A United Nations report published argues that an unprecedented array of crises, chiefly among them Covid-19, has set human progress back five years and fueled a global wave of uncertainty.
The UN Development Program (UNDP) announced that for the first time since it was created over 30 years ago, the Human Development Index -- a measure of countries' life expectancies, education levels, and standards of living -- has declined for two years straight, in 2020 and 2021.
"It means we die earlier, we are less well educated, our incomes are going down," UNDP chief Achim Steiner told AFP in an interview.
"Just under three parameters, you can get a sense of why so many people are beginning to feel desperate, frustrated, worried about the future," he said.
The Human Development Index has steadily risen for decades, but began sliding in 2020 and continued its fall in 2021, erasing the gains of the preceding five years, the paper says.
Titled "Uncertain times, unsettled lives," the report points to the Covid-19 pandemic as a major driver of the global reversion, but also says that a compounding number of crises -- political, financial and climate-related -- have not allowed time for populations to recover.
"We've had disasters before. We've had conflicts before. But the confluence of what we're facing right now is a major setback to human development," said Steiner.
The setback is truly global, impacting more than 90 percent of countries around the world, according to the study.
Switzerland, Norway and Iceland all retain their spots at the top of the list, while South Sudan, Chad and Niger sit at the bottom.
And while some countries had begun to recover from the pandemic, many others in Latin America, sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia and the Caribbean had not yet turned the corner before a new crisis hit: the war in Ukraine.
- 'Lost trust' -
While the fallout from Russia's invasion of Ukraine on food and energy security has not yet been calculated into this year's index, "without any doubt, the outlook for 2022 is grim," Steiner said.
A large contributor to the Human Development Index's recent decline is a global drop in life expectancy, down from 73 years in 2019 to 71.4 years in 2021.
The report's lead author, Pedro Conceicao, described the decrease as an "unprecedented shock," noting that some countries -- the United States included -- had drops of two years or more.
The report also describes how transformational forces, such as climate change, globalization and political polarization, present humanity with a complex level of uncertainty "never seen in human history," leading to rising feelings of insecurity.
"People have lost trust in one another," said Steiner.
"Never mind in institutions, our neighbor now becomes sometimes the greatest threat, whether literally speaking in the community, or globally by nations, that is paralyzing us."
"We can't continue with the playbook of the last century," Steiner argued, preferring a focus on economic transformation rather than a reliance on growth as a panacea.
"Frankly speaking, the transformations we now need require us to introduce the metrics of the future: low carbon, less inequality, greater sustainability."
The report strikes a positive note as well, saying that improvements could be made by focusing on three main areas: investments in renewable energy and preparation for future pandemics, insurance to absorb shocks, and innovations to strengthen the capacity to cope with future crises.
Steiner also called for a reversal in the recent downward trend of development assistance to the most vulnerable countries.
Continuing down that road would be a grave error, said Steiner, and "underestimates the impact it has on our ability to work together as nations."
ETX Studio
Fri Sep 16 2022
![Human development set back 5 years by COVID, other crises - UN report Human development set back 5 years by COVID, other crises - UN report](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2022-09/81662633046_AchimSteiner.jpg)
UNDP chief Achim Steiner called for a reversal in the recent downward trend of development assistance to the most vulnerable countries. - ETX Studio
![Pertubuhan kebajikan New Zealand mohon maaf edar gula-gula bercampur dadah Methamphetamine Pertubuhan kebajikan New Zealand mohon maaf edar gula-gula bercampur dadah Methamphetamine](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/41723674988_pineapplesweetsme.jpg)
Pertubuhan kebajikan New Zealand mohon maaf edar gula-gula bercampur dadah Methamphetamine
Auckland City Mission secara tidak sengaja telah mengagihkan gula-gula bercampur Methamphetamine yang boleh membawa maut melalui pek makanan.
Pesakit buah pinggang di Gaza hadapi kekurangan mesin dialisis
Pesakit buah pinggang di Gaza menghadapi kekurangan peralatan dialisis dan bekalan perubatan yang teruk di Khan Younis.
Kekejaman zionis: Hamas hilang kepercayaan A.S jadi pengantara gencatan senjata
Hamas hilang kepercayaan terhadap keupayaan Amerika Syarikat untuk menjadi pengantara gencatan senjata di Gaza.
Kekejaman zionis: Hamas tidak ambil bahagian rundingan gencatan senjata baharu
Hamas tidak akan mengambil bahagian dalam pusingan baharu rundingan gencatan senjata Gaza yang dijadualkan di Qatar, pada Khamis.
Malaysia kecam pencerobohan Israel ke atas Masjid Al-Aqsa
Wisma Putra dalam satu kenyataan pada Rabu berkata perbuatan keji ini yang dilakukan di bawah perlindungan pasukan keselamatan Israel, merupakan pencerobohan serius terhadap satu daripada tapak paling suci Islam.
![WHO isytihar mpox sebagai kecemasan kesihatan awam global WHO isytihar mpox sebagai kecemasan kesihatan awam global](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/41723675747_Mpoxvirus.jpg)
WHO isytihar mpox sebagai kecemasan kesihatan awam global
Ini merupakan pengisytiharan kali kedua dalam tempoh dua tahun berikutan wabak yang bermula di Congo sudah merebak ke negara jiran.
![Turkiye akan terus tingkatkan tekanan ke atas Israel - Presiden Erdogan Turkiye akan terus tingkatkan tekanan ke atas Israel - Presiden Erdogan](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/81723674774_TayyipEMahmoudAbbas.jpg)
Turkiye akan terus tingkatkan tekanan ke atas Israel - Presiden Erdogan
Erdogan maklumkan kepada Presiden Mahmoud Abbas, Turkiye akan terus sokong perjuangan Palestin.
![Bekas pemimpin Bangladesh, Hasina didakwa lakukan genosid Bekas pemimpin Bangladesh, Hasina didakwa lakukan genosid](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2016-07/71467442821_SheikhHasina.jpg)
Bekas pemimpin Bangladesh, Hasina didakwa lakukan genosid
Sheikh Hasina didakwa melakukan "genosid dan jenayah terhadap kemanusiaan" semasa beberapa minggu protes ganas yang mengakibatkan ratusan orang terbunuh.
![Fadillah tiba di Peru untuk hadiri mesyuarat menteri-menteri tenaga APEC 2024 Fadillah tiba di Peru untuk hadiri mesyuarat menteri-menteri tenaga APEC 2024](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/51723674456_FadillahYusof.jpg)
Fadillah tiba di Peru untuk hadiri mesyuarat menteri-menteri tenaga APEC 2024
Timbalan Perdana Menteri Fadillah akan mengetengahkan pendirian Malaysia dalam melaksanakan usaha peralihan tenaga negara.
![Lawatan PM Anwar ke India dijangka kukuhkan hubungan ekonomi - Ramanan Lawatan PM Anwar ke India dijangka kukuhkan hubungan ekonomi - Ramanan](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/61721630406_TBAnwarIbrahim.jpg)
Lawatan PM Anwar ke India dijangka kukuhkan hubungan ekonomi - Ramanan
Perdana Menteri Anwar dijadualkan membuat lawatan rasmi pertama ke India dari 19 hingga 20 Ogos.
![Protes anti-PBB: 3 anggota ATM di Congo selamat dipindahkan dari Goma - Hishammuddin Protes anti-PBB: 3 anggota ATM di Congo selamat dipindahkan dari Goma - Hishammuddin](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2022-07/41658894959_Protesterseastern.jpg)
Protes anti-PBB: 3 anggota ATM di Congo selamat dipindahkan dari Goma - Hishammuddin
Menerusi perkongsian di media sosial beliau, Hishammuddin memaklumkan mereka telah dipindahkan dari Goma.
![Malaysia komited terus berjuang bersama PBB - Hishammuddin Malaysia komited terus berjuang bersama PBB - Hishammuddin](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2020-10/51603505761_HishammuddinTunHus.jpg)
Malaysia komited terus berjuang bersama PBB - Hishammuddin
Dalam soal keselamatan, Malaysia antara negara penyumbang terbesar dalam Misi Pengaman PBB iaitu berada di tangga ke-26 daripada 119 buah negara.
![PM gesa PBB main peranan tangani 'diskriminasi COVID-19' PM gesa PBB main peranan tangani 'diskriminasi COVID-19'](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2020-09/71600734007_PerdanaMenteri.jpg)
PM gesa PBB main peranan tangani 'diskriminasi COVID-19'
PBB telah berfungsi dengan baik selama 75 tahun khususnya dalam mempromosi pembangunan sosial dan ekonomi, namun secara realitinya PBB gagal menyelamatkan generasi daripada bahana perang.
![Bagai X-ray, COVID-19 dedahkan perpecahan dan jurang kekayaan - PBB Bagai X-ray, COVID-19 dedahkan perpecahan dan jurang kekayaan - PBB](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2020-06/71592285508_POTD.jpg)
Bagai X-ray, COVID-19 dedahkan perpecahan dan jurang kekayaan - PBB
Kata Setiausaha Agung PBB Antonio Guterres, 26 individu terkaya di dunia memiliki jumlah kekayaan yang sama dimiliki oleh separuh populasi global.
![172 negara sokong inisiatif Malaysia, optimis Majlis Keselamatan PBB realisasi gencatan senjata 172 negara sokong inisiatif Malaysia, optimis Majlis Keselamatan PBB realisasi gencatan senjata](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2020-06/81593146802_DatukSyedMohdHasr.jpg)
172 negara sokong inisiatif Malaysia, optimis Majlis Keselamatan PBB realisasi gencatan senjata
Inisiatif Kenyataan Bersama mengenai gencatan senjata diketuai Malaysia berjaya mendapat sokongan 172 buah negara dan pemerhati PBB. Namun, ia tidak mudah dan misi ini tidak hanya berhenti di sini.
![KKM kesan 601 kes positif COVID-19 libatkan warga asing KKM kesan 601 kes positif COVID-19 libatkan warga asing](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2020-04/51586824296_NoorHishamAbdullah.jpg)
KKM kesan 601 kes positif COVID-19 libatkan warga asing
KKM turut menasihati majikan dan indusri yang menggunakan tenaga kerja warga asing agar mengambil langkah ketat.
![Suara kanak-kanak harus diketengahkan - Lisa Surihani Suara kanak-kanak harus diketengahkan - Lisa Surihani](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2019-11/41573131220_lisa.jpg)
Suara kanak-kanak harus diketengahkan - Lisa Surihani
Kanak-kanak adalah generasi yang bakal mencorakkan masa depan negara sekaligus akan terkesan dengan proses perancangan oleh generasi hari ini.
![Dunia berbelah bahagi dalam mengkritik layanan etnik Uighur di China Dunia berbelah bahagi dalam mengkritik layanan etnik Uighur di China](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2019-07/51563013491_Nailah.jpg)
Dunia berbelah bahagi dalam mengkritik layanan etnik Uighur di China
Pakar PBB mendakwa sekurang-kurangnya sejuta golongan etnik Uighur serta kumpulan minoriti Islam lain ditahan secara paksa dalam kem tahanan di Xinjiang.
![Sejuta spesis tumbuhan dan haiwan menghadapi ancaman kepupusan - PBB Sejuta spesis tumbuhan dan haiwan menghadapi ancaman kepupusan - PBB](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2019-05/51557246899_PolaBear.jpg)
Sejuta spesis tumbuhan dan haiwan menghadapi ancaman kepupusan - PBB
Perkara ini semua berlaku khususnya akibat aktiviti manusia sekaligus mengancam kebajikan dan keselamatan manusia di seluruh dunia.
![Malaysia sumbang dana untuk mangsa terkorban perangi rasuah - Tun Mahathir Malaysia sumbang dana untuk mangsa terkorban perangi rasuah - Tun Mahathir](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2018-12/41544190414_TUNM.jpg)
Malaysia sumbang dana untuk mangsa terkorban perangi rasuah - Tun Mahathir
Malaysia akan memperuntukkan dana RM500,000 kepada Persatuan Pihak Berkuasa Anti Rasuah Antarabangsa (IAACA).