Reorientation of UN sustainability policy

Prof. Dr. Benno Werlen appointed to European expert group

Prof. Dr. Benno Werlen

Image: Anne Günther (University of Jena)

Published: 20 October 2023, 13:41

Due to the faltering implementation of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and the International Science Council (ISC) consider a reorientation of UN sustainability policy to be imperative. To this end, a science-based foresight effort is now being funded to inform decision-making and develop a forward-looking approach to addressing unprecedented societal and environmental change. As part of the project, the initiative to develop a scientifically, socially and culturally broad-based foresight was launched earlier this year. The aim is to establish a future-oriented culture and program of sustainability policy and to present it at the “UN Summit of the Future” in 2024.

Prof. Dr. Benno Werlen from Friedrich Schiller University Jena was recently appointed to the European expert group due to his many years of experience with global projects on the reorientation of sustainability policy. Among other things, he is the initiator and coordinator of the "International Year of Global Understanding”External link, which was conceived and organized from Jena and organized by the world umbrella organizations of the natural sciences, social sciences and humanities in 2016, as well as the recently initiated Jena Declaration on Sustainability (The Jena Declaration)External link. Werlen, who holds the UNESCO Chair on Global Understanding for Sustainability in Jena, has now been invited to participate in the Continental Foresight Workshop for Europe, to be held in Warsaw on October 24-25.

Including everyday life of citizens in sustainability policy

Prof. Werlen sees this invitation on the one hand as an important recognition and appreciation of the demands associated with the Jena Declaration. Above all, for greater involvement of citizens with their everyday practices, which are the key to the transformation to global sustainability. However, he also emphasizes "the excellent opportunity to be able to incorporate the experience of the Jena Declaration into such a large and so decisive project for future politics, and at the same time to be able to contribute to its success - albeit only on a modest scale. With around 1,000 signatures and 200 institutional supporters and project partners from science, the arts and civil society from all corners of the globe, an important start has been made to this end and a way has been shown of bringing together the most diverse partners for a common goal."

"Pact for the future" is the goal

During the Warsaw meeting, the expert panel is looking at proposals drawn up by the "UN Foresight Expert Panel" on the basis of a survey of experts. These proposals are now to be analyzed and evaluated in relation to specific European conditions. The panel is trying to derive information about and scenarios for European problems, risks and opportunities. Following the presentation of the results of all continental workshops at the UN Future Summit in September 2024, an action-oriented global UN "Pact for the Future" is to be adopted on this basis in 2025 to promote global solidarity for present and future generations.