United In Science 2023 – Weather, Climate, Water and Related Environmental Sciences for Sustainable Development

2023 marks the halfway point to achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Yet, the science is clear – the planet is far off track from reaching global climate goals and the impacts of extreme weather events and climate change are disproportionately affecting vulnerable communities. These impacts are resulting in losses of lives and livelihoods, exacerbating poverty and inequality, amplifying food and water insecurity, triggering economic instability and, ultimately, undermining sustainable development. However, the world is equipped with the science, technology and knowledge that is unprecedented in history. Weather-, climate- and water-related sciences have undergone revolutionary advances over the past decades that have improved our ability to forecast hydrometeorological events with remarkable accuracy and project future changes in climate. United in Science 2023 is a multi-agency UN report that highlights the crucial, yet often under-recognized and under-utilized, role weather-, climate- and water-related sciences play in achieving the SDGs. 

This event will highlight the role of weather, climate, water and environmental sciences in achieving the SDGs and opportunities across the science-policy-society interface to accelerate action.

Programme

Introduction and Setting – Lauren Stuart, Scientific Officer and lead coordinator of United in Science 2023, WMO

Panel 1 – The State of Science: Where We’re at What it Means for Sustainable Development

• Pierre Friedlingstein, University of Exeter UK, Lead of the Global Carbon Budget
• Claire Ransom, Assistant Scientific Officer, WMO
• Venge Nyirongo, Inter-Governmental Specialist – Rio Conventions, UN-Women

Moderator: Dr Pete Falloon, Climate Service Lead – Food, Farming & Natural Environment, UK Met Office 

Panel 2 – The Role of Weather-, Climate- and Water-Related Sciences for Sustainable Development 

• SDG 2 – Amy Duchelle, Senior Forestry Officer, Team Leader of Forests & Climate, FAO
• SDG 7 – Helen Walter-Terrinoni, Director Global Climate Policy, Trane Technologies
• SDG 13 – Gabriel Kpaka, UNFCCC Least Developed Countries Expert Group (LEG) Chair

Moderator: Prof. Maarten van Aalst, Director-General Royal Netherlands Meteorological Office (KNMI)

Panel 3 – Leveraging synergies to achieve the shared goals of the Paris Agreement and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development

• Niklas Hagelberg, Senior Programme Coordinator, Climate Change - UNEP
• Jennifer Baumwoll, Head of Climate Strategies and Policy (a.i.), UNDP Climate
• Prof. Fabiano Pallonetto, Director of International Renewable and Energy Systems Integration (IRESI) at Maynooth University, Ireland

Moderator: Sulagna Mishra, Scientific Officer, WMO