The Latest Breaking News from Developing Countries

Time to make the most of deglobalisation

After four decades of fostering integration through trade and finance, the global economy has begun a painful process of fragmentation. Initially driven by wealthy countries -- namely, the US under former President Donald Trump and the UK following the Brexit referendum -- several geopolitical forces have combined to accelerate the…

Bangkok Post · Dec 21, 2022

Why the Congo plays a critical role in saving the world's biodiversity

A landmark biodiversity deal cliched at the Cop15 summit offers a mixed bag for nature-rich developing countries – namely the Democratic Republic of Congo – which now supports the text despite earlier protests over funding for conservation efforts.

Radio France Internationale · Dec 20, 2022

Some NGOs warn COP15 biodiversity agreement will 'devastate indigenous lives'

As many hail the COP15 biodiversity summit's deal to protect nature, DR Congo argues that it does not go far enough in supporting conservation efforts in developing countries. We also speak to one Senegalese doctor who is concerned about the agreement's limited protection for indigenous rights.

France 24 · Dec 19, 2022

Will the 'loss and damage' fund happen?

The new 'loss and damage' fund aims to help vulnerable nations — but is it only a pipe dream?

Salon · Dec 7, 2022

New Cumbrian coalmine would prove UK hypocrisy, say experts around world

Activists and experts say green light for coal would show UK’s ‘posturing, double standards and broken promises’

The Guardian - UK · Dec 6, 2022

Climate meeting under scrutiny

Despite establishing a "loss and damage" fund to help developing countries deal with the impacts of climate disasters, the negotiations at the annual United Nations Climate Change Conference in Egypt this year still failed to deliver meaningful commitments to phase out fossil fuels and combat the climate crisis.

Bangkok Post · Dec 3, 2022

As young people in rich countries drink less alcohol, elsewhere youth drinking is on the rise – podcast

The amount of alcohol young people drink in many high-income countries has seen a marked decline since the early 2000s. But in many developing countries, the opposite is happening. In this episode of The Conversation Weekly podcast, we talk to three experts studying trends in young people’s drinking habits to…

The Conversation · Dec 1, 2022

Trillions needed to fight climate change

At COP 27, negotiators have been haggling over how to pay for the mounting costs of climate change

Salon · Nov 26, 2022

Of debt and bondage with Beijing

Recently released details of Kenya's 2014 loan agreement with China to finance a controversial railway project have once again highlighted the predatory nature of Chinese lending in developing countries. The contract not only imposed virtually all risk on the borrower (including requiring binding arbitration in China to settle any dispute),…

Bangkok Post · Nov 25, 2022

COP27 roundup: what went wrong and what happens next

COP27, the latest UN climate change summit which was held in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, has been condemned for failing to summon an adequate response to the escalating climate crisis. Negotiators did manage to preserve a commitment made in Paris in 2015 to limit global warming to 1.5°C. But emissions of…

The Conversation · Nov 23, 2022