Development

Bashir Ahmad Fatehi has been busy with cultural and educational projects since completing post-graduate work in political science. Here he gives his impressions of the political scene in post-Taliban Afghanistan, the challenges which lie ahead and the important role of young politicians in the prospects for a stable and vibrant future.

Climate science informs us that the impacts of climate change will increase over time, and major effects on South Asia, such as the melting of the Himalayas, will occur more in the future. South Asian economies should focus more on the problems arising from climate change that would result in stunting their development.

The European Trade Union Institute recent conference on ‘The Socio-Ecological Transition: A New Climate for the EU’s Sustainability Transition’ laid bare the need for radical change to deal with the climate crisis. And if battling climate change requires making our societies less superficial, less focused on expansion and instead more focused on equality, then that’s something we can all fight for.

On the 20th of September, we witnessed with excitement the greatest international mobilisation against climate change ever held. And while changes appear to be occurring, we’re still waiting for a proper international agreement on climate change to be reached…

The New Deal for Europe is a European Citizens’ Initiative supported by a coalition of social and political groups. It emerged as a response to the economic crisis, and seeks to build a solid employment and sustainable development plan for Europe by relying on federalist ideas and mechanisms to enhance solidarity in the EU.

The European Citizens’ Initiative opened a much needed channel for citizens to reach the European Institutions directly, and brought with it immense potential to reinforce the EU’s democratic legitimacy.

The Warsaw climate conference (COP19) succeeded in setting a pathway towards the Paris COP21 in 2015, where states should strike a new global climate deal. Yet it showed how long and difficult the road will be and fundamental questions remain unanswered, requiring high level political engagement.

Government procurement has long been used to help further public policy goals and European countries such as Italy and France are willing to still use it today to support renewable industries. However, at the European level something quite different is afoot that threatens the ability of procurement to be used to develop industry.

The Green Movement owes a great deal to science, but is sometimes portrayed as anti-science.

Though Croatia is now a full Member State of the European Union, it faces a tough path to full compliance with the Union’s environmental legislation. However, the potential benefits to Croatia are clear – from safer water to more green jobs.