Transcript Document

Science in UNEP PoW
UNEP by mandate keeps the world environment under review.
– It provides the Global Environment Outlook (GEO)
– It plays a key role in articulating the voice for the environment in the Post 2015
process on Sustainable Development Goals and informing the United National
Environment Assembly.
– It supports global assessments such as the IPCC and the IPBES
– It links environmental information and emerging issues on country, regional and
global level to human development, governance and environmental policy
implementation.
Science is central in supporting UNEP’s global, regional and national
responsibilities.
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Critical to the global environment; either positive or negative but environmental in nature, or environmentallyrelated
Para. 88 of the Rio +20 outcome doc.:
science to feature permanently in UNEP’s programme
Key Elements of UNEP’s Science
Strategy
1. Anticipating the Future: identifying emerging environmental issues
• Global Environmental Alert Service – timely information on critical environmental developments
(e.g. Sand, Loss and Damage)
• regular Foresight Process – ranking the most important emerging issues for a wide audience (e.g.
UNEP-Foresight process (Islands, Global 21st Cent.)
2. Designing the Future: developing “solution-oriented”, sustainability scenarios
• scenarios as part of various projects in the POW.
• assist member states to build scenarios as part of the GEO-5 follow- up
• cross-divisional Scenario Team to support internal and external scenario development
3. Catalyzing needed science: a global sustainability science agenda for sustainable development.
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“reverse” integrated assessments” in order to identify key questions from the policy arena
expand the area of UNEP’s science-policy arena by linking with through contacts with
Science/Research ministries
4. Bolstering UNEP’s scientific weight
• establish new scientific partnerships
• strengthen the scientific competence of its staff
Emerging Issues in UNEP PoW
Emerging Issues:
an issue (positive or negative) which is not yet generally recognized but which may have significant impact on human and/or
ecosystem health …
Criteria:
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Critical to the global environment; either positive or negative but environmental in nature, or environmentally-related.
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Given priority over the next one to three years in the work programme of UNEP and, or, other UN institutions and, or, other
international institutions concerned with the global environment.
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Have a large spatial scale. Issues should either be global, continental or ‘universal’ in nature (i.e. occurring in many places).
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Recognised as ‘emerging’ based on newness: new scientific knowledge; new scales or accelerated rates of impact;
heightened level of awareness; and, or, new ways to respond to the issue.
Examples:
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UNEP Year Book, e books, Apps (e.g. GEO SIDS)
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UNEP-GEAS (e.g. Sand, Loss and Damage)
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UNEP-Foresight process (Islands, Global 21st Cent.)
Components:
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Emerging environmental issues identification and analysis (regional and global partners)
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Exploration of future pathways to fill gaps (e.g. UNEP Live Regional Networking Conferences)
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Emerging environmental issues in-depth reports
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Outreach and Engagement
GEO Process, UNEP Live, and scales
Global Gender Environment Outlook
Global Chemicals Outlook
GEO-Small Island Developing States
IPBES - etc.
Regional Priorities
and Policy Processes,
Conventions,
MEAs
National Priorities
Policy
processes
* Drivers (Megatrends):
- Demographic dynamics
- Environm. Processes & change
- Macroeconomics / Policies
- Governance/Institutions
- Technology/Innovation
global
GEO
(5 drivers*)
SPM
(regional / global)
for and by policy
makers
to inform UNEA
biennially
6 Regional and
X sub-regional
Assessments;
integr. emerging issues
assessments
National State of
Environment
Reporting (SoE)
UNEP Live, open access, inclusive
knowledge infrastructure and management
Country Data, Big Data, Crowd Sourcing,
Communities of Practice
Contd. environmental assessment process and scales – the new GEO Process and UNEP Live
support
2018
2020
2016
SPM
(regional / global)
for and by policy
makers
SPM
(regional / global)
for and by policy
makers
SPM
(regional / global)
for and by policy
makers
to inform UNEA 2
biennially
to inform UNEA 3
biennially
to inform UNEA 4
biennially
6 Regional user
conferences and
Assessments
6 Regional user
conferences and
Assessments
Emerging
issues
Emerging
issues
6 Regional user
conferences and
Assessments
Emerging
issues
Emerging
issues
Solid foundation in data, synthesis and review by growing Communities of Practice on all scales
Future Earth:
Implementation
in brief
Proposed Research Themes of FE
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Dynamic Planet: Observing, explaining,
understanding, projecting earth,
environmental and societal system trends,
drivers and processes and their interactions;
anticipating global thresholds and risks.
Global development: Providing the
knowledge for sustainable, secure and fair
stewardship of food, water, biodiversity,
health, energy, materials and other
ecosystem functions and services.
Transformation towards Sustainability:
Understanding transformation processes
and options, assessing how these relate to
human values, emerging technologies and
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Criteria for Future Earth
Research
• From fundamental to useinspired Earth system
research for global
sustainability
• Answer complex questions
that require international
collaboration
• Co-design and co-production
of knowledge
• Integrates natural, economic,
engineering, arts, humanities
and social sciences
• Regional to global scale
Summary
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SDGs, HLPF, and Global Sustainable Development Report,
Green Economy, TEEB (The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity_
GEO-6
– will be an integrated assessment framed through five key megatrends
– will include the following key elements:
• Findings of the Regional Assessments (FE structural and context link)
• Integrated environment assessment through the lens of the five drivers
• Analysis of progress towards meeting internationally agreed goals /Global
Environmental Goals (GEGs)
Emerging environmental issues and solutions
– Case studies
– Gap analysis of data, information and assessments
– Effective policies, plans and programmes at multiple scales
Elements
– IPBES Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services
(IPBES)
UNEP Live – contr. to FE and BF – and a beneficiary - CoP / mesh netw.
– UN Technology Facilitation Mechanism
– PROVIA (Programme of Research on Climate Change Vulnerability, Impacts and
Adaptations)
– Observation Review
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End poverty in all its forms everywhere
End hunger, achieve food security and adequate nutrition for all, and promote sustainable
agriculture
Attain healthy life for all at all ages
Equitable and inclusive quality education and life-long learning opportunities for all
Attain gender equality, empower women and girls everywhere
Secure water and sanitation for all for a sustainable world
Ensure access to affordable, sustainable, and reliable modern energy services for all
Promote strong, inclusive and sustainable economic growth and decent work for all
Promote sustainable industrialization
Reduce inequality within and among countries
Build inclusive, safe and sustainable cities and human settlements
Promote sustainable consumption and production patterns
Promote actions at all levels to address climate change
Attain conservation and sustainable use of marine resources, oceans and seas
Protect and restore terrestrial ecosystems and halt all biodiversity loss
Achieve peaceful and inclusive societies, rule of law, effective and capable institutions
Strengthen and enhance the means of implementation and global partnership for
sustainable development