News Releases

The UWI and UNDESA host Symposium on Research and Innovation

For Release Upon Receipt - July 25, 2019

UWI


Universities play a unique role in helping countries achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by serving as drivers of knowledge, innovation, development solutions and partnerships. The interconnected social, economic and environmental challenges faced by societies across the globe cannot be overcome without scientific inquiry, data and evidence-informed policies. It is in this context that the Global University Consortium on SDG13 met during the United Nations’ High-Level Political Forum 2019 (HLPF) on Sustainable Development in New York from 9 to 18 July, 2019.

Activating its strategic agenda and role as global leader in the mobilisation of research and advocacy for the achievement of a climate-smart world during the Forum on 12 July, The University of the West Indies (The UWI) led a symposium themed Research & Innovation 4 Climate Action together with the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA). The UWI’s Director of Development, Dr Stacy Richards-Kennedy served as moderator and Coordinator of The UWI’s Institute for Sustainable Development (ISD) and Director of the Centre for Environmental Management (CEM), Dr David Smith presented at the symposium together with Vice-Chancellor, TERI School of Advanced Studies, Dr Leena Srivastava, University of Bergen’s Dr Helga Kleiven, and SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry representative, Mr Justin Heavey.

This side-event at the High Level Political Forum aimed to demonstrate how member higher education institutions (HEIs) under the Global University Consortium on SDG 13 are making contributions to address climate change. Among the highlights were showcases of significant strides made in research in the fields of biomass energy, carbon sequestration, climate resilient design, and educational outreach and impact.

The HEIs also showcased the cross-cutting approach of the consortium to SDGs 4, 13 and 17. However, more importantly, the symposium provided an opportunity for HEIs to share ground-breaking research and knowledge with a view to influencing new ways of thinking, policy debates and industry practice.

Some of the discussions focused on integrating the social sciences into the climate agenda in order to deliver maximum impact to society; leveraging the knowledge generated by HEIs to influence policy and government decision making; and ensuring the most vulnerable countries and social groups are not left behind or forgotten in climate action planning.

Attendees included representatives from UN agencies such as UNDESA, the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (UNECLAC) and World Food Programme.  Other participating HEIs and HEI Associations included the Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU), International Association of Universities (IAU) and the University of Bologna.  Representatives from government organisations from the Parliament of Czech Republic, the Permanent Mission of Jamaica, the Government of Canada as well as the International Disability Alliance were also in attendance.

Stemming from the symposium, the attendees resolved to deepen existing partnerships and explore new collaboration models on research, education, and resource mobilisation for climate action.

 

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Notes to the Editor

High resolution photos available via: https://www.flickr.com/photos/theuwi/albums/72157709860184717

 

Photo caption:

1-The UWI’s Institute for Sustainable Development (ISD) and Director of the Centre for Environmental Management (CEM), Dr David Smith presenting on Friday 12 July when The UWI co-hosted with UNDESA a symposium themed, Research and Innovation 4 Climate Action, showcasing research initiatives of members of the Global University Consortium on SDG 13 and highlighting the synergies between SDGs 4, 13 and 17.

2-Dr Stacy Richards-Kennedy, Director of Development at The UWI (head of table) leads discussions on Friday 12 July when The UWI co-hosted with UNDESA a symposium themed, Research and Innovation 4 Climate Action, showcasing research initiatives of members of the Global University Consortium on SDG 13 and highlighting the synergies between SDGs 4, 13 and 17.

For more info on the Global University Consortium on SDG 13, visit https://www.universities4climateaction.org/

 

Related News:

The UWI to play major role at UN High-Level Political Forum

The UWI to host inaugural meeting of Commonwealth universities to collaborate on climate resilience. 

The UWI selected to lead Climate-Smart World

 

About The UWI

For over 70 years The University of the West Indies (The UWI) has provided service and leadership to the Caribbean region and wider world. The UWI has evolved from a university college of London in Jamaica with 33 medical students in 1948 to an internationally respected, regional university with near 50,000 students and four campuses: Mona in Jamaica, St. Augustine in Trinidad and Tobago, Cave Hill in Barbados, and an Open Campus. As part of its robust globalization agenda, The UWI has established partnering centres with universities in North America, Latin America, Asia, and Africa including the State University of New York (SUNY)-UWI Center for Leadership and Sustainable Development; the Canada-Caribbean Studies Institute with Brock University; the Strategic Alliance for Hemispheric Development with Universidad de los Andes (UNIANDES); the UWI-China Institute of Information Technology, the University of Lagos (UNILAG)-UWI Institute of African and Diaspora Studies and the Institute for Global African Affairs with the University of Johannesburg (UJ). The UWI offers over 800 certificate, diploma, undergraduate and postgraduate degree options in Food & Agriculture, Engineering, Humanities & Education, Law, Medical Sciences, Science & Technology, Social Sciences and Sport. 

As the region’s premier research academy, The UWI’s foremost objective is driving the growth and development of the regional economy. Times Higher Education ranked The UWI among the top 1,258 universities in world for 2019, and the 40 best universities in its Latin America Rankings for 2018. The UWI was the only Caribbean-based university to make the prestigious lists.  For more, visit www.uwi.edu.

 

(Please note that the proper name of the university is The University of the West Indies, inclusive of the “The”, hence The UWI.)

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