Research & Innovation 4 Climate Action
Higher Education Institutions are taking climate action. Find out how in this symposium at this 12 July symposium at the United Nations Secretariat Building.
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CONCEPT NOTE FOR SIDE EVENT - United Nations High-Level Political Forum 2019
“Symposium on Research & Innovation 4 Climate Action”
Friday 12 July 13:00-14:30 / 1:00 p.m.-2:30 p.m. (EDT)
Room: S-1520, UN Secretariat, 405 E 42nd St, New York, NY 10017, USA
Co-sponsored by the University of the West Indies and UN DESA.
Background
In pursuing the 17 Sustainable Development Goals, the International Association of Universities (IAU) Cluster on Higher Education and Research for Sustainable Development (HESD) is highlighting the role that Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) globally have to fulfil in order to achieve Agenda 2030. HEIs are demonstrating their commitment to Agenda 2030 through ground-breaking research, targeted courses, technical and advisory support, multi-stakeholder collaborations and advocacy. Nominated by the IAU as the lead institution for SDG 13, The University of the West Indies coordinates the Global University Consortium on SDG13-Climate Action, convening the collective knowledge, research power and innovative thrust of 10 HEIs from across the world taking action against climate change.
The High Level Political Forum (HLPF) on Sustainable Development, as a central platform for monitoring the implementation of Agenda 2030, and through the 2019 theme “Empowering people and ensuring inclusiveness and equality” will focus on the review of 6 SDGs including Goals 4 - Quality Education, 13 - Climate Action and 17 - Partnerships for the Goals. In demonstrating the synergies between these three SDGs, the Global University Consortium on SDG13-Climate Action will feature the cutting-edge research being undertaken by member HEIs to combat climate change and mechanisms for fostering greater integration of research and innovation into development planning and the implementation of the SDGs.
Objective
The Global University Consortium on SDG13 in collaboration with the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA) will host a symposium on Friday 12 July, 2019 at the UN Secretariat, New York. The objectives of this symposium include:
- sharing the ground-breaking research and knowledge of member HEIs on climate action with a view to influencing new ways of thinking, policy debates and industry practice;
- demonstrating how innovations of partner HEIs are making a contribution to addressing climate change;
- showcasing the cross-cutting approach of the consortium to SDGs 4, 13 and 17 and the associated contributions to achieving Agenda 2030.
Agenda
This event seeks to bring together representatives from the Permanent Missions in New York, United Nations agencies, multilateral development banks and other-intergovernmental organisations, academia, the private sector and civil society. The Symposium will feature presentations by partner HEIs of the Global University Consortium on SDG13 Climate Action and include two Q&A sessions to facilitate knowledge exchange.
