CO2 emissions expected to reach an historical high in 2018
The low cost of coal relative to alternative energy sources is slowing progress towards energy transition in many regions
Phasing out coal use requires a reliable and stable alternative energy supply, plus support to the economic and employment transition in regions dependent on coal production
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Global issues
The global energy mix and its role in CO2 emissions mitigation
After three years of remaining flat, global energy-related carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions increased by 1.5 per cent in 2017 and are estimated to have risen further in 2018. This puts even greater policy importance on the 24th Conference of…
World Economic Situation And Prospects: December 2018 Briefing, No. 121
The Handbook on the Least Developed Country Category is prepared by the Committee for Development Policy (CDP) to provide comprehensive information on the least developed country (LDC) category. This third edition of the Handbook builds upon and updates the previous edition, published in 2015. It reflects refinements to the LDC criteria and the progress of several countries towards graduation from the category.
Moreover, this edition contains additional information on international support measures, in particular on ?smooth transition? provisions for countries graduating from the LDC category. The publication is intended for use by government officials, policymakers, researchers and other…
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CDP Policy Review No. 8
By Namsuk Kim
The progress made for enabling LDCs to move toward graduation has not been successful enough. Fourteen countries have been able to meet the criteria for graduation during 2011-2020, only half way to meet the target specified in the IPoA: a half of LDCs meeting the graduation criteria by 2020.
Without boosting the development progress of LDCs, the possibility of achieving Sustainable Development Goals of the Agenda 2030 in all countries, leaving no one behind, will be very limited. The present paper investigates the trend based on diverse scenarios, to sheds light on the possible graduation cases by 2030, and implications on how much effort is needed to…
Prospects of Least Developed Countries meeting the graduation criteria by 2030
CDP Policy Review No. 7
By Namsuk Kim
This paper provides an overview on the interlinkage between Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) achievement and Least Developed Country (LDC) graduation, by examining the relationship between the indicators to be used for monitoring progress toward SDGs, and the ones currently used for LDC classification and also the ones considered by the Committee for Development Policy in the past.
It aims to assist the policy makers to enhance effectiveness of their development policies, by taking into consideration the indicators of the SDG review framework and the ones in the LDC classification that are related to one another. It finds that there is a…
Comparison of Indicators for Identification of Least Developed Countries and for Measuring Progress Towards the Sustainable Development Goals
CDP Background Paper No. 48
By Keith Nurse
Migration and the growth of global diasporas are key contemporary trends which impact on the pledge to ?leave no one behind? in the 2030 Agenda. The developmental potential of migration is captured in four Goals and five Targets in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The paper offers critical perspectives on the SDGs targets with a discussion on the economic challenges as well as the opportunities for trade and entrepreneurship.
The focus is particularly on remittances (including South-South remittances) and other financial investments such as diaspora savings and bonds. The second area of analysis is financial innovation through the growth…
Migration, Diasporas and the Sustainable Development Goals in Least Developed Countries
Global growth may have reached a peak
Firms in the United States and Japan are facing capacity constraints
Manufacturing activity slows in developed and developing economies
English: PDF (198 kb)
Global issues
Leading indicators suggest global growth may have peaked
In 2016, the growth rate of world gross product dropped to its lowest level since the global financial crisis, with 49 countries registering a decline in the level of per capita income. Subsequently, the world economy experienced a broad-based upturn and global growth reached 3.1 per cent in 2017?the fastest pace since 2011. The improvement was largely driven by accelerating growth in developed economies, a steady performance…
World Economic Situation And Prospects: November 2018 Briefing, No. 120
The World Economic and Social Survey 2018 reviews the advances in frontier technologies ? automation, robotics, electric vehicles, renewable energy technologies, biotechnologies and artificial intelligence ? and analyses their economic, social and environmental impact. These technologies possess immense potential for fostering growth, prosperity and environmental sustainability and accelerating the achievement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.? Advances in frontier technologies also present new and unique challenges. While promising prosperity, they also present risks of growing unemployment, underemployment and inequality, and raise new ethical and moral challenges.
Full…
World Economic And Social Survey 2018: Frontier Technologies For Sustainable Development
Russian Federation commits to halving poverty by 2024
China turns to pro-growth measures to mitigate the impact of the trade disputes
Fiscal pressures creating significant policy challenges in Latin America
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Global issues
Institutional change and the dynamics of inequality in Eastern Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States
Reducing inequality and accelerating growth of median incomes remain crucial challenges in the majority of countries across the world in order to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). While a number of developing countries, predominantly commodity-exporters, made modest progress towards reducing inequality during the commodity…
World Economic Situation And Prospects: October 2018 Briefing, No. 119
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