Conflicts, climate change are main hurdles in meeting development goals

Highlights

• The number of hungry people in the world has risen for the first time in more than a decade, according to a United Nations report released on Wednesday.
• There are now approximately 38 million more undernourished people in the world, rising from 777 million in 2015 to 815 million in 2016, the year for which the latest statistics are available.
• “After a prolonged decline, world hunger appears to be on the rise again. Conflict, drought and disasters linked to climate change are among the key factors causing this reversal in progress,” said the report
• Violent conflicts also led to the forced displacement of a record high 68.5 million in 2017.
• Water stress levels for many countries in the region are above 70%, indicating fast-approaching water scarcity. More than nine out of 10 people living in urban areas around the world are breathing polluted air, with southern Asia scoring the worst in this area.
• “Achieving the 2030 Agenda requires accelerated actions by countries along with collaborative partnerships among governments and stakeholders at all levels. This ambitious agenda necessitates profound change that goes beyond business as usual.”

Source: The Hindu