Countries Fail the Climate Change Challenge—Again: The 2021 Calendar highlights the ongoing struggle against climate change, marked by extreme weather events in 2021 and inadequate global action. Despite some positive steps like rejoining the Paris Agreement and China’s pledge to stop financing overseas coal plants, carbon emissions surged as economies recovered, underscoring the gap between pledges and actual progress.
COVID-19: The rapid development of COVID-19 vaccines, achieving over 90 percent effectiveness against early variants, was a significant scientific achievement, comparable to historic vaccines like those for smallpox and polio. By the end of the 2021 calendar year, despite the administration of over 7.4 billion doses globally, new variants like Delta and Omicron emerged, highlighting the virus’s adaptability and ongoing global health challenges.
Joe Biden Becomes President: In 2021, President Joe Biden emphasized the return of America on the global stage by rejoining the Paris Climate Agreement and the World Health Organization, and ending support for offensive operations in Yemen. However, despite these moves and a 2021 calendar filled with international engagements, his administration faced criticism over unilateral actions and policy consistencies with the previous administration, raising doubts about the sustainability of his foreign policy.
The Global Democratic Erosion Continues: In 2021, amid the backdrop of the ongoing erosion of global democratic governance since 2006, notable instances of democratic decline emerged, including the disruption of the United States’ long-standing peaceful transition of power and the relegation of the nation to a “backsliding democracy.” This trend was mirrored in various nations, from India’s crackdown on critics to Brazil’s election legitimacy challenges, culminating in the hosting of a Democracy Summit by President Joe Biden in December.
Ethiopia’s Civil War Worsens: Ethiopia’s Nobel Peace Prize-winning Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, celebrated for brokering peace in 2019 with Eritrea, now faces the grim reality of a civil war, sparked by tensions with the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) in the northern province of Tigray. Despite early victories, including the capture of Mekelle in Tigray, federal forces faltered, allowing the TPLF to reclaim territory and advance towards Addis Ababa and Djibouti by November 2021, raising concerns of potential regional destabilization. Amidst this conflict, marked by war crimes such as ethnic cleansing and mass displacement, diplomatic efforts for resolution remain stagnant, casting a shadow over Ethiopia’s future, encapsulating the tumultuous events of the 2021 calendar year.
The Taliban Return to Power: The U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021, marking the end of a two-decade-long conflict, saw the Taliban reclaim power, echoing the circumstances of their initial rise in 2001. This withdrawal, symbolized by the 2021 Calendar, led to chaos and criticism, with thousands left stranded and concerns over the humanitarian crisis under the Taliban’s rule.
Supply Chains Falter: In 2021, the term “supply chains” entered common parlance as businesses, after decades of outsourcing production, faced the repercussions of global disruptions like COVID-19. The pandemic exposed vulnerabilities, leading to shortages and stoppages worldwide, including notable events like the grounding of the Ever Given in the Suez Canal, highlighting the fragility of the interconnected system.
Iran’s Nuclear Program Advances: In 2021, diplomatic efforts to revive the Iran nuclear deal faced challenges amidst delays, diplomatic maneuvers, and heightened tensions following an explosion at an Iranian nuclear facility. Negotiations, which included discussions of Iran’s enrichment of uranium to 60 percent, progressed slowly, culminating in heightened uncertainty by year’s end, as Iran’s presidential election ushered in a new leadership stance, complicating prospects for agreement despite ongoing discussions throughout the 2021 calendar.
Migration Crises Test Rich Countries: The migration crises of 2021, exemplified by the surge in illegal border crossings at the southern U.S. border and increased numbers entering the European Union, underscored the enduring challenges faced by rich countries despite the downturn in international migration flows noted in the 2021 Calendar.
The AUKUS Deal Debuts: The AUKUS Deal, announced on September 15, 2021, introduced a trilateral security partnership involving the US, Australia, and the UK. It notably includes the provision of technology for Australia to construct eight nuclear-powered submarines, highlighting a shift in Indo-Pacific security dynamics amidst escalating tensions with China, and causing diplomatic fallout, notably with France, over terminated agreements.
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