In order to enhance electricity sector performance, many sub-Saharan African countries have implemented significant governance reforms. It is necessary, however, to evaluate whether such reforms facilitate expanded social access to electricity, whether they improve service quality, public utility, and financial stability, and whether they lead to broader social and environmental sustainability goals. In this policy brief, we assess these dimensions related to the case of Mozambique, a country where major progress has been made to increase population-wide access to electricity. This research is part of the Energy and Economic Growth Applied Research Programme.

Energy markets are in a state of flux as the use of electricity and other forms of energy is weakened by lockdowns and other COVID-19-related restrictions. Yet the long-term outlook remains one of global growth in energy and electricity demand, especially in developing countries. Meeting growing demand and limiting global temperature rises to well below 2°C, as envisaged under the Paris agreement, will require a major transition of the energy system towards renewable and other technologies consistent with net zero global carbon emissions. This will also necessitate significant investment in technologies to balance the intermittency of electricity generation both on the supply and demand side. This research is part of the Energy and Economic Growth Applied Research Programme.

The historical context from which many African utilities have emerged has left a challenging legacy regarding the provision of energy service delivery to all. As rural electrification receives growing attention, a wave of decentralised renewable energy (DRE) technologies and business models are changing the energy service delivery landscape. This Energy Insight focuses specifically on the opportunities for distribution utilities and mini-grid developers to collaborate. This research is part of the Energy and Economic Growth Applied Research Programme.

In recent years, electrification has reemerged as a key priority in low-income countries, with a particular focus on electrifying households. Yet the microeconomic literature examining the impacts of electrifying households on economic development has produced a set of conflicting results. Does household electrification lead to measurable gains in living standards or not? Focusing on grid electrification, we discuss how the divergent conclusions across the literature can be explained by differences in methods, interventions, potential for spillovers, and populations. The article concludes that access to household electrification alone is not enough to drive meaningful gains in development outcomes. Instead, future initiatives may work better if paired with complementary inputs that allow people to do more with power. This research is part of the Energy and Economic Growth Applied Research Programme

The Technical Summary had a successful launch on 17th December 2020. The Technical Summary of GEO-6 distills the science and data in the main report and synthesizes the information to make it more accessible to students and scientists, making it more useful both for teaching and learning at the university level. The objective of the webinar is the presentation of the key findings and a discussion on how these can be integrated in courses at the university level. Panelists will include university professors who have participated in the GEO process and use GEO as teaching tool, to discuss their experience and provide advice and lesson learned for university students and lecturers. The webinar had over 100 registered and was a successful launch. This webinar was organized as the launch to improve the reach of the report’s key messages as well as showcase how the report can be used as a teaching tool in universities. The objective of the webinar is the presentation of its key findings and a discussion on how it can be integrated in courses at the university level. Panelists will include university professors who have participated in the GEO process and use GEO as teaching tool, to discuss their experience and provide advice and lesson learned for university students and lecturers.

As of 31 December 2020, 79 countries have legally binding controls to limit the production, import and sale of lead paints, which is 41% of all countries. In many countries, using lead paint in homes and schools is not prohibited, creating a significant risk of children’s exposure to lead. The most effective means of preventing lead exposure from paints is to establish national laws, including legislation, regulations and/or legally binding standards as appropriate, that ban the use of lead additives in paints. Countries that have not yet done so are urged to enact and enforce effective national legislation, regulations and/or standards to, at a minimum, stop the manufacture, import and sale of household decorative lead paints. Countries are also encouraged to consider limiting lead in all types of paints. This update is provided annually by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) in support of the Global Alliance to Eliminate Lead Paint (Lead Paint Alliance). UNEP and the World Health Organization (WHO) serve as the joint Secretariat for this international voluntary initiative. The key priority of the Lead Paint Alliance is to promote establishing lead paint laws in all countries.

The Guidelines on Mangrove Restoration for the Western Indian Ocean Region is a new publication that, for the first time for the region, analyze risks and challenges to mangrove restoration projects and point to potential solutions. They were developed by the member states of the Nairobi Convention with support from UNEP–Nairobi Convention, the Western Indian Ocean Marine Science Association and the Western Indian Ocean Mangrove Network. They can be used by Governments, resource managers, scientists, civil society, and communities at large as they embark on mangrove conservation and management initiatives. With the inclusion of case studies from around the region, the Guidelines also enhance and promote shared lessons and best practices across the Western Indian Ocean and beyond. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hJGW591wXeU&feature=youtu.be

For over 40 years, civil society stakeholders have been key contributors to implementing the mandate of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). UNEP strives to ensure effective, broad and balanced participation of Major Groups and Stakeholders (MGS) as they play a central role in providing expertise and relevant knowledge. They also channel the voices of those most likely to be directly affected by environmental problems and related policies, and call needed attention to emerging issues as they reach out to their respective communities and the public at large. Increased demand for civil society engagement is a direct outcome of the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20). We are happy to share with you today UNEP's Stakeholder Engagement Handbook that UNEP developed in cooperation with UN NGLS. This Handbook aims to inform and guide Major Groups and Stakeholders by introducing in detail the currently applied rules, mechanisms and practices for MGS engagement in UNEP’s work. It is based on the Rules of Procedure of the United Nations Environment Assembly of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEA). The Handbook complements the Guidelines for Participation of Major Groups and Stakeholders in Policy Design at UNEP and other related documents. It contains ten sections: Section 1: The United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA) and Its Subsidiary Organs; Section 2: Engagement Approach; Section 3: Accreditation; Section 4: Participation in Agenda-Setting and Decision-Making Processes; Section 5: Access to Information; Section 6: Major Groups and Stakeholders Body – Spaces and Roles; Section 7: Expert Input and Advice, and Partnerships for Implementation; Section 8: Funding for Stakeholder Engagement at UNEP; Section 9: Code of Conduct at Meetings Hosted by the UN; and Section 10: UNEP’s Major Groups and Stakeholders Branch/Secretariat for Governing Bodies and Stakeholders.

目的探讨2007年至2020年中国大陆医学生自杀意念发生率情况,为预防医学生自杀、开展医学生心理健康教育提供参考证据。方法在PubMed、中国知网、万方和中国生物医学数据库中,检索2007年1月1日至2020年10月31日中国大陆医学生自杀意念的文献,根据预设的纳入/排除标准筛选文献、提取资料并进行方法学质量评价后,采用Stata12.0软件进行Meta分析。结果最终纳入39项研究,共计92 363名中国大陆医学生。2007年至2020年自杀意念发生率介于0.84%～41.35%;Meta分析结果显示合并自杀意念发生率为11.73%[95%CI(7.69%,16.48%)],亚组分析及Meta回归表明结果稳定性好,无明显发表偏倚。结论近年来,中国大陆医学生的自杀意念发生率相对较高。建议从学校层面重视医学生心理健康教育,辅导员及导师与学生的交流应常态化。

A Global Overview of Used Light Duty Vehicles: Flow, Scale and Regulation Millions of used cars, vans and minibuses exported from Europe, the USA and Japan to low- and middle-income countries are hindering efforts to combat climate change. They are contributing to air pollution and are often involved in road accidents. Many of them are of poor quality and would fail road-worthiness tests in the exporting countries. A landmark, first-of-its-kind report of the United Nations Environment Programme report, looks at 146 countries that import used vehicles, and calls for action to regulate the trade through the adoption of a set of harmonized minimum quality standards. These would ensure used vehicles contribute to cleaner and safer fleets in recipient countries. UNEP and partners will address these issues, initially with a project focused on Africa. USEFUL LINKS - [Press Release] New UN report details environmental impacts of export of used vehicles to developing world - [Story] Used vehicles get a second life in Africa – but at what cost?

The Georgetown University Law Center and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) are pleased to offer the UNEP-Georgetown Law Center Global Environment & Sustainability Law Fellows Program (the Program). This Program will train public sector lawyers from developing countries working on matters related to environmental law, natural resources law, or associated fields of law. Successful fellows will receive an Environmental and Energy Law LL.M. Degree from the Law Center. Upon graduation, fellows will gain international environmental legal and policy experience with the United Nations by working at one of UNEP’s offices for up to three months. Please visit the Georgetown Fellowship Programme website here.

A collection of essential, unshakeable reverence that all religions have for creation and nature. Be inspired to view our planet as one with our faith or spirituality, to share knowledge and commitments to care for it, and to become part of the flourishing global interfaith movement that is increasingly bringing people together to protect and sustain life on Earth. Climate change has unprecedented impacts on the functioning ecosystems that we depend upon for our survival, as well as on where people can live and grow food, build cities, practice their faith, and raise their children in peace and health. In a race against time, political will, innovation, inclusion, tolerance, values and ethics, financing and partnerships are essential. This publication calls on everyone —countries, cities, the private sector, individuals, and faith-based organizations—to strengthen their actions to mitigate climate change, restore ecosystems, and protect the health of the planet without delay. Our challenge is not that we do not know what to do—it is how quickly we can do it. As we begin this century’s third decade, the new edition — produced through a partnership between the United Nations Environment Programme and the Parliament of the World’s Religions Climate Action Program — offers an introduction to the magnitude of the task that faith, our values, our religious teachings and traditions can restore our Faith for Earth. It is time for action. Note: This book was first published at the beginning of the twenty-first century. A joint project of the United Nations Environment Programme and the Interfaith Partnership for the Environment, it was titled Earth and Faith: A Book of Reflection for Action.

Growing evidence and new understanding about the mounting risks to health and ecosystem degradation, as well as positive contributions to health from ecosystems services, mandates a fresh approach on health and environment linkages This factsheet highlights UN Environment Programme’s main achievements in helping countries and stakeholders to enhance their capacity to take action on pollution by providing the needed understanding, capacity development and tools on the nexus between environment and health.

Chemicals in products and hazardous substances within the life cycle of electrical and electronic products have been longstanding emerging policy issues under the Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management (SAICM). To further advance these issues, a GEF-funded project on “Global best practices on emerging chemical policy issues of concern under SAICM” has been launched in 2019, running through 2022. Amongst others, the activities under the project aim at increasing the ambition of different stakeholders to track and control chemicals along the value chains of electrical and electronic products. To provide a strategic overview of the capacity and models that exist for sustainable management of electronics,the project includes the development of a review of legislative and regulatory approaches for prohibiting the use of Chemicals of Concern (CoC) in electronics including the transposition of the EU Directive on Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS). This report provides this overview.

The Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management (SAICM) is a global multi-sectoral and multi-stakeholder policy framework, whose secretariat is hosted by UN Environment Programme. It offers a forum to discuss and address the many challenges related to the adoption and implementation of national policies to safely manage chemicals. SAICM mandate expires in 2020, long before they will reach the target of minimizing the health and environmental impacts of chemicals throughout their lifecycle. This factsheet highlights SAICM’s main achievements and it features a selection of remaining gaps and challenges related to the production and use of chemicals.

This new Guidance on Reporting to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child on child rights and environmental issues, was developed by the Children's Environmental Rights Initiative, with support from UNEP, Project Dryad, and Terre des Hommes. The guidance is intended to support civil society organizations, States, UN agencies, and other relevant actors with reporting to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child in particular, but is also a useful resource for reporting on this topic to other human rights treaty bodies, as well as under other relevant development/environment frameworks.

National Bank of Rwanda (BNR) modernized monetary policy and transited to the price-based policy framework in January 2019. The Forecasting and Policy Analysis System (FPAS) is the cornerstone for the new forward-looking framework, which mobilizes and organizes resources and sets processes for regular forecasting rounds. The core of this system is a structural macroeconomic model for macroeconomic analysis and projections to support the BNR staff’s policy recommendations to the monetary policy committee. This paper documents the quarterly projection model (QPM) at the core of the FPAS at the BNR. The model is an extension of the canonical structure in Berg et al (2006) to reflect specifics of the interest-rate-based policy framework with a managed exchange rate, the effect of agricultural sector and harvests on prices, and the role of fiscal policies and aid flows. This work is part of the ‘Macroeconomics in Low-income countries’ programme.

Question What scientific studies are there on diagnostic reliability of assessment of skin conditions taken with a portable dermatoscope attached to a mobile camera or with pictures taken only with the mobile camera Identified literature No relevant systematic review was identified but two primary studies were identified [1,2]. The primary studies were not assessed for risk of bias References Börve A, Terstappen K, Sandberg C, Paoli J. Mobile teledermoscopy-there's an app for that! Dermatol Pract Concept. 2013;3(2):41-8. Available from: https://doi.org/10.5826/dpc.0302a05. Kroemer S, Frühauf J, Campbell TM, Massone C, Schwantzer G, Soyer HP, et al. Mobile teledermatology for skin tumour screening: diagnostic accuracy of clinical and dermoscopic image tele-evaluation using cellular phones. Br J Dermatol. 2011;164(5):973-9. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2133.2011.10208.x.

As we bid farewell to 2020 with all its challenges and opportunities, we are proud of you, our partners, who have made this year a year of action for the faith communities. We will soon share with you our 2020 achievement report. The Faith for Earth Team and UNEP would like to wish you all a brighter, healthier and more prosperous year to come.