Our Scans · (LF.10) Reduced Inequalities · Weekly Summary

In September 2015, 193 world leaders agreed to 17 Global Goals for Sustainable Development. If these Goals are completed, it would mean an end to extreme poverty, inequality and climate change by 2030.
Goal 10: Reduce inequality within and among countries.

• [New] As the United States seeks to strengthen its technological leadership, closing the digital divide will require policies that recognize and respond to the full range of barriers, including racial and ethnic inequalities. Brookings
• [New] The European Commission's new Gender Equality Strategy for 2026-2030 aims to advance equality between women and men across the EU and address persistent challenges such as gender pay gaps, unequal caring responsibilities and gender-based violence. European Economic and Social Committee
• [New] Social and economic inequalities from the global to the local level result in poorer communities bearing the brunt of both direct and indirect impacts that can compound already existing vulnerabilities. Greenpeace Philippines
• [New] The brisk growth of artificial intelligence may worsen existing gender inequalities and pose new risks to the human rights of women and girls worldwide. Yale Law School
• The United Nations particularly welcomes the enduring legacy of South Africa's recent G20 leadership, which helped elevate critical issues such as inequality, sustainable development financing, debt vulnerabilities and the need for a more representative and responsive international system. South Africa
• Producing enough food does not guarantee that it will reach the people who need it, with transport costs and economic inequality emerging as major barriers to global food accessibility. CNS Media
• Violence against women is a global issue, but women in lower-income, conflict-affected and climate-vulnerable countries often face heightened risks due to intersecting social, economic and political inequalities. ActionAid UK
• The global transition away from fossil fuels risks deepening existing inequalities and creating new injustices if governments pursue environmental goals without protecting workers, vulnerable communities and human rights. Davis Vanguard
• World hunger and food insecurity are inextricably linked between social inequality and access to healthy food options; therefore, the key to replacing ASFs within the food system will be the availability and affordability of any alternative protein source. PubMed Central (PMC)
• The EESC opinion 'Gender equality strategy 2026-2030' underlines that gender equality is not only a matter of fundamental rights, but also of Europe's economic resilience and competitiveness. European Economic and Social Committee
• Despite the promising potential of AI integration in higher education, adoption patterns reveal significant disparities that reflect broader global inequalities in technological access and institutional capacity. Nature
• Without fairer water management, up to 62% of the global population could face severe water scarcity by 2100, with inequality amplifying the risk. Human Concern International
• The Social Mobility Alliance is a coalition of leading organizations working together to tackle class inequality and open up opportunity for young people across the UK. The Brilliant Club
• The EESC, as the voice of organised civil society, reaffirmed its commitment to advancing equality and ensuring that all people in Europe can live freely and safely, without fear of discrimination. European Economic and Social Committee
• Global focus groups reveal mixed public perceptions of climate interventions, balancing optimism about innovation with concerns over risks and inequality, underscoring the need for inclusive policymaking. Solar Geoengineering Updates
• 2026 identifies cybersecurity as India's biggest risk and geoeconomic confrontation as the most severe global threat, with rising inequality, weak public services, and strategic instability amplifying the impact of external shocks on India's governance and economy. Drishti IAS
• 2026 makes clear that India's vulnerability lies in the convergence of cyber insecurity, inequality, geoeconomic shocks, and security threats, where external disruptions can rapidly spill over into domestic instability without stronger resilience and governance capacity. Drishti IAS

Last updated: 07 September 2026