Agrégateur de flux

David Oburo, IPBES Chair. Credit: Busani Bafana/IPS

By Busani Bafana
BULAWAYO, Feb 3 2026 (IPS)

British Monarch King Charles says science is the solution to protecting nature and halting global biodiversity loss, which is threatening humanity’s survival.

In a message to the 12th session of the Plenary of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES), which opened in Manchester, United Kingdom, this week, King Charles said nature is an important part of humanity but is under serious threat, which science can help tackle.

“We are witnessing an unprecedented, triple crisis of biodiversity loss, climate change, and pollution at a pace that far outstrips the planet’s ability to cope,” said King Charles in a message delivered by Emma Reynolds, United Kingdom Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Science is the Solution

“The best available science can help inform decisions and actions to steward nature and, most importantly, to restore it for future generations, “ King Charles noted, pointing out that humanity has the knowledge to reverse the existential crisis and transition towards an economy that prospers in harmony with nature.

Delegates representing the more than 150 IPBES member governments, observers, Indigenous Peoples,  local communities and scientists are meeting for the  IPBES’ 12th Session, expected to approve a landmark new IPBES Business & Biodiversity Assessment. The report,  a 3-year scientific assessment involving 80 expert authors from every region of the world, will become the accepted state of science on the impacts and dependencies of business on biodiversity and nature’s contributions to people. It will provide decision-makers with evidence and options for action to measure and better manage business relationships with nature.

The King lauded IPBES for bringing together the world’s leading scientists, indigenous and local knowledge, citizen science and government to share valuable knowledge through the Business and Biodiversity Report—the first of its kind.

“I pray with all my heart that it will help shape concrete action for years to come, including leveraging public and private finance to close by 2030 the annual global biodiversity gap of approximately USD 700 billion,” said King Charles.

IPBES Chair, Dr. David Obura, highlighted that the approval of the IPBES Business and Biodiversity Assessment is important just days after the World Economic Forum’s 2026 Global Risks Report again spotlighted biodiversity loss as the second most urgent long-term risk to business around the world.

“In transitioning and transforming, businesses should all experience the rewards of being sustainable and vibrant, benefiting small and large,” Obura emphasized. “The Business Biodiversity assessment synthesizes the many tools and pathways available to do this and provides critical support for businesses across all countries to work with nature and people and not to work against either or both.”

Addressing the same delegates, Emma Reynolds,  UK Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, highlighted the urgency of collective action, the critical role of science, and the opportunities for business in nature.

Reynolds noted there was momentum around the world as countries were restoring wetlands and forests, communities were reviving degraded landscapes and businesses were increasingly investing in nature after realizing that nature delivers real returns.

“The tide for nature is beginning to turn, but we cannot afford to slow down,” said Reynolds. “The window to halt diversity loss by 2030 is narrowing. We need to build on that momentum, and we need to do it now.”

Multilateralism, a must for protecting nature

Paying tribute to IPBES for supporting scientific research, Reynolds emphasized that the rest of the world must step forward when others are stepping back from international cooperation. This is to demonstrate that protecting and restoring nature was not just an environmental necessity but essential for global security and the economy.

“The UK’s commitment to multilateralism remains steadfast,” she said. “We believe that by working together, sharing knowledge, aligning policies, and holding one another accountable, we can halt and reverse the diversity loss by 2030,.“

In January 2026, the United States withdrew its participation in IPBES, alongside 65  international organizations and bodies, including the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Paris Agreement.

The United States was a founding member of IPBES, and since its establishment in 2012, scientists, policymakers, and stakeholders—including Indigenous Peoples and local communities—from the United States have been among the most engaged contributors to its work.

The approval of the Business and Biodiversity Assessment by IPBES government members this week will be multilateralism in action, she said, noting that the assessment would not be possible without the critical role of science.

Reynolds underscored the need to base sound policy on solid scientific evidence. Decisions made in negotiating rooms and capitals around the world must be guided by the best and most up-to-date science available. IPBES  exists to provide exactly that.

Noting that the business depends on nature for raw materials, clean water, a stable climate, and food, Reynolds said companies that recognize their dependency on nature are proving that nature-positive investment works.

“Business as well as the government must act now to protect and restore nature… we have the science. We have the frameworks… What we need now is action.”

“Nature loss is now a systemic economic risk. That’s precisely why the assessment on business impact and dependencies is both urgent and necessary,” said  Inger Andersen, executive director of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).

“The first-ever business and diversity assessment will deliver authoritative evidence on how businesses depend on nature, how they impact it, and what that means for risk, for resilience, and for long-term value creation.”

Business and Biodiversity are linked

Underscoring that biodiversity loss is linked to the wider planetary crisis, Astrid Schomaker, executive secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity, paid tribute to IPBES as a provider of science as a public good.

“IPBES has remained a  ‘beacon of knowledge at a time when science  and knowledge itself is under strain and when the voices of disinformation are sometimes louder than the facts,” said Schomaker, noting that ahead of the first global stocktake of progress in the implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF), the science provided by IPBES would be invaluable.

“The Business and Biodiversity assessment constitutes a win for everyone. Clarifying that biodiversity loss isn’t just an environmental issue; it’s a serious threat to economic systems, livelihoods, business profitability, and societal resilience. Biodiversity simply underpins and provides the stability we all need.”

Target 15 of the KMGBF, focuses on business reducing negative impacts on biodiversity and global businesses need to assess and disclose biodiversity-related impacts.

IPBES executive secretary, Dr. Luthando Dziba, said IPBES was on track to deliver, in the coming years, crucial knowledge and inspiration to support the implementation of current goals and targets of the KMGBF, and to provide the scientific foundation needed by the many processes now shaping the global agenda beyond 2030.

IPS UN Bureau Report

 

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Un élève de troisième a asséné mardi quatre coups de couteau à sa professeure d'arts plastiques dans un collège du Var, dans le sud de la France. Selon le procureur de Toulon, il n'y a "aucune connotation religieuse ou politique à ce stade". Le collégien a été placé en garde à vue pour tentative d'assassinat, tandis que l'enseignante se trouvait dans un état stable dans la soirée.

Poursuivi pour défaut de maîtrise, homicide involontaire et dégradation involontaire de bien à la suite d'un accident de la circulation survenu à Mogtédo, le conducteur, Moctar (nom d'emprunt) a comparu devant le Tribunal correctionnel de Ouaga 1, ce mardi 3 février 2026. À la barre, il a livré un récit des faits, marqués par une collision mortelle sur fond de circulation dense et de tombée de la nuit. Les premières minutes de l'audience ont permis de revenir sur les circonstances du drame.

C'est un prévenu visiblement démoralisé qui a comparu devant la barre du Tribunal correctionnel, au Tribunal de grande instance Ouaga 1, ce mardi 3 février 2026. Les faits qu'on lui reproche sont de trois ordres : défaut de maîtrise, homicide involontaire et dégradation involontaire de bien. Invité à retracer les circonstances qui le conduisent devant le Tribunal, c'est dans un ton neutre et une voix à peine audible qu'il s'executa.

"J'ai quitté Zorgho pour Ouaga. Arrivé à Mogtedo, juste après le barrage, il y avait du monde. C'est fréquent d'ailleurs à cet endroit précis, surtout qu'il se faisait un peu tard. La nuit s'apprêtait à tomber. Naturellement, j'ai donc ralenti. Plus loin, il y avait un véhicule sur la gauche, qui était stationné. En avançant, j'ai juste eu le temps de voir quelqu'un doubler le véhicule avant de heurter mon phare côté droit", a-t-il résumé.

Invité à fournir plus de détails sur ce qui s'est passé par là suite, le prévenu explique qu'en descendant du véhicule, le constat était sans appel : "la victime était couchée inerte. Les gens ont accouru sur les lieux. Il y avait la gendarmerie à quelques pas de là. Les agents sont arrivés. Ils ont tenté de faire un massage cardiaque à la victime, mais il était déjà décédé. C'est ainsi que j'ai été conduit à la gendarmerie le même soir, puis, envoyé au commissariat le lendemain."

Plus de détails à venir
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We are seeing the return of overt geopolitics: a style of major power politics that does not bother to hide behind international law or multilateral norms. That’s good news for China – and bad news for Taiwan.

Le lycée provincial de Dédougou a abrité la cérémonie de montée tournante des couleurs nationales dans les établissements post primaires et secondaires et les centres de formation professionnelle de la province du Mouhoun, ce lundi 2 février 2026. A l'occasion de cette activité devenue un rituel mensuel, le haut-commissaire de la province, Bassouleymane Ouattara, a donné le top départ du concours inter établissements dénommé « Espace mât vert ». L'objectif est de promouvoir et de récompenser les institutions scolaires qui se distinguent par l'embellissement et la propreté qu'elles réservent au cadre environnemental du drapeau.

C'est devenu une habitude que d'observer la montée solennelle des couleurs nationales chaque premier lundi du mois dans les établissements d'enseignement du post primaire, du secondaire et des centres de formation professionnelle dans la province du Mouhoun. Ce rituel, institué par la Direction provinciale de l'enseignement secondaire et de la formation professionnelle et technique, a été respecté ce lundi 2 février 2026. Le lycée provincial de Dédougou (LPD) a, en effet, été le théâtre de la montée des couleurs du mois. La cérémonie a été présidée par le haut-commissaire de la province, Bassouleymane Ouattara. Elle a connu la participation des autorités provinciales et régionales en charge de l'enseignement secondaire, des notabilités coutumières et religieuses, des autorités militaires et paramilitaires, des responsables d'établissements de la ville et surtout les élèves du LPD, mobilisés pour la circonstance.

Pour le haut-commissaire, Bassouleymane Ouattara, le concours prône la formation d'une jeunesse responsable

Au-delà de la montée des couleurs, la cérémonie a consacré le lancement, à l'échelle de la province du Mouhoun, du concours inter établissements dénommé « Espace mât vert ». Si la compétition est ouverte aux collèges, aux lycées et aux centres de formation professionnelle du Mouhoun, il faut relever que cette première édition concerne exclusivement ceux des chefs-lieux des sept communes de la province. Les inscriptions étant déjà ouvertes, elles doivent être faites avant le 10 février prochain et sont recevables à la direction provinciale à Dédougou.

Les élèves entendent s'impliquer pour le succès de ces activités éducatives

Le concours « Espace mât vert » invite chaque éventuel établissement candidat à concevoir et à aménager un espace écologique autour du mât de son drapeau. Ce cadre doit être embelli et allier « patriotisme et respect de l'environnement », a précisé la directrice provinciale en charge de l'enseignement secondaire du Mouhoun, Aude Claudine Ki/Ouédraogo. Elle a souligné que ce concours demeure une activité ludique, compétitive et pédagogique. Le concours entre également dans le cadre de la mise en œuvre de l'arrêté interministériel portant création de clubs écologiques au sein des lycées et collèges, des institutions d'enseignement supérieur et de recherche et des centres de formation professionnelle, a ajouté Mme Ki.

La directrice provinciale, Aude Claudine Ki, a indiqué que « espace mât vert » allie éducation, patriotisme et écologie

Former des jeunes responsables

De l'avis de la directrice, les établissements d'enseignement secondaire sont des cadres indiqués pour sensibiliser les jeunes sur des problématiques liées au développement durable et promouvoir des initiatives alliant éducation, civisme, patriotisme et écologie. Un jury sera mis en place. Il va se charger de sillonner les différents établissements qui candidateront, à partir de mars 2026, afin de les évaluer, a-t-elle expliqué. Les critères d'évaluation seront, entre autres, axés sur des aspects environnementaux, la prise en compte des symboles nationaux, l'implication communautaire et l'esthétique. Indiquant que les matériaux recommandés sont ceux recyclés, locaux, les plantes ornementales et la fumure organique, Aude Claudine Ki a confié que les résultats seront proclamés courant avril prochain. Des prix principaux seront remis aux trois meilleurs mâts selon leur classement. Des prix spéciaux seront décernés à ceux qui donneront à voir une bonne symphonie entre symboles nationaux et écologie.

Le lancement du concours s'est effectué en présence des autorités éducatives, administratives, religieuses et coutumières, militaires et paramilitaires locales

A la fois parrain et représentant le chef de canton de Dédougou par ailleurs patron de cette édition, le directeur régional en charge de l'enseignement secondaire de Bankui et du Sourou, Raoul Sanon, a estimé que c'est une initiative pleine d'espérance. « Le concours invite à valoriser le lieu du drapeau et à s'attacher aux valeurs républicaines », a-t-il poursuivi.

Pour le directeur régional chargé de l'enseignement secondaire, Raoul Sanon, cette initiative est pleine d'espérance

Quant au président de la cérémonie, Bassouleymane Ouattara, il a souligné que ce projet vise à modeler « une jeunesse patriote, responsable et respectueuse de son environnement ». Le haut-commissaire du Mouhoun a fait remarquer que face aux défis environnementaux auxquels le pays fait face, il faut des réponses concrètes, durables et inclusives. A ces réponses, dit-il, il convient d'associer le concours « Espace mât vert » qui est un outil pédagogique favorisant l'apprentissage par la pratique, le développement de la créativité et l'engagement communautaire au sein des écoles.

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By Busani Bafana
BULAWAYO, Zimbabwe, Feb 3 2026 (IPS)

Our food, fuel, and fortunes come from nature, but as these resources are turned into profits, the balance between exploiting and replenishing the planet is ever more precarious.

Global businesses impact nature through mining, manufacturing, processing and retail operations. At the same time, nature impacts business operations because there is a loss of biodiversity and extreme weather events such as droughts, floods, and high temperatures.

How global business is affecting nature and vice versa is the focus of a new assessment by the Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) to be launched next week as part of the 12th session of the Plenary of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES).

IPBES is the global science-policy body tasked with providing the best-available evidence to decision-makers for people and nature. IPBES assessment reports respond directly to requests from governments and decision-makers, making them immediately relevant around the world.

The plenary session got underway earlier today (February 3, 2026) with a keynote address from Emma Reynolds, MP, UK Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, and remarks by Astrid Schomaker, executive secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity; Kaveh Zahedi, FAO director of the Office of Climate Change, Biodiversity and Environment; IPBES chair Dr. David Obura; and IPBES executive secretary Dr. Luthando Dziba.

“This week you will work to agree on the business and biodiversity assessment; I pray with all my heart that it will help shape concrete action for years to come, including leveraging public and private sector finance,” King Charles said.

Reynolds sounded an optimistic note.

“Around the world, momentum is building. Countries are restoring wetlands and forests. Communities are reviving degraded landscapes. Businesses are discovering that investing in nature delivers real returns. The tide for nature is beginning to turn. But we cannot afford to slow down. The window to halt biodiversity loss by 2030 is narrowing. We need to build on that momentum—and we need to do it now. That is why platforms like IPBES matter more than ever. At a time when some are stepping back from international cooperation, the rest of us must step forward. Together we will demonstrate that protecting and restoring nature isn’t just an environmental necessity; it’s essential for our security, our economy, and our future.”

Obura said the plenary in Manchester was symbolic, as it had been at the forefront of historical and business transformation.

“This is especially important just days after the World Economic Forum’s 2026 Global Risks Report again spotlighted biodiversity loss as the second most urgent long-term risk to business around the world.”

Dziba said IPBES was on course.

“IPBES is therefore on track to deliver—over the coming years—crucial knowledge and inspiration to support the implementation of current goals and targets and to provide the scientific foundation needed by the many processes now shaping the global agenda beyond 2030.”

Professor Ximena Rueda-Fajardo, Co-chair of the BizBiodiversity Assessment. Credit: IPBES

The Business and Biodiversity Assessment report, the first of its kind, presents scientific evidence on how global business depends on and affects nature. Aimed at governments, businesses, financial institutions, civil society, Indigenous Peoples, and local communities, the assessment will provide key insights and options for businesses and financial institutions to derive better outcomes for biodiversity and nature’s contributions to people.

After three years of work by 80 of the world’s leading experts from science, the private sector, Indigenous Peoples, and local communities across 35 countries, the assessment will help promote business accountability and transparency while improving producer and consumer knowledge of their impacts and dependencies on nature. The Business and Biodiversity Assessment was completed in a shorter time than other IPBES assessments, which typically cover four years. It was completed in two years at a total cost of more than USD 1.5 million.

Why the Assessment on Business and Biodiversity?

The assessment comes at a time scientists are warning of a climate crisis, as we are off track to reducing carbon emissions and slow progress on phasing out fossil fuels. Global business has a complex link with nature, which provides resources that drive industry, yet nature  impacts global business too.

Speaking to IPBES’s Nature Insight Speed Dating with the Future podcast, co-chair of the IPBES Business and Biodiversity Assessment, Professor Ximena Rueda Fajardo, says engaging with nature is not a business option but a necessity.

“Businesses are both beneficiaries of nature and major contributors to its decline—so they have a critical role in ensuring the wise stewardship of our environment,” says Fajardo, adding that, “This is vital for their bottom line, long-term prosperity and the transformative change needed for more just and sustainable futures.”

IPBES highlights that over half of global GDP (USD 117 trillion of economic activity in 2025) is generated in sectors that are moderately to highly dependent on nature.

Matt Jones, chief impact officer at the UN Environment Programme’s World Conservation Monitoring Centre and co-chair of the report. Credit: Anastasia Rodopoulou ENB/IISD

Business and nature depend on each other. However, there are opposing views between those who advocate for nature and those involved in business on the relationship between the two. But science has found that there are interdependent linkages between nature and business.

More than half of the global economy is dependent on nature through the goods and services it provides, known as ecosystem services.

According to the World Economic Forum, biodiversity is shrinking faster than at any point in human history, and if left unchecked, up to 50 percent of all species may be lost by mid-century. In the last 50 years, land and sea-use change, climate change, natural resource use and exploitation, pollution and invasive alien species have been the major drivers of over 90 percent of the loss of biodiversity.

While it is difficult to quantify ecosystem services like food, medicines, clean air, disease control and climate regulation, they are estimated to be worth more than USD 150 trillion a year. Conservative estimates suggest that the loss of nature could cost the global economy at least USD 479 billion per year by 2050.

The Nature of Business Is Not Always Nature Friendly

Business operations have had a profound impact on nature, from pollution of the environment to waste and loss of biodiversity as a result of manufacturing and processing activities. What’s more, the current use of fossil fuels in powering industries has contributed to the rise in carbon emissions. Should businesses be adopting a new economic model that protects and preserves nature?

The rapid expansion of economic activity, without proper attention to its negative side effects, has taken its toll on nature, which in turn poses serious threats to business, IPBES found.

Engaging with nature is not optional for business but a necessity, says  Ximena Rueda, Co-chair of the IPBES Business and Biodiversity Assessment Fajardo and Professor at the School of Management at Universidad de los Andes in Colombia.

“Businesses are both beneficiaries of nature and major contributors to its decline—so they have a critical role in ensuring the wise stewardship of our environment,” says Fajardo, adding that, “This is vital for their bottom line, long-term prosperity and the transformative change needed for more just and sustainable futures.”

A Map for Business To Impact Biodiversity and Nature

The IPBES methodological assessment of the impact and dependence of business on biodiversity and nature’s contributions to people is expected to be approved at the 12th session of the IPBES Plenary, which opened in Manchester, United Kingdom, this week.

According to IPBES, the assessment categorizes dependencies and impacts of businesses and financial institutions on biodiversity and  nature’s contributions to people. The assessment will further highlight collaborations needed between governments, the financial sector, consumers, Indigenous Peoples, local communities and civil society. It will also, through recommendations, strengthen efforts by businesses to achieve the goals and targets of the Global Biodiversity Framework by 2030 and the global vision of a world living in harmony with nature by 2050.

Expected Impacts

The IPBES Business and Biodiversity Report will provide critical information to governments, businesses and the financial sector to best measure the dependencies and impacts of business on biodiversity and nature’s contributions to people. It will also inform more integrated business and financial decisions and actions to simultaneously achieve the SDGs, the Global Biodiversity Framework and the Paris Agreement

Matt Jones, chief impact officer at the UN Environment Programme’s World Conservation Monitoring Centre and co-chair of the report, is convinced that there is no business that doesn’t depend on biodiversity. For example, do hairdressers depend on biodiversity?

“There are so many personal care products. There are so many things to do with shampoos that are derived from botanicals, which are derived from the natural world. A huge amount of their value chain is actually contingent on people being able to access products that are naturally derived. Think about it. You look at the adverts for these products. How often are they somebody in a waterfall or somebody in a forest… So even a hairdresser, where you go to get your haircut, absolutely depends on nature.”

Jones notes that the economic system encourages businesses to extract resources from nature. It is almost by default that business will have an impact on nature.

“As soon as you start talking about nature loss and the dependency that businesses have, the conversation changes,” he said. “What we found after people started understanding the risk to the business from nature loss was actually that the level of the conversation fundamentally changed. A business doesn’t just impact nature, but it depends on it.”

“And those interactions, they all create risk to the business if we see nature continuing to decline.”

Conservative estimates suggest that a collapse of essential ecosystem services, including pollination, marine fisheries and timber provision in native forests, could result in annual losses to the global GDP of USD 2.7 trillion by 2030. Similarly, biodiversity loss is believed to be costing the global economy 10 percent of its output annually.

IPS UN Bureau Report

 

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Nature provides essential inputs to the economy through ecosystem services. In Asia and the Pacific, accelerating biodiversity loss is eroding these services, increasing vulnerability to shocks, and creating new risks for investors and governments.

Le Président du Conseil, Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé a présidé ce 02 février 2026 le Conseil des ministres. Au cours des travaux, le Conseil a adopté cinq décrets.

Compte rendu du Conseil des ministres

Lomé, 02 février 2026

Le Conseil des ministres s’est réuni ce lundi 2 février 2026, sous la présidence de Son Excellence, Monsieur Faure Essozimna GNASSINGBE, Président du Conseil.

Cinq (5) décrets ont été adoptés :

Le conseil a adopté le décret fixant le taux de l’intérêt légal au titre de l’année civile 2026

Le taux de l’intérêt légal est fixé chaque année par décret pris en conseil des ministres, conformément à l’article 2 de la loi uniforme n° 2014-021 du 20 novembre 2014 relative au taux de l’intérêt légal dans les pays de l’Union monétaire Ouest Africaine (UMOA).

Il représente l’indemnité due à un créancier en cas de retard de paiement d’une dette, en l’absence d’un taux conventionnel fixé entre parties.

Pour l’année civile 2026, ce taux est de 5,3637%, tel qu’arrêté par la Banque centrale des États de l’Afrique de l’Ouest (BCEAO).

La fixation de ce taux contribue à garantir l’équité dans les relations financières et à renforcer la sécurité juridique.

Le conseil a ensuite adopté deux (2) décrets portant approbation des critères de répartition des dotations du Fonds d’appui aux collectivités territoriales (FACT), exercice 2026, pour le compte des régions et des communes Notre pays poursuit la mise en œuvre du processus de décentralisation qui représente un pilier majeur du développement local, de la justice sociale et de la solidarité nationale.

C’est dans cette dynamique que le conseil des ministres a approuvé les critères de répartition des dotations du FACT pour l’exercice 2026, au profit des régions et des communes.

Les dotations accordées permettront aux collectivités territoriales de mettre en œuvre leurs missions de développement local en vue de réduire les disparités entre les territoires et d’améliorer durablement les conditions de vie des populations.

Elles tiennent compte des réalités et des besoins spécifiques de chaque collectivité, dans un esprit d’équité, de solidarité et de développement équilibré.

À travers cette décision, le gouvernement réaffirme son engagement à doter les collectivités territoriales des moyens nécessaires pour assumer pleinement les compétences qui leur sont transférées.

Le conseil a également adopté le décret portant régime juridique applicable aux comptables publics.

Ce décret s’inscrit dans le cadre de la modernisation et de l’harmonisation des pratiques budgétaires et comptables, conformément à la loi organique n° 2014 013 du 27 juin 2014 relative aux lois de finances, adoptée en application de la directive n° 06/2009/CM/UEMOA du 26 juin 2009.

Il consacre le principe de responsabilité personnelle et pécuniaire du comptable public, garantissant ainsi la régularité, la sincérité et la fiabilité des opérations financières de l’État.

Le conseil a enfin procédé à la reconnaissance par décrets de quinze (15) chefs de canton, désignés par voie de consultation populaire ou de succession coutumière, conformément aux dispositions de la loi relative à la chefferie traditionnelle et au statut des chefs traditionnels.

Cette mesure vise à régulariser la désignation de ces chefs de cantons, en leur conférant la légitimité juridique nécessaire à l’exercice des attributions et responsabilités qui leur sont conférées par les lois et règlements en vigueur.

Au titre des nominations

Pour le compte du ministère de l’administration territoriale, de la gouvernance locale et des affaires coutumières :

Commandant VIAGBO Mensah Kafui est nommé préfet d’Assoli ;

Monsieur KOUMAGNANOU Amavi est nommé préfet de Danyi.

Fait à Lomé, le 2 février 2026

The post Togo : de grandes décisions prises au Conseil des ministres de ce lundi 2 février appeared first on Togo Actualite - Premier site d'information du Togo.

Most major destination countries are shifting from a policy of expanding migrant labor to one of selectivity and restriction in order to manage immigration within their borders, especially unauthorized immigration. Credit: Shutterstock

By Joseph Chamie
PORTLAND, USA, Feb 3 2026 (IPS)

The delicate balance of international migration relies on the high demand for labor and the enforcement of stricter immigration controls. This equilibrium is especially crucial when considering the international migration of students and skilled workers.

International students and skilled migrant workers play essential roles in economic development and addressing labor shortages in many countries. However, these individuals are facing increasing obstacles in entering and integrating into destination countries.

Essentially, most major destination countries are shifting from a policy of expanding migrant labor to one of selectivity and restriction in order to manage immigration within their borders, especially unauthorized immigration.

A notable exception to this global trend is Spain, which is granting legal status to half a million undocumented migrants. This policy aims to reduce labor exploitation in Spain’s underground economy and meet the need for around 300,000 migrant workers annually to sustain its economy.

The stricter immigration controls in many destination countries are primarily driven by political shifts to the right, national security concerns, public pressure, unauthorized migration, unlawful border crossings, visa overstays, and anxieties about changing population composition and social integration. These controls are also limiting asylum seekers and low skilled migrants while favoring highly skilled migrants.

Major destination countries have also implemented stricter immigration controls in terms of international student migration.

These controls include stricter visa rules and entry requirements, fixed-term visas, limited years of study, work permit restrictions, higher financial costs, and restrictions on bringing dependents. These measures are driven by high net migration, efforts to curb visa misuse, university enrollment caps, housing pressures, higher financial requirements, and restrictions on bringing family dependents.

In 2024, there were approximately 304 million international migrants worldwide, representing about 3.7% of the world’s population of 8.2 billion. This figure is nearly double the number of international migrants in 1990, which was approximately 154 million, representing 2.9% of the world’s population of 5.3 billion at that time (Figure 1).

Source: United Nations.

The top five migration destination countries and their percentage of all migrants are the United States (17%), Germany (6%), Saudi Arabia (5%), the United Kingdom (4%), and France (3%) (Figure 2).

Source: United Nations.

In contrast, the top five emigration countries and their percentage of all emigrants are India (6%), China (4%), Mexico (4%), Ukraine (3%), and Russia (3%) (Figure 3).

Source United Nations.

As of 2024–2025, there were approximately 7 million internationally mobile students globally. The key destinations for these international students were the United States (17%), Canada (12%), the United Kingdom (11%), France (7%), and Australia (6%). Other major destination countries were Germany, Russia, South Korea, China, and Spain (Figure 4).

Source: United Nations.

In addition to internationally mobile students, there were approximately 168 million migrant workers in 2022, accounting for about 5 percent of the global labor force. About two-thirds of all migrants of working age are in the labor force, with 60% of them being men.

In many of the more developed countries, the percentage of migrant workers in the labor force is significantly higher. For example, in the United States, approximately 20% of the labor force, totaling over 30 million people, consists of immigrants and foreign-born workers who are concentrated in the construction, farming, and service sectors. Canada has an even higher proportion of 30%, with many migrant workers represented in the tech sector, manufacturing, and healthcare.

Migrant workers can be found across all skill levels. Despite many possessing higher qualifications, they are often concentrated in lower-skilled industries such as services, agriculture, construction, and tourism. However, sectors and occupations related to high-skilled information technology and professional work often rely on skilled migrant labor to address labor shortages.

Migrant workers can be found across all skill levels. Despite many possessing higher qualifications, they are often concentrated in lower-skilled industries such as services, agriculture, construction, and tourism. However, sectors and occupations related to high-skilled information technology and professional work often rely on skilled migrant labor to address labor shortages

The populations of most developed countries and many developing countries are experiencing declining, ageing, and diversifying trends in the 21st century. These three profound demographic changes present significant social, economic, political, and ethical challenges.

As populations rapidly evolve during the 21st century, changes in fertility, mortality, and migration are shaping the demographics of many regions. These changes are based on past trends, current data, and projected future patterns over the next eighty years.

Projections suggest that population decline will persist because of low fertility rates remaining below the replacement levels of about two births per woman. Many countries have experienced low fertility rates for an extended period. The population of the more developed countries is expected to decrease by 14 million by 2050, while the least developed countries are projected to grow by 733 million during the same period.

Regarding mortality rates, life expectancies are anticipated to continue rising throughout the century. For instance, the current life expectancy at birth of 80 years in more developed countries is projected to reach approximately 84 years by 2050 and 90 years by the end of the 21st century.

In addition to declining populations and increasing life expectancy, many countries have experienced a “historic reversal” in their age structures. By 2025, 55 countries and areas had experienced this reversal, with more countries expected to undergo the same soon.

This significant demographic milestone occurs when the percentage of individuals aged 65 and older exceeds the percentage of those aged 17 and younger. In simpler terms, it is when older adults outnumber children in a population.

Population ageing is expected to continue throughout the remainder of the 21st century. The median age for more developed countries currently at 42 years is projected to increase to 45 years by 2050 and 48 years by 2100.

Additionally, the proportion of elderly individuals is projected to continue rising. For example, Europe’s elderly population is expected to increase to approximately 30 percent by mid-century.

Major destination countries are also becoming more ethnically diverse due to increasing levels of international migration. For instance, the estimated number of foreign-born individuals in Europe, which was around 57 million at the beginning of the 21st century, has risen to approximately 87 million by 2020.

The population compositions of many countries, including the United States and the United Kingdom, are becoming significantly more ethnically diverse. Population projections suggest that the US and the UK populations will become “minority white” around 2045 and 2065, respectively.

In addition to high levels of legal migration, increasing levels of unauthorized migration pose mounting challenges for many destination countries and for international students and skilled migrant labor.

Notable among these challenges are the negative attitudes and hostilities towards immigrants and their families, as well as the increasing political influence of far-right nationalist parties advocating anti-immigrant policies. These parties are concerned that the growing numbers of immigrants will have a negative impact on their traditional culture, shared values, and national identity. They believe that immigration, especially unauthorized migration, undermines their way of life, national security, ethnic heritage, and social cohesion.

A significant factor fueling the unprecedented high levels of unauthorized migration to many destination countries is the rapid demographic growth of sending countries. Many of these countries, which are struggling with poverty, political instability, civil strife, and climate change, are in the less developed regions of Africa, Asia, and Latin America.

The number of people desiring to emigrate permanently is approximately 1.3 billion. This number significantly exceeds the number of immigrants countries are willing to admit, leading many individuals to migrate without authorization.

Of particular note is Africa’s population, which currently includes 33 of the 46 least developed countries in the world. Africa’s population is expected to more than triple during the 21st century, increasing from approximately 800 million to nearly 4 billion.

In summary, the major demographic features of traditional destination countries for the 21st century are declining, ageing, and diversifying. In contrast, the populations of most sending countries are increasing and remain relatively young, with many of them wishing to emigrate to a developed country.

These potent, pervasive, and differing demographic trends are creating a delicate balance of high demand for labor and the implementation of stricter immigration controls. This balance is especially relevant for international students and skilled migrant labor as it impacts their entry and integration into destination countries.

Joseph Chamie is an independent consulting demographer and former director of the United Nations Population Division.

 

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