Cyclone Gabrielle highlights NZ inaction on climate change; Tanzanian government bans popular children’s book

Today’s global news summary brings news affecting New Zealand, Tanzania, and the world, and discusses issues as diverse as climate change, LGBTQ rights, and women in AI.

New Zealand: Cyclone Gabrielle highlights NZ’s inaction on climate change
Tanzania: Tanzanian government bans popular children’s book
World: Lack of women in AI in films could contribute to lack of women in tech

Cyclone Gabrielle highlights NZ’s inaction on climate change
Environment
New Zealand has suffered two weather catastrophes in the space of three weeks and yet polls suggest New Zealanders still aren’t keen to undertake personal changes to reduce climate damaging emissions, reports The Spinoff. Cyclone Gabrielle could be the most financially damaging storm to have ever struck the country. A poll of 1,000 New Zealanders taken by Talbot Mills in the week after the January 27 storms found “just 43% of New Zealanders and 48% of Aucklanders wanted to take quicker and more drastic action to reduce emissions.” Of those surveyed, 23% wanted to reduce or slow emissions reduction. Results from the poll suggest “Aucklanders would like to do more, but feel not enough [is] being done to improve alternatives for travel such as public transport.” Many simply don’t believe it is possible to carry out their daily lives without using cars and car parks close to shops, schools, and work. A recent IMF paper, based on worldwide YouGov survey data says “that providing even small amounts of information on policy efficacy and benefits—including co-benefits, such as improved air quality and better health—can engender greater support [for climate policies].”

“Humans will adapt to climate change, by changing their behavior and activities,” says Marie Connolly in her IZA World of Labor commentary. Connolly says this adaptation will be costly, and likely exacerbate current patterns of inequality. People with more resources will be able to avoid the most unpleasant effects of climate change. She calls for more research to understand the issue.

Key topics
Environmental regulation and the labor market

Opinions
How will climate change affect what we do?
Environmental regulations and business decisions

Videos
IZA World of Labor discussion on the environment and the labor market

IZA Discussion Papers
The Slow Demographic Transition in Regions Vulnerable to Climate Change
Climate Change Salience, Economic Insecurity, and Support for Mitigation Policies

Tanzanian government bans popular children’s book
Demography, family, and gender
The government of Tanzania has banned 16 titles in the popular children’s book series, The Diary of a Wimpy Kid, claiming they violate the country’s traditions, customs, and cultures, reports the BBC. The government alleges they advocate LGBTQ rights. Schools using the books will face disciplinary and legal measures. Tanzania’s education minister, Adolf Mkenda even urged parents to check their children’s book bags to make sure they aren’t reading the books.

Nick Drydakis has written for IZA World of Labor on sexual orientation and trans rights in labor markets around the world. He reminds us that 2.7 billion people live in countries where having a minority sexual orientation is still considered a crime.

Key topics
Workplace discrimination

Opinions
Sexuality and the workplace: Coming out and losing out?

Videos
Discrimination and anti-discrimination policies: Harry Holzer in discussion with Daniel S Hamermesh

IZA Discussion Papers
Sexual Orientation Discrimination in the Labor Market against Gay Men
Early Health and School Outcomes for Children with Lesbian Parents: Evidence from Sweden
Workplace Positive Actions, Trans People's Self-Esteem and Human Resources' Evaluations

Is the lack of women in AI in films contributing to lack of women in tech?
Demography, family, and gender
A new study finds that films almost exclusively portraying AI researchers as male has helped entrench systematic gender inequality in the AI industry, reports the Guardian. Of 142 of the most influential films featuring AI released between 1920 and 2020, only nine of 116 AI professionals portrayed were women. Five of those nine worked for a male colleague, or were the child or partner of a more senior male AI engineer. Dr Kanta Dihal, a co-author on the study and a senior research fellow at the Leverhulme Centre for the Future of Intelligence, said part of the male bias was an “art-mimicking life” spiral: film-makers portray AI professionals as men to reflect the male dominance of the industry. However, one in five AI engineers are women, compared with less than one in ten of those portrayed in films. “They are exacerbating the stereotype they see,” says Dihal. Dihal believes this perpetuation of male stereotypes in tech could dissuade women from exploring roles in the industry. It could also result in hiring panels perceiving men as a better “cultural fit” and also result in negative stereotypes and assumptions once women actually enter AI.

“[G]ender gaps in the labor market today can lead to gender gaps in aspirations among youth and therefore also to gender gaps in the outcomes that girls and boys experience in adulthood,” say Teresa Molina and Emiko Usui in their IZA World of Labor commentary.

Key topics
Digital transformation, big data, and the future of work
What is the gender divide?

Opinions
Does gender inequality in today’s labor market perpetuate gender inequality in future generations?

Videos
IZA World of Labor Panel Discussion on Women in Leadership

IZA Discussion Papers
Gender Differences in STEM Persistence after Graduation
Bye Bye Ms. American Sci: Women and the Leaky STEM Pipeline

Poor suffer most from global disasters

Hollywood writers may strike; China’s youth unemployment hits historic high

Will ChatGPT take your job?; Most trans adults are happier after transitioning

Honduran president legalizes morning-after pill; Students unable to cope with financial pressures face dropping out

Gender equality still 300 years away; Lack of affordable childcare is forcing UK women out of work

England’s RFU announces new maternity policy; Company in US fined for illegally employing children