2020

Overview

The year 2020 was a leap year starting on a Wednesday. It marked the beginning of the decade 2020-2029 and was designated by various international organizations for several notable events.

### Designations

* The United Nations proclaimed 2020 as the International Year of Plant Health (IYPH) to raise global awareness of how plant protection can contribute to eradicating hunger, reducing poverty, protecting the environment, and driving economic development.
* The World Health Organisation declared 2020 as the International year of the nurse and midwife.
* The European Union designated Rijeka (Croatia) and Galway (Ireland) as the European Capitals of Culture for 2020.
* Amiens (France) was also designated as the European Capital of Youth in 2020.

### Events

The year 2020 was marked by several significant events, including:

* The assassination of Iranian General Qassem Soleimani by the US armed forces, which triggered an international crisis.
* The COVID-19 pandemic, which originated in China (first cases identified in December 2019 in Wuhan) and spread to other Asian countries, particularly affecting South Korea and Iran. The pandemic later spread to European, American, oceanic, and African regions, causing global social and economic disturbances, cancellations, and mass delays of events.
* Major climate disasters around the world, including major fires in Australia and the western United States, as well as extreme seasonal weather conditions.

### Climate Change

The year 2020 was also designated by Geospatial World as the "worst year in terms of climate change" due to the severity of these climate-related events. The year marked a significant turning point in the global response to climate change, with many countries and international organizations pledging to take action to mitigate its effects.

### Economic Impact

The COVID-19 pandemic had a devastating impact on the global economy, leading to the biggest economic recession since the 1930s. The pandemic caused widespread disruptions to supply chains, trade, and commerce, resulting in significant losses for businesses and individuals around the world.