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Harnessing Climate and SDG Synergy: Quantifying the benefits. Third Global Report on Climate and SDGs Synergies
Get PDFThis report builds on the recent work convened and carried out under the umbrella of the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA) and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). This work grew out of global conferences designed to promote synergistic action between the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the climate agendas, the Copenhagen Conference in 2019, the Webinars of 2020 and 2021 hosted jointly by the UNDESA and UNFCCC, the Third Global Conference on Synergies of 2022 hosted by the Government of Japan, and subsequent global conferences at UNHQ in New York (2023), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (2024) and Copenhagen, Denmark (2025). These global conferences provided the platform, rationale and urgency for the work which has been undertaken since 2023 with the involvement of a distinguished Expert Group convened by UNDESA and UNFCCC, representing several disciplines and regions of the world
Forest loss and uncertain economic gains from industrial and garimpo mining in Brazilian municipalities
Get PDFEnvironmental and social risks in mining regions often juxtapose promises of local economic growth. Brazil, a major global mineral supplier and conservation leader, has pursued resource-led development despite mining’s threat to its forests. Yet, the efficacy of this development strategy is uncertain. In this study, we examine mining’s contribution to deforestation and regional economic growth in Brazil. For garimpo mining concessions – originally small-scale and less rigorously regulated forms of informal mining – we identify substantial associations with elevated deforestation rates, highlighting the environmental risks of insufficient oversight. The economic benefits of mining are limited. Particularly for industrial mining, they are tied to fluctuations in global mineral prices. These findings challenge the perception that mining inherently drives sustained regional economic development. As global demand for minerals rises – particularly to support the energy transition – strategic mining investments must be revised to prioritise sustained local progress, nature conservation and community well-being
Just Systems or Justice in Systems? Exploring the Ethical Implications of Systemic Resilience in Local Climate Adaptation
Get PDFThe concept of systemic resilience, as it is understood in the context of climate change adaptation addressing systemic risks and polycrisis, is an inherently normative notion that carries ethical weight. To account for these implications, systemic resilience needs to be supplemented with ethical reflections on a system’s function, why it should be made resilient, and who the resilience serves. Crucially, considerations surrounding various forms of justice, such as participatory, procedural, distributive, and historical, need to be accounted for when making decisions about a community’s resilience in the face of increasing climate hazards. Resilience in the context of systemic risks and climate adaptation currently does not account for its ethical implications. This investigation builds on complexity science research and specifically the expanded concept of systemic resilience. In this article, the concept of systemic resilience is applied to the local level, highlighting its ethical underpinnings in the process. Specifically, a case-study explores the application of the ethically informed version of systemic climate resilience, exploring how the Rhine-Erft catchment in Germany could be assessed on this basis
Estimating and Conditional Forecasting Bilateral Migration Flows Between South America and Europe, 1985–2050
Get PDFSouth America and Europe have a history of reversals in the directionality of migration. While South America was a major destination for European migrants in the early twentieth century, migration flows have reversed in recent decades, with increasing South American emigration to Europe. However, inconsistencies in bilateral migration data hinder empirical assessments of migration systems between these regions. This study addresses this gap by (1) estimating a complete, comparable, reliable, and consistent time series of bilateral migration flows between South America and Europe from 1985 to 2018 and (2) generating conditional forecasts until 2050. Using a two-level hierarchical Bayesian model, it integrates one-year and five-year transition census data, corrects for undercounting of native-born migrants, adjusts for census approaches and data quality, and incorporates key migration drivers, including demographics, socioeconomic disparities, historical ties, and environmental factors. By producing reliable migration data, this study provides a robust foundation for analyzing the persistence and evolution of migration patterns between South America and Europe across time. It contributes to migration systems theory by integrating theoretical insights with empirical modeling, assessing whether South America–Europe flows form a structured, evolving network, whilst also serving as a valuable reference for analyzing future migration trajectories
Beyond tipping points: risks, equity, and the ethics of intervention
Get PDFEarth system tipping points pose existential threats to current and future generations, both human and non-human, with those least responsible for causing them facing the greatest risks. “Positive” social tipping points (that we shorten to positive tipping points, or PTPs) are often deliberate interventions into social systems with the aim of rapidly mitigating the risks of Earth system tipping. However, the desire to intervene should neither increase risks nor perpetuate unjust or inequitable outcomes through the creation of sacrifice zones. In this paper, we argue that considerations of what needs to change, who is being asked to change, and where and by whom the impacts of change will be felt are fundamental and normative questions that require reflexivity and systemic understanding of decision-making across scales. All actors have a role to play in ensuring that justice, equity, and ethics are carefully considered before any intervention. Enabling positive tipping points for radical transformations would thus benefit from more diverse perspectives, with a particular emphasis on the inclusion of marginalized voices in offering solutions. We conclude that taking a cautious approach to positive tipping interventions, including careful consideration of distributional and unintended consequences, and stepping back to explore all options, not just those appearing to offer a quick fix, could lead to more equitable and sustainable outcomes
Land depression based imprints of historic steppe habitats in the Seewinkel region, Austria
No full textPannonic salt steppes and salt marshes (EUNIS code 1530) or 'Sodapans' are among the rarest habitat types in Europe. They have historically been common in the Seewinkel region of Burgenland, Austria. Because of centuries of human modification of the landscapes only few Sodapans remain to this date. However 'imprints' of historic habitat extent can still persist and be visible from high-resolution digital terrain models (DTMs). Knowledge of such original extents can be useful particular in the context of habitat restoration and specifically rewetting, although many of known sites have been lost since centuries and might not be restorable.
In this upload a characteriziation of small-scale depressions in a high-resolution DTM are made through a flood-fill algorithm (following an approach by Wu et al. 2019), cleaned and pre-processed to a spatial vector format. The result is presented in vector format containing small-scale depressions that might (!) indicate historic distribution of Sodapans in the Seewinkel.
Data:
Derived from a Digital Elevation Model (DTM) obtained from the Austrian state of Burgenland (released under CC-BY 4.0), created from a 5 m (source).
Format:
Spatial GeoPackage (similar as shapefile). Can be opened in most Geographic Information System software such as QGIS or ArcGIS.
Data columns are included that describe a unique id for each identified patch, the indicated area (in m²) and summary statistics (min, max, median, mean) of the local depression depth relative to the surroundings.
Usage notes:
- The dataset shows localized terrain depressions which might inidcate a historical or current sodapan. However the landscape in the Seewinkel has been heavily modified since centuries and even terrain imprints are not necessarily an indicator of any natural feature.
- Care should thus be taken when using this dataset for further analysis. The author takes no responsibility for errors or misrepresentations. The data is released as such, although further improvements and updates are possible.
- Terrain depressions smaller than 5000 m² have been ignored.
- Some land depressions likely related to construction activities (e.g. building of houses) or artifical water surfaces or sand pits have been manually removed
Global energy inequality across energy types, expenditure groups, and consumption items
Get PDFUnderstanding the relationship between household expenditure and energy use from a consumption and supply chain perspective is crucial to capturing direct household energy use and indirect energy linked to various consumption items—often overlooked by studies focusing solely on direct energy—and to revealing the underlying patterns of global energy inequality across households. This study assesses the energy footprints across 201 household expenditure groups, seven final-use energy types, and 65 consumption items per 116 countries using a global energy- and expenditure- extended multi-regional input–output model for 2017. The Gini index for global energy footprints is 0.59, indicating a high level of energy inequality: the top 1% of households in 116 countries account for 14% of energy footprints, while the bottom 50% consumed only 13%. Substantial energy inequality is revealed both between and within countries. Less developed countries and regions generally exhibit greater inequality in per capita energy footprints between households compared to developed countries and regions. Energy intensity declines with higher expenditure, remaining higher in poorer regions and households. In richer regions, energy intensity is more evenly distributed across expenditure groups and overall lower than in developing regions. Accurately measuring global household energy footprints can help understand current energy inequality and guide future poverty and inequality reduction to promote a more just and equitable global society
The EuropaBON Stakeholder Dashboard: A dynamic web application to map Europe’s biodiversity community
Get PDFEurope’s biodiversity faces increasing pressure from climate change, pollution, and habitat loss, while governments struggle to sustain the monitoring efforts required to respond effectively to these challenges. Addressing this gap calls for a coordinated and inclusive approach that brings together all relevant biodiversity stakeholders to co-design a robust European biodiversity monitoring system. To support this, the Europa Biodiversity Observation Network (EuropaBON) has established one of the most comprehensive biodiversity stakeholder networks in Europe. To analyse this community and support evidence-based improvements, we developed the EuropaBON Stakeholder Dashboard – a dynamic, interactive web application that maps and visualises the EuropaBON stakeholder network’s structure in real-time. Accessible at https://europabon.org/dashboard , the dashboard enables users to explore stakeholder connections across three key dimensions: occupational sector, realm (terrestrial, freshwater, marine), and geographic region. It displays detailed network graphs, an interactive map, and summary statistics that highlight institutional positions in biodiversity data flows (e.g., data users, data providers, or both), levels of participation in EuropaBON activities, and connections to key EU projects and infrastructures. Users can identify the most central and active institutions in the network, filter and download data, and assess coverage across different thematic areas and regions. This tool supports both researchers and policymakers by offering an up-to-date overview of who is involved in biodiversity monitoring across Europe, where collaborations exist, and where further engagement is needed. By combining technological integration with stakeholder participation, the EuropaBON Stakeholder Dashboard enhances transparency, promotes inclusivity, and contributes to a more coordinated and effective biodiversity monitoring landscape in Europe
Digital twin and official statistics: A paradigm shift?
No full textThis paper explores the transformative potential of Digital Twin (DT) technology for official statistics, offering a novel perspective on data collection, analysis, and application for policy-making and societal development. The paper is exploratory and speculative in nature, looking at the potential of this new technology. The burgeoning interest in DTs among official statisticians will be driven by the technology's ability to create virtual representations of physical entities, enabling real-time monitoring, simulation, and analysis. This interest is further amplified by initiatives from the European Commission and the High-Level Group for the Modernization of Official Statistics, highlighting the alignment of DTs with efforts to digitize industries and foster innovation across European member states. Like any new technology, the application of DTs in official statistics presents both opportunities and challenges. Opportunities include the potential for real-time data and forecasting, improved decision-making through scenario testing, enhanced precision in statistical models, and innovation in data collection methods. However, the adoption of DTs in official statistics is not without challenges, including technical complexity, data governance, privacy concerns, and the integration of diverse data sources. The paper discusses also the potential of DTs to advance the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by providing a detailed, virtual replication of physical entities and systems. In theory DTs can offer a powerful analytical tool for optimizing interventions across the SDGs, enabling a more comprehensive understanding of the intricate relationships between different goals and facilitating targeted actions toward a sustainable future