ODI live events podcast

From droughts in East Africa to floods in Southern India, the impacts of climate change and natural hazards include death and illness, damage to property and infrastructure, disruption to basic services and the loss of livelihood opportunities.

The most marginalised people are among the hardest hit in any crisis, with children and adolescents in poverty often the most affected. Natural hazards can displace children, caregivers and service providers, as well as destroy school buildings, health facilities and transport infrastructure. Parents may also pull their children out of school to support the wider household, through unpaid domestic work and/or paid labour.

Such immediate impacts on a child's wellbeing are well known. But how do natural hazards experienced during childhood affect future life stages into adolescence and beyond? What are the implications of natural hazards for child and adolescent poverty trajectories? With the Global Platform on Disaster Risk Reduction a few weeks away, there is an opportunity now to examine the true impact climate change and natural hazards have on the systems and services central to child and adolescent well-being.

Drawing on ODI’s recent research on 'Child poverty, disasters and climate change: investigating relationships and implications over a child’s life course', our panellists discuss the effect of natural hazards on the different life stages of children and adolescents living in poverty.

Asia’s economic prospects by 2025 appear strong. Yet despite historic economic success and resilience since the global financial crisis, the continent faces a range of challenges including escalating trade protectionism, graduation from international support measures, external debt and an ageing population.

Asia is diverse with countries of varying population size, geography and economic dynamism. Asia’s giants, China, India and Japan, are experiencing varying growth challenges, while several middle-income countries (MICs) are likely to be vulnerable to trade and income shocks, as well as rising income inequality. Asia’s MICs also offer substantial opportunities for trade and investment. 

After Beijing's Belt and Road Forum, this event examines the economic implications of China’s development strategy for other Asian countries and explores macroeconomic prospects for Asian economies and how countries such as the UK could work to seize opportunities and address vulnerabilities.

Without urgent action, the global consequences of climate change will be devastating. Yet despite the environmental impact of rapid economic growth, increasing GDP (Gross Domestic Product) continues to remain the priority for countries around the world.

So what is the future of economic growth? Can we achieve green growth that marries rapid environmental transformation with ever-rising financial returns? Or is it time to create economies that enable us to thrive, rather than grow, in order to stand a real chance at tackling climate change?

Building on ODI’s work on migration and sustainable development, this event considers a series of concrete proposals to address these challenges and make the most of the opportunities that human mobility can bring - to those who move and those who stay.

On International Women's Day, activist Nimco Ali joins ODI for a conversation on tackling female genital mutilation (FGM) and harmful traditional practices towards adolescent girls.

Susanna Moorehead, the new Chair of the OECD's Development Assistance Committee (DAC) joins ODI in conversation on the future of aid.

This event explores the changes needed to achieve the global target of universal access to water, sanitation and hygiene by 2030.

Alex de Waal, Executive Director of the World Peace Foundation, Research Professor at The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, delivers the 2018 HPG Annual Lecture, examining the current political and legal developments related to mass starvation and the implications for humanitarian action.

This keynote speech was delivered on the second day of the Africa's rising debt conference by Dr Donald Kaberuka, High Representative of the African Union Peace Fund and CGD Distinguished Visiting Fellow, and former president of the African Development Bank Group.

This keynote speech was delivered on the first day of the Africa's rising debt conference by Razia Khan, Chief Economist for Africa and the Middle East, Standard Chartered.