Environment

Since the issuance of the World Commission on Environment and Development report – “Our Common Future” that outlined a blue print for sustainable development, the world has witnessed progressive collaboration among nations and peoples in advancing sustainable development (the development that strives to meet the needs of the present generation without compromising the ability of the future generation to meet their own needs).

While the report did set a global agenda for environmental sustainability, a combination of population growth and climate change have resulted in new challenges to economic, social and environmental sustainability. The world is now faced with three major crises namely; massive extinction of species, the waste crisis and the climate crisis. Addressing the economic, social, health and environmental impacts brought by these crises will need multi-skills that integrate the need for environmental and social sustainability with the protection of fundamental human rights including enhanced social protection for the vulnerable.

The articulation of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals is intended to meet the objective of promoting economic and social development while enhancing environmental sustainability. At the heart of this is the need to promote both ecological and social resilience to ensure that development initiatives are not only sustainable but also contribute to resilience of ecosystems and societies against climate shocks. Addressing these challenges will require people and organizations with a combination of skills to bring together the competing and complex development challenges to policy makers and communicate them with skill and passion to influence change and this is the motivation of IHES.