United Nations University-FLORES

From Cali to the World: EMG’s High-Level Roundtable At the CBD COP16, stakeholders posed for a photo following the High-Level Roundtable convened by the Environmental Management Group (EMG) under the theme, “Strengthening Action for Change: Synergistic Solutions to the Climate Crisis, Nature Loss, Desertification, and Pollution.” This event gathered leaders, UN officials, and environmental treaty secretariats to discuss practical, cooperative approaches for holistic environmental action. Our director, Edeltraud (Edel) Guenther, serves as a senior official representing United Nations University on the EMG. Sonja Hahn-Tomer, who is in Cali, participated in the deliberations of the high-level roundtable. The Environment Management Group is a UN system-wide coordination body dedicated to enhancing collaboration and coherence across United Nations entities on global environmental issues and sustainable development initiatives. #PeacewithNature #Biodiversity #SDGs UN Environment Programme

This evening, we gather to commemorate #UNDay alongside members of the Dresden community, engaging in a meaningful discussion under the theme 'Prospects for Growth'. Conversations like these are essential, as they address critical issues impacting both local and global communities. #SDGs#ResourceNexus

We're at the CBD COP16 in Cali, represented by Ghada Amin and Sonja Hahn-Tomer. Check out the video to learn about our upcoming sessions. For further reading: https://lnkd.in/dyQc4i8y #PeacewithNature #ResouceNexus #Sustainability #Biodiversity

Věra Greschner Farkavcová and Alexey Alekseenko had the pleasure of hosting a delegation from the Ministry of the Environment of Czechia, the Saxon State Ministry of Education and Cultural Affairs, and Engagement Global at the UNU-FLORES office in Weisswasser. The discussions focused on the ongoing structural changes in the region and their intersection with Education for Sustainable Development. Our team shared insights on how these challenges are being tackled using the #ResourceNexus approach, with a particular focus on Lusatia. It was a valuable opportunity to exchange experiences and foster deeper collaboration toward sustainable transformation in the region. Engagement Global gGmbH Sächsisches Staatsministerium für Kultus

Yesterday, we hosted supervisors of our doctoral programme for a briefing session. Professor Serena Coetzee, who leads the Resource Nexus Programme in Education at UNU-FLORES, pointed out that “Our Doctoral Programme is enriched by the contributions of participating supervisors from diverse backgrounds, whose research expertise brings multiple perspectives to the integrated and sustainable management of resources, facilitating a truly interdisciplinary #ResourceNexus approach." Currently, we have 32 doctoral researchers, each co-supervised by two supervisors—one from UNU-FLORES and the other from either the Technische Universität Dresden (TUD) or the Leibniz Institute of Ecological Urban and Regional Development (IOER), key partners in the NEXtra Doctoral Programme.

We are proud of our strong collaboration with Technische Universität Dresden, which encompasses the Excellence Initiative, joint degree programs, and support of the important work of the United Nations.

The #Biodiversity COP kicks off today in Cali. UNU-FLORES will be participating. This global event, under the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), brings nations together to address the critical challenge of biodiversity loss. It plays a pivotal role in shaping international strategies to protect ecosystems, conserve species, and ensure the sustainable use of natural resources. These efforts are essential for maintaining the ecosystems that support life on Earth, including human well-being and climate resilience. Running from 21 October to 1 November 2024, COP16 Colombia's theme, #PeacewithNature, emphasizes the importance of harmonizing human activities with natural ecosystems. This underscores that preserving biodiversity is crucial to securing a sustainable and prosperous future for all.

The UNU-FLORES post-mining research group visited the flooded mine lake Berzdorfer See in the Lusatian lignite mining region.  The Head of the Resource Nexus Laboratory, Alexey Alekseenko, the new doctoral researcher, Rajeev Ranjan and the student intern, Paulina Tjandraputri, joined this visit with doctoral and postdoctoral researchers from the Faculty of Business and Economics and the International Institute (IHI) Zittau, TU Dresden.   The visit included a tour and an engaging discussion at Bagger 1452, the former mining site with a massive bucket wheel excavator, which was still in operation until 2001 for the reclamation of the surrounding mines after the end of lignite mining in 1997. Internationales Hochschulinstitut Zittau #ResourceNexus

Throwback Thursday: Snapshots from UN Day 2023 As UN Day 2024 draws near, join us in commemorating this special occasion at Dresden City Hall on Tuesday, 29 October 2024, at 6 PM. This year’s theme, "Prospects for Growth," will dive into alternative growth metrics that go beyond traditional GDP measures, focusing on sustainable practices like the circular economy, ecological resilience, and social justice. Our discussions will also center on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with SDG 8: "Decent Work and Economic Growth" and SDG 17: "Partnerships for the Goals" taking the spotlight. RSVP today at https://lnkd.in/d-b29-S6.

Start next week with fresh insights and engaging discussions at our upcoming Nexus Seminar. The built environment – the human-made spaces where we live, work, and play, has significant implications not only for the natural environment but also for the health, well-being, and productivity of the humans who inhabit it. Our upcoming Nexus Seminar N.78 will welcome Britt Regal, PhD, Postdoctoral Research Associate at The Centre for Sustainable Business and The Productivity Institute. Dr. Regal’s research focuses on how organizations work collectively and with communities to deliver public value, currently in the context of sustainability. In this seminar, Dr. Regal will present her lecture titled “Co-Creating Transformative Innovation Policy for Disruptive Sustainability: Navigating Its Discontents.” The presentation will explore the challenges and opportunities in implementing transformative innovation policies aimed at addressing grand challenges, using the case of electric vehicle charging infrastructure in England. Dr. Regal will discuss how various stakeholders responded to uncertainties within radical sustainability shifts and highlight the potential risks, particularly at moving from localised solutions to national objectives. The Nexus Seminar Series is coordinated by Prof. Serena Coetzee and Prof. Samanthi Dijkstra-Silva.