LONDON – Businesses, investors, and governments that are serious about fulfilling net-zero emissions pledges before 2050 should be rushing to protect, conserve, and regenerate the natural resources and ecosystems that support our economic growth, food security, health, and climate. Yet there appear to be worryingly few trailblazers out there.
Worse, we are quickly running out of time. The science makes clear that to avoid the most catastrophic effects of climate change and to build resilience against the effects that are already inevitable, we must end biodiversity loss before 2030. That means establishing lasting conservation for at least 30% of land and sea areas within eight years, and then charting a course toward living in harmony with nature by 2050.
Though the challenge is massive, ignoring it makes no sense from a business perspective. A World Economic Forum white paper estimates that nature-positive policies “could generate an estimated $10 trillion in new annual business value and create 395 million jobs by 2030.” Among other things, such policies would use precision-agriculture technologies to improve crop yields – diversifying diets with more fruit and vegetables in the process – and boost agroforestry and peatland restoration.
Jeremić and Schmidt-Traub: The continuation of the war in Ukraine will cause a world food crisis
"The war in Ukraine has deepened the existing crisis in the system of food production and
consumption, which is a consequence of the pandemic and reduced incomes, as well as climate
change. This has a dramatic impact on agricultural production around the world," said Schmidt-
Traub at the lecture. "How will the future reflect on agriculture, food and water", held as part of
CIRSD's "Future Leaders" program, whose participants include postgraduate students from all
over the world.
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Branko Milanović lectures at newly established Future Leaders Program
Professor Milanović led this insightful discussion on income inequality between and within nations, tracing the history of income inequality throughout the world from the industrial revolution to today.
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Vuk Jeremić lectures at the Academy of Young Diplomats
Reflecting on the influence of powerful global players in the Western Balkans, Jeremić pointed out that Brussels has abdicated its geopolitical role in the region, thus opening new space for other actors. He underlined that the influence of the Russian Federation and Turkey has been present for centuries, and that China is the only new variable in the equation.
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CIRSD President speaks at University Presidents meeting
The President of the Center for International Relations and Sustainable Development (CIRSD), Vuk Jeremić attended one of the biggest regional meetings of University Presidents from Asia, Europe and the Middle East, devoted to the University Sector’s support to the UN Decade of Action.
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