Global Scans · Poverty · Weekly Summary

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WHAT'S NEXT?: Due to a deteriorating global economic outlook, more than 130 out of 189 countries will experience reduced income growth, with the average global GDP growth rate falling from 4.1 percent to 3.1 percent between 2011 and 2030. Almost all of the countries with large numbers remaining in extreme poverty in 2030 will be in sub-Saharan Africa or South Asia.

• [New] The freelance economy is powering American growth, but we risk leaving millions exposed to old-age poverty because they are working differently, and we are not adapting to it. The Times Leader
• [New] Economic inequality was flagged as a top-five barrier to building socially cohesive cities, with 42% of Malaysian leaders prioritising expanding economic opportunities and entrepreneurship to create future-ready urban environments. BusinessToday
• [New] Globally, 1.1 billion people are living in multidimensional poverty - which spans health, education and living standards - and 887 million are directly exposed to at least one climate hazard. UN News
• [New] A gradual wage increase could lift nearly 900,000 Americans out of poverty, although it may slightly impact small business hiring rates. FFESP
• [New] Climate change is a driver of poverty, poor mental health, inequity, and increased intersectional vulnerability, with significant differential global impacts on individual and community health and well-being. UW Health Sciences Library
• [New] Without decisive adaptation, climate impacts could push up to 132 million people into poverty by 2030. Forbes
• [New] A worst-case scenario of climate change and disasters would push an additional 100.7 million people into poverty by 2030. PendulumEdu
• [New] Humanitarian agencies are warning that there is a shortage of food, medicine and shelter in Gaza. thecivicsense
• [New] 600 aid trucks will be allowed into Gaza every day as part of the ceasefire agreement's humanitarian clause. CNN
• [New] Automation could widen global inequality. Mimir's Well
• [New] As the world recovers from pandemic disruptions, the pace of billionaire wealth accumulation has dramatically outstripped poverty reduction efforts. fundsforNGOs News - Grants and Resources for Sustainabi
• [New] A recent G20 agreement to address global tax fairness presents new hope, but analysts warn more ambitious policy shifts are needed to challenge entrenched inequality. fundsforNGOs News - Grants and Resources for Sustainabi
• [New] Empowering Workers: AI-driven skilling can uplift nearly 85% of India's labour force engaged in the informal sector, reducing vulnerability and wage inequality. PMF IAS
• [New] If left unchecked, AMR could lead to a decline in annual global gross domestic product of an estimated 3.8% by 2050, pushing 28.3 million more people into extreme poverty, and increasing healthcare costs by US$ 1 trillion per year. Nature
• [New] Just closing the gender digital divide alone could benefit 343.5 million women and girls worldwide, lift 30 million out of poverty by 2050, and generate an estimated $1.5 trillion boost to global GDP by 2030. The Business Standard
• [New] The pace and scale of direct killing and injury by the Israel Defense Force bombs and bullets will only be exceeded by the long-term death and misery due to starvation, displacement, destruction of health care facilities and the inadequate level of humanitarian assistance. Common Dreams
• [New] Addressing inequality in contemporary America thus requires not only rebalancing tax policy and labour rights but also confronting the racialized structures of exclusion that distort opportunity. Brewminate: A Bold Blend of News and Ideas
• [New] The history of economic inequality in America reveals a story less of steady progress than of cycles, periods of reform and broadening opportunity followed by renewed concentration of wealth and power. Brewminate: A Bold Blend of News and Ideas
• [New] As one in five people globally faces increased risks of extreme weather, efforts to reduce poverty must align with emissions reductions and building resilience, requiring even greater investment and international cooperation. fundsforNGOs News - Grants and Resources for Sustainabi
• [New] Such a move would bring sweeping consequences: a higher civilian death toll, worsening of Gaza's humanitarian crisis, wider regional instability, and potential retaliatory strikes against U.S. interests. NOURNEWS
• [New] Large-scale investments in solar farms, wind power, and hybrid mini-grids could significantly reduce energy poverty while aligning with both the AU's Agenda 2063 and the Paris Climate Agreement. The Business & Financial Times

Last updated: 24 October 2025