皇家华人

UCL researchers are collaborating with businesses and the UN Environment Programme to accelerate action to protect the environment and build a sustainable world by 2050.

The UN Environment Programme听(UNEP)听is the leading global environmental authority, which听provides leadership and encourages partnership听across and within countries听to听care听for the environment听and protect it for future generations.听

Professor Paul Ekins, Director of听the UCL听Institute for Sustainable Resources听(ISR),听is collaborating with colleagues at听UNEP听on听a听suite of听activities听that will help countries achieve听the听environment-related听Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)听and meet other internationally agreed targets,听such as those in the Paris Agreement, which aims to strengthen the global response to the threat of climate change.听

As听co-chair听of听UNEP鈥檚 sixth Global Environment Outlook (GEO-6) report,听Professor Ekins听is听calling听on decision-makers to take immediate action to address pressing environmental issues听and听ensure countries are on a path to a truly sustainable听future.听

鈥淭o听achieve this,听it is vital to听get the business community听and听public policymakers听behind transformative environmental policy,鈥澨齢e听explains.听听

鈥�鈥淭he UK has led the world in setting ambitious carbon-reduction targets, but it is not on track to meet an 80% reduction by 2050, let alone net zero.鈥澨�

Professor听Ekins听says:听鈥淭he UK has led the world in setting ambitious carbon-reduction targets, but it is not on track to meet an 80% reduction听by听2050, let alone net zero.鈥澨�

The report highlights the need for systemic and integrated policy action to transform production systems and consumption. Innovations in the commercial sector can help, but can also create risks and have negative environmental impacts, such as听causing听pollution and听creating听waste.听听

He is now听co-chairing the Advisory Group of UNEP鈥檚听鈥楪EO for Business鈥櫶齱orkstream, providing briefings on听key business-related issues in light of the findings of GEO-6.听 The six briefings will give an overview of the business and sustainability agenda, before听examining听topics such as听the circular economy, infrastructure, sustainable finance, the food system and the decarbonisation of听electricity.听

鈥淏y providing a platform听for听the听business听community听to听liaise听with academics听on environmental impacts, we hope听to see a positive response听to听the stark messages听laid out in听the GEO-6 report.听听听

鈥淓nvironmental sustainability听should be central to听both business practice and measures of human progress. We need to听bring听all听aspects of听society听closer to a more positive relationship with nature,鈥澨齢e adds.听