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Scoop
03-07-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
The Sevilla Commitment: A Vital Step To Rebuild Trust In Global Cooperation
3 July 2025 Activists, many from the Global South, attending the talks in Spain, are calling for greater leadership and commitment from wealthier nations to help address long-standing structural inequalities. The 4th International Conference on Financing for Development (FFD4) carries strong symbolic weight, reflected in the agreed priorities of the Sevilla Commitment. However, organizations warn that there is still a long way to go before promises translate into tangible action. Good timing That is the message from Paula Sevilla, a representative of the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED) – a London-based research centre – who has worked for decades on sustainability and climate justice in Latin America, Africa, and Asia. 'This summit has come at a crucial time to try to restore faith in international cooperation, especially after the pandemic, which exposed a lack of global solidarity,' she stated. One of IIED's main goals in Sevilla has been to ensure that the announced financial commitments actually reach local communities at the forefront of the climate crisis. To that end, the organization emphasises the need to address issues such as external debt – draining public budgets – and to ensure innovative mechanisms like blended finance, while directing resources to those who need them most, who are often on the frontlines of finding solutions. ' We're seeing countries spend more on debt payments than on healthcare or education, while inequalities are deepening,' the expert warned, speaking shortly after a respectful but forceful protest inside the conference centre. A place to call home Housing solutions linked to sustainable development are notably absent from the summit's final document. 'It's regrettable that it's not even mentioned, at a time when we are facing a global cost-of-living crisis – not only in the Global South but also here in Spain. Housing is a source of anguish and distrust among citizens, and it has been completely ignored,' Ms. Sevilla said. Despite this, her organization is working to leverage the Sevilla outcome to find ways to channel funding into providing more affordable homes. Commenting on the initiative led by Spain and Brazil to work towards fair taxation and push back against tax avoidance by the world's richest – promoting more transparency and accountability – the IIED representative said it could be a useful path toward correcting structural inequalities. Tax for development ' We need leadership from the Global North, where many of the world's major tax-avoiding corporations are based. Without their commitment, we won't move forward,' she stated. She also criticized the absence of the United States from the summit – not only as a diplomatic setback but also as a worrying precedent following the dismantling of its international development agency, USAID. 'We're talking about people counting their pills to figure out how many days of life they have left. This is dramatic,' she emphasised. With just five years remaining to meet the Sustainable Development Goals, Ms. Sevilla warned that time is running out – and that the Sevilla Commitment will be meaningless without real change. ' We need political leadership, a will to cooperate, and a commitment to protect democratic space. In the end, it's organized people who keep hope alive and hold leaders accountable,' Ms. Sevilla concluded. Concerns for the poorest Meanwhile, the UN Capital Development Fund – a hybrid development and finance organization within the UN system – warned against leaving the world's poorest behind. 'At FFD4, we've seen exciting coalitions around substantive solutions using blended finance. And while they are significant, it's important that we guard against a two-tier outcome that leaves the hundreds of millions of people who are living in extreme poverty out of the equation,' said Pradeep Kurukulasuriya, Executive Secretary of UNCDF, which is mandated to unlock finance for the most underserved markets. ' We need private sector capital to flow, not only in middle income countries and the rising stars of the Least Developed Countries that are preparing for graduation. But also to countries and communities in fragile, vulnerable and crisis situations. UNCDF, working with partners across the UN family, has the capabilities to do just that.' UNCDF works in partnership with international organizations and UN entities to deliver blended finance solutions – including concessional loans, grants and guarantees – in any sector, to de-risk markets and drive sustainable economic growth. The Sevilla Commitment in brief: The Sevilla Commitment sets out a new global roadmap to raise the trillions of dollars needed each year to achieve sustainable development, building on previous international agreements It calls for fairer tax systems, cracking down on tax evasion and illicit financial flows, and strengthening public development banks to support national priorities The agreement highlights the need for new tools to ease debt pressures on vulnerable countries, including debt-swap schemes, options to pause payments during crises, and better transparency Countries committed to boosting the capacity of multilateral development banks, increasing the use of special drawing rights, and attracting more private investment to support development It also aims to make the global financial system more inclusive and accountable, with improved coordination, stronger data systems, and broader participation from civil society and others The Commitment launches the Sevilla Platform for Action, which includes over 130 initiatives already underway to turn the pledges into real-world results.
Newsweek
02-07-2025
- Climate
- Newsweek
Millions of US Homeowners Issued Insurance Warning
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Millions of U.S. homeowners are unprepared for extreme weather, a new survey by Guardian Service suggests, with insurers warnings of the costly impact of complacency. The U.S. experienced a near-record number of climate-related disasters in 2024, at an average of nearly one every four days, according to a study by the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED). Despite the billions of dollars in damages caused by natural disasters annually, the Guardian Service survey suggests many homeowners still tend to underestimate or avoid the challenge they are facing. Forty percent of homeowners interviewed by the insurance agency said they are "well" or "extremely" prepared for an extreme weather event—but as many as 33 percent have taken no action whatsoever to protect their home, not even reviewing their coverage. Brittany Wooden and her family look on at the neighborhood her grandmother lives in, Allen Circle, where homes are underwater after excessive rains caused flooding on August 7, 2024, in Statesboro, Georgia. Brittany Wooden and her family look on at the neighborhood her grandmother lives in, Allen Circle, where homes are underwater after excessive rains caused flooding on August 7, 2024, in Statesboro, Georgia.A majority of homeowners don't have enough funds to weather a storm should their insurer not cover the damage incurred to their properties. 61 percent said they would rely on credit cards, loans, or family support to pay for weather-related home damage, while more than one-third (36 percent) currently have less than $1,000 saved for home emergencies. Many showed crucial gaps in their knowledge of how home insurance works. Forty-one percent mistakenly think flood damage is covered under a standard policy, and 68 percent don't know what a "named storm" deductible is. The survey was conducted among 2,000 U.S. homeowners on June 6—just days into this year's hurricane season, which forecasters said is very likely to be above average. While the survey is just a snapshot of the nation, it implies millions of Americans are taking considerable financial risk. Confidence Without Readiness The findings haven't surprised experts. Instead, they confirmed a pattern they have observed before of "confidence without readiness," as Kara Credle, a licensed insurance agent at Guardian Service, called it. Many homeowners believe they are prepared, but they haven't taken action to steady their homes ahead of a natural disaster. "People often underestimate their risk, especially if they haven't personally experienced a major disaster," Credle told Newsweek. "There's a widespread belief that 'it won't happen to me,' which leads to complacency." Additionally, Credle said, many homeowners don't really know what steps are needed to be truly prepared for their homes being struck by an extreme weather event. "Emergency planning, structural reinforcements, and policy reviews aren't part of everyday conversations, so people tend to delay or ignore them. In some cases, the information is available, but it's confusing or too technical, making it hard to act on," Credle explained. An 'Outdated' Sense Of Safety The survey found that nearly half of all homeowners (46 percent) who had not taken any protective steps believed their homes were not at risk because they lived in a safe area of the country. But with the climate crisis changing the traditional rules of the game, this assumption is "increasingly dangerous and outdated," Credle said. "The weather no longer sticks to predictable zones. Relying on old assumptions leaves homeowners vulnerable. Skipping insurance reviews or home upgrades because 'it probably won't happen here' can turn into a very costly mistake," she added. "Today, being prepared means taking action ahead of time. It's not about whether something will happen anymore; it's about when." Dr. Shane Crawford of the University of Alabama said that, "although some areas are more at risk for certain types of natural hazard, there is no area in the country with zero risk." The West Lags Behind Across the U.S., most homeowners feel least prepared to face earthquakes (44 percent), tornadoes (37 percent) and wildfires (35 percent). The least prepared homeowners in the entire nation are concentrated in the West, according to the Guardian Service survey, despite the fact that they face some of the most serious natural disaster threats in the nation—wildfires, earthquakes, floods, and even mudslides. Forty percent of them feel they are unprepared for earthquakes, 39 percent said they are not ready to face tornadoes, 29 percent said they are not ready for wildfires and 28 percent are unprepared for hurricanes. "One big reason is that disaster risks out West are complex and often overlapping, which can make it overwhelming to know where to start," Credle said. Another challenge, she added, is that earthquake insurance is not normally included in standard home policies, forcing homeowners to either add an endorsement to cover earthquake damage—which would likely raise their premium—or buy an entire earthquake policy separately. "Many homeowners either don't realize this or assume it's too expensive to be worth it," Credle said. "Insurance availability is also shrinking in high-risk parts of the West, especially areas prone to wildfires." Several major insurers have pulled out of the California market over the past five years, or raised their premiums, according to data from regulators, leaving homeowners scrambling for coverage or forcing them into much more expensive options. Homeowners in the Midwest feel least prepared for earthquakes (42 percent), hurricanes (40 percent), wildfires (38 percent), tornadoes (36 percent) and flooding (20 percent). Those in the Northeast feel least prepared for earthquakes (51 percent), tornadoes (46 percent), wildfires (35 percent), hurricanes (27 percent) and flooding (24 percent). Homeowners in the South feel least prepared for earthquakes (42 percent), wildfires (36 percent), tornadoes (31 percent), hurricanes (29 percent), flooding (24 percent) and winter storms and blizzards (24 percent). What Risks Do Unprepared Homeowners Face? Being unprepared for extreme weather can be financially tough, forcing homeowners to take out money they don't have for repairs—especially if they find out their insurance won't cover all their losses. "Many people don't realize that standard policies often don't cover flood damage, and some deductibles are based on a percentage of your home's value—meaning you could be on the hook for thousands before coverage even kicks in," Credle said. "And it's not just about money. The stress of losing your home, dealing with insurance delays, or being displaced for weeks or months takes a serious emotional toll." According to a recent study by the Insurance Information Institute and reinsurance company Munich Re, about 88 percent of U.S. homeowners have property insurance, but only about 6 percent have flood coverage. A majority of those who have flood insurance are concentrated in the most at-risk coastal areas, but experts said that the threat of flooding is hardly limited to these parts of the country. "Lack of flood coverage is the biggest insurance gap across the country," Mark Friedlander of the Insurance Information Institute previously told Newsweek. "As we saw last year with Hurricane Helene, inland flooding can be catastrophic from a landfalling hurricane. Ninety percent of U.S. catastrophes involve flooding," he said. "This is why flood insurance is essential for all residents, not just in coastal communities." Tom Larsen, AVP of product marketing for insurance at Cotality, previously told Newsweek that this hurricane season the U.S. is facing the threat of "wind damage from hurricane-force winds threatening tens of millions of properties" and storm-surge flooding "that could inundate more than six million homes," as well as washed-out roads, disabled municipal water systems and overwhelmed power and wastewater networks in affected states.
Japan Times
06-05-2025
- Business
- Japan Times
U.N. document shows U.S. seeks to weaken global development finance efforts
The United States is seeking to weaken a global deal aimed at helping developing countries struggling with the impacts of climate change and other issues, an internal United Nations document showed. The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump opposes draft reforms of the world's financial system intended to help developing countries, including around taxation, credit ratings and fossil fuel subsidies. It also wants mentions of "climate," "gender equality" and "sustainability" stripped out. The previously unreported document sheds light on how the Trump administration is seeking to imprint an "America First" agenda, including opposition to efforts to slow climate change and promote diversity, on the institutions at the heart of fixing global systemic crises. The once-a-decade 4th International Conference on Financing for Development (FFD4) in Seville, Spain, in June aims to influence the strategic direction of the world's development finance institutions. Countries agreed at FFD3, for example, to broaden tax cooperation efforts so that developing countries could help set the rules and as of last May more than 140 countries were involved. "This conference is about bringing the world's leaders together and setting the underlying rules and priorities for financing development goals over the next decade," Tom Mitchell, executive director of the International Institute for Environment and Development, said. Compiled by the permanent representatives to the U.N. of Mexico, Nepal, Norway, and Zambia, with help from the U.N. secretariat, the April 11 negotiating draft is annotated with the positions of the 193 nations involved in the discussions. At U.N. negotiations over the FFD4 document in March, the U.S. mission said the draft at that time was too long and prescriptive and denounced "the ever-widening definition of sustainable development." U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has acknowledged the need to overcome multiple challenges ahead of the once-a-decade 4th International Conference on Financing for Development in Seville, Spain, in June. | REUTERS "The international financial institutions have independent mandates and authorities, and we do not support attempts in the U.N. system to dictate their priorities or activities," the U.S. statement from acting U.N. Economic and Social Council representative Jonathan Shrier said. The U.N. does not hold direct authority over the multilateral development finance institutions. With ongoing changes at the World Bank and International Monetary Fund in the fight against climate change already facing pushback from U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, the document showed it was seeking to water down the U.N.'s reform prescriptions. Among specific points in the text that refer to the systemic reform, the document shows the U.S. wants to remove a reference to a "package of reforms" for sustainable development. It wants to replace a line promising to "commit to reform the international financial architecture" with a pledge to "recognize the need to enhance its resilience and effectiveness in responding to present and future challenges and crises." Such changes in language signal the degree of shared commitment that can then be used as support for action or inaction in future talks. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has acknowledged the need to overcome multiple challenges ahead of the conference, but urged "all countries to be at the table in Sevilla focused on solutions," spokesperson Florencia Soto Nino said in an email. The Treasury Department and State Department both declined to comment. The White House did not respond to a request for comment. While the U.S.' position on development has become tougher under Trump, the negotiating document shows it remains supportive of efforts that include developing countries working more closely with the private sector, and fostering innovation and financial literacy. A key goal of the global reforms is to better help poorer nations cope with weather disasters, which are worsening due to climate change, and to boost economic development using low-carbon energy rather than traditional fossil fuels. Trump has quit the U.N. Paris climate agreement, slashed U.S. foreign development aid by more than 80% as part of a government overhaul led by billionaire Elon Musk and embarked on a trade war that is hurting many poorer nations. Among areas of the FFD4 document that the U.S. objects to is a call for countries to explore "global solidarity levies" that could include taxes on highly polluting activities or on the superrich to finance sustainable development. If included, the levies could be taken up in U.N. negotiations on taxes this year and would bolster a task force led by France, Kenya and Barbados that aims to develop such taxes among smaller groups of countries. Other countries to object include Russia, Saudi Arabia and China. Filippo Grandi, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees addresses members of the Security Council at U.N. Headquarters in New York on April 28. | REUTERS The U.S. is also seeking to delete a paragraph calling for companies to pay tax to the countries where economic activity occurs; a paragraph on helping developing countries bolster tax transparency; and another on phasing out inefficient fossil fuel subsidies, the document shows. Many of the world's poorest countries struggle with high debt and the costs of rebuilding after disastrous storms, but the FFD4 document shows the U.S. wants to strike out a paragraph on reforming the credit-rating system. That includes a push for raters to take a more forgiving approach to poorer nations that voluntarily restructure their debt to invest in green projects, it showed. The U.S. also opposes a commitment to ensure countries receive "adequate and uninterrupted funding on appropriate terms of social protection and other essential social spending during shocks and crises," the document shows. While the U.S. has considerable influence as the biggest shareholder in both the World Bank, which provides loans and grants to developing countries, and the IMF, and is currently reviewing its role in both, the draft deal is likely to change further as countries continue negotiations in May, before reaching consensus on a final document in mid-June. The U.S. position puts pressure on other countries to accept a weaker deal, since the talks aim to adopt a deal by consensus.
Yahoo
22-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
I study local government and Hurricane Helene forced me from my home − here's how rural towns and counties in North Carolina and beyond cooperate to rebuild
Last year was a record year for disasters in the United States. A new report from the British charity International Institute for Environment and Development finds that 90 disasters were declared nationwide in 2024, from wildfires in California to Hurricane Helene in North Carolina. The average number of annual disasters in the U.S. is about 55. The Federal Emergency Management Agency provides funding and recovery assistance to states after disasters. President Donald Trump criticized the agency in January 2025 when he visited hurricane-stricken western North Carolina. Though 41% of Americans lived in an area affected by disaster in 2024, according to the institute's report, the Trump administration is reportedly working to abolish or dramatically diminish FEMA's operations. 'FEMA has been a very big disappointment. They cost a tremendous amount of money. It's very bureaucratic, and it's very slow,' Trump declared, saying he thought states were better positioned to 'take care of problems' after a disaster. 'A governor can handle something very quickly,' he said. Trump's remarks have prompted a heated response, including proposals to fundamentally overhaul – but not abolish – federal disaster recovery. But I believe the current discussion about FEMA handling U.S. disasters puts the emphasis in the wrong place. As a scholar who researches how small and rural local governments cooperate, I believe this public debate demonstrates that many people fundamentally misunderstand how disaster recovery actually works, especially in rural areas, where locally directed efforts are particularly key to that recovery. I know this from personal experience, too: I am a resident of Watauga County, in western North Carolina, and I evacuated during Hurricane Helene after landslides severely impaired the roads around my home. Here, in short, is what happens after a disaster. Federal legislation from 1988 called the Stafford Act gives governors the power to declare disasters. If the president agrees and also declares the region a disaster, that puts federal programs and activities in motion. Yet local officials are generally involved from the very start of this process. Governors usually seek input from state and local emergency managers and other municipal officials before making a disaster declaration, and it is local officials who begin the disaster response. That's because small and rural local governments actually have the most local knowledge to lead recovery efforts in their area after a disaster. Local officials determine conditions on the ground, coordinate search and rescue, and help bring utilities and other infrastructure back online. They have relationships with community members that can inform decision-making. For example, a county senior center will know which residents receive Meals on Wheels and might need a wellness check after disaster. However, small towns cannot do all this alone. They need FEMA's money and resources, and that can present a problem. The process of applying and complying with the requirements of the grants is incredibly complex and burdensome. According to FEMA's website, there are eight phases in the disaster aid process, composed of 28 steps that range from 'preliminary damage assesment' to 'recovery scoping video' to 'compliance reviews' and 'reconciliation.' Getting through these eight phases takes years. Larger cities and counties frequently have dedicated staff that apply for disaster aid and ensure compliance with regulations. But smaller governments can struggle to apply for and administer state or federal grants on their own – especially after a disaster, when demands are so high. That's where regional intergovernmental organizations come in. Every region has its own name for these entities. They're often called councils of government, regional planning commissions or area development districts. My colleagues and I call them RIGOs, for their initials. No matter the name, RIGOs are collaborative bodies that allow local governments to cooperate for services and programs they might not otherwise be able to afford. Bringing together local elected officials from usually about three to five counties, RIGOs help local officials cooperate to address the shared needs of everyone in their area. They do this in normal times; they also do this when disasters strike. RIGOs operate throughout most of the U.S., in big cities and rural areas, in turbulent times and in calm. They serve different needs in different regions, but in all cases, RIGOs bring together local elected officials to solve common problems. One example of this in western North Carolina is the Digital Seniors project, launched during COVID-19. Here, the local RIGO is called the Southwestern Commission. In 2021, the RIGO area agency on aging coordinated with the Fontana Regional Library to help dozens of elders who had never been connected to the internet get online during the pandemic. The Southwestern Commission used its relationships with the local senior centers to identify people who needed the service, and the library had access to hot spots and laptops through a grant from the state of North Carolina. In rural areas, RIGOs work alongside regional business and nonprofits to allow local governments to offer regular services and programs they might not otherwise be able to afford, such as public transportation, senior citizen services or economic development. Part of that work is helping member governments navigate the maze of federal and state funding opportunities for the projects they hope to get done, often by employing a specialized grant administrator. Each small local government may not have enough work or revenue to justify such a staff member, but many together have the workload and funding to hire someone specially trained to abide by the rules of funding from states and the federal government. This system helps small local governments receive their fair share in federal grant money and report back on how the money was spent. Disasters rarely respect borders. That's why governments generally work together to distribute grant money for rebuilding communities. In the summer of 2022, eastern Kentucky faced deadly flooding after receiving about 15 inches of rain over four days – 600% above normal. The North Fork of the Kentucky River crested at approximately 21 feet, killing over two dozen people and damaging 9,000 homes and more than 100 businesses. The Kentucky River Area Development District, a RIGO representing eight counties, played a key role in the area's recovery. It secured millions in FEMA aid and maintained critical services, including expanded food delivery and transportation for elderly residents. Similarly, after disastrous flooding hit Vermont in 2023 and 2024, another RIGO, the Central Vermont Regional Planning Commission, jumped into action. It quickly provided emergency communication to the 23 small villages and towns in its region and has since supported local governments applying for grants and reimbursements. Today, it continues to assist in Vermont's disaster planning and flood mitigation. This is also part of the recovery process. Rebuilding after a disaster is a long, arduous process. It begins after national journalists and politicians have left the area and continues for years. That would be true no matter how Trump restructures emergency aid: The damage is massive, and so is the repair. For example, here's how western North Carolina looks six months after Helene: Most businesses have reopened, most folks have running water again, and people can drive in and out of the area. But many roads are still full of broken pavement. Mud from landslides presses up against the sides of the highway, and condemned housing teeters on the edge of ravaged creek beds. It is, in other words, too soon to see the full impact of local government efforts to rebuild my region. But RIGOs across the region are hiring additional temporary staff to help local governments get federal money and comply with complex guidelines. Their support ensures that decisions affecting North Carolinians are voted on by the city and county leaders they elected – not decreed by governors or handed down from Washington, D.C. Locally led rebuilding is slow and difficult work, yes. But it is, in my opinion, the most community-responsive way to deal with disaster. Jaylen Peacox, a graduate student in public administration at North Carolina State University, contributed to this story. This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit, independent news organization bringing you facts and trustworthy analysis to help you make sense of our complex world. It was written by: Jay Rickabaugh, North Carolina State University Read more: If FEMA didn't exist, could states handle the disaster response on their own? Beyond bottled water and sandwiches: What FEMA is doing to get hurricane victims back into their homes New flood maps show US damage rising 26% in next 30 years due to climate change alone, and the inequity is stark Jay Rickabaugh receives grant funding from the National Science Foundation. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.
