iplomatic Courier’s staff are “gone sledding” for the rest of 2024 to recharge and reconnect with friends and family. It’s been an exciting and productive 2024 for the team here at Diplomatic Courier, and we hope the same has been true for you! But by this time of year, everybody needs a little break to recharge, process all that’s happened, and to prepare ourselves for the year ahead.
For those of you who observe the upcoming holiday season, we wish you the happiest of holidays. And for all of you, we wish you a new year full of joy.
Until we return to regular publishing, here are some reads that you may have missed from the past several months. We hope you enjoy!
Institutions Under Pressure
In the last half of 2024, there was a flurry of international summits, from UNGA to G20 and BRICS to COP28. Yet increasingly global publics don’t put any faith into those institutions—can our institutions regain the public trust?
A pact for the world’s poorest.
The UN’s Pact for the Future aims to bridge global divides, offering the world’s poorest countries hope through digital and financial reforms, writes Deodat Maharaj.
Conflict resolution should be in World Bank, IMF mandates
Today’s geopolitical dynamics hamper the IMF and World Bank’s ability to carry out their mandates. Expanding those mandates to include conflict resolution could be the answer, writes Amb. M. Ashraf Haidari.
City diplomats go from a seat at the table to the hot seat
City diplomacy was beginning to flourish at the turn of the last decade. But the pandemic and other polycrisis challenges pose daunting challenges for the future of city diplomacy, writes Prof. Michele Acuto.
Strengthening international financial institutions in a competitive world
The Bretton Woods institutions remain as important as ever, but require steady and savvy leadership to navigate geopolitically delicate times, writes Adam Ratzlaff.
Our Digital Future
Everybody continues to talk about AI, while the social media landscape is further disrupted. A rapidly shifting political landscape means nobody can say with confidence what the future of digital regulation looks like—even so digital tools are already shaping our world, often very much for the better.
How to get people hooked on media literacy.
In today’s information environment, even factual information can mislead. It’s a major threat to society, and is one that media literacy is intended to explain and address—but these efforts are often overlooked, writes Tom Plant.
Tik–Tokracy: When politics goes viral
Fidias Panayiotou, a 24 year old, recently secured a seat as a Member of the European Parliament (MEPs). Fidias is turning political engagement into accessible entertainment for a broad audience by taking to TikTok to discuss all things democracy, writes Klara Grochowska.
Tech trends transforming human aid
On this World Food Day, we are facing a global food crisis impacting over 300 million people. Technological innovation—especially AI and machine learning—hold promise for a better future of humanitarian aid, write the UN WFP's Bernhard Kowatsch and Jay Mahanand.
The UN should promote techno–optimism
The UN should spearhead a technology optimism campaign, redefining the role of technology in society. When aligned with human–centric values, technology can accelerate progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), writes Dante A. Disparte.
Individual, Societal Wellbeing
From conflict to identify politics to our own personal habits, our wellbeing as individuals and as societies was delicate in 2024. Yet among our contributors, a sense of purpose and hope.
100 years of the Geneva Declaration calls for renewed commitment
Marking 100 years of the Geneva Declaration, now is the time to renew our commitment to children's rights, education, and wellbeing in a changing world, writes Jane Mann.
Advancing the women, peace, and security agenda in BARMM
Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao is cultivating a culture of inclusivity, essential for sustainable peace, writes Jamila–Aisha P. Sanguila.
Reclaiming our human–ness
It is in the collective work of healing and pursuing liberation for all that we can come together to create a new world where everyone thrives, writes Romana Shaikh.
The cost of unhealthy aging
With a rapidly aging global population, investing in longevity science can bridge the 10–year gap between lifespan and healthspan. A breakthrough could save trillions in healthcare costs, improving health outcomes and economic resilience for all, writes Dr. Mehmood Khan.
Rebalancing Education & Work
In a world that’s increasingly complex—and dangerous—an education fit for the future feels particularly important today. From the classroom to the conceptual, these pieces discuss what educating for a polycrisis world looks like.
Reimagining the classroom
To tackle the global education crisis, we must reimagine classrooms. Inequality, digitalization, and teacher shortages limit accessibility and must be met with scalable tech, personalized learning, better teacher training, and accountability, writes Dr. Alexander Nicholas.
Teaching learners to thrive now, so they can thrive later
W2050 Senior Fellows met to discuss how to set learners up to thrive in today’s complicated world. To create a truly accessible learning environment, we must move toward relationship–based learning and update outdated curricula.
Navigating new frontiers of literacy in a polycrisis world
The polycrisis has highlighted the urgent need for other forms of literacy including: climate, digital, media, and multicultural literacy. To enhance literacy rates in these areas, we must embrace innovative pedagogies and experiential learning, writes Euan Wilmshurst.
Enhancing literacy by embracing alternative viewpoints
By acquiring information from diverse sources, literacy can be enhanced. One method is to pair AI with the Socratic method. Effectively questioning and interrogating information can foster informed opinions and equip individuals to review all sides of an issue, writes Lisa Gable.
Climate Change & Energy
With COP29 emphasizing climate change adaptation, we can officially say that climate change has arrived. Meanwhile, enthusiasm for the energy transition is waning. Achieving our climate resilience aims will require institutional leadership, adaptation, and patience.
Energy transition goes from tailwinds to headwinds
While climate change remains a challenge, the expectation of an imminent, policy–driven peak in oil and gas demand will need to be reevaluated against wavering policy support and more challenging economic and geopolitical realities, writes Robert McNally.
G20 must lead on just development, sustainable planet
The case for systemic reform of our global institutions is clear. Development must be measured not in narrow economic terms, but prioritizing social justice, human prosperity, and sustainability, writes Gene Leon.
Achieving COP’s mission requires patience, adaptation
While cleantech investment is on the rise, rapidly, implementation and scaling issues mean these will take time to bear fruit. Meanwhile, we must be patient and adapt to higher temperatures as we continue to seek solutions, writes Duane Dickson.
COP29 demands collective shift from mitigation to adaptation
At COP29, there is a shift in focus from climate change mitigation to adaptation. But successful adaptation requires both a global sense of urgency and collective action, writes Charlie Ursell.
The Year In Books
Our book reviewer was prolific in 2024, but here are two: one examining the commercial ecosystem underpinning AI and the other how climate change impacts military planning.
The public consequences of the private battle for AI dominance
In a new book, Parmy Olson goes beyond personality politics and explores the fascinating financial and commercial eco–system supporting AI’s grandest, and unchecked, ambitions, writes Joshua Huminski.
Military adaptation in a warming world
Sherri Goodman’s "Threat Multiplier" reveals how climate change alters military planning, from Arctic readiness to base security and global partnerships, writes Joshua Huminski.
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Diplomatic Courier is “gone sledding!” Here’s your 2024 holiday reading list.
Photo by Marcel Walter on Unsplash
December 19, 2024
Diplomatic Courier's staff has "gone sledding!" We're taking some time away to recharge and enjoy the holiday season, but we're leaving you with this curated reading list of some of our best reads from the last half of 2024. Happy holidays! –The Editors
D
iplomatic Courier’s staff are “gone sledding” for the rest of 2024 to recharge and reconnect with friends and family. It’s been an exciting and productive 2024 for the team here at Diplomatic Courier, and we hope the same has been true for you! But by this time of year, everybody needs a little break to recharge, process all that’s happened, and to prepare ourselves for the year ahead.
For those of you who observe the upcoming holiday season, we wish you the happiest of holidays. And for all of you, we wish you a new year full of joy.
Until we return to regular publishing, here are some reads that you may have missed from the past several months. We hope you enjoy!
Institutions Under Pressure
In the last half of 2024, there was a flurry of international summits, from UNGA to G20 and BRICS to COP28. Yet increasingly global publics don’t put any faith into those institutions—can our institutions regain the public trust?
A pact for the world’s poorest.
The UN’s Pact for the Future aims to bridge global divides, offering the world’s poorest countries hope through digital and financial reforms, writes Deodat Maharaj.
Conflict resolution should be in World Bank, IMF mandates
Today’s geopolitical dynamics hamper the IMF and World Bank’s ability to carry out their mandates. Expanding those mandates to include conflict resolution could be the answer, writes Amb. M. Ashraf Haidari.
City diplomats go from a seat at the table to the hot seat
City diplomacy was beginning to flourish at the turn of the last decade. But the pandemic and other polycrisis challenges pose daunting challenges for the future of city diplomacy, writes Prof. Michele Acuto.
Strengthening international financial institutions in a competitive world
The Bretton Woods institutions remain as important as ever, but require steady and savvy leadership to navigate geopolitically delicate times, writes Adam Ratzlaff.
Our Digital Future
Everybody continues to talk about AI, while the social media landscape is further disrupted. A rapidly shifting political landscape means nobody can say with confidence what the future of digital regulation looks like—even so digital tools are already shaping our world, often very much for the better.
How to get people hooked on media literacy.
In today’s information environment, even factual information can mislead. It’s a major threat to society, and is one that media literacy is intended to explain and address—but these efforts are often overlooked, writes Tom Plant.
Tik–Tokracy: When politics goes viral
Fidias Panayiotou, a 24 year old, recently secured a seat as a Member of the European Parliament (MEPs). Fidias is turning political engagement into accessible entertainment for a broad audience by taking to TikTok to discuss all things democracy, writes Klara Grochowska.
Tech trends transforming human aid
On this World Food Day, we are facing a global food crisis impacting over 300 million people. Technological innovation—especially AI and machine learning—hold promise for a better future of humanitarian aid, write the UN WFP's Bernhard Kowatsch and Jay Mahanand.
The UN should promote techno–optimism
The UN should spearhead a technology optimism campaign, redefining the role of technology in society. When aligned with human–centric values, technology can accelerate progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), writes Dante A. Disparte.
Individual, Societal Wellbeing
From conflict to identify politics to our own personal habits, our wellbeing as individuals and as societies was delicate in 2024. Yet among our contributors, a sense of purpose and hope.
100 years of the Geneva Declaration calls for renewed commitment
Marking 100 years of the Geneva Declaration, now is the time to renew our commitment to children's rights, education, and wellbeing in a changing world, writes Jane Mann.
Advancing the women, peace, and security agenda in BARMM
Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao is cultivating a culture of inclusivity, essential for sustainable peace, writes Jamila–Aisha P. Sanguila.
Reclaiming our human–ness
It is in the collective work of healing and pursuing liberation for all that we can come together to create a new world where everyone thrives, writes Romana Shaikh.
The cost of unhealthy aging
With a rapidly aging global population, investing in longevity science can bridge the 10–year gap between lifespan and healthspan. A breakthrough could save trillions in healthcare costs, improving health outcomes and economic resilience for all, writes Dr. Mehmood Khan.
Rebalancing Education & Work
In a world that’s increasingly complex—and dangerous—an education fit for the future feels particularly important today. From the classroom to the conceptual, these pieces discuss what educating for a polycrisis world looks like.
Reimagining the classroom
To tackle the global education crisis, we must reimagine classrooms. Inequality, digitalization, and teacher shortages limit accessibility and must be met with scalable tech, personalized learning, better teacher training, and accountability, writes Dr. Alexander Nicholas.
Teaching learners to thrive now, so they can thrive later
W2050 Senior Fellows met to discuss how to set learners up to thrive in today’s complicated world. To create a truly accessible learning environment, we must move toward relationship–based learning and update outdated curricula.
Navigating new frontiers of literacy in a polycrisis world
The polycrisis has highlighted the urgent need for other forms of literacy including: climate, digital, media, and multicultural literacy. To enhance literacy rates in these areas, we must embrace innovative pedagogies and experiential learning, writes Euan Wilmshurst.
Enhancing literacy by embracing alternative viewpoints
By acquiring information from diverse sources, literacy can be enhanced. One method is to pair AI with the Socratic method. Effectively questioning and interrogating information can foster informed opinions and equip individuals to review all sides of an issue, writes Lisa Gable.
Climate Change & Energy
With COP29 emphasizing climate change adaptation, we can officially say that climate change has arrived. Meanwhile, enthusiasm for the energy transition is waning. Achieving our climate resilience aims will require institutional leadership, adaptation, and patience.
Energy transition goes from tailwinds to headwinds
While climate change remains a challenge, the expectation of an imminent, policy–driven peak in oil and gas demand will need to be reevaluated against wavering policy support and more challenging economic and geopolitical realities, writes Robert McNally.
G20 must lead on just development, sustainable planet
The case for systemic reform of our global institutions is clear. Development must be measured not in narrow economic terms, but prioritizing social justice, human prosperity, and sustainability, writes Gene Leon.
Achieving COP’s mission requires patience, adaptation
While cleantech investment is on the rise, rapidly, implementation and scaling issues mean these will take time to bear fruit. Meanwhile, we must be patient and adapt to higher temperatures as we continue to seek solutions, writes Duane Dickson.
COP29 demands collective shift from mitigation to adaptation
At COP29, there is a shift in focus from climate change mitigation to adaptation. But successful adaptation requires both a global sense of urgency and collective action, writes Charlie Ursell.
The Year In Books
Our book reviewer was prolific in 2024, but here are two: one examining the commercial ecosystem underpinning AI and the other how climate change impacts military planning.
The public consequences of the private battle for AI dominance
In a new book, Parmy Olson goes beyond personality politics and explores the fascinating financial and commercial eco–system supporting AI’s grandest, and unchecked, ambitions, writes Joshua Huminski.
Military adaptation in a warming world
Sherri Goodman’s "Threat Multiplier" reveals how climate change alters military planning, from Arctic readiness to base security and global partnerships, writes Joshua Huminski.
