Humans

• [New] To improve human capital and sustain progress in cutting-edge technologies, the United States will continue to open its first-rate university system to the world's best talent.
• [New] Continuing operations in China unchanged could lead to critics from the West to declare a company is insensitive to human rights issues.
• [New] Canada's National Strategy to Combat Human Trafficking (2019-2024) included a commitment to prevent human trafficking in federal procurement supply chains.
• [New] The work to reduce emissions this decade could create more than 3 million jobs and increase economic output in the U.S. by nearly $500 billion a year by 2030, and $1 trillion by 2050.
• [New] Some see a new competition emerging between the United States and China in space, with implications for the principles that will guide humanity's future beyond Earth.
• [New] Conflict, economic decline, and humanitarian crises will plague Syria during the next few years, and threats to US forces will increase.
• [New] China will promote new international norms for technology and human rights, emphasizing state sovereignty and political stability over individual rights.
• [New] For space exploration such as human missions to Mars, nuclear propulsion will allow for more versatility of launch windows, and enable longer stays on the planet itself.
• [New] Growing geopolitical tension between China and the West threatens to undermine the collaboration needed between major countries on issues from climate change and post-COVID - 19 recovery to human rights and freedom of information.
• [New] A UN Parliamentary Assembly could give a voice at the UN to elected legislators from Member States, promoting democratic legitimacy and helping to further safeguard human rights through UN policies and programming.
• [New] MOSCOW - Occidental Petroleum's low-carbon unit said it plans to construct and operate a pilot plant that would use human-made carbon dioxide, instead of hydrocarbon-sourced feedstocks, to produce bio-ethylene.
• [New] If climate change is not halted and/or reversed in the near future, experts agree that there will be serious and negative repercussions for all life on Earth, including humans.
• [New] China will continue to be an active player in advancing human rights development, proactively participate in global human rights governance and jointly build a community with a shared future for humanity.
• [New] Looking beyond the immediate 'LEO to GEO' near-earth environment, there are opportunities for Quad members to work together on the next great milestone in human space exploration - the return to the moon as a step towards eventual human missions to Mars.
• [New] To promote respect for the right to water, and recognizing the transboundary issues related to water, the U.S. will oppose efforts by multilateral institutions that undermine the human right to water through privatization and commodification.
• [New] The U.S. already formally recognizes the issue of climate-induced migration and displacement, and will in the near future provide meaningful support for climate migrants whilst upholding their human rights.
• Most people in the world are becoming more aware of risks from climate change, and more concerned that human activity may be contributing to it.
• The risk of climate change generates a Umwertung aller Werte (Friedrich Nietzsche), a transvaluation of values, turning the system of value orientation upside-down-from postmodern cultural relativism to a historical new fixed star by which to mobilize solidarities and actions.
• There is an urgent need to define the safe targets for a stable Earth system, where risks of human-triggered irreversible changes and crossing of tipping points are avoided.
• Current human activities, especially of high consuming wealthy societies, are threatening the stability of Earth's life support systems and its capacity to support our future well-being in the Anthropocene.
• China will continue to face pressure from the United States and other Western governments over human rights, democracy and freedom in Hong Kong, and activity in the South China Sea and Taiwan.
• Imposing sanctions over human rights issues could be seen as Japan sabotaging stable, smooth and amicable relations with a country on its own initiative, which would be regarded as a tremendous risk.

Last updated: 18 April 2021