Asia Pacific Regional Consultation Draws Over 100 Attendees for Future Human Development Reports
More than 100 individuals participated in the highly anticipated public panel session of the Asia Pacific regional consultation, a collaborative initiative by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Sunway Centre for Planetary Health at Sunway University. This joint effort aims to ensure that the upcoming series of Human Development Reports effectively tackles crucial human development concerns faced by both individuals and policymakers.
Since its inception in 1990, the Human Development Report (HDR) has been an annual publication from the UNDP’s Human Development Report Office. Each year, HDRs delve into diverse themes through the lens of the human development approach. The latest findings in the 2021-22 HDRs revealed a disturbing trend of skyrocketing global levels of insecurity and distress. Astonishingly, six out of seven people worldwide report feeling insecure about various aspects of their lives, including individuals in high-income nations. The prevalence of stress and sadness has also experienced a significant surge.
In an unprecedented turn of events, the global human development index (HDI) has declined over the past two years, reverting global progress back to levels last seen in 2016. However, Malaysia has managed to maintain its position at number 62 out of 191 countries and territories, solidifying its place in the ‘Very High Human Development’ category based on its HDI score in 2022.
The forthcoming 2023 HDR marks the inauguration of a fresh series that will concentrate on the escalating political and social polarization sweeping the globe. Its primary objective is to explore strategies for nurturing cooperation and collective action amidst shared challenges. During the panel session, Prof Tan Sri Dr Jemilah Mahmood, the Executive Director of Sunway Centre for Planetary Health, discussed the critical implications of this transitionary phase in human history. She emphasized the intricate interdependence between the health of the planet and its inhabitants, as well as the unprecedented uncertainties humanity faces.
Dr. Jemilah Mahmood expressed her concerns, stating, “This uncertainty complex is cascading, and colliding, and we have to find a way out of it.”
Offering a keynote address, Tan Sri Azman Mokhtar, Chairman of Lembaga Tabung Haji Malaysia, emphasized the pivotal role of human agency in shaping the state of the planet. He remarked, “At the end of the day, the great variable is us, human beings. We have been given both a gift and a curse, and that is free will and personal agency. It is our actions that impact the state of the planet.”
Joseph D’Cruz, a panelist, highlighted the need to reassess the governance of economic systems, considering the limitations imposed by planetary boundaries. He emphasized the importance of involving citizens more deeply in policy development and investing in social capital. D’Cruz explained, “Governance of our economic systems is traditionally built on contestation. That limitless individual creative destruction no longer works when there are limits beyond our control – planetary boundaries. We need to bring citizens deeper into the process of developing policies and invest in social capital. Education and healthcare, along with political and economic governance systems, can only function when built upon strong social foundations, trust, shared values, and interest.”
Credit: The Star : News Feed
