Across Africa, conflicts, both the kind defined by within and out states boarders have necessitated the need for humanitarian actors such as United Nations (UN) and NGOs (non-governmental organizations) to negotiate with all sides in order to deliver aid. However, militaries are becoming more and more involved in implementing development programs, in addition to combating terrorism and participating in conflicts defined by borders. Military intervention has evolved to take on new responsibilities, including those that were once considered unique to humanitarian agencies.
The Sino-American relations have grown in tension since the onset of the trade frictions in 2017 with a technological war taking place between the two hegemons. Bilateral tensions were further aggravated when the American Administration under Trump adopted radical measures against Chinese telecommunication company Huawei on grounds of threats to national security. The two countries have been engaging in fierce competition in terms of technological development and research, especially regarding cutting-edge industries such as advanced semiconductors, artificial intelligence (AI) and 5G (Kahata, 2020).
From Berlin in 1995 (COP 1) to Warsaw in 2013 (COP 19), the global community has acknowledged that manmade (anthropogenic) greenhouse gases, especially CO2, were responsible for global warming. They caused irreversible economic and social consequences, which led to climate change no longer being regarded as an environmental issue. Now a global development problem, climate change requires close collaboration from all countries in order to lessen its effects on people and the planet.
In September 2015, more than 200 heads of state adopted the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs); a bold agenda for inclusive and sustainable social, economic and environmental prosperity around the world. The ambitious agenda, targeting a 2030 delivery, requires strong partnerships between governments, the private sector and civil society. But, unlike previous United Nations development agendas, it is imperative the private sector plays a more central role this time due to its ability to innovate, its resilience in difficult working environments, and its funding capacity and for environmental sustainability, youth engagement, stronger economies, and more innovation.
