Global Partners for Climate Action

Submitted by SUNYAdmin on Tue, 02/25/2020 - 00:17

Background

September 2019 will be a watershed moment in the evolution of 21st century global development policy and advocacy. Since the signing of the 2030 development agenda by 193 member states at the United Nations General Assembly on September 25, 2015, High-level Political Forums (HLPFs) have been organized annually to track progress on implementation of the 2030 development agenda, share evidence, scientific knowledge and country experiences and enhance the integration of strategies to balance people, planet and prosperity.

This September, for the first time since the adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) globally, the UN General Assembly (UNGA) will convene the HLPF within its 74th annual UNGA Meeting in New York (Sept. 17-30, 2019) and will host a special Global Climate Summit on Monday 23rd September 2019. The world’s attention will be on whether we are indeed making bold strides towards combating climate change. The Global Climate Summit, in particular, will focus on the following:

a global transition to renewable energy;
sustainable and resilient infrastructure and cities;
sustainable agriculture and management of forests and oceans;
resilience and adaptation to climate impacts; and
alignment of public and private finances with a net zero economy.

SUNY-UWI CLSD Symposium on Global Partnerships for Climate Action

Drawing on the experience of the HLPF convened by ECOSOC in July 2019, which focused on a review of 6 SDGs including SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 13 (Climate Action) and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals), there was an urgent call for accelerated action and renewed commitment if the 2030 Agenda is to be achieved. More substantively, the unique role played by universities in producing research, data and innovative development solutions to tackle the interconnected social, economic and environmental challenges faced by societies across the globe, was underscored. Indeed, universities as the drivers of knowledge, skills and innovation, are pivotal to nurturing the human and social capital upon which the success of the 2030 development agenda rests. To achieve this, partnerships with purpose and action need to be activated and sustained.

Against this backdrop, the SUNY-UWI Center for Leadership and Sustainable Development (CLSD) is hosting a Symposium on Global Partnerships for Climate Action on Friday 20th September 2019 (9am - 1pm) at the SUNY Global Center in New York. This event will highlight how development partners are collaborating with universities to strengthen the interface between knowledge, policy and practice; how research is being translated into climate innovations; and how research communication and advocacy are helping to generate much-needed development impact at the grassroots level. This exchange between academia and development partners will also emphasize targeted areas for action, which are evidence-informed and demand-driven.

Be part of this important conversation that will shape what we understand by Climate Action and how it is executed in practice!