Global Scans · Reduced Inequalities · Weekly Summary

In September 2015, 193 world leaders agreed to 17 Global Goals for Sustainable Development. If these Goals are completed, it would mean an end to extreme poverty, inequality and climate change by 2030.
Goal 10: Reduce inequality within and among countries.

• [New] The digital revolution poses an opportunity to level the playing field, but it is clear that without equitable access, the digital revolution risks entrenching or even exacerbating already existing global inequalities. Newsweek
• [New] Gender-responsive budgeting has the potential to be a transformative tool in tackling inequality in South Africa by ensuring that public resources are allocated in ways that actively reduce gender disparities and promote social and economic equity. Youth Capital
• [New] The current approach by the National Treasury fails to adequately prioritise the needs of the most vulnerable and risks exacerbating existing inequalities, potentially worsening the multi-dimensional nature of the issues that South Africa seeks to address. Institute For Economic Justice
• [New] Africa has the opportunity to leverage its natural resources to create prosperity, reduce inequality, and enhance their negotiating power on the global stage. MiningFocus Africa
• [New] Lithium mining poses significant environmental risks, including air & water pollution, ecosystem disruption, high carbon emissions & the sacrifice of land & livelihoods for lithium extraction, deepening global inequalities. Mashable ME
• By 2025, expect films that not only entertain but also serve as platforms for change and awareness, raising issues related to climate change, inequality, and mental health. MEFMobile
• Greater Focus on Social Impact: Businesses will be expected to be more significant in addressing global challenges, including climate change and social inequality. Newstrail
• The ongoing digital transformation could further reshape the global economic landscape, potentially creating new opportunities for innovation and growth but also exacerbating existing inequalities. 2025 Aksi -
• The US economy continues to outperform other developed markets, but income inequality, high borrowing costs, and commercial real estate risks pose challenges to sustained stability. China Briefing News
• By 2050 there will be 2 billion more people living in slums in and around the rapidly growing urban centers of the world, and many sustainability scientists have identified crucial links between inequality and barriers to sustainable development. Nature
• The increased cost of property ownership could have knock-on effects on Hawaii's already high cost of living, potentially exacerbating economic inequalities and altering the demographic makeup of island communities. Farmonaut
• Amid global challenges such as climate change, technological disruption, economic inequality and geopolitical tensions, the public is increasingly skeptical about the value of higher education. THE Campus Learn, Share, Connect
• The UK saw rising risk factors, including obesity, poor diet and low levels of exercise, against a backdrop of widening social inequality and pressure on the NHS. BBC News
• Africa faces pressing challenges and emerging opportunities in a world increasingly defined by fragmentation, marked by geopolitical rivalries, eroding multilateralism, and widening inequalities. Tana Forum - Welcome to the Tana High-Level Forum on Se
• Education is a powerful tool for reducing inequalities, reaching gender equality and achieving social justice, and the UN is committed to reaching SDG 4, which focuses on ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education and promoting lifelong learning opportunities for all. UN News
• A Labour government could address symptoms of Britain's crisis (economic stagnation, low wages, low productivity, high social inequality, decrepit infrastructure), but it will not. Labour Outlook - Amplifying socialist voices, supportin
• Without addressing the critical issues of infrastructure, trust, financial inclusion, and policy enforcement, Liberia risks deepening economic inequalities rather than advancing its financial sector. FrontPageAfrica
• Without U.S. participation, the world risks a fragmented response to future health crises - a fragmentation that will exacerbate global health inequities and hit the poorest countries the hardest. The Conversation
• Communities that are already disadvantaged are among the most vulnerable to the effects of systemic shocks and extreme events and climate change has the potential to widen existing health inequalities in the UK. Institute of Health Equity
• Brazil is a country with high rates of social inequalities that result in the asymmetric distribution of resources and opportunities, limiting the right to access adequate and healthy food among different societal groups. BioMed Central
• While urban centers are engines of economic growth and innovation, they are burdened with stark inequalities, environmental degradation, and vulnerabilities exacerbated by climate change and other global challenges. Decentralization Net
• As the world navigates complex issues such as climate change, inequality, and technological transformation, the UN's soft power will remain a cornerstone of its mission to create a peaceful, prosperous, and sustainable future. UN DESA VOICE
• The concentration of wealth and opportunities created in global cities may cause income inequality that pushes out lower-income residents. The Independent

Last updated: 31 March 2025