In September 2015 Heads of State and Government at the United Nations agreed on the 2030 Agenda “Transforming Our World,” containing 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for 2030. The Summit kicked off a novel process that would link goals such as ending hunger with climate change and environmental goals. The SDGs aim at transforming whole economies rather than focusing on separate aspects through development and climate funding. They are also universally applicable to both developing and developed countries.
Ligia Noronha, UNEP expert on SDG implementation and delivery, and two of the lead negotiators for the SDGs, Switzerland’s Michael Gerber and Germany’s Stephan Contius, spoke about the transformational potential of the SDG process and its implications for domestic policies in Europe. The informal session with representatives from British academic institutions and NGOs connected the ambitious SDG agenda with research taking place in the UK. While there are many challenges, for example how to bridge disciplines and departmental borders, the SDGs have also kicked off a re-think for businesses in Europe. They increasingly take their government’s commitment to achieving the SDGs within the next 14 years into consideration when making investment decisions.
Contact person: Olivia Gippner: o.gippner@lse.ac.uk.
Speakers:
- Ligia Noronha, Director, United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Technology, Industry and Economics Division
- Michael Gerber, Swiss Ambassador and Special Envoy for Global Sustainable Development, Federal Department of Foreign Affairs
- Stephan Contius, German Co-Lead Negotiator for the 2030 Agenda, Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety
Chair: Olivia Gippner, Dahrendorf Forum, LSE
Time: July 1, 2016, 11:30 am – 1:00 pm