All scientific evidence produced since the 1970s shows that humanity is bumping up against fundamental planetary boundaries. Urgent transformative changes are necessary to achieve sustainability.
Immagine: EASACLe programme d’encouragement «U Change» finance des projets étudiants de durabilité innovants et des plateformes soutenant de tels projets. Le dernier délai pour soumettre un projet est fin février 2021.
Immagine: pxhereDas Panel wird insbesondere versuchen, Antworten auf die folgenden Fragen zu geben: Inwieweit ist der Privatsektor in der Lage, zu den SDGs beizutragen? Ist der private Sektor die Lösung für die Probleme der Entwicklungsländer? Was ist ein „nachhaltiger“ Privatsektor? Welche Rolle spielen die Schweizer Entwicklungsagenturen in dieser Hinsicht?
Immagine: Road to Bern80%-100%, ETH Zurich, temporary
Les objectifs mondiaux en matière de biodiversité fixés pour 2020 ne seront pas atteints, loin s'en faut. La communauté internationale est maintenant en train de formuler de nouveaux objectifs pour 2050. Pour la première fois, 39 chercheurs du monde entier ont examiné les propositions d'objectifs existants. Résultat : seuls les objectifs les plus ambitieux permettront réellement de rétablir la biodiversité d'ici 2050, et seulement s'ils sont mis en œuvre de manière concertée. Le rapport est publié dans la revue Science.
Immagine: pxhereMountain Research and Development invites transdisciplinary and multidisciplinary papers that address transformations affecting pastoralists and rangelands in mountains and high-elevation landscapes.
Immagine: V. Ralph ClarkTo react to the current pandemic situation, we decided to postpone the KFPE & SUDAC Annual Conference to Spring 2021.
Immagine: SUDACA new book draws attention to the twists and turns of participatory and integrative research in African environments. The editors present the highlights of the book and argue for “shared research” which calls for an openness to diverse perspectives and the integration of local knowledge and development contexts.
Immagine: sagufEIGHT EDITION: Improving access to health: learning from the field
Bald müssen wir 9 Milliarden Menschen ernähren. Die Nahrungsmittelproduktion ist weltweit für 29 - 38% der Klimabelastung verantwortlich und bietet in der Schweiz Arbeitsplätze für ca. 11% (ca. 547‘000) aller Erwerbstätigen. Es ist klar: Die Ernährungssysteme müssen nachhaltiger werden.
Immagine: Lifefair ForumWir diskutieren über die Initiative «Better Science» und die Umsetzung von DORA – San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment - und fragen, wie sich die Wissenschaftskultur in den nächsten 20 Jahren weiterentwickeln soll.
Immagine: © Akademien der Wissenschaften SchweizAcademia today is characterised by unhealthy competition, publication pressure and quantification practices. This puts people in research in the background. We want to counteract this and call for the enabling of reflected innovation and creativity in a slow science.
Immagine: Better SciencePublic award ceremony of the Swiss Forum for International Agricultural Research (SFIAR) for the annual Award for graduates and scientists of a Swiss institution who work in agricultural research for development.
Quelles sont les questions sociales prioritaires dans le contexte de l'Agenda 2030 à lesquelles la science doit pourvoir ? Cette question a été abordée par l'Initiative pour la recherche sur le développement durable. Le 8 décembre, nous lancerons le livre blanc qui en résultera : les principaux auteurs présenteront les points forts de leur travail lors d'une discussion d'experts, avant que nous élargerons le débat avec des acteurs importants.
This Special Issue of the journal Sustainability is guest edited by MRI Chair Jörg Balsiger and MRI Executive Director Carolina Adler, and invites contributions that address transboundary sustainable mountain governance. The deadline for manuscript submissions is 31 January 2021.
Mountain Research and Development is looking for papers that help understand urbanization in mountains and emerging new relations between rural mountain areas and urban centers in and outside mountains. Papers that propose ways of shaping these transformation processes to increase sustainability, as well as synthesis and comparative studies across several mountain regions are also highly welcome.
Under the leadership of SCNAT, the Sustainability Research Initiative is developing priority topics for sustainable development research in Switzerland. At a review meeting in early July, several well-known experts gave the draft research agenda very good marks. They especially appreciated the systemic approach and encouraged the authors to place even more focus on pathways towards transformation.
To contribute to sustainability transformations, learning and teaching at higher education institutions must become trans-formative. A group of experts met for a one-day workshop organized by the Swiss Academic Society for Environmental Research and Ecology (saguf). This paper presents key findings from the discussion.
Held once every four years, the IUCN World Conservation Congress brings together several thousand leaders and decision-makers from government, civil society, indigenous peoples, business, and academia, with the goal of conserving the environment and harnessing the solutions nature offers to global challenges.
Inwiefern wirken sich die Folgen der Covid-19-Pandemie auf die nachhaltige Entwicklung aus? Welchen Beitrag kann die saguf zu den SDGs leisten? Diese und andere Fragen diskutiert Manuela Di Giulio mit Manfred Max Bergman und Michael Stauffacher – dem neuen und dem scheidenden Präsidenten der saguf.
Les Académies suisses des sciences se félicitent de manière générale des modifications apportées à la loi sur l'énergie afin de répondre aux objectifs de l'accord de Paris sur le climat mais estiment que des adaptations plus importantes sont nécessaires. C'est ce qui ressort de la prise de position qu'elles ont publiée dans le cadre de la consultation sur la révision de la loi sur l'énergie.
Der Fokus dieser Ausgabe liegt auf der gesellschaftlichen Transformation. Wie kann es uns gelingen, den Weg Richtung Nachhaltigkeit einzuschlagen? Diese Frage wird aus unterschiedlichen Blickwinkeln beleuchtet.
The design of efforts by the European Union (EU) and its Member States to recover from COVID-19 will determine the quality of people’s lives for decades to come. Related to the EU’s plans for a green recovery, European Academies urge policymakers to recognise the critical role of science and to step up efforts in three key areas: energy, ecosystem and health.
The Swiss Global Change Day is the once a year event organised by ProClim to look beyond the horizon of climate and global change research with well-known experts, covering a broad range of topics. Benefit from this forum: Plenty of time is provided to present your own research or organisation with a poster or at a stand and to network with colleagues. The most attractive and comprehensive posters submitted by students or postdocs will be honoured with a travel award of CHF 1000.–.
To make our food systems sustainable, radical transformation of their complex social, economic and ecological components is needed. Simply increasing productivity is not enough to meet the raising global demand for food in the future.
Das Forum bietet Vertreterinnen und Vertretern aus Politik, Verwaltung, Wirtschaft, Wissenschaft und Gesellschaft über Sektoren- und Fachgrenzen hinweg neue Impulse für staatliches Handeln in Bezug auf die nachhaltige Entwicklung.
Packaging plastics offer an almost infinite range of options for manufacturers in terms of function and design. Their durability and resistance to degradation means that if they ‘leak’ into the environment, they stay there. Leakage has been increasing rapidly and its detrimental impact, especially on the marine environment, has attracted wide public and political concern.
The growing use of electric scooters and ride-hailing services is transforming how we move in urban centres — but walking, cycling and public transport remain the best way to improve sustainable mobility in cities, according to a European Environment Agency (EEA) report published today. A separate EEA briefing on the environmental and climate impacts of transport finds that emissions of greenhouse gases from transport continue to increase, as demand for mobility across Europe keeps growing.
Systems, targets and transformations are guiding metaphors of environmental and sustainability research. Is the framing of these concepts still adequate to address today’s wicked sustainability challenges?
Europe will not achieve its 2030 goals without urgent action during the next 10 years to address the alarming rate of biodiversity loss, increasing impacts of climate change and the overconsumption of natural resources. The European Environment Agency’s (EEA) latest ‘State of the Environment’ report states that Europe faces environmental challenges of unprecedented scale and urgency. The report says, however, there is reason for hope, amid increased public awareness of the need to shift to a sustainable future, technological innovations, growing community initiatives and stepped up EU action like the European Green Deal.
Science on Stage Europe produit chaque année du matériel pour l’enseignement des sciences du primaire au secondaire II. C’est dans ce but que l’association recherche des enseignant·es pour son nouveau projet sur la durabilité.
International Conference of SUDAC – swissuniversities Development and Cooperation Network and KFPE. The focus was placed on research partnerships in and with the Global South. With its programmes Consortia for Education and Research (COFERs) and Clusters of Cooperation in the Global South (CLOC), swissuniversities provides important instruments to foster these research partnerships.
Aujourd’hui, la façon de produire et de consommer des aliments contribue de manière significative à l’impact environnemental. Ce document de synthèse présente des champs d’actions et propose des solutions qui visent à une conception durable des systèmes alimentaires urbains en Suisse. L’accent est mis sur le dialogue entre la ville et l’agriculture et le potentiel de celui-ci à promouvoir la durabilité au sein de notre alimentation.
Si rien ne change, les objectifs de développement durable des Nations unies ne pourront pas être atteints. Et le monde scientifique est également sur la sellette: comme le demande le premier rapport sur le développement durable dans le monde, la recherche visant des solutions concrètes doit être intensifiée. À travers une initiative, la SCNAT souhaite donc renforcer la recherche en développement durable en Suisse.
Poverty, social inequality, global environmental problems and pandemics: Switzerland has to focus its international cooperation strategy more strongly on poverty reduction and the Sustainable Development Goals of Agenda 2030 using research to make its global contribution. This is what the Swiss Academies of Arts and Sciences call for in their statement on international cooperation, which was elaborated under the lead of KFPE.
Social sciences and humanities play important roles in sustainability-oriented transformative research. A saguf workshop revealed what these roles can look like.
Das Programm für den diesjährigen K3 Kongress ist veröffentlicht und die Anmeldung für den Kongress und das Rahmenprogramm ist ab sofort offen.
L’extinction des espèces s’accélère constamment et est déjà de 10 à 100 fois plus élevée que la moyenne des 10 derniers millions d'années. Un total de 0,5 à 1 million d’espèces sur environ 8 millions sont menacées d’extinction, prévient le Conseil mondial de la biodiversité IPBES lundi dans son premier rapport mondial sur l’état de la biodiversité et des services écosystémiques. L’état dramatique de la nature a d’énormes conséquences pour l'existence humaine. Ainsi, 14 des 18 services naturels tels que la pollinisation ou l'assainissement de l’air s’affaiblissent considérablement.
Published in time for the Fourth United Nations Environmental Assembly, UN Environment’s sixth Global Environment Outlook (2019) calls on decision makers to take immediate action to address pressing environmental issues to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals as well as other Internationally Agreed Environment Goals, such as the Paris Agreement.
Die Digitalisierung geht mit immer weiter steigenden Energie- und Ressourcenverbräuchen sowie globalen Produktions- und Konsummustern einher, die die Ökosysteme noch massiver belasten. Die technischen Innovationsschübe übersetzen sich nicht automatisch in Nachhaltigkeitstransformationen, sondern müssen eng mit Nachhaltigkeitsleitbildern und -politiken gekoppelt werden.
Fostering Research Integrity in an Unequal World
Gemeinschaftliche Planung von Forschung zu Themen der ökologischen Landwirtschaft und der alternativen Ernährungssysteme: ENGAGE with Society.
This EASAC report reviews options for reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from European transport. It argues for stronger policies to bridge the gap between the GHG emission reductions that will be delivered by current policies and the levels needed to limit global warming to less than 2°C or even 1.5°C (Paris Agreement).
The existing instruments of European and Swiss energy policy in the field of mobility are far from sufficient to achieve the climate objectives of the Paris Agreement. This is the conclusion of a new report by the European Academies Science Advisory Council (EASAC). The report focuses on road transport, which accounts for 72 percent of greenhouse gas emissions from transport in Europe, and recommends various measures.
For the 20th time, the Swiss Global Change Day on 7 February 2019 offered the opportunity to look beyond the horizon of climate and global change research covering a broad range of topics. Distinguished researchers presented scientific highlights and the poster session provided enough time for discussions and networking. About 190 participants attended the event and 35 posters were exhibited.
Plus de 12'155 scientifiques d'Allemagne, d'Autriche et de Suisse soutiennent les préoccupations des manifestants de la grève du climat. Rien qu'en Suisse, il y a 1727 signataires. Selon la prise de position publiée mardi par les «Scientifiques pour l'avenir», les mesures actuelles pour la protection du climat, des espèces, des forêts, de la mer et du sol sont loin d'être suffisantes.
Die Akademien erachten eine deutliche Optimierung der Agrarpolitik als sehr wichtig, um die unerwünschten Auswirkungen auf Umwelt und Natur zu minimieren, die Produktionsgrundlagen der Landwirtschaft zu erhalten, die Wirtschaftlichkeit des Sektors zu steigern und grundsätzlich dessen Nachhaltigkeit zu verbessern. Verschiedene Vorschläge schlagen eine geeignete Optimierungsrichtung ein, reichen aber nicht aus, um tatsächliche Verbesserungen und die formulierte Vision zu erreichen sowie den Verfassungsauftrag zu erfüllen. Viele der Vorschläge sind kaum einschätzbar, da ihre Wirkung von der Ausgestaltung der Instrumente abhängt und der Umgang mit Zielkonflikten nicht geklärt ist.
Researchers fly all over the world to take part in conferences and exchange ideas face-to-face. And they often do so without thinking about the impact on our climate. But if the oncologist Daniel Helbling has his way, that will soon change. We look at three initiatives from scientists who are keen to improve the sustainability of their own disciplines.
Mit Nachhaltigkeitswochen an 27 Hochschulen in 14 Städten wollen Studierende das Engagement und den Dialog zum Thema Nachhaltigkeit fördern. Von Februar bis April organisieren mehr als 200 Veranstaltungen, die öffentlich und kostenlos sind. Die Sustainability Week Switzerland gehört damit zu den grössten schweizerischen Anlässen im Bereich Nachhaltigkeit.
Mountain biodiversity provides billions of upland and lowland inhabitants with vital ecosystem services and sources of livelihoods. Mountain Research and Development is looking for papers that present validated insights into ways of managing mountain (agro)biodiversity so that it contributes to human wellbeing; that analyze interlinkages between mountain biodiversity, global change, ecosystems, and people; or that offer evidence-informed agendas for research or policymaking with regard to these interlinkages.
Amid global challenges such as climate change and growing tourist numbers, what issues do UNESCO World Heritage Sites face in terms of sus tainable development? Since the adoption of a global policy on World Heritage and Sustainable Development in 2015, reflecting on this question has become increasingly important in terms of framing national responses.
More than 70 high-level decision makers, scientists, NGO and funding agency representatives gathered to celebrate 20 years of KFPE Guidelines at the conference “Leveraging Research Partnerships for Global Challenges”. A series of talks presented in three separate sessions addressed the following topics: (i) new roles and tasks of science in general and research partnerships in particular; (ii) regional adaptation of scientific systems; and (iii) how science policies and funding systems can support transformative research. Participants were left with one clear conclusion at the end of the 22 November meeting: stronger integration and dialogue between science and society, including policy and business, is essential if we are to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.
Registration for the 20th Swiss Global Change Day is now open. At this event well-known experts present challenges and highlights of climate and global change research covering a broad range of topics. It is also an opportunity to show research results by posters and to discuss them with colleagues. Please note that this year's event takes place earlier in the year than usual: On 7 February 2019
Les célébrations du 20e anniversaire du «Guide pour les partenariats transfrontaliers de recherche» de la KFPE ont réuni des représentants de la recherche, de la politique, de l'administration, des entreprises et des organisations non gouvernementales. L'Agenda 2030 doit être mis en œuvre rapidement et à l'échelle mondiale.
Wie können Finanzaktivitäten zur Erreichung der internationalen Umweltziele beitragen? Auf Einladung des Bundesamts für Umwelt (BAFU) zusammen mit dem Rückversicherer Swiss Re trafen sich am 19. November 2018 Vertreterinnen und Vertreter der deutschsprachigen Umweltämter und Expertinnen und Experten der Finanzwirtschaft sowie der Wissenschaft zum Dialog über Grüne Finanzen.
Switzerland's foreign policy should pay more attention to research on global change in order to meet the 17 Sustainable Development Goals of the 2030 Agenda, says the Commission for Research Partnerships with Developing Countries (KFPE) of the Academy of Science. Owing to many years of experience in North-South research, Switzerland is ideally placed to promote the development of research skills in the Global South and thus to help foster change on the ground.
Die Universität Zürich, das USC Schwarzenegger Institute und die Regions of Climate Action R20 wollen gemeinsam ein nachhaltiges Finanzwesen fördern. Mit ihrem Know-how in den Bereichen Finanzmarkt, grüne Technologien und Wissenschaft möchten sie dazu beitragen, die Weltmärkte im Einklang mit dem Klimaübereinkommen von Paris zu transformieren.
Europe uses natural resources unsustainably and the European Union has put in place policies on circular economy and bioeconomy in response. This European Environment Agency (EEA) report argues that implementing these two concepts in tandem, by applying specific design principles within a systemic approach, would improve resource efficiency and reduce environmental pressures.
This report examines the current trends and dynamics that promote and jeopardize the achievement of the SDGs. It presents the TWI2050 framework, the integrated pathways which harness the synergies and multiple benefits across SDGs, and approaches to governing this sustainability transformation. TWI2050 identifies six exemplary transformations which will allow achieving the SDGs and long-term sustainability to 2050 and beyond.
Die Schweiz hat ihren ersten nationalen Bericht über die Umsetzung der Agenda 2030 präsentiert. Dieser Bericht widerspiegelt den aktuellen Stand der Umsetzung der Agenda 2030 durch die Schweiz auf nationaler und internationaler Ebene. Er gründet auf einer umfassenden und partizipativ erarbeiteten Bestandsaufnahme des Bundes und gibt in einer kurzen Übersicht die wichtigsten Erkenntnisse daraus wieder.
On 19 April 2018, the Swiss global change science community met for the 19th time on the annual Swiss Global Change Day. About 210 participants attended the event and 60 posters were exhibited. Distinguished researchers presented scientific highlights and the program provided enough time for discussions and networking. At the event ProClim also celebrated its 30th Anniversary with the central theme of a growing tree. This theme appeared in a number of ways, such as in form of the birthday cake, seeds as a giveaway or a real apple tree on stage, which was planted by ProClim after the event.
In dem Papier «Digitalisierung: Worüber wir jetzt reden müssen» stellt der Wissenschaftliche Beirat der Bundesregierung Globale Umweltveränderungen (WBGU) zehn Schlüsselthemen zum Verhältnis von Digitalisierung und Nachhaltigkeit vor. Das Papier soll die öffentliche Diskussion über Chancen und Risiken der Digitalisierung verstärken und mit gesellschaftlichen Zielen verbinden.
The InterAcademy Partnership (IAP) produced a guide on how science academies can get involved and assist in the implementation of the SDGs.
The production of natural resources and raw materials for industry and bioenergy, employment creation, provision of spaces for leisure, conservation of biodiversity, mitigation of climate change: the many functions of forests create also conflicts between different uses and stakeholders.
The Swiss Research Portal for Sustainable Development is now online. Researchers are called upon to share their profile, projects and publications to make the work in this field more visible. The platform can be searched using the UN SDGs or other issues.
Les universités suisses ont inscrit le thème du développement durable dans leurs priorités et le programme d’encouragement « Sustainable Development at Universities » a certainement joué un rôle à cet égard.
La durabilité figure désormais en bonne place dans les agendas des universités suisses. Doté de quatre millions de francs, le programme de la Confédération correspondant, le «Sustainable Development at Universities» coordonné par les Académies suisses des sciences, a soutenu 54 projets durant les quatre dernières années.
An "open access" issue of the journal "Sustainability" on genetic engineering in organic agriculture
Ormai si trovano dappertutto, sia nei piatti, che nei bicchieri o nei sacchi per i rifiuti vegetali. L’idea è di smaltire questi prodotti con la raccolta degli scarti vegetali e otte-nerne compost. Eppure, non sempre dove si legge «bio» il contenuto è anche «bio». Prima di gettare un prodotto in bioplastica insieme agli scarti vegetali bisogna quindi controllare l’etichetta per accertarsi che lo smaltimento congiunto sia possibile.
Les Nations Unies veulent souligner cette année l'importance de la durabilité dans le tourisme.
In September 2015, the community of states adopted the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) for a sustainable economic, social and ecological development globally.
Gli insediamenti periferici e a bassa densità edificatoria comportano costi infrastrutturali e della mobilità pro capite più elevati rispetto agli insediamenti centrali e densificati. Tali costi non vengono coperti interamente da coloro che li generano, il che rappresenta un incentivo negativo. È quanto è emerso da uno studio appena pubblicato dall'Ufficio federale dello sviluppo territoriale (ARE).
Negli insediamenti periferici e scarsamente popolati i costi infrastrutturali sono molto più elevati: è questa la conclusione a cui giunge il presente studio sul tema dello sviluppo degli insediamenti in relazione ai costi per l'infrastruttura. Calcoli dettagliati evidenziano che uno sviluppo degli insediamenti basato sul principio della densificazione genera costi infrastrutturali pro capite nettamente inferiori rispetto ad una nuova urbanizzazione di comprensori estesi.
Wie werden demokratische Übergänge zu einem Leben und Wirtschaften möglich, deren Qualität und Stabilität nicht vom permanenten ökonomischen Wachstum abhängen? Reicht dafür eine Bottom-up-Strategie? Reichen all die Non-profit-Unternehmen, Tauschläden und Kulturen des Selbermachens als Keime einer im Entstehen begriffenen Postwachstumsökonomie und -gesellschaft?
Quest'anno la Confederazione sostiene venti progetti nell'ambito del programma di incentivazione per lo sviluppo sostenibile. Uno dei temi prioritari del programma è l'alimentazione sostenibile. Tale finanziamento si inserisce nella strategia per uno sviluppo sostenibile del Consiglio federale e contribuisce all'attuazione dell'Agenda 2030 dell'ONU.
The Global Sustainable Competitiveness Index ranks 180 countries against 105 quantitative sustainability indicators grouped in 5 pillars: natural capital, resource intensity, social capital, intellectual capital and governance capital.
Research and innovation are important factors in reducing poverty and global risks. In collaboration with KFPE the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), held a second research fair on 9 November in Bern.
The revised MONET indicator system reflects the varied aspects of sustainable development in Switzerland
This report is a tangible result of the common effort by experts from the financial sector, science, non-governmental organisations and federal autorities. Its purpose is to propose highly significant measures for rendering the Swiss financial system more sustainable – that is, a Swiss financial system that supports the transition to a green and inclusive economy. Action is needed now.
Papers address modernization and sustainable development, showing that some aspects of modernization can lead to sustainability—eg improved energy use in Europe, multilocal livelihoods in Pakistan, biosphere reserves in Europe, agrotourism in Thailand, or improved governance in Nepal. Further papers deal with carbon storage in Thailand, forest composition in China, stump debarking in the Czech Republic, treelines in the Andes, and hydropower energy storage in Europe.
Papers address modernization and sustainable development, showing that some aspects of modernization can lead to sustainability—eg improved energy use in Europe, multilocal livelihoods in Pakistan, biosphere reserves in Europe, agrotourism in Thailand, or improved governance in Nepal. Further papers deal with carbon storage in Thailand, forest composition in China, stump debarking in the Czech Republic, treelines in the Andes, and hydropower energy storage in Europe.
Agroscope a développé un système pour évaluer la durabilité des exploitations agricoles suisses. Il comprend une large palette d’indicateurs d’impact, tels que l’efficience des ressources, les liquidités et le bien-être animal. Les indicateurs permettront aux agriculteurs et aux agricultrices de procéder à une évaluation pratique de leur exploitation en tenant compte des trois dimensions, environnementale, économique et sociale.
Der Bundesrat hat im März 2016 das neue Nationale Forschungsprogramm (NFP) „Nachhaltiges Wirtschaften“ lanciert. Aus dem NFP werden wichtige Beiträge für eine nachhaltige Wirtschaft mit effizienterem Ressourceneinsatz und grösserer Ressourcensicherheit erwartet. Dies soll unter anderem die Wettbewerbsfähigkeit der Schweizer Wirtschaft begünstigen und die Wohlfahrt der Bevölkerung fördern. Die Forschungsdauer des Programms beträgt fünf Jahre, das Budget beläuft sich auf insgesamt 20 Millionen Franken.
This factsheet outlines key challenges, knowledge gaps, and research questions centring on Switzerland’s role and potential responsibility as a leading commodity hub. It concludes with suggestions of possible avenues for future research and policy.
This report of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) identifies the implications, opportunities and possible benefits of limiting global warming to 1.5 °C above pre-industrial levels.
The sustainability of society is linked to that of the world’s oceans because they are essential for global food security, human health and climate regulation, and the livelihood of more than 3 billion people worldwide depends on the ecosystem services in the sea and on the coast. Yet, the world’s oceans are exposed to strains resulting from a wide spectrum of human activities, environmental pollution and growing coastal population.
A l’avenir, les agriculteurs et agricultrices devront pouvoir évaluer la durabilité de leurs exploitations à l’aide d’indicateurs. Lors de la troisième conférence sur la durabilité, Agroscope a présenté les nouveautés méthodologiques en matière d’évaluation de la durabilité dans les exploitations agricoles. Plusieurs exposés sur le thème du lait en Suisse et en Allemagne ont illustré l’évaluation de la durabilité à partir d’applications pratiques.
Resource-efficient cities: vital step towards urban sustainability in Europe.
Im September wurden im Rahmen der UN-Generalversammlung die neuen Globalen Entwicklungsziele (Sustainable Development Goals, SDGs) verabschiedet. Der WBGU hat in diesem Zusammenhang auf die Berücksichtigung planetarischer Leitplanken bei der Umsetzung der SDGs hingewiesen. In einem kurzen Trickfilm wird das Konzept planetarischer Leitplanken nun erläutert.
Warum sprechen alle vom Klimawandel? Wahrscheinlich deshalb, weil er eine der grössten globalen Herausforderungen unserer Zeit darstellt. Unser Planet erlebt eine tiefgreifende und beschleunigte Änderung des Klimas, deren Beginn über ein Jahrhundert zurückreicht. Die meisten WissenschaftlerInnen sind sich darüber einig, dass sich die Erde schneller als je zuvor erwärmt. Aber jede/r kann mit Entscheidungen und Handlungen einen kleinen Fussabdruck gegen den Klimawandel hinterlassen.
Water is at the core of sustainable development. Water resources, and the range of services they provide, underpin poverty reduction, economic growth and environmental sustainability. From food and energy security to human and environmental health, water contributes to improvements in social wellbeing and inclusive growth, affecting the livelihoods of billions.
The Swiss commodity sector has come under increasing scrutiny in the last few years as a result of the substantial growth experienced by global commodity trade since 2002 and the importance of Switzerland as a leading international commodity trading hub.
Restructure data-gathering and evaluation networks to address climate change, energy, food, health and water provision say a Nature comment.
The UNEP Inquiry into the Design of a Sustainable Financial System identifies financing as one of the greatest challenges in advancing sustainable development. Switzerland is strongly committed to environmental issues. In combination with its advanced financial sector, Switzerland is in a unique position to present an opportunity for the transition to a green and inclusive economy. The Swiss team for the UNEP Inquiry gathers representatives of the financial sector, NGOs and academia along with government representatives to reflect on the Inquiry’s questions regarding a financial system aligned to sustainable development. The recommendations and ideas presented within this report is the outcome of the Swiss Team’s thought process, and it has to be acknowledged that more work is needed to validate some of them and formulate plans for action.
This report is an independent scientific review of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and 169 targets, as submitted to the UN General Assembly by the UN Open Working Group (OWG). It is a unique tool designed primarily for negotiators, technical support teams and other actors engaged in defining a universal, integrated and transformational set of global goals and targets for sustainable development and the political declaration on the post-2015 development Agenda. In particular it is a resource for technical review of the targets carried out in preparation for their adoption and translation at the national level. With more than 40 contributing authors from 21 countries, the report brings together a wide range of scientific expertise.
Die Welt(wirtschaft) – und mit ihr der Umgang mit erneuerbaren Ressourcen – hat sich in den letzten 300 Jahren grundlegend geändert; die Herausforderungen einer nachhaltigen Entwicklung bleiben.
The research priorities are organised under the conceptual framework proposed in the Future Earth Initial Design Report. Research activities are grouped under the themes of Dynamic Planet, Global Sustainable Development, and Transformations towards Sustainability. Each priority addresses one or more of the critical global sustainability challenges set out in the Future Earth 2025 Vision.
Switzerland has reinforced its commitment to climate protection in developing countries as part of international cooperation. The Federal Council today decided to contribute USD 100 million to the initial capitalization of the Green Climate Fund (GCF).
Der Klimawandel trifft arme Bevölkerungen ungleich stärker als reiche und droht, die Bemühungen zur Armutsreduktion zu- nichte zu machen. Die Länder des Südens brauchen substanzielle Hilfe, um sich an die negativen Folgen anzupassen und gleichzeitig die Entwicklung mit einem möglichst geringen Treibhausgasausstoss voranzutreiben.