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] The national strategy on gender equality for the 2021-2030 period set a goal of the proportion of female directors / owners of enterprises and cooperatives to reach at least 27% by 2025 and 30% by 2030. Vietnam Economic Times
• [New] Data protection and employment considerations: AI systems analysing staff behaviour pose a heightened risks under the UK GDPR, employment law and equality legislation. Cms
• [New] UN Women is urging corporate leaders to reframe gender equality not as a social obligation, but as a significant business imperative and a major economic opportunity. Nongluck Ajanapanya
• [New] In Ireland, the top risks identified over the next two years were economic downturn, insufficient public services and societal protections, geoeconomic confrontation, talent and labour shortages, and inequality. Climate Matters
• [New] Social priorities like working conditions, gender equality, natural resource management, and human rights were relatively low on the list for global CEOs, with economic opportunity reigning as the top priority for both global and U.S. CEOs. Yahoo Finance
• Unless we find ways of distributing the benefits of AI more equitably, we risk confronting unprecedented levels of wealth inequality in the US. IFTF
• At best, troop deployments in Latin America might temporarily suppress violence but do not address the structural drivers of crime, from poverty and inequality to generalized corruption. Foreign Affairs Magazine
• Beyond annual risk, the cumulative exposure is staggering: more than 1.16 billion people experience at least one famine crisis this century under the inequality pathway, whereas the sustainability pathway could spare about 780 million by 2099. Joint Research Centre
• The Doha Political Declaration emphasizes embedding social objectives within macroeconomic, labour, climate, digital, and industrial strategies, recognizing that fragmented policy approaches risk deepening structural inequalities rather than resolving them. ArchDaily
• While AI is projected to boost global economic growth and create new roles, its impact is uneven, exacerbating existing inequalities and creating a critical skills gap. Whalesbook
• Microsoft says it is on track to invest $50 billion by the end of the decade to help bring artificial intelligence to lower-income countries, as concerns mount over the technology's potential to deepen inequality. CNN
• There are a number of societal benefits, including increased accessibility to education and healthcare through individualized learning and diagnoses, which have the potential to reduce inequality and increase global productivity. GovCon Wire
• The United Nations estimates that if current trends hold, gender equality in the highest positions of government will not be reached for another 130 years. CFR Education from the Council on Foreign Relations
• As fossil fuel-driven floods, storms and hurricanes hit more and more countries, and inequality widens as the world approaches its first trillionaire, negotiators are starting to wake up to the huge opportunity. Greenpeace International
• Global inequality remains a significant issue in 2026, with 17% of faculty considering it a top threat and 31% identifying it as a key opportunity area for business. forbesindia
• Threats to social policy materialised, with reduced access to EU funds like the European Social Fund, worsening inequalities. GOOD STRATEGY
• AI could reinforce existing global inequalities because wealthy nations have the computing power. The Huntington News
• At a time when conversations around AI are often dominated by concerns about job displacement, security risks, and technological inequality, New Delhi is positioning itself as a country that wants to steer global AI governance toward a more inclusive and sustainable model. Economic Times
• The importance of the LDAN Bill in tackling the inequalities faced by individuals and their families cannot be overstated, and it has the potential to make a real difference for them in Scotland across education, healthcare, and employment. JohnOGroat Journal

Last updated: 16 March 2026