As part of its digital outreach and engagement, United Nations Academic Impact (UNAI) hosts a series of dialogues with scholars, educators, researchers and students to discuss priorities for the future, obstacles to achieving them, and the role of global academic cooperation in addressing global challenges. On 16 September 2021?UNAI hosted the latest webinar in its Digital Dialogues Series entitled “Countering Climate Change: Actions by Universities," that took place in Spanish language.
Coinciding with the International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer, 16 September, UNAI jointly with the National University of Rosario, a UNAI member institution in Argentina that also serves as the SDG for Goal 13: Climate Action, organized a virtual event aimed at examining the vision that higher education institutions have about the challenge that climate change represents for humanity, make visible the actions carried out by such institutions in terms of teaching, research and extension on climate change, as well as visualize potential opportunities to increase the role of academia in the search for innovative solutions that allow us to face climate change and mitigate its consequences. Scholars from various universities participated, aside from UN experts.
Dr. Jose Samaniego, Director of the Division of Sustainable Development and Human Settlements at the stressed that education of our youth and the nurturing of a change of mentality regarding their views on climate change is a priority. In his view, the scientific community’s contributions, and that of the area of humanities, are equally important. Samaniego believes that the “segregation” of disciplines and their contributions to climate change prevention has set our efforts back as a whole. Climate change is intrinsically linked to our economy, as well as public fiscal policy, and its exclusion from the discussion has put us at an increased risk of its impacts.?
Ms. Sofía Arocha, Coordinator of Communications on Climate Change at the Regional Office for Latin America of the , noted that climate change has decimated the cultivation of crops in Latin America, adding onto the economic damage the COVID-19 crisis has already inflicted. Sofia emphasized that the regional economy needs a major boost, but that this cannot be at odds with the efforts to mitigate climate change. This can be done through the development of models based on reducing carbon emissions and boosting responsible labor opportunities, which is exemplified by the transition from fuel-based industry, creating new job opportunities while improving the overall quality of life in the region.
Dr. Pilar Bueno, Member of the Adaptation Committee of the and Coordinator of the Observatory of Argentina’s Foreign Policy at the National University of Rosario (Argentina), stated that the university is starting a program that aims to educate students on the creation, implementation, and monitoring of effective climate change policies. Pilar noted that Latin America has been slow in carrying out climate change goals politically and publicly and that “it is evident that international cooperation in this sphere has been inconsistent and unbalanced”. Pilar also noted that implementing climate change policies is critical in countries with significant vulnerabilities.
Hailing from that institution was Dr. Guillermo Montero, Professor of Agricultural Sciences and Secretary-General of the university. The area where it is located, produces around 90% of the agricultural products consumed in the country. However, the expert commented, flooding that occurs normally in this region has been magnified by increased climate discrepancies. He said that there have been calls to revise agricultural models and standards to make them more?sustainable. Dr. Montero talked about the need to limit the damages done by irresponsible farming practices that put livelihoods in peril. He sees academia as a valuable stakeholder that can promote dialogues that might lead to productive agricultural models in compliance with the protection of our habitat.
Dr. Edwin Castellanos is the Research Director at the University of the Guatemala Valley (Guatemala) and one of the authors of the 5th and 6th reports of the . He said that the region is consistently exposed to natural disaster threats, from floods and heavy rains to extreme droughts. Also, the region is in a crisis derived from high rates of poverty and low levels of upward mobility. As a result, the climate change situation is compounding preexisting severe socioeconomic challenges. The universities in the region have an important responsibility to demonstrate to the public and private sectors the scientific evidence on how Latin America is vulnerable to climate change effects.
At his institution, Dr. Castellanos mentioned two courses for all students that focus on environmental goals as well as global citizenship liaised with the political aspects of sustainable development and countering climate change. Along these lines, Dr. Mercedes Pardo, Director of the Research Group on Sociology of Climate Change and Sustainable Development at Carlos III University of Madrid (Spain), underlined the fundamental importance of cultivating youth education on these issues, as she perceived that “young people do not connect with the SDGs.” Universities have agreed that climate change is an emergency and while we are implementing mitigation policies, she said, we must not leave anyone behind.
The last speaker of the session, Professor ?ngela Plata, Deputy Director of the Institute of Environmental Studies and Services at Sergio Arboleda University (Colombia), who also leads the Graduate Program on Mitigation and Adaptation to Climate Change in that institution, promoted a unified effort by institutions of higher education at the regional and national levels, in order to motivate and educate our youth on the dangers of leaving climate change unchecked. Her university, she explained, has demonstrated leadership in the Environmental Network of Sustainable Universities, from which they have cooperated to carry out several research projects and other initiatives on climate change and sustainability topics.
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