip” Sullivan, Jr.(D) and passed in 2020, includes provisions directing public utilities in the state to develop up to 5,200 MW of offshore wind. The law requires utilities building those resources to submit plans detailing their options for hiring local workers as well as opportunities to prioritize the hiring and apprenticeship of local workers, veterans, and historically economically disadvantaged communities. The legislation is already demonstrating results: The Virginia State Building and Construction Trades Council, IBEW and the Laborers’ International Union of North America (LIUNA) Mid-Atlantic Region joined regional energy utility Dominion Energy in negotiating a PLA for the Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind commercial project.

Maryland’s Clean Energy Jobs Act of 2019 amended the state’s labor and employment law to establish a Clean Energy Workforce Account that provides grants supporting workforce development programs. To receive funding, programs must first initiate a PLA. The law requires any approved project to use a CBA and pay workers the prevailing wage rate.

Action in state public utility commissions (PUCs) can also be a helpful tool to ensure that clean energy investments drive labor standards, local hire, and partnerships with unions. For example, the Colorado PUC Reauthorization Act established PLA criteria by which the commission reviews utility decisions to acquire new energy resources. It also directed the PUC to consider “best value” employment metrics, which include the payment of “industry-standard wages” for the project. Similarly, in Minnesota, renewable energy projects subject to PUC oversight have been required since 2018 to disclose the number of local jobs they were creating. This has led to greater opportunities for partnerships with local unions to ensure high-quality local jobs, rather than relying on imported contractors paid with low wages. This has, in turn, built greater support for bold clean energy policies—LIUNA, for example, has supported proposed bills in the Minnesota Legislature targeting 100 percent clean electricity.

Offshore wind provides another massive opportunity at the cross-section of good jobs in clean energy. Climate Jobs New York, a coalition of labor unions, has worked with the state to include strong labor standards as part of a commitment to robust offshore wind energy development; the coalition has since expanded its successful model to other states through the Climate Jobs National Resource Center. In addition, in 2019, Connecticut enacted a bill to ensure that 30 percent of the state’s total load is sourced from new offshore wind energy. The law directed state agencies to begin the process of soliciting bids from offshore wind developers that are required to engage in a good faith negotiation of a PLA.

Recently, Danish renewable energy group Ørsted and North America’s Building Trade Unions (NABTU) engaged in a landmark partnership in 2020, based on a model used by the Rhode Island Building and Construction Trades Council for the United States’ first offshore wind project. The deal ensures the construction of 15 active commercial offshore wind leases along the East Coast that will support $25 billion in annual economic output and about 83,000 jobs over the next decade and will use unionized workers. In implementing this regional series of projects, NABTU will provide workforce training, registered apprenticeships, and family-supporting construction careers. Already, the Biden administration has taken action that builds from this state leadership and accelerates offshore wind development in the Northeast. Last month, the administration approved a major $2.8 billion offshore wind energy project, Vineyard Wind 1, off the coast of Massachusetts.

Electric vehicle charging infrastructure is yet another zone of enormous opportunity. Decarbonizing America’s transportation sector and supporting electric vehicle fleets with sufficient infrastructure is key for environmental health and public safety. Moreover, rebuilding transportation systems can be a powerful driver of economic recovery and job growth in forward-looking states and localities if they employ high standards for materials, projects, and operations in the rapid buildout and deployment of EV infrastructure and charging networks. Increasingly, high-road industry groups and worker representatives are focused on ensuring that the existing workforce is ready to take on the transition to clean transportation. The Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Training Program (EVITP)—which started in California and Nevada and was developed through a partnership among unions such as IBEW, auto manufacturers, utilities, and educational institutions—provides electricians with instruction and hands-on training to install both residential and public charging stations. EVITP has trained approximately 3,000 electricians to install and maintain EV charging stations.

Greater investments in sectors that already support good union jobs

In recent years, many states and local governments have taken action to invest in clean infrastructure and advanced manufacturing—sectors that in many jurisdictions already support high-quality union jobs. State and local governments are already responsible for the majority of infrastructure spending in the United States. Many have supported workforce development and high-quality jobs through infrastructure investments in sectors such as energy efficiency retrofits, transit, clean water, and manufacturing. In addition, numerous cities and states have enacted construction sector prevailing wage laws to ensure that workers earn market wages and benefits and high-road companies can compete for jobs funded through government spending.

The clean economic transition will require much more than clean energy generation technologies; it necessitates massive reinvestment in a sustainable built environment, which includes transformative reinvestments in many traditional infrastructure sectors. In addition, it provides an opportunity to support and revitalize domestic manufacturing, as well as more sustainably producing the goods that are used every day in a modern economy, with cleaner manufacturing. A recent report from the UC Berkeley Labor Center argues, “the vast majority of the jobs that will be involved in work to lower greenhouse gas emissions across the economy are in traditional occupations where specific ‘low carbon’ knowledge and skills are only one component of a broader occupational skill set.” These sectors provide incredible opportunities to retain and create millions of good union jobs, especially as federal lawmakers look to unleash the unparalleled power of federal investment and financing to rebuild America’s infrastructure. Below are informative examples of state and local leadership on energy-efficient buildings, transit, clean water infrastructure, and manufacturing. These are only illustrative examples and do not capture the full breadth of opportunities inherent to the clean economy.

Investments in energy-efficient buildings

Energy efficiency investments in commercial and residential buildings have been widely successful at supporting growth in good, unionized jobs. Energy efficiency jobs, the largest employment sector in clean energy industries in the United States, have a 10 percent unionization rate—60 percent higher than the national average for private sector workers. Many leading states and local governments have been promoting expansion of energy efficiency jobs through commercial building energy efficiency investments and programs.

The city of Los Angeles’ commercial energy efficiency retrofitting programs have created high-quality jobs. Compared with other types of infrastructure investments, energy efficiency programs in Los Angeles consistently produce the largest number of jobs per public dollar invested, pay higher wages and benefits for those jobs, and provide the most consistent support for development on the job-skill ladder for the widest range of trades. Energy efficiency investments in California largely employ workers in traditional building and construction trades rather than relying solely on specialized energy efficiency occupations. In 2011, IBEW Local Union 11 and the Los Angeles chapter of the National Electrical Contractors Partnership opened their NetZero Plus Electrical Training Institute to unite energy efficiency practices and workers. The institute was, at the time, the country’s largest net-zero commercial retrofit building.

New York City has taken strides to craft some of the country’s most progressive energy efficiency policies, requiring 80 percent emissions reductions from large buildings by 2050, instituting sweeping changes to the city’s building codes, and implementing efficiency standards, with fines for noncompliance. The work of retrofitting and decarbonizing the largest source of carbon pollution in the city will be achieved in large partnership with local labor unions and state funding for training programs. For example, the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) Energy Efficiency and Clean Technology Training Fund supports the city’s largest municipal labor union, District Council 37, on technical energy efficiency jobs training initiatives.

Also in New York City, Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 32BJ launched a “Green Supers” program that provides training for its unionized building superintendents on steps that will improve building energy and water usage, indoor air quality, waste control, and the overall performance of the building envelope. This program not only improves energy efficiency, cuts electric bills, and reduces pollution, but also provides valuable professional training for union members that will benefit their careers. SEIU has been working to expand this program into jurisdictions nationwide, with support from local governments.

Washington state also offers significant incentives for energy efficiency investments and, in 2019, passed the first state law implementing an energy efficiency performance standard for large existing commercial buildings. The Clean Buildings for Washington Act, or H.B. 1257, aims to reduce the energy intensity of Washington’s commercial building stock for buildings larger than 50,000 square feet with compliance requirements phased in by 2028. The state has led by example by requiring energy-efficient public buildings and fleets, benchmarking energy use, and encouraging the use of energy savings performance contracts. Contracts and procurement under H.B. 1257 incentivize workforce development, protection, and benefits as certified by the state’s Department of Labor and Industries under Washington’s aforementioned CETA law.

Investments in transit

Over the past decade, U.S. cities, state governments, and regional bodies have committed nearly $50 billion to expanding transit networks. This expansion not only supports the development of clean transportation but also provides a major opportunity to create and sustain good jobs in construction, maintenance and operations, and manufacturing in communities across the country. According to the American Public Transit Association (APTA), public transportation is a $74 billion industry that directly employs 435,000 workers, in jobs that tend to be union jobs. Moreover, every $1 invested in public transit delivers $5 in economic benefits. The BlueGreen Alliance also found that, as of 2015, 750 companies in 39 states manufacture components for transit and passenger rail. These provide a variety of economic opportunities for state and local governments that federal investment can accelerate.

In 2015, voters in Phoenix approved Transportation 2050—a major investment in citywide transit expansion that includes tripling the number of miles of light rail service and new stations, building more than 1,000 miles of new bike lanes and 135 miles of sidewalks, constructing 75 miles of new rapid transit bus routes, and more. This initiative was supported by the Arizona Building and Construction Trade Council. In 2020, voters in Austin, Texas, approved Project Connect—a major $7.1 billion transit expansion that includes 27 new miles of light rail service via two new lines, a downtown transit tunnel, commuter rail, expanded bus service, and a new fleet of e-bikes. It also includes anti-displacement investment to protect affordable housing and support transit-oriented development. In the November 2018 elections, U.S. voters approved nearly $10 billion in transit funding measures nationwide.

Ongoing transit development projects continue to be a source of high-road jobs and transportation decarbonization. For example, in 2016, voters in the western region of Washington state approved a $54 billion Sound Transit 3 (ST3) measure—among the nation’s largest—for a major expansion of light rail infrastructure throughout the Central Puget Sound region, the development of which continues under a PLA and has since been joined with a commitment to 100 percent electrification. ST3 will add 62 miles of light rail at 37 new stations, two bus rapid transit (BRT) lanes, and expansions and extensions of existing commuter rail and bus service. It was a top priority of the Washington State Labor Council and the Building and Construction Trades Council when it passed.

However, at the same time, local and state stories on public transit are not all rosy—particularly amid financing plans that rely on regressive local consumption taxes when Americans have been hit by two unprecedented economic calamities in less than two decades. In November 2020, voters in Gwinnett County, Georgia—a suburban country in the Atlanta metro area—rejected an otherwise popular 82 projects transit measure that involved a 1 percent sales tax increase, despite a new charge given by state lawmakers to the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority to begin to address one of the nation’s worst-congested traffic regions through more transit options. The ballot measure lost by just more than 1,000 votes out of nearly 400,000. Nationally, there is also the issue of ridership loss—even prior to COVID-19, transit networks had been shedding riders, pointing to the need for greater accessibility and the development of more transit-smart housing projects. In light of the economic challenges that decimated communities during the COVID-19 pandemic, it is important to consider how federal investments could help alleviate voters’ antipathy towards sales- and property tax-based transit financing plans, whose rejection can force local governments to scrap popular and critically needed expansions.

Much greater federal financial support will be essential and can build upon and accelerate state and local transit development. APTA estimates that 45 percent of Americans have no access to public transportation, and the American Society of Civil Engineers estimates that the backlog of needed transit investments will grow to $270 billion by 2030. The American Rescue Plan passed by Congress and signed by President Biden in March 2021 provided a critical $30 billion lifeline for state and local transit systems. However, much more investment will be needed to sustain and expand transit, as well as intercity rail transportation.

The American Jobs Plan proposes major transit investments—an opportunity for good jobs in the construction industry and maintenance of more sustainable transportation infrastructure for the 21st century. And just weeks ago, a coalition of advocates wrote to Congress urging it to provide robust investment in public transportation. The letter asked for $99 billion to address the nationwide transit maintenance backlog, $20 billion in operating support to expand service, and efforts to ensure that transit receives at least 50 percent of federal transportation investments, rather than the measly 20 percent it has received in the recent past. The letter also urges a $50 billion investment in clean, zero-emission buses.

Investments in clean water

Water infrastructure investment needs are varied and can include stormwater management, waste treatment, and drinking water upgrades for healthy communities; repairs and replacements of locks, dams, and levees that prevent flood and storm surge; and water storage and conservation projects that shore up critical water supplies and protect habitats. Clean water infrastructure for communities is an especially critical need, in light of the Flint, Michigan, water crisis and aging or failing water infrastructure around the country. Water infrastructure investment is also a source of good union jobs, according to the UC Berkeley Labor Center. The investments required to improve the U.S. drinking water system alone, from its current poor D-plus grade from the American Society of Civil Engineers to a much-improved B grade could create an estimated 144,000 domestic jobs in replacement and upgrades of pipelines, treatment plants, storage tanks, and the installation of green infrastructure projects.

One example of a state that has recently led on clean water infrastructure is Michigan. In 2020, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D) announced the Michigan Clean Water Plan, which would invest $500 million in upgrading the state’s water infrastructure, from wastewater infrastructure to lead service line replacement to remediation of Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances. This plan received significant attention, especially in light of the Flint water crisis. The Michigan Clean Water Plan pledged $207 million for investment in drinking water systems and $293 million toward wastewater protections and will support more than 7,500 jobs, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

In Miami Beach, Florida, city officials passed the Integrated Water Management plan in 2018 to build blue-green stormwater infrastructure that supports water quality improvement, groundwater recharge and replenishment, and flood mitigation. The program uses an integrated approach to project implementation to maximize community benefit, including local jobs and training support.

While states and municipalities are making progress, this is another area where greater federal investment will be critical. In early 2021, four Midwest governors—Gretchen Whitmer, Tony Evers (D-WI), J.B. Pritzker (D-IL), and Tim Walz (D-MN)—wrote to President Biden urging him to prioritize water infrastructure investment as part of his infrastructure and economic recovery agenda. Biden’s American Jobs Plan responded with $111 billion in proposed water infrastructure investment, including $45 billion for lead service line replacement.

Investments in manufacturing

Through investments in low-carbon manufacturing—including local “Buy Clean, Buy Fair” policies and related efforts—federal lawmakers can build on states’ efforts and support more American jobs to build clean and competitive manufacturing industries for the 21st century. Already, Buy America laws and the Buy American Act require that federal purchasing and investments in infrastructure source U.S.-made iron and steel and use domestic production and assembly of other manufactured goods. Buy Clean policies, however, focus on the carbon content of manufactured goods—preferencing procurement decisions for firms that meet lower carbon pollution metrics. Additionally, Buy Fair policies can similarly leverage the power of government procurement to ensure fair treatment of workers. Both of these initiatives also inherently support American manufacturing, which frequently involves lower greenhouse gas pollution and better labor conditions. These sorts of policies can also be used to drive a virtuous race to the top in high-road labor and environmental standards, pushing manufacturing enterprises to continue innovating while supporting U.S. jobs. The Biden administration and Congress have the opportunity to support clean and competitive U.S. advanced manufacturing, and in doing so, they can build on a movement that has begun in the states.

In 2017, California became the first state to pass a Buy Clean law, urged on by BlueGreen Alliance, the United Steelworkers, and the Sierra Club. This legislation requires state agencies to consider as part of the procurement processes the carbon pollution embedded in industrial products—such as steel and glass—using a portion of the state’s $10 billion annual public infrastructure investment to incentivize low-carbon manufacturing. Since then, similar legislation has been introduced in Minnesota, Oregon, and Colorado. Washington appropriated money this year to build a state tracking system for both Buy Clean and Buy Fair components. The state has also funded several pilot projects through the capital budget. New York state has passed legislation for offshore wind energy developments that include requirements for investments to satisfy Buy Clean supply chain principles. These points of state progress provide a template for federal action, particularly alongside a legislative agenda for greater public investment in infrastructure.

Elsewhere in manufacturing opportunities that support good jobs and decarbonization is the race to ensure American leadership in the fast-growing 21st century global market for electric vehicles. Success will require bold federal policy action, such as the Clean Cars for America proposal put forward by Sens. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) and the Clean Energy for America Act led by Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR), which provides an expanded tax credit for electric vehicles made in America by workers with high-quality jobs. Likewise, states have demonstrated leadership in this area. In 2020, Michigan launched a new state Office of Future Mobility and Electrification to generate new investment and protect the state’s competitiveness in electric vehicles and other future mobility technologies. California, Michigan, Nevada and Tennessee have all used tax incentives and grant payments to attract electric vehicle manufacturing facilities to their states, although these states vary in their labor policy and correlated conditions. States have used demand-side policies to pull more electric vehicles into the market as well. Fourteen states, including Minnesota and Virginia, have adopted clean car standards first promulgated by California, requiring increasing sales of zero-emission vehicles and low-emission vehicles. Moreover, this industry extends well beyond single-occupancy vehicles, with the enormous opportunity for electric bus manufacturing.

Already, the electric bus manufacturing sector has laid the groundwork for high-quality, union jobs to support the transition to clean transportation. In one example, Proterra electric bus manufacturers in Los Angeles County joined the national United Steelworkers (USW) union in 2019. In this move, USW and Proterra signaled alignment in clean jobs, “ensuring that the materials and components in the transportation supply chain are made in America and that the workers who make them earn fair wages and good benefits.” In 2020, Jobs to Move America and Proterra entered into a historic CBA in Los Angeles County to make significant investments in local worker training and hiring for zero-emission bus manufacturing. Under this agreement, Proterra is legally required to hire 50 percent of new hires from communities facing significant barriers to employment.

California’s proposed Climate Jobs and Equity Act, or A.B. 794, would cement workforce standards into law for the procurement of electric vehicles and the manufacture of electric buses and heavy-duty vehicles. For bus and heavy-duty vehicle manufacturing, 60 percent of the total incentive credit is available for the satisfaction of baseline standards, including compliance with state labor laws, disclosure, and Buy America provisions. Manufacturers can receive the additional 40 percent of the incentive if they satisfy additional labor standards, including hiring of disadvantaged workers, participation in apprenticeship or training programs, prevailing wage, and dispute resolution options.

Another example of an opportunity for American jobs in clean manufacturing is in the movement to phase-out hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs)—a powerful climate pollutant that has been used in air conditioning and as refrigerants. The international community moved to phase down HFCs with the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol, and American manufacturers have begun moving away from HFCs, investing more than $1 billion in their replacement for most uses. However, the Trump administration refused to support Kigali, despite benefits to the climate and domestic manufacturing competitiveness, again forcing states to lead in the absence of federal leadership. Sixteen U.S. Climate Alliance states are working to pass legislation or adopt regulations to phase down HFCs.

In 2019, California, Vermont, and Washington passed legislation to adopt HFC limits based on EPA rules promulgated during the Obama administration. Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, and most recently Virginia have taken similar regulatory action. Transitioning toward HFC alternatives could create as many as 33,000 new regional manufacturing jobs and add approximately $12.5 billion per year to the U.S. economy, according to testimony from the U.S. Climate Alliance. Federal lawmakers have already taken action to build on state leadership, with passage of the Energy Act in late 2020 to phase down HFCs. However, the Senate still needs to pass the Kigali Amendment, which will help ensure that American manufacturers can compete in the global marketplace.

Supporting workers’ rights and confronting de-unionization

Unions and union jobs have long been a potent force for social, moral, and economic fairness. At its most elemental, the right to unionize means having a voice in one’s employment and having a stronger voice by partnering with co-workers to speak as one. As the coronavirus pandemic began to sweep through America, workers across the nation recognized that this voice is about much more than wages and benefits. For many front-line workers in the pandemic, access to a union has been a matter of life and death. Unsurprisingly, public support for unions is at a multidecade high. Yet, decades of relentless attacks on the right to unionize have left too many workers unable to collectively bargain with their employers. Now, as state and federal policymakers consider significant investments in building the clean energy economy, it is important that those policies support workers’ rights and confront de-unionization.

Federal labor law has countless loopholes that undermine workers’ ability to come together in strong unions. While federal laws limit some state actions to promote bargaining rights, states have implemented several reforms that can serve as a model for the federal government and help prevent labor disruptions, ensuring that workers continue to have access to unions and the right to collective bargaining.

Governments have significant authority to attach standards to prevent labor disruptions on large investments that create private sector jobs. A number of states and local governments require private contractors on public works projects to enter labor peace agreements and/or PLAs to limit labor disputes and workforce shortages and to safeguard appropriate wage and benefits standards. The District of Columbia, for example, conditions certain contracts on the employers’ willingness to enter into labor peace agreements.

In addition, some states have adopted protections to ensure that recipients of clean energy sector funds respect their workers, based on evaluations of their histories of compliance with wage and hour, health and safety, and labor laws. In Washington and Minnesota, for instance, contractors are eligible for state contracts and renewable energy incentives only if they have clean histories of compliance with labor laws. California has adopted a responsible contractor standard for all energy efficiency investments to apply workforce standards and protect the quality of workmanship.

Of course, public sector jobs should also come with bargaining rights. While the National Labor Relations Act excludes public sector workers, many cities and states have taken action to extend bargaining rights to state and local government employees. Today, more than half of all union members in the United States work in the public sector. Over the past decade, various anti-union laws enacted at the state level and the 2018 Janus v. AFSCME decision—in which the Supreme Court held that public sector unions must allow “freeriding” by nonmembers, which happens when nonmembers benefit from union gains without paying for them—have chipped away at the right of workers to band together. But progressive elected officials in many other states are enacting reforms to ensure that these workers can unionize. In order to protect public sector workers’ right to fairly negotiate and raise workplace standards, federal policymakers should expand public sector bargaining rights to all government workers and ensure that their unions have the ability to access and communicate with workers and collect dues in convenient ways.

Finally, in regions and industries where union membership is particularly low, policymakers have used sectoral approaches, such as workers’ boards, to increase worker power. Workers’ boards are tripartite bodies that bring together workers, employers, and the public to establish minimum wage rates, benefits, and other workplace standards, including paid leave policies and benefit contribution rates. Engaging labor representatives in board activities helps ensure that resulting standards are responsive to workers’ needs while also potentially building union visibility and strength. Governments have commonly used these workers’ boards in the service sector, with examples including fast-food workers in New York and domestic workers in Seattle. However, more state and local policymakers could also use this approach to establish standards in clean energy sectors with low unionization rates.

Local hire and equitable access

As described in this report, unions and collective bargaining are some of the most effective tools for reducing racial inequalities in pay and household wealth. By taking policy action now to ensure that jobs in the clean energy economy pay good wages and benefits and uphold workers’ right to unionize, policymakers can simultaneously take action to combat the economic impacts of systemic racism. But fully realizing the benefits of middle-class jobs also requires a concerted effort to ensure that these jobs are accessible to all and benefit local communities and communities affected by racism, legacy pollution, and deindustrialization. Much more needs to be done, but states and municipalities have taken the lead in crafting policies to protect access to life-changing career pathways for these communities.

State leadership in this space has most often used two policy mechanisms: local hire policies and targeted hire policies. True to their name, local hire policies are often crafted to ensure that the communities that host new energy or manufacturing facilities benefit from those jobs. For example, Virginia’s recently passed Clean Economy Act will spur the development of more than 5,000 MW of new offshore wind generation, and the utilities developing those projects will be required to develop a plan to use local workers. The bill also contains a targeted hire mechanism, requiring the utilities developing new offshore wind facilities to prioritize the hiring of “historically economically disadvantaged communities.” Similarly, Colorado’s carbon reduction goals also require the Public Utilities Commission to ensure that new energy development uses local labor as opposed to “importation of out-of-state workers.”

Other states have arguably gone even further in taking steps to ensure that marginalized communities benefit from clean energy and manufacturing projects. California’s 2015 Clean Energy and Pollution Reduction Act set out a number of critical commitments, containing policies to ensure that energy efficiency investments in the state use only responsible contractors that pay livable wages and provide safe workplaces. (Notably, however, “livable wages�� were not defined in the law, leading to real implementation challenges.) In developing this policy, the state tracked the participation of disadvantaged workers in all energy efficiency programs across the state, casting a wide net to include low-income workers, workers on public assistance, single parents, the formerly incarcerated, non-English speakers, and workers who have grown up in the foster care system.

Maryland’s Clean Energy Jobs Act is designed to increase the representation of women and people of color in the ownership of clean energy businesses, as opposed to looking at the workforce alone. The bill requires utilities building new offshore wind projects to use CBAs that promote opportunities for local businesses and businesses owned by women and people of color, as well as prioritize training and hiring of local residents, women, veterans and people of color. Washington state combined these two approaches in its Clean Energy Transformation Act, which contains policy mechanisms to diversify the clean energy workforces as well as the ownership of businesses operating in the clean energy and manufacturing field.

State and local progress begets federal action

Policies aimed to ensure high-quality, union jobs in the clean economy are not only gaining traction within states; they are also advancing at the federal level where there is a growing focus on increasing union density across the country and linking federal investments to high-road labor standards that support good jobs.

These principles and policies are reflected in the plans put forward by President Biden during his first 100 days, including the groundbreaking American Jobs Plan centering climate and infrastructure investments alongside growing union density, protecting workers’ rights, and supporting high-quality jobs. The president’s vision for $2 trillion to $3 trillion in federal investment would be the biggest jobs package since World War II. The plan also includes the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act, which will strengthen federal laws to protect workers’ right to join together in unions and negotiate for decent wages and benefits. It also helps ensure that federal investment creates good jobs and prevents labor disruption by requiring federally funded projects to prioritize CWAs and PLAs and invest in pre-apprenticeship programs to provide access to high-quality training and job opportunities. President Biden’s plan has a strong focus on ensuring that the jobs created in the clean energy economy are good, high-paying jobs with worker protections.

The American Jobs Plan proposes a wide range of critical investments in U.S. clean energy, infrastructure, and advanced manufacturing sectors. It includes $400 billion in clean energy deployment, tied to labor standards; $85 billion to “modernize existing transit and help agencies expand their systems to meet rider demand”; more than $100 billion for lead pipe replacement and other clean water infrastructure; and another $174 billion for electric vehicle manufacturing and charging infrastructure. Plus, the plan includes more than $200 billion to “build, preserve, and retrofit more than two million homes and commercial buildings to address the affordable housing crisis” and nearly $50 billion in clean economy workforce development.  It also proposes investments to continue to support and accelerate state and local clean energy progress, much like the Clean Energy Challenge Grants proposed by CAP’s From the State House to the White House initiative.

Many forward-looking policies have been progressing in Congress as well. The PRO Act—the most significant upgrade to U.S. labor law in the last 80 years—passed the House in March 2021 by a vote of 225-206. Led in the House by Education and Labor Committee Chairman Bobby Scott (D-VA) and in the Senate by Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee Chair Patty Murray (D-WA), this bill aims to close loopholes in federal labor laws, penalize employers that violate workers’ rights, and enhance workers’ rights to engage in boycotts, strikes, and solidarity actions. In addition, the introduced Public Service Freedom to Negotiate Act would ensure that all public sector workers are able to exercise their right to come together in unions.

Congress has also taken steps to advance legislation incentivizing high-quality job creation in the clean energy sectors, specifically. Sen. Wyden’s Clean Energy for America Act, proposed in April 2021, which creates a new technology-neutral clean energy tax incentive tied together with labor standards to ensure good jobs in deployment of clean energy, transport and energy efficiency infrastructure. Wyden’s bill, which was lauded upon release by unions including NABTU and LIUNA, provides these incentives contingent upon compliance with federal labor standards including prevailing wage and apprenticeship requirements and neutrality agreements. Also during the 116th Congress, Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR) introduced the Good Jobs for the 21st Century Act to establish a new expanded tax credit for clean energy projects for companies that meet high-road labor standards. CAP and the Rhodium Group have found that long-term extension of clean energy tax credits could result in the creation of more than 600,000 American jobs. Evergreen Action and Data for Progress cite similar numbers in their report, calling for long-term extension of clean energy tax incentives tied to labor standards and accompanied by an 80 percent clean electricity standard by 2030 and 100 percent by 2035.  President Biden’s American Jobs Plan called for extending federal renewable energy tax incentives for 10 years and tying them to labor standards, as well as implementation of an energy efficiency and clean electricity standard. The bill proposes a $400 billion federal investment in clean electricity, with strong support for tying these investments to labor standards to ensure good jobs.

Importantly, a recent working paper from researchers at Princeton University found that these kinds of policies—which would both ensure that workers are paid a fair wage and drive greater use of domestically sourced parts and materials in the renewable energy sector—will not delay clean energy deployment or significantly increase its cost. The research also found that the impact of increased domestic manufacturing for clean energy would be similarly minimal, with a 10 percentage point increase in domestic content sourcing associated with only a 1 percent increase in the average capital costs of installed solar PV projects.

While increasing wages and the amount of domestic content in the solar and wind energy industries will have a very minimal impact on project costs, workers in those industries could see significant benefits. The same Princeton study found that paying workers across domestic wind and solar supply chains 20 percent more could generate an additional $5 billion in aggregate annual wages in the 2020s, which equates to increasing each worker’s average wages by $12,000 to $13,000 per year. And by producing more of these components domestically, the United States can support an additional 45,000 jobs in the 2020s. These policies can ensure that even small potential increases are insignificant amid robust incentives to re-shore and expand domestic clean energy deployment.

Furthermore, the Moving Forward Act passed by the House of Representatives last year included requirements for prevailing wage, Buy America standards, and provisions to prevent interference with labor organizing. Key points for lawmakers to reprise from that bill to ensure good jobs in the clean economy include preventing recipients of broadband funding from interfering with labor organizing by requiring neutrality, first contract bargaining, and binding arbitration; requiring prevailing wages; and prohibiting subcontracting to circumvent CBAs. The bill also included provisions to identify and develop pathways for students and individuals to secure pre-apprenticeships in surface transportation projects.

In summer 2020, the House and the Senate Special Committees on the Climate Crisis released comprehensive recommendations for tackling climate change and reaching net-zero emissions by 2050. Both reports placed workers’ rights and increasing union density front and center in combating the climate crisis and building a clean energy economy. These reports also recognize and emphasize the opportunity facing Congress to ensure that the clean energy economy works for working people. In addition to an explicit reference to the PRO Act, the House report emphasized the connection between federal funding and labor standards. Throughout the report, recommendations for federal spending are conditioned on meeting Buy America standards, Davis-Bacon prevailing wage requirements, and negotiation of CBAs and PLAs. In addition, the report recommends reauthorizing the National Apprenticeship Act and expanding partnerships between industry, labor unions, community and technical colleges, and employers in the clean energy economy. Similarly, in its 2020 report, the Senate Select Committee on the Climate Crisis recommendations center federal action in protecting workers and growing workers’ rights. The report contains provisions to improve retraining and education for displaced workers and underrepresented communities and calls on Congress to include pro-worker provisions in climate and energy policies. Specifically, it recommended that federal investments should contain provisions for workers’ right to organize and prevailing wage standards.

Conclusion

Federal lawmakers in 2021 have an opportunity to take bold, decisive action that can create and retain millions of good-paying union jobs throughout the country and improve working conditions for Americans, while simultaneously making a crucial down payment in confronting the climate crisis. As Congress and the administration look to realize such an agenda, they would do well to continue learning from the state and local progress that has already been seen at the intersection of good jobs, economic and environmental justice, and climate solutions. Federal lawmakers do not need to build a plan from scratch. They are standing on the shoulders of state and local advocates and lawmakers.

This report lays out several areas where state and local progress can inform federal action to support high-quality jobs building the clean economy. To be clear, there are a number of additional policy areas that will be critical for good American jobs and achieving climate progress. These include funding for workforce development; reforming trade policy to avoid a race to the bottom in wages and environmental protections in global commerce; investing in the care economy, or supporting critical care health care, home care, and child care industries that are vital to a just and equitable economy; and supporting the just transition policies aimed at protecting workers and communities economically linked to fossil fuel industries that are now undergoing marked economic transition. However, this report focuses on important lessons from some of the most crucial policy arenas.

Fundamentally, the United States is faced with the greatest opportunity in generations to build a just, inclusive, and sustainable clean economy with millions of good-paying union jobs and chart a path forward in terms of climate solutions. Seizing this opportunity requires learning from the state and local governments that have laid a road map for federal action. President Biden and Congress have demonstrated their commitment to this critical moment through the policies that they have put forward in the first half of 2021. Now it is time to finish the job.

About the authors

Rita Cliffton is a former policy analyst for Climate and Energy Policy at the Center for American Progress.

Malkie Wall is a former research associate for Economic Policy at the Center.

Sam Ricketts is a nonresident senior fellow for Energy and Environment at the Center.

Kevin Lee is the state policy director at the BlueGreen Alliance.

Jessica Eckdish is the vice president of legislation and federal affairs with the BlueGreen Alliance.

Karla Walter is the senior director of Employment Policy at the Center.

Acknowledgments

For their help informing this paper, the authors would like to thank: Mike Williams and Chris Chyung of the Center for American Progress; Sara Chieffo and Bill Holland of the League of Conservation Voters; Vlad Gutman-Britten of Climate Solutions and the Washington State Labor Council; Dave Hancock and the Climate Jobs National Resource Center; Mike Monroe and the North America’s Building Trades Unions; Yvette Pena-O’Sullivan, Kevin Reilly, Kevin Pranis, and the Laborers International Union of North America; Jon Barton and the Service Employees International Union; Brad Markell and the AFL-CIO; Austin Keyser and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers; David Foster and the Energy Futures Initiative and Labor-Energy Partnership; Aiko Shaefer and the Just Solutions Collective; Curtis Seymour of AC Strategies; Josh Nassar and the United Auto Workers; and others.

Endnotes

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[allthecanadianpolitics]

NDP Leadership candidate Charlie Angus has released his policies for Urban Canada (i.e. Cities):

Canada’s cities are vibrant, diverse spaces that offer world-class educational institutions, thriving cultural scenes, and booming economies. But they are also the front lines of some of Canada’s most pressing challenges including inequality, poverty, and unaffordable housing.

Charlie understands that Canada’s long-term economic success is inextricably linked to the success of our urban centres. Urban Canada needs a federal government that’s got its back to build cities that are liveable and creative, with economies that belong to us.

Liveable Cities

Make housing a right Housing affordability and supply are critical issues facing several Canadian cities. Charlie’s plan to make the right to housing a reality by working with cities, addressing affordability, building new social housing, and promoting co-operatives and community ownership is bold and comprehensive.

Get our cities moving with leadership on transportation Cities are constantly changing and growing, and we need national coordination and leadership to improve access to transit and intercity transportation. Changing how we get from place to place will be a critical part of our response to climate change, and provide improved mobility for people living with disabilities or without personal vehicles – transit and transportation are issues of justice.

Lead a green transition in partnership with cities Canada’s cities will be the front lines of transition to a low-carbon future. Municipalities will need federal leadership and cooperation to take bold steps in rethinking land use, efficiency and transport. As NDP leader and Prime Minister, Charlie will work with cities in improving green construction standards, fighting sprawl, and reducing our emissions.

Fight hunger and food insecurity Too many Canadians rely on food banks or struggle to put food on the table. Charlie will work with cities and provinces to develop locally-driven food security strategies to ensure that everyone, and especially vulnerable social groups such as children and expectant mothers, have access to healthy food. These will focus on environmental protection to ensure long-term access to food and water from local sources, supporting local food initiatives, and fighting the phenomenon of food deserts.

Make inclusion a priority for new Canadians Organizations and programs that serve newcomers to Canada do critical work in offering free ESL classes, employment assistance, and other services, and Charlie will ensure that the federal government adequately funds them.

End underfunding of urban Indigenous services Indigenous people living in cities need better supports – in partnership with cities, Charlie will focus on strengthening friendship centres, ensuring that Indigenous people benefit from new housing initiatives, and support access to postsecondary education and training.

Make accessibility a right People living with disabilities face substantial barriers in existing urban spaces. As Prime Minister, Charlie would work closely with cities to make them more accessible and liveable for people living with disabilities.

Creative Cities

Make science and academic research a priority Canadian scientists and researchers in every field do world-leading work, but Conservative and Liberal governments have focused too much on reaping commercial benefits from their work. An NDP government led by Charlie Angus would implement the recommendations of the Naylor Report on Fundamental Science, shifting to stable, predictable funding for basic research, improving the diversity of scientific and other academic fields of research, and emphasizing early career researchers in allocating new research money. Liberal superclusters that promote a few hand-picked firms and fields isn’t the way to go – we need to support young researchers and the kind of basic research that expands the boundaries of human knowledge.

Eliminate barriers to post-secondary education Knowledge economies are growth economies, and knowledge economies need educated workers. We have to prepare Canadians for the economy of the next century by making post-secondary education available to everyone by working towards a comprehensive education accord with the provinces that eliminates tuition, ensures adequate funding for research, sets standards for mental health and sexual assault policies, and improves working conditions for students, staff  and adjunct or contract faculty on campus. In the meantime, Charlie would eliminate loan interest, make the Repayment Assistance Program more accessible, put new money into the PSSSP for Indigenous students and ensure better bridge-in support, increase weekly aid limits for all students, and better harmonize federal and provincial retraining programs.

Ensure digital inclusion Access to high-speed internet is a necessity of modern life. Charlie would work with cities and provinces to ensure that everyone has access to broadband internet by bringing down costs and expanding access to poorly-served areas by fighting corporate concentration and expanding promising public and co-operative service delivery and ownership options.

Fight precarity in the arts and culture sector Charlie was a musician and journalist before he was a politician – and he understands that Canadian artists need greater income stability. Among other measures, he would legislate a resale right for artists, a widely-recognized right in 69 other countries that permits visual artists to collect royalties from resale of their works, and income tax averaging for all artists to help make finances and life more predictable. Charlie will also work with our cultural industries to ensure that our arts programs and investments are as effective as possible at fostering creativity and helping artists market their art in Canada or abroad.

Our Cities

Create a national Neighbourhood Ownership Program and Fund For decades, rural Canada has enjoyed the Community Futures program, which has allowed democratic and locally-led social and business development efforts to flourish. It’s time for a new program that gives urban communities the same opportunity to shape their own economic destinies by setting up democratically governed neighbourhood corporations that serve local needs and priorities. Community Futures Development Corporations have a very good record in promoting employment, productivity and economic growth, and businesses they support have high survival rates. A promising experiment in urban Manitoba demonstrates the potential of expanding the concept to urban Canada.

Make sure that public dollars build community wealth Too often, the benefits of development don’t go to existing communities. Charlie would make community benefit agreements a requirement for federal funds in urban development, legislate a framework for them, and encourage their adoption by provinces and cities. Communities should have the option to require commitments on such things as housing, green space, child care, land trusts, green design or business incubators from private developers. Community benefit agreements have both delivered legitimacy and enthusiastic participation for developers and substantial social gains for communities.

Reimagining municipal governance The 19th century model of municipal government has not been revisited in a long time – but the world has changed. Canada’s cities are global cities, and we need a new partnership between national and local government that recognizes these changes. Charlie would work with cities to establish a new governance framework to ensure that cities have a more direct say in federal policies that impact them, and that policies are made with local realities and challenges in mind.

[upshotre]

Lagos seeks CBN partnership to boost SMEs growth

By Tony Ademiluyi Lagos State Government has urged the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to partner it (the state government) in its bid to achieve industrialisation through Small, Medium Enterprises (SMEs). The Head of Service (HoS), Hakeem Muri-Okunola, said the government is creating an enabling environment for SMEs to grow by deploying expertise, technology and financial resources to support entrepreneurship. He spoke at the weekend during the 31st anniversary reunion meeting of the Pioneer 1988 Class of the Lagos State University (LASU), held in Lagos. The HoS, who spoke through the Permanent Secretary, Office of Establishments and Training, Mr. Abiodun Bamgboye, said the nation needed business enterprises that would contribute meaningfully to the growth of the economy if it must meet the needs of the people. He said this explained why the government has been supporting SMEs through the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund. Muri-Okunola said the government would come up with policies and programmes that would encourage SMEs. “This is to ensure that more people are job creators and employers of labour.” He said the government is raising agro-entrepreneurs to boost the economy through its schemes. The Director, Development Finance Department, CBN, Dr. Mudashiru Olaitan, said lack of capital was hindering the development of start-ups. Speaking through the Deputy Director, Development Finance Office, CBN, Adedeji Adebisi, Olaitan emphasised the need to increase credit culture to boost SMEs growth. He said in Nigeria, Micro, Small and Medium    Enterprises ( MSMEs) are the engine for economic growth and industrial development, adding that of over 41.5 million MSMEs, 99.8 per cent  are micro enterprises. Olaitan said MSMEs employ 96.3 per cent of the national workforce as well as contribute 49.78 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP). According to him, “the total credit required to fully finance these SMEs is over $2 trillion – equivalent to 14 per cent of total developing economies’ gross domestic product (GDP).” In view of the peculiar challenges SMEs face in accessing financial services in Nigeria, he said  the CBN has established the N220billion Micro, Small and Medium   Enterprises Development Fund (MSMEDF), Agric Credit Guarantee Scheme, Anchor Borrowers’ Programme and financial inclusion programmes. He  restated the bank’s commitment to reducing poverty by increasing their access to credit facilities so as to enable them participate in economic development of the country. He urged financial institutions to focus on creating business knowledge and managerial capacity among SMEs. The chairman of the occasion, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, said the performance of education sector was very unimpressive, as capacities to promote services through the sector were  poor. He said the performance of the educational system has dented the reputation of the country, adding that the sector requires very high commitment to the cause. He noted that inequality within the public school system is also immense, adding that so far governments have not been able to change matters much. For many Nigerians, he observed that the costs of higher education are an obstacle they cannot overcome. According to him, the sector needs an enabling environment for both private and public institutions to meet internationally accepted standards. Read the full article

[akokosblog-blog]

Check this new published post on http://bit.ly/2E2A55z

Atiku makes biggest move, reveals plans to rivals

2019 General Election: Former Vice President of Nigeria and current flag bearer of the Peoples Democratic Party( PDP ) for the presidency, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar is currently in Lagos State, the commercial capital of the country.

The business mogul turned politician addressed Nigerians at the Lagos Island Club Quarterly Business Lecture.

As many as claimed, this move by the opposition party has brought Atiku back on the spotlight and in the “loving arms” of his admirers all over the state because, since the “presidential debate saga” many were quite turned down by the PDP presidential aspirant.

The Waziri of Adamawa surely didn’t attend the event alone. Several dignitaries of the PDP were also in attendance.

The likes of the former president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, former Ogun State Governor, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, PDP gubernatorial candidate for Lagos state, Mr Jimi Agbaje and his Deputy, Mrs Haleemat Oluwayemisi Busari, Ayo Adebanjo, Bode George, and the PDP National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus.

READ ALSO :Buhari and Atiku Shun The Presidential Debate

According to Vanguard, Atiku, who is the main opposition to the sitting administration has also seized this opportunity to publicize his 13 point economic agenda for the nation come the February 2019 Presidential elections

The presidential candidate of the PDP said: “Unemployment has unfortunately been our only boom industry with over 13 million people joining the ranks of people without a job, which now totals 21 million.

If people do not have a job they struggle to feed their families which is why over 100 million of our people cannot afford one decent meal a day.

“What is also of cause for concern is that the majority of the unemployed are young men and women, who lack not only the means to survive but any hope for the future.

On the political front, our unity as a nation has been fatally bruised.

“Social cohesion is being eroded, democratic consolidation being undermined, and national unity and security threatened by ethni-religious tensions, agitations, restiveness, and disputes over titles and entitlements.

“Over the years, Nigeria has promoted, tolerated and indeed celebrated a defective political structure.

Our states and local governments are too weak to meet their constitutional responsibilities.

“Consequently, the Federal Government has succeeded in emasculating them and taking away those responsibilities and, along with these, the resources which belong to them.

“A modern, dynamic and competitive economy that is capable of taking its rightful place among the top 20 economies of the world.

Nigeria has the potential to double its GDP by 2025.

“A strong economy that is capable of providing in the next 5 years, a minimum 3 million job opportunities annually, reducing poverty rates to below 20% and significantly closing the income inequality gaps.

“A Nigeria that guarantees citizens’ access to economic opportunities and makes the basic needs of life, including health, education, electricity, water, and housing, readily available and affordable for everyone.

A new political structure that guarantees freedoms and ensures accountability at all levels of government.

“A country that recognizes the central place of the rule of law and ensures the supremacy of law over all persons and authorities.

The Nigerian constitution will be the anchor on which the independence of the judiciary, personal liberty and democratic and other fundamental rights rest.

Speaking on his vision to get Nigeria working again, Atiku reeled out ten policies he would focus on immediately he is elected.

1. “We will restore investor confidence on the Nigerian economy.

We all know that over the last four years, the actions or inactions of the Federal Government, have resulted in a significant drop in investor confidence in the Nigerian economy. As a consequence, there has been a significant decline in capital importation since the regime came into power in 2015.

Present day Ghana ( Gold Coast) – a country with less than 20% of our population – attracts more Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) than Nigeria.

In order to annul that orientation, our economic policies will be more articulate, dependable and therefore, more foreseeable by investors.

There’s no other thing that could cripple investment than an environment that is full of policy U-turns.

2. “We will support the private sector by undertaking reforms to unleash its growth potential and to play a key role in the economy. #TheAtikuPlan recognizes the private sector as the engine of growth of our economy.

A strong, productive and pro-growth private sector is needed to create wealth, generate employment opportunities and help fight poverty.

“We pledge to improve government consultations with the private sector in policy design and policy implementation.

We will work with the Organized Private Sector to identify ways to reduce the cost of borrowing, tackle incidences of multiple taxations and improve the availability of foreign exchange for legitimate production input purchases.

3. “We will liberalize the economic space and privatize all ailing enterprises.

In particular, the #TheAtikuPlan will undertake a de-regulation of the downstream sector of the economy, review the PIB and privatize all four State refineries that operate at 10% of their installed capacities.

We shall channel the proceeds from the privatization into a special fund for the development of education and health.

4. “We will assist the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises to grow bigger and to be more productive.

As we all know, small businesses offer the greatest opportunities for achieving inclusive pro-poor growth, through increased self-employment.

Our focus shall be on improving their access to affordable, long term funds, provision of critical infrastructure as well as adequate training for their workforce to improve productive capacity.

5. “We will prioritize Human Capital Development. Our philosophy is that people are the fundamental reason for economic growth.

Accordingly, we will increase investments in the human development sub-sectors especially education and health by committing 25% of the budget to education and 15% to health under a collaborative process and within the 3G partnership.

6. “We will create jobs by growing the economy and promoting innovative flagship job creation programmes such as The National Open Apprenticeship Programme through which we shall enhance the capacity of Master-Craftsmen and women to train 1,000,000 apprentices every year.

Our National Innovation Fund and SME Venture Capital Fund initiatives will provide stable and sustainable long-term support to aspiring entrepreneurs.

7. “We will create an Economic Stimulus Fund with an initial investment capacity of approximately US$25 billion to support private sector investments in infrastructure.

Power sector reform will be a critical policy priority. Our vision is to accelerate investment to double our infrastructure stock to approximately 50% of GDP by 2025 and 70% by 2030.

8. “We will improve liquidity by undertaking fiscal restructuring and improving the management of our fiscal resources by:

9. Improving spending efficiency by reducing the share of recurrent expenditure and increasing the share of capital expenditure in the budget.

Recurrent expenditure over the medium term should not exceed 45% of the budget.

10. Raising additional revenue by blocking leakages from exchange rate adjustment.

The official rate on which the 2019 budget is based US$/N305 with a parallel market rate of approximately US$/365. FGN will appropriate the premium in excess of N60/US$.

11. “Reviewing subsidy payments on PMS. The Federal Government has set aside billions of Naira for subsidy payment in the 2019 budget.

This will instead go into the funding of education and health.

12. “We will build strong and efficient service delivery institutions for more effective coordination of government policies and for effective support to the development of a dynamic and internationally competitive private sector.

We will reposition the public sector to become more disciplined and performance-oriented.

13. “We shall, through constitutional means, achieve a new political structure that guarantees freedoms and ensures government accountability at all levels.

Our political reform shall reinforce the country’s concept of true Federalism by conceding unfettered autonomy to the subordinating units (states and local governments).”

Here are some mixed reactions from Nigeria’s Twitter community

A leader must know who he is and present himself that way…. Obasanjo #AtikuInLagosAgain

— Sherishery (@Mz_sherifa) January 30, 2019

The DIFFERENCE is CLEAR!@atiku goes to forums where his intellectual capacity is amply tested. @MBuhari struts about from one noisy campaign ground to another wielding an ineffectual broom.

It’s your choice to make!

As for me, I choose @atiku as president#AtikuInLagosAgain — Chijioke Mbaka (@Mbaka_Ogonnaya) January 30, 2019

Nigeria needs a leader who shares its hopes and aspirations, who understands the complexities of the development process and who has the capacity to articulate an acceptable notion of development~@atiku #AtikuinLagosAgain pic.twitter.com/6muBXL4P8e

— Banji. (@dadabanji) January 30, 2019

Star Boy, the Game Changer, @ProfOsinbajo is speaking directly to the real voters from the cities to the villages. Our friend @atiku is talking to one Island club whose members will be reading Newspapers on Election Day#AtikuInLagosAgain pic.twitter.com/FkhBM1AMZe

— Tunde Eneji (@iameneji) January 30, 2019

Stay immersed in Akokosblog as we “drop it like its hot”9

[csrgood]

Global Compact Network Canada Recognizes Private Sector Accelerators in Advancing SDGs

The Global Compact Network Canada (GCNC) hosted the 4th Annual Canadian SDG Leadership Awards to recognize organizations from the private, not-for-profit, and academic sectors across Canada with the goal of highlighting their leadership excellence in advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

“The Canadian SDG Awards is one of our flagship programs that recognizes the accelerators from the private sector for their contributions in achieving the SDGs”, said Ayman Chowdhury, Head of Secretariat of the GCNC. “The program showcases the value that the private sector brings to solving the most pressing sustainability challenges and offers an opportunity for others to learn about and contribute to the Global Goals,” he added.  The awards gala on Thursday, November 14th brought together more than 100 business leaders and sustainability professionals from across the country. 

The 4th installment of the awards program received great interest as the total number of applicants rose from sixteen last year, to thirty this year. The winners were selected based on combined weighted scores from public votes and peer reviews and were recognized in three main categories: large enterprises, small/medium enterprises (SME) and non-governmental organizations (NGO) respectively. The top three winners from the large enterprise category are Lundin Gold (SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth), BASF Canada (SDG 17: Partnership for the Goals) and Manulife Investment Management (SDG: 17: Partnership for the Goals).

“The SDG Leadership Awards Gala on November 14th demonstrated that Canada is well positioned to become a strong global leader in contributing to the Sustainable Development Goals”, said Amy Sandhu, Manager of Sustainability and Government Relations at BASF Canada. “BASF Canada was inspired by our fellow award winners and their unique approaches to tackling some of the world’s toughest sustainability challenges. We’d like to thank the Global Compact Network Canada for their continued dedication to guiding their members with tools and resources to achieve the SDGs. We’re honoured to have won the award for SDG 17, Partnership for the Goals, and we look forward to collaborating with other network members on achieving progress toward the SDGs in the future!”

The top three winners from the SME category are: Matrix360 (SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities), E.T. Jackson & Associates (SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth), and R&G Strategic Communications (SDG: 17: Partnership for the Goals).

“It was an honour to be recognized as a winner in the SME category at the 2019 Global Compact Network Canada SDG Leadership Awards. Matrix360 is passionate about our responsibility as partners for equity and inclusion in the private sector and we are deliberate in the way we demonstrate our commitment to enhancing the spaces we participate in. We look forward to continue to elevate a new tone for business, with a global and inclusive mindset for the future of the workplace and contribute to the advancement of the SDGs,” said David Bendea, Manager of Communications & Engagement at Matrix360. 

The top three winners from the NGO category are: CODE (SDG 4: Quality Education), Université Laval (SDG 13: Climate Action), and WaterAid Canada (SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation).

“Université Laval is honoured to receive this award. In recent years, our university has stepped up actions to reduce its climate footprint, whether by achieving carbon neutrality, reducing its greenhouse gas emissions at the source, or by implementing a voluntary compensation program. This honor is shared with our 43 000 students and 10 000 employee,” said Pierre Lemay, Assistant to the Vice Director – External Affairs, International Affairs, and Health at Université Laval

Earlier this year, GCNC also concluded one of its most applauded programs, the

Reporting Peer Review program, a platform for companies to exchange constructive feedback, share best practices and improve their corporate sustainability reporting processes. Suncor's annual Sustainability Report received great appreciation from its industry peers and came out on top of the program’s 9th installment. 

The GCNC has also identified Lindsay Verhaeghe, Sustainability Initiatives Manager at Nutrien, as the 2019 Canadian SDG Pioneer. After winning the local round in Canada, Lindsay went on to compete on the global stage and was also named the UN Global Compact’s 2019 SDG Pioneer for Sustainability Goal Setting. 

Contact

Global Compact Network Canada Yvonne Ho Marketing & Events Specialist Tel: ​+1 647-715-9426 ext 104 Email: yvonne@globalcompact.ca 

About the Global Compact Network Canada

Global Compact Network Canada (GCNC) is the Canadian network of the United Nations Global Compact – a network of companies and organizations committed to building sustainable business solutions and advancing the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). 

The GCNC supports corporate sustainability among Canadian businesses by spearheading the SDGs and the 10 Principles of the UN Global Compact. In doing so, it unifies and builds the capacity of the Canadian private sector to embrace sustainable business practices by convening and accelerating opportunities for peer-learning, innovation and multi-stakeholder collaboration. 

To learn more about GCNC, visit our website www.globalcompact.ca and follow us on social media @globalcompactCA

source: https://www.csrwire.com/press_releases/43148-Global-Compact-Network-Canada-Recognizes-Private-Sector-Accelerators-in-Advancing-SDGs?tracking_source=rss

[wcva]

Brexit and Civil Society funding in Wales – The path travelled so far and where we are now

Ydych chi am darllen hwn yn Gymraeg?

Brexit presents many concerns for the future of the third sector in Wales. In this blog, Wales Civil Society Forum on Brexit Coordinator Charles Whitmore outlines the implications of the UK and Welsh Government’s announcements, and addresses the key challenges facing a post-Brexit civil society in Wales.

Charities perform an essential role helping to make a reality of rights for people’s everyday lives. They fight for and give effect to human, equality or environmental rights. These organisations cannot operate effectively without adequate funding. From 2014 to 2020 Wales received over £1.2 billion from European Structural and Investment Fund (ESIF). That is 458% of the UK average per capita.

Despite this European funding in Wales, WCVA’s data hub shows that the income of Wales-based charities per head of population is nearly half that of the UK as a whole.

Will the UK government’s replacement sustain the level of funding for Wales currently provided by ESIF?  

Will the sector in Wales have any autonomy within the successor scheme? If not, Brexit will deepen the comparative disadvantage of the charitable sector in Wales.

Demands on the sector are only likely to increase. Outsourcing of public services to charities is growing, as is general demand for services especially in the context of continued austerity.  Some organisations also face workforce sustainability issues due to reduced EU migration. While Brexit is an opportunity for positive reform in this area by simplifying administrative procedures increasing accessibility of funding for smaller organisations, careful consideration will need to be given

Shared prosperity

The ESIF successor funding scheme, the ‘UK Shared Prosperity Fund’ (UKSPF), has been subject to much debate in Wales since the referendum. As early as 2017 the Welsh Government, EAAL and Finance Committees of the National Assembly, all consulted on the UKSPF. Civil Society organisations have contributed to the debate through submissions to these consultations, and independent research, such as that of the Equality and Diversity Forum, the Historic Environment Group, and the Wales Public Service 2025 project.

In contrast, very little information has emerged from the UK Government.  In August 2018 the Wales Audit Office reported on this gap in Managing the Impact of Brexit on EU Structural Funds. Following Jonathan Edwards MP’s July 2018 early day motion we have seen a trickle of information on this issue. The Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government issued a written statement and an update before the Commons on 24 July 2018.

The design of UKSPF suggested by these announcements may follow lines that diverge significantly from the position sought by civil society organisations in Wales, the National Assembly and the Welsh Government. Broadly:

The UK Government’s plan is to deliver the UKSPF via Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs). These would develop local industrial strategies but remain accountable to the framework set by central government.

The UKSPF will ‘tackle inequalities…by raising productivity…as set out in [the] modern industrial strategy’

The UKSPF will operate across the UK and the UK Government ‘will respect the devolution settlements’ and ‘will engage the devolved administrations to ensure the fund works for places across the UK’

Access to the fund will be facilitated by simplified administration.

In the event of no-deal, UK Government will guarantee 2014-2020 funding. 

Delivering on promises

Just as delivering on the promise of rights is an important policy objective, so too is enhancing productivity. No doubt the latter is one shared by UK and Welsh Governments. An abrupt halt in a stream of funding in Wales that has been focused on delivering rights would be challenging for civil society in Wales.  

Even before the UK government’s recent announcements, representatives of the third sector in Wales participating in the Wales Civil Society Forum on Brexit have already expressed concerns about its priorities for the UKSPF. These concerns include:

That the UKSPF will be driven by economic growth rather than by an inclusive approach characterised by social cohesion, equality and human rights which are at heart of participating organisations’ concerns. This fear has arisen because the UKSPF is rooted in the UK Government’s Industrial Strategy. While the sector welcomes the role of the UKSPF in supporting economic prosperity, the use of the language of productivity only cements these concerns when not underpinned by these values.

Discussions within the Forum have also reflected a desire to see the UKSPF devolved to Wales. Specifically, to a body in Wales with the strategic management, including priority setting, undertaken in equal partnership between the third, public and private sectors. However, so far Wales appears to be an afterthought in the design of UKSPF.  Devolution of UKSPF in England is to Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs), which do not exist in Wales. No indication has been given of how the Fund would work in Wales, which suggests that Welsh concerns have not been considered.

There has so far been no commitment to the needs-based approach favoured by participating organisations in Wales (see for instance these NAfW submissions by the Bevan Foundation and Chwarae Teg). The Welsh Government and Finance Committee of the NAfW have expressed concerns that the use of the Barnett Formula, (which determines the amount of money Wales receives from the UK Government based on population size) may be used to allocate the UKSPF.  An allocation based on population size would result in a significant loss of funding in Wales.  Alternatively, the use of a UK-wide bidding system could see funds traditionally allocated to areas in need, redirected. 

Finally, the UK Government intends to consult on the UKSPF towards the end of the year, though the Government’s timetables on Brexit-related matters have sometimes been known to slip.

A vast number of complex developments around Brexit will occur during Autumn 2018.  Debates about Brexit will be intense and almost certainly disputatious. The topic of UKSPF may get lost within these wider debates.

Organisations in Wales concerned about the forms of funding that replace ESIF will need to work together – and to coordinate with projects in across the UK to ensure that devolved interests are heard by decision makers.

The Wales Civil Society Forum on Brexit is a joint project between Cardiff University's Wales Governance Centre and Wales Council for Voluntary Action (WCVA) and is funded by the Legal Education Foundation. It aims to empower and enable the third sector to understand and engage with the Brexit process through the providing accessible information and a coordinating role. 

[awesomeblockchain]

Blockchain For Impact Hosts Inaugural Summit at the UN on Frontier Technologies to Power the SDGs Over 400 innovators, social entrepreneurs and investors came together to co-create innovative solutions to accelerate progress on the Global Goals Blockchain for Impact hosted its inaugural event in NYC on June 4th, 2018 at the United Nations, and brought together over 400 innovators, entrepreneurs and investors to support concrete initiatives to accelerate progress on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). On Monday June 4, 2018, Blockchain Commission for Sustainable Development, its commissioners in attendance and its founding members were proud to launch Blockchain for Impact (BFI), a collaborative convening, advocacy and action platform designed to serve the growing community of conscious leadership reflecting the full breadth of the global blockchain ecosystem as it seeks to engage with leaders from the UN system. Throughout the day, leaders came together to launch the first Blockchain for Impact Subcommittees addressing the following topics: Additionally, delegates at the event had an opportunity to engage with BFI Working Groups representing the following key emphases across all subcommittee activities: 1. Capacity Building & Growth to Scale; 2. Smart City Operating Systems; 3. AI & Data Sovereignty; 4. Youth-Led Innovation; 5. Social & Environmental Impact Metrics, Monitoring & Evaluation; 6. Diversity in Blockchain; 7. Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Countries & Small Island Developing States. The Opening of the Summit featured a number of senior officials from the United Nations who highlighted the importance of blockchain and other frontier technologies to advance the Sustainable Development Goals. The President of ECOSOC, Her Excellency Madam Marie Chatardov\cE1, underscored the commitment of the Economic and Social Council to harness the immense potential of frontier technologies for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. She welcomed this important and exciting dialogue and pointed out that -Blockchain technology stands out with its transformative potential in a very wide array of applications, including digital finance, cryptocurrency and climate coin, to name a few." Mr. Navid Hanif, Director of Financing for Sustainable Development Office, welcomed the work of Blockchain Commission for Sustainable Development, highlighting that new technologies are already having an enormous impact on sustainable development financing, including access to financial services, mobile money, and efficient fiscal policy. He encouraged participants to find the right balance between supporting the digitalization of the financial system and maintaining its stability and integrity, stating, 'We invite you to bring your expertise and knowledge to bear on financing the SDGs in an inclusive, secure and innovative manner.' Ms. Michelle Gyles-McDonnough, Director, Sustainable Development Unit in the Executive Office of the Secretary-General, stated that -the UN must be nimble and effective, flexible and efficient, and use all available means, including new technologies, to achieve sustainable development outcomes contemplated in this transformative agenda. A key element of the Secretary-General's vision is that the UN and partners leverage the power of frontier technologies, including blockchain, for a quantum leap to grow economies, reduce inequalities, and increase the opportunities for marginalized populations around the world." H.E. Mr. Juan Sandoval, Ambassador, Permanent Mission of Mexico to the United Nations and Co-Chair of the UN STI Forum 2018, in welcoming this important event, stated that it comes at a perfect time when the UN is hosting its 3rd Annual Forum on Science, Technology, and Innovation. He explained the direct linkages between STI and the work of Blockchain for Impact in advancing the SDGs, and also highlighted the leadership role of Mexico in this rapidly emerging sector. Mr. Henri Dommel, Director of Inclusive Finance at UNCDF, shared his thoughts on how financial inclusion lends itself to using the power of digital finance, including blockchain, to provide access to the unbanked, including SMEs. -We were truly honored to have so many amazing people in the room, deeply committed to supporting the UN's 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development," commented Amir Dossal, President, Global Partnerships Forum & Vice-Chair, Blockchain Commission, during opening remarks. -Thank you for your passion and for your commitment to implement Secretary-General Ant\cF3nio Guterres' vision to help the underprivileged around the globe!" Members of Blockchain for Impact (BFI) were invited to participate in an exciting series of impact-oriented events and task forces-not just during the summit, but throughout the year. Through the Commission, Blockchain for Impact members will engage with leaders from UN Member States and UN agencies on industry governance, regulatory standards, and social impact projects. Members will work closely with those leading the SDGs and supporting UN efforts-through its Funds, Programs and Specialized Agencies-to apply blockchain technology to sustainable development and humanitarian challenges.

Hazami Barmada and Erin Dunne of the Global People's Summit and Alexandra Bettencourt with UNDESA at the Blockchain for Impact Summit. -Today we are sitting at one of the most important times in human history; the imperative for action around the advent of new technology is not only an opportunity but our responsibility," stated Sergio Fernandez de Cordova, Chairman, PVBLIC Foundation & Vice-Chair of Blockchain Commission for Sustainable Development to the full room. -It is time to start building technology with purpose, heart, and conscience that is scalable globally." -The differentiating level of success of BFI was a direct result of the passion and commitment of the diverse representation of participants across geographies, UN Officials, regulators, legislators innovators, disruptors and humanitarians," announced, Vincent Molinari, Chairman, 5th Element Fund & Vice-Chair, Blockchain Commission for Sustainable Development. -Blockchain and smart contracts have the ability to exponentiate the delivery of global humanitarian good in just a few years."

MAJA VUJINOVIC, CEO, O Group, participating in a panel discussion on the evolution of regulation at the Blockchain for Impact Summit at the UN on June 4, 2018.

SUSAN OH, Founder & CEO, MKR AI and ANN GREENBERG of Entertainment AI participating on a panel about how blockchain and tokenomics impact AI and other frontier techs at the Blockchain for Impact Summit at the UN on June 4, 2018.

Delegates at the Blockchain for Impact Summit at the UN on June 4, 2018, worked together to formulate the vision, mission and mandate of newly launched topical subcommittees. Delegates at the Blockchain for Impact Summit at the UN on June 4, 2018, worked together to formulate the vision, mission and mandate of newly launched topical subcommittees.

Delegates from the private and public sectors engaged in deep discussions about how to best develop effective partnerships that would bring blockchain technology to the impact space at the Blockchain for Impact Summit at the UN on June 4, 2018. Delegates from the private and public sectors engaged in deep discussions about how to best develop effective partnerships that would bring blockchain technology to the impact space at the Blockchain for Impact Summit at the UN on June 4, 2018. -We are truly grateful to the hundreds of delegates who participated in the Blockchain for Impact summit," stated Amir Dossal, expressing his gratitude to the assemblage, while wrapping up the closing session. -Their leadership work in moving the needle from talk to action through innovative collaboration will no doubt inspire many others to do more for our common humanity. Thank You!"

Closing Speech, MR. DENNIS KUCINICH, former U.S. Representative from Ohio at the Blockchain for Impact Summit at the UN on June 4, 2018.

Closing Speech, MR. DENNIS KUCINICH, former U.S. Representative from Ohio at the Blockchain for Impact Summit at the UN on June 4, 2018. Closing remarks and acknowledgments were then provided by Mr. WILLIAM KENNEDY, Officer in Charge, UN Office for Partnerships and MR. DENNIS KUCINICH, former U.S. Representative from Ohio. Delegates were then treated to attend a follow-up celebration on a dinner cruise along the Manhattan waterfront circling the Statue of Liberty with special remarks from Ms. VIKTORIIA PIRUMOVA of Decenturion. Mr. Kennedy, whose Office serves as the UN's Gateway for Partnerships, thanked participants for their time and commitment to the mission of the United Nations, -We have a dream and this is it - this is the dream for a new UN, you all represent that and Blockchain for Impact. The entire marketplace is here, and I am profoundly grateful for this!

Leaders from United Nations, Member States, and leading executives from across sectors shaped the narrative, mission and mandate of the first Blockchain for Impact Summit at the UN on June 4, 2018, encouraging delegates to embrace a brighter future looking building technology for good. Special insights into the perspectives of the public sector and the UN ecosystem were provided by MR. ULISES G\cD3MEZ NOLASCO, Deputy Attorney, Fiscal Investigation of the Ministry of Finance and Public Credit of Mexico; MINIVA CHIBUYE, Economic Affairs Officer, United Nations Office of the High Representative for LDCs, LLDCs and SIDS (UN-OHRLLS); MARINA PETROVIC, UNDP AltFinLab; and, GREG SCOTT, Inter-Regional Advisor, Global Geospatial Information Management, United Nations Statistics Division, Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNSD). Rousing and informative keynotes were also provided by ROSTIN BEHNAM, Commissioner, U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission; GENERAL WESLEY K. CLARK (RET.), former Supreme Allied Commander of NATO, Europe; and MR. DENNIS KUCINICH, former U.S. Representative from Ohio. The private sector was well represented through keynotes and panels featuring JASON KELLEY, General Manager, Blockchain Services, IBM; CHRIS KELLY, Founder, Kelly Investments & First General Counsel, Facebook; MARCO SANTORI, President, Blockchain; ; BOB WIGLEY, Advisory Board Member, Blockchain.com & Founding Commissioner, Blockchain Commission for Sustainable Development; and SERGEY SHOLOM, President, GNation Additional speakers included: JOSEPH BARISONZI, Partner, SDG. Systems; SINEAD BOVELL, Founder & CEO, WAYE; NEELAM BRAR, Founder & CEO, Blockhous; CHARLES BRIGHAM, UN Lead for Open SDG Data Hub, Esri; SHAUN CONWAY, Founder & President, ixo Foundation; GERARD DACHE, Government Blockchain Association; TONY DIMATTEO, CEO, Lottery.com; CLINTON DOW, Geoprocessing Product Engineer & Blockchain Local Resident, Esri Global; SAM ENGLEBARDT, Co-Founder & Head of Strategic Partnerships, Galaxy Digital; JOY FRIEDMAN, Chief Strategy Officer, Organizer; JULIO FRIEDMAN, The Carbon Wrangler; JEREMY GARDNER, Ausum.VC; ANN GREENBERG, Entertainment AI; JAMIE HALL. DR. MELISSA JANE KRONFELD, Founder, Passion for a Purpose; MICHAEL LANDAU, Chairman & CEO, CTI Africa & MPWR Data; JANE LIPPENCOTT, Co-Founder, Zen Cash; KELLY LOVELL, Youth Mobilizer & CEO, Lovell Corporation; ALEX MARTINI, CEO, Blockfusion Technologies; MARIA MIKHAYLENKO, Head of Risk and Analytics, BANKEX; KATE MITSELMAKHER, CEO, Founder & General Partner, Bloccelerate VC; AMBER NYSTROM, Co-Founding Principal, 5th Element Group & Fifth Element Fund; SUSAN OH, Founder & CEO, MKR AI; FARIS OWEIS, VP of Corporate Development & Chief Instigator, DigitalTown; ; CHELSEA RUSTRUM, Co-Founder, Blox 7 & Founder, Blockchain for Good; TOUFI SALIBA, CEO, Toda. Network & ACM Global Chair PB CC; AARTI TANDON, Executive Director, Smart Cities New York; SLOANE JOIE TRUGMAN, Founder & Lead of Strategy, Innovation & Transformation, Amunet Insights; MAJA VUJINOVIC, CEO, O Group; SAMSON WILLIAMS, Partner, Axes and Eggs; LAWRENCE WINTERMEYER, Co-Founder & Principal, Elipses.

Vice-Chairs, Blockchain Commission for Sustainable Development at the Blockchain for Impact Summit at the UN on June 4, 2018.: (from right to left) Amir Dossal, President, Global Partnerships Forum; Sergio Fernandez de Cordova, Chairman, PVBLIC Foundation; Vincent Molinari, Chairman, 5th Element Fund. More information about this initiative can be found at: Efraim Wyeth, Executive Director

Blockchain for Impact United Nations Plaza | Fifth Floor | New York, NY 10017 Blockchain for Impact (BFI), is a collaborative convening, advocacy and action platform designed to serve the growing community of conscious leadership reflecting the full breadth of the global blockchain ecosystem as it seeks to engage with leaders from the UN system. BFI is a collaborative advocacy and action platform representing the full breadth of the global blockchain ecosystem focused on bringing the Blockchain community together to help solve many of the most pressing issues of our day, building on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) as a framework for the future of impact. Members of Blockchain for Impact (BFI) are invited to participate in an exciting series of impact-oriented events and task forces throughout the year. Through the Commission, Blockchain for Impact members will engage with the United Nations system on industry governance, regulatory standards, and social impact projects, working closely with the UN Departments, Funds, Programs and Specialized Agencies, to apply blockchain technology to sustainable development and humanitarian challenges. The Blockchain Commission for Sustainable Development was established in the margins of the 72nd Session of the United Nations General Assembly in 2017 to develop a multi-sectoral framework to support the UN system - along with Member States, Intergovernmental Organizations, the private sector and civil society - in utilizing blockchain-based technologies to develop local, national and global solutions for the most pressing issues of our day. The Blockchain Commission envisions the development of radically creative decentralized solutions to issues including; conservation of natural resources, protection of the commons, economic growth, empowerment of all communities, financial inclusion and security, public health and welfare, civic trust and protection of the integrity of democratic systems - among others - for the benefit of our common humanity. The Blockchain Commission suggests that the transformative power of blockchain technology should not be seen as a threat to existing systems of governance; rather, it should be seen as an opportunity for national and international institutions to defend the rights of those they represent, and to accelerate our collective progress towards meeting the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals.

https://ift.tt/2HOZQFI

[vennomax]

Japan and Kenya’s push for universal health coverage will help defeat poverty

New Post has been published on http://www.vennomax.com/health/japan-and-kenyas-push-for-universal-health-coverage-will-help-defeat-poverty/

Japan and Kenya’s push for universal health coverage will help defeat poverty

12 December 2017 is a remarkable day. 3 important events coincide.

12 December is Jamhuri Day, an auspicious day for Kenya, as it marks her independence from colonial rule in 1963.

On 12 December 2017, the Government of Japan is hosting a high level meeting on universal health coverage. Japan’s Prime Minister Mr Shinzo Abe stated during the UN General Assembly, “Universal Health Coverage , is essential for addressing global challenges and achieving the core principle of the 2030 Agenda; that is, the realization of a society where “no one is left behind.” Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary of Health, Dr Cleopa Mailu is leading a high level team to Tokyo.

And 12 December, 2017 is also Universal Health Coverage Day, the anniversary of the first unanimous United Nations resolution calling for countries to provide affordable, quality health care to every person, everywhere.

In Kenya, illness can mean financial ruin. Every day families are forced to sell their assets, rely on community support or see their modest life savings wiped out by medical bills.

Ill health is a substantial burden not only on Kenyan families, but also on the country’s economic growth. Consider this. Every year, nearly one million Kenyans are pushed below the poverty line and remain poor as a result of healthcare expenses.

“Universal health coverage should be [viewed] as a rights issue,” said Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the Director General of the World Health Organization (WHO). “Many families are getting into poverty because they are spending their savings for health care services.”

Across the globe there is a strong correlation between high rates of out-of-pocket expenses and catastrophic and impoverishing health expenditure. It is a powerful factor in inequality of access to healthcare, often forcing the poor to forgo medical treatment. It also increases costs, because when poor people finally seek treatment it’s either too late or else complications caused by delay have worsened their condition.

Approximately four out of every five Kenyans have no access to medical insurance, so the cruel reality is that most are just an accident or illness away from destitution. Among the poorest quintile a mere 3% have health insurance, this provided by the government’s National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF). This rises to 42% of the wealthiest fifth where private cover is also more common. Additionally, there are stark disparities between rural and urban populations, where rates of coverage are an average of 12% and 27% respectively.

To its credit, the Kenyan government is taking steps towards reducing these inequalities. Payments for primary and maternal health services in public facilities have been abolished, resulting in increased utilization and improved outcomes, particularly among the poorest. President Uhuru Kenyatta at his inaugural speech emphasized, “Over the next 5 years, my Administration will target 100% Universal Healthcare coverage for all households”.

Recent initiatives by the NHIF–such as inclusion of outpatient care and introduction of health insurance subsidies for the poor–are helping to expand coverage beyond those in formal employment. As a result, roughly 88.4% of households with health insurance are covered through the NHIF.

But as long as 33.6% of Kenyans survive on less than US$1.90 per day, there are still millions who cannot access quality healthcare.

Lack of public awareness, high loss ratios due to fraud, and reluctance among insurers to underwrite cover for the poor are also important.

Health insurance contributes only about 13% to national health expenditure, with the balance made up of out-of-pocket expenses at point of treatment, government and tax revenues, and donor funding. Such statistics undermine Kenya’s ability to achieve universal health coverage, enshrined in Kenya’s Vision 2030 and Sustainable Development Goal 3.

There is a clear need to develop low-cost, innovative solutions for expanding insurance coverage and technology must form part of such solutions. Technology-backed automation can improve efficiency and enhance transparency, both key requirements.

Mobile money can perform faster, more transparent and targeted health payments through health e-vouchers. Technology can process claims and enable healthcare consumers and providers to interact more efficiently, while offering more customized products to people of all incomes.

Efficient storage and sharing of patient data could reduce the cost of care by, for instance, tracing false claims, preventing repeat tests, or avoiding misdiagnosis.

Technology can also offer substantial savings in administration costs, which currently swallow a staggering 40% of the NHIF’s revenue, far in excess of the industry norm of 3-4%. Effective IT systems would help to reduce this astonishing disparity, as would improved governance and transparency. A lack of analytical capacity hobbles the NHIF’s ability to forecast and respond to increasing costs, hindering strategic planning and development. Better technology can address this.

Ultimately, sustainability demands increased investment in preventive care and primary health. Diverting cash away from the 60% of the health budget that currently goes to curative care will pay dividends. Better primary care reduces ill-health and catches disease at an earlier stage, when treatment is cheaper and more effective. It also frees up resources to expand insurance coverage for the poor.

Launching the country’s SDG 3 Partnership Platform, to spur universal health coverage in Kenya with the United Nations in New York during the UN General Assembly in 2017, Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Foreign Affairs Dr. Amina Mohamed remarked, “As a government we have clearly prioritized the Universal Health Coverage agenda because it is one of the ways to protect our people from the consequences of out-of-pocket health expenditure which in Kenya forms about a fifth of family spending”.

We would welcome the Government of Japan and the Japanese private sector to join the SDG platform in Kenya, which can potentailly leapfrog universal health coverage and become a model for other countries too.

Let us join hands to free every Kenyan from the tyranny of poverty by achieving universal health coverage. It is the very foundation for economic development and prosperity.

HUFFPOST

[jesanatomyphysiology-blog]

Duterte economic agenda to include family planning By Jess Diaz

2016/05/04 MANILA, Philippines - Incoming president Rodrigo Duterte has included family planning and population control in his economic agenda.

“We are determined to speed up the implementation of the Reproductive Health Law, which is now the ninth component of the incoming administration’s economic agenda,” economic planning secretary-designate Ernesto Pernia said in a television interview.

He said family planning and population control is a poverty reduction measure.

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He said based on surveys, young couples want access to family planning products and programs.

“The goal of the Duterte administration’s economic roadmap is inclusive growth, which we are now calling poverty and inequality-reducing growth,” Pernia said.

The Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Law (Republic Act No. 10354) was enacted in 2012. It was not implemented for two years because of a restraining order from the Supreme Court.

In the latter part of 2014, the high court upheld its constitutionality after striking down several key provisions.

Recently, health officials and reproductive health advocates, including Sen. Pia Cayetano, accused Sen. Vicente Sotto III of reducing the RH budget by P1 billion.

Cayetano even faulted Sen. Loren Legarda, who chairs the Senate finance committee, of agreeing to the reduction without informing her, which she had requested her to do in case there were proposals that would affect the RH Law.

As unveiled by incoming finance secretary Carlos Dominguez last May 12, the Duterte administration’s economic agenda consists of the following:

• Continue and maintain the current macroeconomic policies of the Aquino government;

• Index income tax rates to inflation;

• Accelerate infrastructure spending by addressing bottlenecks in the public-private partnership program;

• Ensure attractiveness of the Philippines to foreign direct investments by addressing the restrictive economic provisions of the Constitution;

• Pursue genuine agriculture and rural development by providing support services to farmers;

• Address bottlenecks in land administration;

• Expand the conditional cash transfer program;

• Strengthen basic education and provide scholarships for college students.

Dominguez said indexing tax rates to inflation would mean lower tax for taxpayers.

On Saturday, Duterte said he was not sure if he would reduce or increase taxes.

[lovacedon]

World economic experts gather to reduce $26trln infrastructure investment gap in developing Asia

YOKOHAMA: Global economic gurus will join forces from Thursday (today) to identify measures effective to abridge a staggering $26 trillion of infrastructure investment gap in developing Asia by 2030.

More than 5,000 delegates, including from North America and Europe, are expected to attend the 50th annual meeting of Asia Development Bank’s (ADB) board of governors from 4 to 7 May.

Finance and development ministers, central bank governors, other senior government officials, business executives, journalists, academics, and representatives from civil society, development organisations and youth from the Asia and Pacific region started arriving for the four-day meeting.

ADB said Asia and the Pacific has seen dramatic improvements in infrastructure that have driven growth, reduced poverty, and improved people's lives.

More than 400 million Asians still lack electricity; roughly 300 million have no access to safe drinking water; and 1.5 billion people lack basic sanitation. In order to bridge this infrastructure gap, developing Asia will need to invest $26 trillion from 2016 to 2030, or $1.7 trillion per year, if the region is to maintain growth, eradicate poverty, and respond to climate change, it added.  Operating under the theme of “Building Together the Prosperity of Asia”, this year’s annual meeting will focus on the region’s growing need for infrastructure as a critical sector towards achieving sustainable and inclusive development.

Discussions on how to address urban challenges and strive for clean and climate-resilient development will be held. The flagship governors’ seminar on 5 May will discuss reforms in trade, investment, and finance, as well as lessons learned from the past 50 years of development in the region.

A special book launch, as part of ADB’s 50th anniversary celebrations, will be held on 4 May to discuss and share ADB’s role and future direction. Key sessions will discuss salient issues central to development including rising inequality, macroeconomic stability, progress on the sustainable development goals, and financial inclusion.

The annual meeting will highlight the role of the private sector in supporting development programs in Asia and the Pacific through seminars focused on public-private partnerships and co-financing.

Several other events, including discussions on lessons from the Asian financial crisis 20 years later, and a youth event focused on reducing poverty and fostering inclusive economic growth will also be held.

Manila-based ADB is working to reduce poverty in the region and the Pacific through inclusive economic growth, environmentally sustainable growth, and regional integration. Established in 1966, ADB is celebrating 50 years of development partnership in the region. It is owned by 67 members—48 from the region. In 2016, ADB assistance totaled $31.7 billion, including $14 billion in co-financing.

The annual meeting of the ADB board of governors provides guidance on ADB administrative, financial, and operational directions. The meetings provide opportunities for member governments to interact with ADB staff, nongovernment organizations, media, and representatives of observer countries, international organizations, academe and the private sector. ADB’s annual meetings have become a premier forum for the discussion of economic and social development issues in Asia and the Pacific.

  World economic experts gather to reduce $26trln infrastructure investment gap in developing Asia