Science Summit at United Nations General Assembly (UNGA78)

Introduction and aims

Since publishing the first report, "The Limits to Growth", the Club of Rome has stood for future thinking and a scientific reputation. Building on this, the Earth4All Initiative - initiated by the Club of Rome - published another report to the Club of Rome in September 2022, "Earth4All - A survival guide for our planet”.

In light of the Earth4All scenario “Too Little too Late - business as usual”, the question remains if we continue as we have for the last 40 years or create the giant leap ("The Giant leap") - a vision for a sustainable global society at the end of this century? To qualify this leap, Earth4All identified five turnarounds with 15 proposed actions that can have a major impact.

The governments of Austria and Kenya are the first countries to transform this vision into national policy. The Club of Rome brings together a collective of organizations and individuals who will contribute their expertise in the respective areas and ensure the dissemination of the results. The aim is to gather experiences that can then be implemented in other countries and regions. We want to inspire and empower people to take action with this positive vision.

Abstract

In times of multiple crises, the transformation towards a sustainable future and well-being for all, as proposed in the Agenda 2030 with the SDGs, is at risk. The implementation of the SDGs and their targets depends on the ability to overcome the single focus on each goal, taking into account their entanglement, trade-offs and synergies on a national but also on a personal level. Often environmental awareness and environmental actions drift apart (politically and personally).

To understand and analyze these vast interdependencies, reaching out to the people with no one left behind, the latest initiative of the Club of Rome: "Earth4All - A survival guide for our planet”, provides support and guidance. This includes the demand for an economic system change by upgrading our economic system with five extraordinary turnarounds: Eliminate Poverty, Address Inequality, Women’s Empowerment, Transforming the Food and Energy Systems. If implemented in the next decade, we can shift the economic system toward well-being for all within planetary boundaries.

In this vein, the Club of Rome started the E4A implementation initiative with two pilot countries (Austria and Kenya). For both countries, E4A/SDG modelling is being conducted. For this, the Club of Rome Austrian Chapter triangulates the system dynamic E4A/SDG modelling (Millennium Institute) with participatory means (UniNEtZ), including Inequality and Poverty Assessment modelling and arts-based approaches (UniNEtZ, an SDG University Network). The researchers have developed co-creative and participative ways to integrate the public into a participatory modelling process. A process that aims to enable stakeholder-driven SDG/E4A implementation that is related to stakeholders’ future visions, sub-goals, targets and indicators. By this, we aim to provide inclusive scientific ideas and options for political and societal actions to further sustainable development and to overcome trade-offs between economic and ecological as well as social interests.

This Session introduces the mentioned CoR initiatives and scientific approaches accompanying the Earth for All implementation process with short scientific inputs, followed by a transdisciplinary discussion with political stakeholders (ministries’ representatives from both pilot countries). Impulse lectures followed by discussion with the audience and a panel session, moderated by the council chair of UniNEtZ. UniNEtZ was invited by the Club of Rome as an university network, that includes 21 Austrian universities dealing with the implementation of the SDGs. For the panel discussion different stakeholders (NGOs, policy makers, business representatives) will discuss the SDGs- and Earth for All affiliated works, experiences and ideas for practical implementation.

Expected outcomes

The aim is to gather experiences, introduce innovative approaches and provide tools such as (participative) SDG Modeling etc., that can be transferred to the E4A implementation of other countries and regions. Therefore, the expected outcomes are constructive SDG/E4A future visions, goals and indicators driven by the stakeholder involvement with scientific means, like the triangulation of system dynamics (CLDs) as well as “leave no one behind” (LNOB) related analysis models (all levels) and arts-based visioning practices. The first steps and activities for the implementation of these turnarounds and the corresponding measures in the sense of a "Wellbeing Economy" are planned in the following four areas, which will also complement and enrich each other: citizen engagement, advocacy, research, and public outreach. We want to inspire and empower people to take action with this positive vision.

For the wellbeing of our audience:
We will have a musical interlude with Mira K. from Bremen, Germany, an exeptional singer-songwriter, and partner in our co-creative arts meets science projects

The Panel Session featuring:

1         Petra Bayr, member of the Austrian National Assembly, chairperson of the subcommittee for development cooperation

2         Nelya Rakhimova, Sustainable Development Specialist, Ph.D, SDG Watch

3         Georg Reibmayr, Federal Ministry for Social Affairs, Health, Care and Consumer Protection, Austria

4         Georg Pföstl, CEO of the fair-finance Vorsorgekasse part of Sinnova Group (pension insurance fund)

5        Franz Fehr, Chairpseron of the Uninetz council, and University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (Boku)