The UNDP launched a report entitled “New threats to human security in the Anthropocene: Demanding greater solidarity”.  

How does the report depict today’s society?

·         The concept of human security was first introduced in UNDP’s 1994 HDR. That report signaled a radical departure from the idea that people’s security should be only assessed by looking at territorial security. It emphasized the importance of people’s basic needs, their dignity, and their safety to live secure lives.

·         This new report on human security, indicates that Global development progress does not automatically lead to a greater sense of security,

·         New data and analysis in the report, shows that people’s sense of safety and security is at a low in almost every country, including the richest countries, despite years of upwards development success. Those benefiting from some of the highest levels of good health, wealth, and education outcomes are reporting even greater anxiety than 10 years ago.

·         The report links new threats with the disconnect between people and planet in pursuit of development, arguing that they are deeply entangled with increasing planetary pressure.

The Report shows that 6 in 7 people globally, are reported insecure. What are some of the insecurities the report highlights?

Some of the insecurities highlighted in the report are:

·         That global life expectancy at birth which is falling for a second year. Declining by about one and a half years on average compared to a pre-COVID world and overall human development measures are also moving downward.

·         Furthermore, climate change is likely to become a leading cause of death around the world.

·         Even with moderate mitigation of emissions, some 40 million people might die because of changes in temperatures before the end of the century.

·         The report examines a cluster of threats that have shifted to become more prominent in recent years including those from digital technologies, inequalities, conflicts, and the ability of healthcare systems to tackle new challenges like the COVID-19 pandemic.

It also reflects perceptions of insecurity worsening most in several high-income countries. What does this mean for low-income countries?

As stated by Achim Steiner the UNDP Administrator, “ Despite global wealth being higher than ever before, a majority of people are feeling apprehensive about the future and these feelings have likely been exacerbated by the pandemic”.

·         The report recommends the need to tackle this disconnect between development and perceived security,

 It also notes that in pursuit for unrestrained economic growth, we continue to destroy our natural world while inequalities are widening, both within and between countries and therefore:

·         It calls for greater solidarity across borders and a new approach to development; one that allows people to live free from want, fear, anxiety and indignity.

The report also notes that It is time to recognise the signs of societies that are under immense stress and redefine what progress actually means. It calls for

·         A fit-for-purpose development model that is built around the protection and restoration of our  planet with new sustainable opportunities for all.”

 What recommendations and solutions have been in the report to ease insecurity?

The report authors argue that addressing these threats,  will require policy makers to consider protection, empowerment, and solidarity alongside one another so that human security, planetary considerations and human development all work together and not against each other.

The development Principle of “Do No Harm” This basically means that solutions for one problem shouldn’t exacerbate other problems.

“A key element for practical action highlighted in the report is building a greater sense of global solidarity based on the idea of common security. Common security recognises that a community can only be secure if adjacent communities are too.

READ NOW: https://hs.hdr.undp.org/