GLOBAL Partnerships for Climate Action is the theme of a Symposium arranged by The SUNY-UWI Center for Leadership and Sustainable Development (CLSD) on Friday, September 20, 2019 at the SUNY Global Center in New York. CLSD is a collaborative venture between The University of the West Indies (The UWI) and State University of New York (SUNY).
Since the signing of the 2030 development agenda by 193 member states at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) 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 global adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the HLPF will convene within the 74th annual UNGA Meeting in New York beginning September 17. September 23 is set for a special Global Climate Summit.
Dr. Luz Longsworth, UWI Pro Vice-Chancellor with oversight for the SUNY-UWI Center, notes that “the SUNY-UWI CLSD Symposium answers an urgent call for accelerated action and renewed commitment if the 2030 Agenda is to be achieved. More substantively, it will focus on the unique role of universities in producing research, data, and innovative development solutions to tackle the interconnected social, economic, and environmental challenges faced by societies globally. 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. Partnerships with purpose and action must be activated and sustained to achieve the global goals.”
The Symposium will highlight development partners/academia collaboration to strengthen the interface between knowledge, policy and practice; the practical application of research into climate innovations; as well as research communication and advocacy in generating 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.
SUNY Provost Dr. Tod Laursen and UWI Vice-Chancellor Professor Sir Hilary Beckles will open the proceedings. This will be followed by two panels: Panel 1 on Partnerships for Development Impact: The Climate Imperative; and Panel 2, From Evidence to Action: Moving Knowledge to Policy & Practice. Speakers come from academia, international agencies, and the private sector. They include UWI’s Professor John Agard, Professor of Tropical Island Ecology and Prof. Michael Taylor, Head of the Climate Studies Group. The Symposium, which runs from 9.00 a.m. to 1.00 p.m. (Eastern), will be broadcast live via UWItv.org.
SUNY-UWI will also launch its Advanced Certificate in Leadership for Sustainable Development, a joint programme between SUNY’s Empire State College and The UWI Open Campus. The concept note and detailed agenda for the Symposium are available from The UWI Office of Development.