PEP’s Executive Director calls for multilateral collaboration at a UN General Assembly Science Summit event

“We are calling on everyone who has a stake, an interest in exploring how country-level engagement can lead to multilateral cooperation,” said PEP’s Executive Director, Prof. Jane Mariara, at a Science Summit event presented at the 78^th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA 78).

The event, hosted by the Club of Rome – Austrian Chapter, on From "Earth for All" to "SDGs for All" explored the global vision of Earth4All as well as focusing on the two countries pioneering the national implementation of Earth4All: Kenya and Austria.

PEP is collaborating with Earth4All to contextualise and realise Earth4All’s five extraordinary turnarounds in Kenya through a national campaign. During the Science Summit event, Prof. Mariara presented the Implementation of Earth4All’s National Engagement Strategy in Kenya (watch below or on YouTube). Read more about how PEP is leading the National Engagement Strategy in Kenya.

Prof. Mariara showed how Kenya’s Vision 2030 and the African Agenda 2063 align with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) but noted how the country is falling a long way short of achieving these goals, particularly due to the effects of the Covid-19 Pandemic and Climate Change.

Kenya is far from alone in this. Just two days earlier at the SDG Summit, António Guterres, Secretary-General of the UN said: “Today, only 15 per cent of the targets are on track. Many are going in reverse.”

Prof. Mariara explained how, with Earth4All, PEP is seeking to leverage the Government of Kenya’s commitment to Vision 2030, to contextualise the five Earth4All turnarounds and accelerate the achievement of the SDGs.

PEP’s focus on locally-led solutions was apparent as Prof. Mariara highlighted the importance of understanding local circumstances and engaging with local partners, including traditionally “unheard voices”. She explained how the strategy will bring together scientific expertise and citizen engagement.

At this event, the Club of Rome – Austrian Chapter brought together leaders from institutions who are championing campaigns and rallying stakeholders to support the uptake of key policy and practice messages from the Earth4All initiative. These included representatives of the Millennium Institute and UniNEtZ – institutions focused on helping governments achieve the SDGs.